5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade

The 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry brigade of the British Indian Army that saw active service in the Indian Army during the First World War. Formed in November 1914, it served on the Western Front as part of the 2nd and 1st Indian Cavalry Divisions until it was broken up in March 1918.

5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade
Active11 November 1914 – March 1918
Country British India
AllegianceBritish Crown
Branch British Indian Army
TypeCavalry
SizeBrigade
Part of2nd Indian Cavalry Division
1st Indian Cavalry Division
EngagementsFirst World War
Western Front
Battle of Cambrai (1917)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Maj.-Gen. H.D. Fanshawe
Br.-Gen. G. de S. Barrow

History

Uniquely amongst the six Indian cavalry brigades sent to the Western Front in the First World War, the 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade was not a pre war formation.[lower-alpha 1] The brigade was formed on 11 November 1914[lower-alpha 2] from units in 5th (Mhow) Division and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons from Muttra.[8]

In company with the 7th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade, it departed Bombay on 19 November 1914 and landed at Marseilles on 14–16 December. It joined the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division which was formally constituted on 14 December. The division concentrated around Orléans on 20–24 December and moved up to the Front on 1–4 January 1915. While in France, the brigade was known by its geographical rather than numerical designation so as to avoid confusion with the British 5th Cavalry Brigade also serving on the Western Front at the same time.[9]

On 15 September 1915, the brigade swapped places with the 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade of 1st Indian Cavalry Division.[10][11]

Other than the Battle of Cambrai when it helped to hold the German counter-attack, it was not involved in battle. Instead, 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 Mhow Battalion.[12]

On 1 December 1917, Lance-Daffadar Gobind Singh of the 28th Light Cavalry, attached to 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse),[13] won the Victoria Cross during the Battle of Cambrai.[14]

Dissolved

In March 1918, the brigade was broken up in France. The British units (6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and A Battery, Royal Horse Artillery) remained in France, 11th Machine Gun Squadron was broken up on 14 April 1918[15] and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt.[12] On 24 April 1918, these were merged with the 6th Mounted Brigade of the Yeomanry Mounted Division.[16] On 22 July 1918 the 6th Mounted Brigade was redesignated as 10th Cavalry Brigade and the division as 4th Cavalry Division.[17]

Order of battle

The 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade commanded the following units on the Western Front:[11][10]

Commanders

The 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade had the following commanders:[7]

FromRankNameNotes
11 November 1914Major-GeneralH.D. Fanshawe
14 December 1914ColonelM.E. Willoghbytemporary
7 January 1915Brigadier-GeneralG. de S. Barrow
23 July 1915Brigadier-GeneralN.W. HaigBroken up in March 1918

Notes
  1. The other five Indian cavalry brigades sent to the Western Front in the First World War were: The only remaining pre-war cavalry brigade – 1st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade of 1st (Peshawar) Division – stayed in India throughout the war.[6]
  2. 11 November 1914 was the appointment date of the brigade's first commanding officer.[7]
  3. X Battery, Royal Horse Artillery was part of II Indian Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery but was attached to the brigade.[11]
  4. A Battery, Royal Horse Artillery was part of I Indian Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery but was attached to the brigade.[10]
  5. Formed on 29 February 1916 from the machine gun sections of 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) and 38th King George's Own Central India Horse.[15]

See also

References
  1. Perry 1993, p. 40
  2. Perry 1993, p. 49
  3. Perry 1993, p. 85
  4. Perry 1993, p. 100
  5. Perry 1993, p. 106
  6. Perry 1993, p. 36
  7. Perry 1993, p. 17
  8. Perry 1993, p. 19
  9. Perry 1993, p. 20
  10. Perry 1993, p. 14
  11. Perry 1993, p. 18
  12. Perry 1993, p. 16
  13. "No. 31340". The London Gazette. 15 May 1919. p. 6084.
  14. "No. 30471". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 January 1918. p. 725.
  15. Baker, Chris. "Cavalry units of the Machine Gun Corps". The Long Long Trail. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  16. Becke 1936, p. 33
  17. Perry 1993, p. 22
  18. Perry 1993, p. 69
  19. "The Ypres Sailient". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.

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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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