The
Indian 4th Infantry Division, also known as the
Red Eagle Division, is an
infantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
divisionA division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the
Indian ArmyThe Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
.
The division was formed in Egypt in 1939 and was the first Indian formation to go overseas during the Second World War. As with all formations in the
Indian ArmyThe Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
prior to independence, it primarily had British officers and Indians in other ranks. However, it did include Indian officers with ranks as high as Captain or Major. During
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it took part in campaigns in East Africa (
EritreaEritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and
SudanSudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
),
SyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, North Africa and
ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
North Africa
During World War II, the Division was in the vanguard during nine campaigns in the Mediterranean theatre. Major-General The Hon. P. Gerald Scarlett appears to have been the division's first commander, from October 1939 to January 1940. The British 14th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) was attached to the division from 1 June to 20 July 1940 and then the British 16th Infantry Brigade was attached from 9 September 1940 to 14 December 1940. In the first of
Archibald Wavell'sField Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell GCB, GCSI, GCIE, CMG, MC, PC was a British field marshal and the commander of British Army forces in the Middle East during the Second World War. He led British forces to victory over the Italians, only to be defeated by the German army...
operations in
EgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, as part of the
Western Desert ForceThe Western Desert Force, during World War II, was a British Commonwealth army formation stationed in Egypt.On 17 June 1940, the headquarters of the British 6th Infantry Division was designated as the Western Desert Force. The unit consisted of the 7th Armoured Division and the Indian 4th Infantry...
, it took part in
Operation CompassOperation Compass was the first major Allied military operation of the Western Desert Campaign during World War II. British and Commonwealth forces attacked Italian forces in western Egypt and eastern Libya in December 1940 to February 1941. The attack was a complete success...
in December 1940. The Division was involved in the decisive battles of that campaign in the camps around
Sidi BarraniSidi Barrani is a town in Egypt, near the Mediterranean Sea, about east of the border with Libya, and around from Tobruk, Libya.Probably named after Sidi Mohammed el Barrani, a Senussi fighter in the early 1900s, the village is mainly a Bedouin community...
. Along with the
7th Royal Tank RegimentThe 7th Royal Tank Regiment was an armoured regiment of the British Army until 1959.-History:The 7th Royal Tank Regiment was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps...
, the 11th Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division destroyed the Italian
Maletti GroupThe Maletti Group was an ad hoc "mechanized" unit formed by the Italian Royal Army in Italian North Africa during the initial stages of the Western Desert Campaign of World War II...
at the Nibiewa Camp.
East Africa
In December 1940 the division was rushed to the British
SudanSudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
to join with the
Indian 5th Infantry DivisionIndian 5th Infantry Division was an infantry division in the Indian Army during World War II which fought in several theatres of war and more than earned its nickname the "Ball of Fire".- History :...
), to prevent the numerically vastly superior Italian forces (ten divisions in total) from threatening
Red SeaThe Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
supply routes to Egypt as well as Egypt and the
Suez CanalThe Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
itself from the South. The
East African campaignThe East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
culminated (March 1941) with the
battles at KerenThe Battle of Keren was fought as part of the East African Campaign during World War II. The Battle of Keren was fought from 5 February-1 April 1941 between the colonial Italian army defending it's colonial possession of Eritrea and the invading British and Commonwealth forces. In 1941, Keren was...
in Eritrea where 42 Italian battalions (an initial 33 battalions, subsequently reinforced by a further 9 battalions) were defeated by 19 British and Indian battalions.
It was at Keren that Subadar
Richhpal RamRichhpal Ram VC was an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-His family:...
of the 4/
6th Rajputana RiflesThe 6th Rajputana Rifles were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They were formed in 1922, after the Indian government reformed the army. They moved away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
, part of 4th Division's 5 Infantry Brigade, was awarded a posthumous
Victoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. In April 1941 Beresford-Peirse was promoted to command Western Desert Force and Major General (later General Sir)
Frank MesservyGeneral Sir Frank Walter Messervy, KCSI, KBE, CB, DSO & Bar, , was a British Indian Army officer in both the First and Second World Wars...
assumed command.
North Africa and Syria
Having returned to Egypt, part of the Division (the
5th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted for the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade in September 1939, and assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade fist moved to Egypt and took part in the early battles in North...
) was hurried across to Syria and was heavily involved in the
advance on DamascusThe Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
(June 1941). From 14 to 17 June 1941 the 4th Armoured Brigade was attached to the division. The rest of the Division was heavily involved in the fighting which ebbed and flowed past
TobrukTobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
from June 1941 onwards, having been rejoined by 5 Brigade, returning from Syria, in the autumn of 1941. For most of this period the Division was dispersed with units temporarily attached to other formations much to the disgust of Major General
Francis TukerLieutenant General Sir Francis Ivan Simms Tuker KCIE CB DSO OBE was a British Indian Army officer.-Military career:...
who assumed command of the Division in December 1941. Notable at this time was the break-out at the end of January by 7 Brigade, having been cut off at Benghazi during the Germans' counter-offensive from Agheila and moving 200 miles avoiding the enemy to rejoin the
8th ArmyThe Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
.
Early in April 1942 the Division was dispersed with 7 Brigade going to
CyprusCyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, 5 Brigade to Syria, 11 Brigade to the Suez Canal Zone for training and the Central India Horse to
IraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
after a period of training. By May 1942 11 Brigade was back in the fighting at Tobruk (attached to
Indian 5th Infantry DivisionIndian 5th Infantry Division was an infantry division in the Indian Army during World War II which fought in several theatres of war and more than earned its nickname the "Ball of Fire".- History :...
). 11th Brigade was caught in the
siege of TobrukThe siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 240 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War...
which fell on 21 June, and so disappeared from the order of battle for the next 18 months. 5th Brigade was rushed to the desert in June 1942 – after escaping from Mersa Matruh, the brigade held the vital Ruweisat Ridge at Alamein in the fighting of July–August 1942. Shortly before the
Second Battle of El AlameinThe Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
in October 1942 the 4th Indian Division was back together again with the 7th Brigade returning from Cyprus and 161st Brigade attached (until December 1942) to fill the gap of the over-run 11th Brigade. The Division had a relatively subsidiary role in the battle, holding in stiff fighting, as a diversionary tactic, the Ruweisat Ridge which was at the centre of the Allied front whilst the breakthrough was planned further North.
By December 1942 the Division was once again dispersed but strong representations by its GOC, Francis Tuker, (including his asking to be relieved of command) resulted in the Division being brought together as a fighting entity in March 1943 and it fought with distinction through to the
fall of TunisThe Tunisia Campaign was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African Campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces. The Allies consisted of British Imperial Forces, including Polish and Greek contingents, with American and French corps...
in May 1943 gaining a particular reputation for its prowess in mountainous country. The Division had the honour of capturing
General von ArnimHans-Jürgen Bernhard Theodor von Arnim was a German Generaloberst who served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
in Tunisia, bringing an end to the North African campaign. Its major battles in North Africa were
BenghaziBenghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
,
TobrukTobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
, Wadi Akarit, Enfidaville and
TunisTunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
.
Italy
The division then moved in January 1944 to Italy (joined by the newly re-constituted 11 Brigade), where it took part in the
Italian CampaignThe Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. It took a major role (sustaining very heavy casualties) in the second
Battle of Monte CassinoThe Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies against Germans and Italians with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans...
(where in Tuker's absence through illness it was commanded by Brigadier
Harry DimolineBrigadier Harry Kenneth Dimoline CBE MBE DSO TD CPM was an artillery officer in the British and British Indian Armies during World War II.-World War II:...
, the divisional Commander of
Royal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
). During the battle, the Division was to attack in an arc towards the south and south west, taking Point 593 and then moving south east, up the heights towards the Abbey. The Indian Division would only advance on the Abbey, once the NZ Division had attacked south and south east taking the town of Cassino. The main attack eventually commenced just after last light with the NZ Division's
28 (Maori) BattalionThe 28th Battalion, more commonly known as the Māori Battalion, was an infantry battalion of the New Zealand Army that served during the Second World War. It was formed following pressure on the Labour government by some Māori MPs and Māori organisations throughout the country wanting a full Māori...
tasked to cross the Rapido River and to seize the station south of Cassino town, to establish a bridgehead for the corps armour to move into the town and to the foot of the Cassino massif—the attack starting at 2130. However the 28th Battalion attack failed, and so had the 4th Indian Division attack on Point 593.
The division also suffered heavy casualties during the third battle (in March 1944) when it was commanded by Major-General
Alexander GallowayLieutenant-General Sir Alexander Galloway KBE, CB, DSO, MC was an officer in the British Army during World War I and World War II...
, who had been released from command of the British 1st Armoured Division.
Command of the division was assumed by Major-General Arthur Holworthy late in March 1944 and the division took part in the advance from Cassino after the fourth battle in May 1944 to the
Trasimene LineThe Trasimene Line was a German defensive line during the Italian Campaign of World War II. It was also sometimes known as the Albert Line...
in Central Italy and then the
Gothic LineThe Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
.
As part of the attachments and detachments for the campaign, the 9th Armoured Brigade was attached to the division from 8 July 1944 to 19 July 1944.
In November 1944 the division was shipped to
GreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to help stabilise the country after the
AxisThe Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
withdrawal. Holworthy was succeeded by Major-General
Charles BoucherMajor-General Sir Charles Boucher KBE CB DSO and bar was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II.-Military career:Boucher was commissioned into the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles in 1916....
in January 1945 who commanded the division until the end of hostilities.
Conclusion
During World War II the Division captured 150,000 prisoners and suffered 25,000 casualties, more than the strength of a whole division. It won over 1,000 Honours and Awards which included 4 Victoria Crosses and 3 George Crosses.
Field Marshal Lord WavellField Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell GCB, GCSI, GCIE, CMG, MC, PC was a British field marshal and the commander of British Army forces in the Middle East during the Second World War. He led British forces to victory over the Italians, only to be defeated by the German army...
wrote:Even beyond its fighting reputation it will be remembered for the spirit of mutual trust and fellowship maintained between all ranks coming from so many different races and creeds.
Formation During World War II
The unit listing is from a booklet issued to mark the inauguration of the Indian Divisions Memorial 1939–1945 at the UK RAMC Sandhurst in June 1982.
General Officer Commanding:
- Major-General The Hon. P. Gerald Scarlett (Oct 1939 – Jan 1940)
- Major-General Philip Neame
Lieutenant General Sir Philip Neame VC, KBE, CB, DSO, KStJ was a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
(Feb 1940 – Aug 1940)
- Major-General Noel Beresford-Peirse
Lieutenant-General Sir Noel Monson de la Poer Beresford-Peirse KBE, CB, DSO was a British Army officer.-Family background:...
(Aug 1940 – Apr 1941)
- Major-General Frank Messervy
General Sir Frank Walter Messervy, KCSI, KBE, CB, DSO & Bar, , was a British Indian Army officer in both the First and Second World Wars...
(Apr 1941 – Dec 1941)
- Major-General Francis Tuker
Lieutenant General Sir Francis Ivan Simms Tuker KCIE CB DSO OBE was a British Indian Army officer.-Military career:...
(Dec 1941 – Feb 1944)
- Brigadier Harry Dimoline
Brigadier Harry Kenneth Dimoline CBE MBE DSO TD CPM was an artillery officer in the British and British Indian Armies during World War II.-World War II:...
(Feb 1944 – Mar 1944)
- Major-General Alexander Galloway
Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander Galloway KBE, CB, DSO, MC was an officer in the British Army during World War I and World War II...
(Mar 1944)
- Major-General Arthur Holworthy (Mar 1944 – Jan 1945)
- Major-General Charles Boucher
Major-General Sir Charles Boucher KBE CB DSO and bar was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II.-Military career:Boucher was commissioned into the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles in 1916....
(Jan 1945 – Aug 1945)
Headquarters
- Central India Horse (up to April 1942 and from July 1944)(Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment)
- Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
Commanders divisional artillery:
- Brigadier Noel Beresford-Peirse
Lieutenant-General Sir Noel Monson de la Poer Beresford-Peirse KBE, CB, DSO was a British Army officer.-Family background:...
- Brigadier P. Maxwell (Jun 1940 – Sep 1940)
- Brigadier William H.B. Mirrless (Sep 1940 – Mar 1942)
- Brigadier Harry Dimoline
Brigadier Harry Kenneth Dimoline CBE MBE DSO TD CPM was an artillery officer in the British and British Indian Armies during World War II.-World War II:...
(Mar 1942 – Feb 1944)
- Brigadier John F. Adye (Feb 1944 – Mar 1944)
- Brigadier Henry C.W. Eastman (Apr 1944 – )
- HQ
- 3, Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
- 1, 4, 11, 25, 31 & 32 FD Regts RA
- 57 Light A.A. Regt RA
- 35 & 149 Anti-Tank Regts RA
- Indian Engineers: Sappers and Miners
- 4 Field Coy. King George's Own Bengal Sappers and Miners
The Bengal Engineer Group or the Bengal Sappers or Bengal Engineers as they are informally known, are remnants of British Indian Army's Bengal Army of the Bengal Presidency in British India; now a regiment of the Corps of Engineers in the Indian Army. The Bengal Sappers have their regimental...
- 12 Field Coy. Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners
Madras Engineer Group are a regiment of the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army. The Madras Sappers draw their origin from the erstwhile Madras Presidency army of the British Raj. This regiment has its HQ in Bangalore...
- 18 & 21 Field Coys. Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners
The Bombay Engineering Group, or the Bombay Sappers as they are informally known, are a regiment of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers. The Bombay Sappers draw their origin from the erstwhile Bombay Presidency army of the British Raj. This regiment has its centre in Khadki, Pune in...
- 11 Field Park Coy. Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners
Madras Engineer Group are a regiment of the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army. The Madras Sappers draw their origin from the erstwhile Madras Presidency army of the British Raj. This regiment has its HQ in Bangalore...
- 4 Indian Division Signals
- 1 Machine Gun Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Originally raised in 1674, the regiment was amalgamated with three other fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.-Origins:...
(1940– ?)
- Machine Gun Battalion 6th Rajputana Rifles
The 6th Rajputana Rifles were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They were formed in 1922, after the Indian government reformed the army. They moved away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
(1942–1945)
5 Indian Infantry Brigade
- HQ 5th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted for the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade in September 1939, and assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade fist moved to Egypt and took part in the early battles in North...
- 1 Battalion Royal Fusiliers (up to Sept 1941)
- 1 Battalion The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
The Buffs , formerly the 3rd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army until 1961. It had a history dating back to 1572 and was one of the oldest regiments in the British Army being third in order of precedence...
(from Sept 1941 to Dec 1941))
- 1 Battalion The Welch Regiment
The Welch Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1969.-History:It was formed as the Welsh Regiment during the Childers Reforms of 1881, by the amalgamation of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the 69th Regiment of Foot...
(From Dec 1941 up to April 1942)
- 1/4 Battalion The Essex Regiment (from April 1942)
- 1 & 3 Battalions 1st Punjab Regiment
The 1st Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to the Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 14th, 15th and 16th Punjab Regiments in 1956, to form the Punjab Regiment....
(1st BN up to April 1942)
- 4 Battalion (Outram's) 6th Rajputana Rifles
The 6th Rajputana Rifles were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They were formed in 1922, after the Indian government reformed the army. They moved away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
(with 11 Brigade in Italy)
- 3 Battalion Queen Mary's Own 10th Baluch Regiment
The 10th Baluch or Baluch Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. After the Partition of India, it was transferred to the Pakistan Army. In 1956, it was amalgamated with the 8th Punjab and Bahawalpur Regiments...
(from April 1942)
- 1 Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles
7 Indian Infantry Brigade
-
- HQ 7th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 7th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in September 1939, by renaming the Poona Independent Brigade as the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade and renumbered 4th in June 1940, A second 7th Brigade was formed in June 1940, and assigned...
- 1 Battalion The Royal Sussex Regiment
The Royal Sussex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1966. The regiment was formed as part of the Childers reforms by the amalgamation of the 35th Regiment of Foot and the 107th Regiment of Foot...
- 2 Royal Battalion 11th Sikh Regiment
The 11th Sikh Regiment were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1922, when after World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments....
- 4 Battalion 11th Sikh Regiment
The 11th Sikh Regiment were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1922, when after World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments....
(up to April 1942)
- 4 Battalion 16th Punjab Regiment
The 16th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 1st, 14th and 15th Punjab Regiments in 1956 to form the Punjab Regiment....
- 1 Battalion 2nd King Edward's Own Goorkha Rifles (from April 1942)
11 Indian Infantry Brigade (1939–1942 and 1944–1945)
-
- HQ 11th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 11th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in September 1939. In October 1939, it was assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division...
- 2 Battalion The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1793. In 1961 it was merged with the Seaforth Highlanders to form the Queen's Own Highlanders...
- 2 Battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry
The 5th Mahratta Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, whenthe Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. The regiment fought in World War II and raised 30 battalions...
(up to June 1942)
- 1 Battalion (Wellesley's) 6th Rajputana Rifles
The 6th Rajputana Rifles were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They were formed in 1922, after the Indian government reformed the army. They moved away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
(up to April 1942)(with 5 Brigade in Italy)
- 4 Battalion 7th Rajput Regiment
The 7th Rajput Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, after the Indian government decided to reform the army moving away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
(up to Jan 1942)
- 3 Royal Battalion 12th Frontier Force Regiment
The 12th Frontier Force Regiment was part of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922. It consisted of five regular battalions; numbered 1 to 5 and the 10th Battalion. During the Second World War a further ten battalions were raised. In 1945 the prenomial "12th" was dropped when the British...
- 3 Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment
The 14th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to the Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 1st, 15th and 16th Punjab Regiments in 1956, to form the Punjab Regiment....
(from Jan 1942)
- 2 Battalion 7th Gurkha Rifles (from April 1942)
- Lovat Scouts
The Lovat Scouts were a British Army unit. The unit was first formed during the Second Boer War as a Scottish Highland yeomanry regiment of the British Army and is the first known military unit to wear a ghillie suit...
Support Units
- Royal Indian Army Service Corps
- 4 Ind Div Troops Transport Company
- 5, 7 & 11 Brigade Transport Companies
- 220 Indian DID
- Medical Services
- I.M.S-RAMC
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
-I.M.D-I.H.C-I.A.M.C
- 14, 17, 19, 26 & 32 Indian Field Ambulances
- 4 Indian Div Provost Unit
- Indian Army Ordnance Corps
- 4 Indian Div Ordnance FD Park
- Indian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
- 117, 118 & 119 Infantry Workshop Companies
- 4 Indian Div Recovery Company
Assigned brigades
All theses brigades were assigned or attached to the division at some time during World War II.
- 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade
- 10th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 10th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in September 1939. In June 1940 it was assigned to the 5th Indian Infantry Division and in September 1940, sailed for East Africa...
- British 23rd Infantry Brigade
The British 23rd Infantry Brigade was a Second World War infantry brigade which saw active service in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign, the Western Desert Campaign and the Burma Campaign.-History:...
- British 161st Infantry Brigade
- British 22nd Infantry Brigade
- 1st South African Infantry Brigade
- 161st Indian Infantry Brigade
The 161st Indian Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the Indian Army. It was formed in November 1941 and assigned to the 5th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade were then sent to Cyprus as a garrison in case of a German invasion...
- British 201st Guards Motor Brigade
- 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade
Postwar
The Division, known as Red Eagle due to its badge of a red eagle on a black background, is now a part of the Indian Army. Immediately after the war ended it was in Greece, but returned to India later in 1945.
In 1947 the division became the nucleus of the Punjab Boundary Force under Major-General
T.W. ReesThomas Wynford Rees CB, CIE, DSO & Bar, MC, DL was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War I, the interwar years, World War II, and post-war.-Early life and career:The son of the Reverend T. M...
. The Boundary Force was established on 17 July 1947, with it headquarters at Lahore. It becomes operational 1 August 1947, but is disbanded 1 September because of its ineffectiveness in controlling the riots breaking out in consequence of Partition. It had approximately 15 Indian and 10 Pakistani battalions, and comprised
5th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted for the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade in September 1939, and assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade fist moved to Egypt and took part in the early battles in North...
,
11th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 11th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in September 1939. In October 1939, it was assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division...
, 14 Parachute Brigade, which became part of the
Pakistan ArmyThe Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
, 43 Lorry Brigade (ex 1 Armoured Division), and 114th Indian Infantry Brigade. Also attached were
50th Parachute BrigadeThe 50th Parachute Brigade is a formation of the Indian Army, first formed in 1941. The formation was initially raised as part of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October 1941, as an independent parachute brigade. Later it was one of two parachute brigades in the 44th Indian...
and 77th Parachute Brigade (both formerly with 2nd Airborne Division), and 123rd Indian Infantry Brigade. After Rees handed over, Major General K. S. Thimayya reportedly took over command of the Boundary Force. The Division moved to Jullunder after the Boundary Force was disbanded.
Elements fought in the
Sino-Indian WarThe Sino-Indian War , also known as the Sino-Indian Border Conflict , was a war between China and India that occurred in 1962. A disputed Himalayan border was the main pretext for war, but other issues played a role. There had been a series of violent border incidents after the 1959 Tibetan...
of 1962. Before the war the division comprised
5th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted for the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade in September 1939, and assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade fist moved to Egypt and took part in the early battles in North...
, 7th Infantry Brigade, and
11th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 11th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in September 1939. In October 1939, it was assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division...
.
7th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 7th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in September 1939, by renaming the Poona Independent Brigade as the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade and renumbered 4th in June 1940, A second 7th Brigade was formed in June 1940, and assigned...
was effectively destroyed at the Namcakhu during that war. It was converted to a mountain division in 1963 and fought in the 1965 war.
It also fought on the Bangladesh front during the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
. It consisted of 7, 41, and 62 Mountain Brigades, and also included A Squadron,
45 CavalryThe 45th Cavalry Regiment is an Indian Army armoured unit. It was first created during World War II and was active from 1941 to 1946. It was reformed in 1965 and is currently stationed in Pathankot India...
. Coming under the
I Corps (India)For the First World War corps, see I Corps I Corps is a military field formation of the Indian Army, created in 1965. It was still being raised when it was despatched to the front in 1965. It conducted a counteroffensive during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965...
and Central Command, the division is headquartered in Allahabad.
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