7th Meerut Divisional Area

For the original division, see 7th (Meerut) Division.
7th Meerut Divisional Area
Meerut Division
Active September 1914 – 1920
Country  British India
Allegiance British Crown
Branch  British Indian Army
Type Infantry
Size Division
Part of Northern Army
Northern Command
Garrison/HQ Meerut Cantonment
Service First World War
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Maj.-Gen. Sir H.D’U. Keary
Maj.-Gen. O.S.W. Nugent

The 7th Meerut Divisional Area was an infantry division of the British Indian Army that formed part of the Indian Army during the First World War. It was formed in September 1914 to replace the original 7th (Meerut) Division that had been mobilized in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. It was renamed as Meerut Division in June 1917 and remained in India throughout the war. The division was broken up in 1920.

History

At the outbreak of the First World War, the 7th (Meerut) Division was mobilized in August 1914 and sailed from Bombay on 20 September for the Western Front.[1] The 7th Meerut Divisional Area was formed in September 1914 to take over the area responsibilities of the 7th (Meerut) Division. It took over the units left behind by the original division and started to form brigades to control them: the 14th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade in November, the Bareilly and Delhi Brigades in December 1914 and the Dehra Dun Brigade in March 1915. However, the Garhwal Brigade was not reformed until April 1917.[2]

The division served with in India throughout the war (although the Meerut Cavalry Brigade was mobilized for the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919), initially under Northern Army, then Northern Command from January 1918.[2]

In 1918, the division was responsible for posts and stations at Agra, Almora, Bareilly, Bhim Tal, Chakrata, Chambattia, Dehra Dun, Delhi, Gangora, Kailana, Lansdowne, Meerut, Moradabad, Muttra, Ranikhet, Rurki and Sitoli. It was renamed Meerut Division in June 1917[3] and was broken up in 1920.[4]

Order of battle

The division commanded the following brigades in the First World War:[5]

Commanders

The 7th Meerut Divisional Area / Meerut Division had the following commanders:[4][3]

From Rank Name Notes
7 December 1914 Brigadier-General O.M.R. Thackwell
16 October 1917 Major-General Sir H.D’U. Keary
3 August 1918 Major-General O.S.W. Nugent Division broken up in 1920

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 7th (Meerut) Division mobilized with 19th (Dehra Dun), 20th (Garhwal) and 21st (Bareilly) Brigades.[6] They are not to be confused with the Dehra Dun, Garhwal and Bareilly Brigades reformed in the 7th Meerut Divisional Area.[5] In addition, the 7th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade mobilized for the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division[7] and should not be confused with the 4th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade.[5]

References

Bibliography

External links

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