The Bangalore Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army formed in 1904 as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. It was mobilized as 27th (Bangalore) Brigade at the outbreak of the First World War. As part of Indian Expeditionary Force B, it was sent to assault Tanga in German East Africa. With the failure of the Battle of Tanga, its units joined the defences of British East Africa and it was broken up.
| 1st Bangalore Brigade Bangalore Brigade 27th (Bangalore) Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | December 1904 – November 1914 January 1917 – 1926 |
| Country |  British India |
| Allegiance | British Crown |
| Branch |  British Indian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 9th (Secunderabad) Division Indian Expeditionary Force B |
| Garrison/HQ | Bangalore Cantonment |
| Engagements | First World War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Maj.-Gen. R.I. Scallon Maj.-Gen. T.D. Pilcher Br.-Gen. Lord Ruthven |
The brigade was reformed in India in 1917 for internal security duties and to aid the expansion of the Indian Army in the last year of the war. It, too, was disbanded in 1926.
A 2nd Bangalore Brigade also existed from 1904 to 1911.
1st Bangalore Brigade
editThe 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 1st Bangalore Brigade was formed in December 1904[a] as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. The brigade formed part of the 9th (Secunderabad) Division.[3] In 1906, the 2nd Bangalore Brigade was renamed as the Bangalore Cavalry Brigade, and the 1st Brigade became simply the Bangalore Brigade.[2]
- 27th (Bangalore) Brigade
In August 1914, Indian Expeditionary Force B was intended to assault Dar es Salaam in German East Africa with 16th (Poona) Brigade as its nucleus. In the event, 16th (Poona) Brigade was mobilized with 6th (Poona) Division and sent to Mesopotamia. Instead, Bangalore Brigade was mobilized on 10 September 1914 as the 27th (Bangalore) Brigade along with the Imperial Service Infantry Brigade.
The Force sailed from Bombay on 16 October with Tanga as the target for an attack. After the failure of the Battle of Tanga (2–5 November), the Force disembarked at Mombassa and joined the defences of British East Africa. The brigade was broken up at this point.[4]
- Reformed brigade
The Bangalore Brigade was reformed in 9th (Secunderabad) Division in January 1917.[5] It remained with the division for the rest of the war, carrying out internal security duties. In the final year of the war, the division (and brigade) took part in the general expansion of the Indian Army as new units were formed.[6] It was disbanded in 1926.[2]
Orders of battle
edit| In India in August 1914 |
|---|
At the outbreak of the First World War, the brigade had the following composition:[7][8]
|
| East African Campaign |
|---|
The brigade's composition for its involvement in the East African Campaign was:[4]
|
| Reformed brigade |
|---|
The reformed brigade commanded the following units:[7]
|
1st / 27th Brigade commanders
editThe 1st Bangalore Brigade / Bangalore Brigade / 27th (Bangalore) Brigade / Bangalore Brigade had the following commanders:[2]
| From | Rank | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 1904 | Major-General | R.I. Scallon | |
| June 1908 | Major-General | T.D. Pilcher | |
| June 1909 | Major-General | J.G. Ramsay | |
| May 1911 | Major-General | E.C.W. Mackenzie-Kennedy | |
| January 1913 | Brigadier-General | R. Wapshare | Brigade broken up in November 1914 |
| January 1917 | Brigadier-General | H.A. Iggulden | Brigade reformed |
| January 1919 | Brigadier-General | O.C. Wolley-Dod | |
| December 1919 | Major-General | T.E. Scott | |
| May 1920 | Brigadier-General | Lord Ruthven | |
| May 1923 | Brigadier-General | H.W. Jackson | Brigade broken up in 1926 |
2nd Bangalore Brigade
edit| 2nd Bangalore Brigade Bangalore Cavalry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | December 1904 – October 1911 |
| Country | British India |
| Allegiance | British Crown |
| Branch | British Indian Army |
| Type | Infantry then Cavalry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 9th (Secunderabad) Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Bangalore Cantonment |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Maj.-Gen. J.E. Nixon |
As a result of the Kitchener Reforms of the British Indian Army, the 2nd Bangalore Brigade was formed in December 1904[a] from the former Bangalore Second Class District.[2] Major-General John Nixon, commander of the Bangalore District, took command.[14][15] The brigade formed part of the 9th (Secunderabad) Division.[3]
In 1906, the brigade was renamed as the Bangalore Cavalry Brigade (and the 1st Bangalore Brigade became simply the Bangalore Brigade). It was broken up in 1911.[2]
2nd Brigade commanders
editThe 2nd Bangalore Brigade / Bangalore Cavalry Brigade had the following commanders:[2]
| From | Rank | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1903 | Major-General | J.E. Nixon | GOC of Bangalore Second Class District[14] |
| August 1906 | Brigadier-General | F.G. Atkinson | |
| August 1909 | Brigadier-General | G.A. Cookson | Brigade broken up in October 1911 |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ a b December 1904 was the appointment date of the first commanding officer of the 1st Bangalore Brigade.[2]
- ^ 2nd Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment remained in East Africa until December 1916 (though it was in South Africa from 10 May to 20 August 1916 to recover from ill health). It was posted to Egypt where it joined the British 75th Division on 14 April 1917.[10][11]
- ^ 63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry remained in East Africa until January 1917.[4] It returned to India and joined the Secunderabad Brigade, 9th (Secunderabad) Division.[7]
- ^ 98th Infantry remained in East Africa until January 1917.[4] It returned to India and joined the 44th (Ferozepore) Brigade, 16th Indian Division.[13]
- ^ 101st Grenadiers remained in East Africa until August 1916. It joined the 29th Indian Brigade in Egypt on 4 September 1916.[4]
References
edit- ^ Haythornthwaite 1996, p. 244
- ^ a b c d e f g Mackie 2015, p. 371
- ^ a b The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart. "Hart's Annual Army List for 1906". London: John Murray. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Perry 1993, p. 165
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 106
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 110
- ^ a b c Perry 1993, p. 108
- ^ "The Indian Army 1914 by Dr. Graham Watson on orbat.com". Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 50
- ^ James 1978, p. 88
- ^ Baker, Chris. "The 75th Division in 1914-1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 109
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 138
- ^ a b Mackie 2015, p. 322
- ^ The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart. "Hart's Annual Army List for 1904". London: John Murray. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
Bibliography
edit- Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1996). The World War One Source Book. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-351-7.
- James, Brigadier E.A. (1978). British Regiments 1914–18. London: Samson Books Limited. ISBN 0-906304-03-2.
- 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.
External links
edit- "9th (Secunderabad) Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 28 May 2008. Retrieved 2015-07-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - "Independent Indian Brigades on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 2015-07-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - "The Indian Army 1914 by Dr. Graham Watson on orbat.com". Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 2009-10-15.