The 31st Indian Brigade was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division. Br ...

of the

British Indian Army The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which co ...

that saw active service with the

Indian Army during the First World War The Indian Army during World War I was involved World War I. Over one million Indian troops served overseas, of whom 62,000 died and another 67,000 were wounded. In total at least 74,187 Indian soldiers died during the war. In World War I the ...

. It served in Egypt in 1915 before being broken up in February 1916.

History

The

11th Indian Division The 11th Indian Division was an infantry Division (military), division of the British Indian Army during World War I. It was formed in December 1914 with two infantry brigades already in Egypt and a third formed in January 1915. After taking p ...

was formed in Egypt on 24 December 1914, taking under command the 22nd (Lucknow) and

32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade The 32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that saw active service with the Indian Army during the First World War. It served in Egypt in 1915 before being broken up in January 1916. History The 32nd ...

s. The 31st Indian Brigade was formed in January 1915 as the division's third brigade and served with it on the

Suez Canal The Suez Canal ( arz, قَنَاةُ ٱلسُّوَيْسِ, ') is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia. The long canal is a popular ...

Defences. After the defeat of the Turkish attempts to cross the canal on 3–4 February 1915, the division acted as a relieving depot for the divisions in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. The division was broken up on 31 May 1915 and the brigade came under direct command of the Suez Canal Defences. On 7 January 1916, the

10th Indian Division The 10th Indian Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army during World War I. It was formed in Egypt in December 1914 with three infantry brigades of Indian Expeditionary Force F. After taking part in the Actions on the Sue ...

was reformed as part of the Suez Canal District, and the brigade joined it. The need to return depleted units that had served in France to India meant that this was short-lived. The brigade was broken up in February and the division followed in March.

Orders of battle

Commander

The brigade was commanded throughout its existence by

Brigadier-General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

A.H. Bingley.

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links

* *{{cite web, url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/11_ind_div.htm , title=11th Indian Division on ''The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918'' by PB Chappell , access-date=2015-06-30 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517084957/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/11_ind_div.htm , archive-date=17 May 2008 , df=dmy Brigades of India in World War I Military units and formations established in 1915 Military units and formations disestablished in 1916