Country India Type Infantry | Branch British Indian Army Size Division | |
Active 24 December 1914 – 7 March 1916 Engagements World War I
Sinai and Palestine Campaign
Actions on the Suez Canal | ||
The 10th Indian Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army during World War I. It was formed in Egypt in December 1914 with three infantry brigades of Indian Expeditionary Force F. After taking part in the Actions on the Suez Canal, the division was dispersed as its brigades were posted away.
Contents
It was re-formed in January 1916 as part of the Suez Canal Defences with units and formations in Egypt, but this was short lived. It was broken up again on 7 March 1916 as the need to reform depleted units from France made this plan unrealistic.
The division was commanded throughout its existence by Major-General Alexander Wilson.
First formation
The 28th, 29th and 30th Indian Brigades were formed in October 1914 and posted to Egypt as Indian Expeditionary Force F. The 10th Indian Division was formed on 24 December 1915 with these three brigades, and little else in terms of divisional troops. The division beat off Turkish attempts to cross the Suez Canal on 3–4 February 1915 in the Actions on the Suez Canal.
Thereafter, the division was soon dissolved with a brigade (30th) sent to Mesopotamia in March 1915, another (29th) detached to Gallipoli from April to December 1915, and the third (28th) detached to Aden from July to September 1915, before it also departed for Mesopotamia in November.
Order of Battle, January 1915
The division commanded the following units in January 1915:
Re-formed
The division was re-formed on 7 January 1916 as part of the Suez Canal Defences with units and formations in Egypt: 20th Indian Brigade joined from 7th (Meerut) Division, 29th Indian Brigade rejoined from Gallipoli and 31st Indian Brigade joined from 11th Indian Division. The new division was short lived: it was broken up again on 7 March 1916 as the need to reform depleted units from France made this plan unrealistic.
Order of Battle, January 1916
The division commanded the following units in January 1916: