Active December 1917 – 1921 Allegiance British Crown Type Infantry | Country British India Branch British Indian Army Size Brigade | |
The 54th Indian Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that saw active service with the Indian Army during the First World War. It took part in the Mesopotamian campaign and formed part of the occupation force for Iraq post-war. It was not reformed for the Second World War.
Contents
History
The 54th Indian Brigade started forming in Mesopotamia from December 1917 as part of the 18th Indian Division, joining the division when it was formed on 24 December 1917. The brigade was formed from battalions transferred directly from India so time was needed for them to become acclimatized. It remained with the division for the rest of the war, taking part in the Action at Fat-ha Gorge on the Little Zab (23–26 October 1918) and the Battle of Sharqat (28–30 October 1918).
At the end of the war, the 18th Division was chosen to form part of the occupation force for Iraq. It took part in the Iraq Rebellion in 1920. The division, and the brigade, was broken up in the following year.
Order of battle
The brigade had the following composition in the First World War:
Commander
The brigade was commanded from 20 December 1917 by Brigadier-General M.R.W. Nightingale.