3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade

The Ambala Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry brigade of the British Indian Army formed in 1904 as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. It was mobilized as 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade at the outbreak of the First World War as part of the 1st Indian Cavalry Division and departed for France. It served on the Western Front with the 1st and 2nd Indian Cavalry Divisions until it was broken up in March 1918.

For the replacement brigade in India in the First World War, see Ambala Brigade. For the Second World War formation, see 3rd (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade.

Ambala Brigade
Ambala Cavalry Brigade
3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade
ActiveJuly 1904 – March 1918
Country British India
AllegianceBritish Crown
Branch British Indian Army
TypeCavalry
SizeBrigade
Part of3rd (Lahore) Division
1st Indian Cavalry Division
2nd Indian Cavalry Division
Garrison/HQAmbala Cantonment
EngagementsFirst World War
Western Front
Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Bazentin
Battle of Flers–Courcelette
Battle of Cambrai (1917)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Br.-Gen. R.B. Adams VC

History

The Kitchener Reforms, carried out during Lord Kitchener's tenure as Commander-in-Chief, India (1902–09), completed the unification of the three former Presidency armies, the Punjab Frontier Force, the Hyderabad Contingent and other local forces into one Indian Army. Kitchener identified the Indian Army's main task as the defence of the North-West Frontier against foreign aggression (particularly Russian expansion into Afghanistan) with internal security relegated to a secondary role. The Army was organized into divisions and brigades that would act as field formations but also included internal security troops.[1]

The Ambala Brigade (also referred to as Umballa Brigade) was formed in July 1904[lower-alpha 1] as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. The brigade formed part of the 3rd (Lahore) Division.[2] In 1908, it was redesignated as Ambala Cavalry Brigade.[3][4]

3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade

In August 1914, the brigade was mobilized as the 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade and assigned to the 1st Indian Cavalry Division.[5] A new Ambala Brigade was formed in November 1914 as part of the 3rd Lahore Divisional Area to take over the original brigade's internal security duties.[6]

With 1st Indian Cavalry Division, it departed Bombay on 16 October and landed at Marseilles on 7 November. It concentrated around Orléans on 16 November and was sent up to the Front on 26 November. While in France, the brigade was known by its geographical rather than numerical designation so as to avoid confusion with the British 3rd Cavalry Brigade also serving on the Western Front at the same time.[5] On 15 September 1915, the brigade swapped places with the 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade from 2nd Indian Cavalry Division.[7][8]

Forward scouts of the 9th Hodson's Horse pause to consult a map, near Vraignes, France in April 1917

In 1916, the brigade took part in the Battle of the Somme, notably the Battle of Bazentin (14 – 17 July) and the Battle of Flers–Courcelette (15 – 22 September). In 1917, the brigade took part in the Battle of Cambrai, notably the Tank Attack (20 – 21 November) and the German Counter-attacks (30 November – 3 December). At other times it was held in reserve in case of a breakthrough, although it did send parties to the trenches on a number of occasions. They would hold the line, or act as Pioneers; such parties were designated as the Ambala Battalion.[9]

Dissolved

In March 1918, the brigade was broken up in France. The British units (8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars and X Battery, RHA) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt.[9] On 24 April 1918, these were merged with the 5th Mounted Brigade and joined the new 2nd Mounted Division.[10] On 22 July 1918 the 5th Mounted Brigade was redesignated as 13th Cavalry Brigade and the division as 5th Cavalry Division.[11]

Orders of battle

Commanders

The Ambala Brigade / Ambala Cavalry Brigade / 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade had the following commanders:[14]

Major-General C.P.W. Pirie
FromRankNameNotes
18 July 1904[2]Brigadier-GeneralRobert Bellew Adams VC
28 April 1906[15]Brigadier-GeneralEdward Henry McSwiney
4 March 1907[3]Brigadier-GeneralFrancis Sudlow Garratt
July 1909Brigadier-GeneralErnest Henry Rivett-Carnac
11 April 1910[16]Major-GeneralCharles Patrick William Pirie
1 May 1916[17]Brigadier-GeneralCharles Herbert RankinBroken up in March 1918

See also

Notes
  1. 18 July 1904 was the appointment date of the brigade's first commanding officer.[2]
  2. A Battery, Royal Horse Artillery was part of I Indian Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery but was attached to the brigade.[7]
  3. X Battery, Royal Horse Artillery was part of II Indian Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery but was attached to the brigade.[8]
  4. 14th Machine Gun Squadron was formed on 29 February 1916 by combining the machine gun sections of the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars, 9th Hodson's Horse and 18th King George's Own Tiwana Lancers.[13]

References
  1. Haythornthwaite 1996, p. 244
  2. The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart. "Hart's Annual Army List for 1906". London: John Murray. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  3. The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart. "Hart's Annual Army List for 1908". London: John Murray. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  4. The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart. "Hart's Annual Army List for 1909". London: John Murray. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  5. Perry 1993, p. 16
  6. Perry 1993, p. 55
  7. Perry 1993, p. 14
  8. Perry 1993, p. 18
  9. Perry 1993, p. 20
  10. Becke 1936, p. 33
  11. Perry 1993, p. 28
  12. Perry 1993, p. 49
  13. Baker, Chris. "Cavalry units of the Machine Gun Corps". The Long Long Trail. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  14. Mackie 2015, p. 350
  15. The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart. "Hart's Annual Army List for 1907". London: John Murray. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  16. The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart. "Hart's Annual Army List for 1914". London: John Murray. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  17. Perry 1993, p. 17

Bibliography
  • Becke, Major A.F. (1936). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42-56). London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-12-4.
  • Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1996). The World War One Source Book. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-351-7.
  • Mackie, Colin (June 2015). "Army Commands 1900-2011" (PDF). www.gulabin.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  • Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.
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