Yeomanry Mounted Division

The Yeomanry Mounted Division was a Territorial Force cavalry division formed at Khan Yunis in Palestine in June 1917 from three yeomanry mounted brigades. It served in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War, mostly as part of the Desert Mounted Corps. In April 1918 six of the regiments were withdrawn from the division and sent to France, being converted from Yeomanry to battalions of the Machine Gun Corps. These were replaced by Indian Army cavalry regiments withdrawn from France, and the division was renamed 1st Mounted Division, the third such division to bear that title. In July the combined division was renamed as the 4th Cavalry Division.

Yeomanry Mounted Division
ActiveJune 1917 – April 1918
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeYeomanry
SizeDivision
EngagementsFirst World War
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Major-General G. de S. Barrow

History

Formation

In June 1917, it was decided to reorganize the mounted troops of the Desert Column into three divisions.[1] Previously, the two existing divisions (ANZAC Mounted Division and Imperial Mounted Division) each contained four mounted brigades; hereafter, the three divisions would have three mounted brigades each. As a result, between 20 June and 22 July 1917, the Yeomanry Mounted Division was formed at Khan Yunis, Palestine.[2]

Order of Battle, July 1917[7]
6th Mounted Brigade

1/1st Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars
1/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry
1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry
17th Machine Gun Squadron, MGC
6th Mounted Brigade Signal Troop
2/South Midland Cavalry Field Ambulance, RAMC
4/1st North Midland Mobile Veterinary Section

8th Mounted Brigade

1/1st County of London Yeomanry
1/1st City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders)
1/3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)
21st Machine Gun Squadron, MGC
8th Mounted Brigade Signal Troop
1/London Cavalry Field Ambulance, RAMC
3/1st Highland Mobile Veterinary Section

22nd Mounted Brigade

1/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry
1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry
1/1st East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry
18th Machine Gun Squadron, MGC
22nd Mounted Brigade Signal Troop
1/North Midland Cavalry Field Ambulance, RAMC
3/1st North Midland Mobile Veterinary Section

XX Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (T.F.)

Hampshire RHA
Berkshire RHA
Leicestershire RHA
XX RHA Brigade Ammunition Column

Divisional Troops

6th Field Squadron, RE
Yeomanry Mounted Division Signal Squadron
31st Sanitary Section

Yeomanry Mounted Division Train

999th Company ASC
1000th Company ASC
1001st Company ASC
1002nd Company ASC

Battles

The Yeomanry Mounted Division served as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Palestine throughout its brief existence. From 31 October it took part in the Third Battle of Gaza, including the Battle of Beersheba (in GHQ Reserve) and the Capture of the Sheria Position under the Desert Mounted Corps (DMC). Still with the DMC, it took part in the Battle of Mughar Ridge on 13 and 14 November and the Battle of Nebi Samwil for 17 to 24 November. From 23 November it was attached to XXI Corps. From 27 to 29 November, it withstood the Turkish counter-attacks during the Capture of Jerusalem. From 28 November it was attached to XX Corps.[2]

Restructured and renamed

In March 1918, the 1st Indian Cavalry Division was broken up in France. The British units (notably 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, 17th Lancers, 1/1st Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons and A, Q and U Batteries RHA) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt.[8]

By an Egyptian Expeditionary Force GHQ Order of 12 April 1918, the mounted troops of the EEF were reorganised when the Indian Army units arrived in theatre. On 24 April 1918, the Yeomanry Mounted Division was indianized[lower-alpha 3] and its title was changed to 1st Mounted Division,[2] the third distinct division to bear this title.[lower-alpha 4]

On 24 April 1918, the 6th Mounted Brigade was merged with elements of the 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade, the 8th Mounted Brigade with the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade, and the 22nd Mounted Brigade with the 2nd (Sialkot) Cavalry Brigade. Six of the Yeomanry Regiments were merged in pairs, converted to Machine Gun Battalions, and posted to the Western Front:[4]

They were replaced by Indian Cavalry Regiments from France. The Field Ambulances and Mobile Veterinary Sections merged with their Indian counterparts. Other units were retained unchanged, though some were renumbered to reflect the new divisional designation.[7]

On 22 July 1918, the 1st Mounted Division was renumbered as the 4th Cavalry Division and the brigades as the 10th, 11th and 12th Cavalry Brigades.[9] The sub units (Signal Troops, Combined Cavalry Field Ambulances and Mobile Veterinary Sections) were renumbered on the same date.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. Two Australian Light Horse brigades and one British Yeomanry brigade.
  2. Hampshire, Essex and West Riding Batteries, RHA concentrated at Leicester on 13 January 1916. The batteries were rearmed with 18-pounders before departing for Egypt on 18 February. The brigade landed at Port Said and joined 52nd (Lowland) Division at El Qantara on 17 March as V Lowland Brigade, RFA. On 28 May the brigade was renumbered CCLXIII and the batteries as A, B and C, respectively. On 30 December, C (West Riding) Battery was split up, providing one section to each of the other batteries, thus bringing them up to 6 guns apiece. On 5 July 1917, the brigade was rearmed with 13-pounders, and the batteries resumed their original names (Hampshire and Essex Batteries, RHA).[6]
  3. British divisions were converted to the British Indian Army standard whereby brigades only retained one British regiment or battalion and most support units were Indian (artillery excepted).
  4. See 1st Mounted Division and 3rd Mounted Division.

References

  1. In accordance with Eastern Force Order No. 53.
  2. Becke 1936, p. 34
  3. Perry 1992, p. 55
  4. Becke 1936, p. 33
  5. Perry 1992, p. 51
  6. Becke 1936, p. 113
  7. Becke 1936, p. 32
  8. Perry 1993, p. 16
  9. Perry 1993, p. 22

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.
  • Perry, F.W. (1992). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5A. The Divisions of Australia, Canada and New Zealand and those in East Africa. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-25-6.
  • 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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