The 1st Mounted Division was a Yeomanry Division of the British Army active during World War I. It was formed in August 1914 for the home defence of the United Kingdom from four existing mounted brigades of the Territorial Force, each of three regiments of Yeomanry. The divisional order of battle changed often, as the 1st Line brigades left for service overseas and were replaced by 2nd Line formations. It was converted to the 1st Cyclist Division in July 1916, and was broken up in November 1916 without being involved in active service. It remained in East Anglia throughout its existence.
An unrelated 1st Mounted Division was formed in July 1916, from the 3rd Mounted Division, lasting until September 1917. Another incarnation of 1st Mounted Division was created in April 1918 from the Yeomanry Mounted Division, lasting until July 1918.
History 1st Mounted Division The Mounted Division was formed on 5 August 1914, immediately after the outbreak of World War I, from four existing mounted brigades of the Territorial ForceEastern, 1st South Midland, 2nd South Midland, and Notts. and Derby. It was assembled in East Anglia with Headquarters at Bury St Edmunds and the brigades at Ipswich, Diss and two at Bury. The division was to spend its entire existence in East Anglia.
Later in the month, a decision was made to concentrate mounted troops in the Churn area of Berkshire and at the end of August 1914 these were formed into a new 2nd Mounted Division. The original division was designated as 1st Mounted Division and gained three more 1st Line mounted brigadesSouth Wales, Welsh Border, and North Midlandto replace the 1st South Midland, 2nd South Midland, and Notts. and Derby brigades.
As the 1st Line mounted brigades left for overseas service, they were replaced by 2nd Line formations. As with other 2nd Line divisionswhich the 1st Mounted Division was in all but namethe division experienced considerable problems with regard to equipment and personnel. Even as late as July 1915, some Royal Horse Artillery batteries were without guns, wagons or harnesses, machine guns were lacking and few of the men had fired a recruits' course of musketry.
By the beginning of March 1916, the last 1st Line brigades had left and the division was now composed entirely of 2nd Line formations. On 31 March 1916, the remaining mounted brigades were ordered to be numbered in a single sequence and the division now commanded the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Mounted Brigades.
1st Cyclist Division In July 1916 there was a major reorganization of 2nd Line yeomanry units in the United Kingdom. All but 12 regiments were converted to cyclists: the rest were dismounted, handed over their horses to the remount depots and were issued with bicycles. The 1st Mounted Division was reorganized as the 1st Cyclist Division, now commanding the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Cyclist Brigades. On reorganization, 2nd Mounted Brigadewith 2/1st Royal 1st Devon, 2/1st Montgomeryshire and 2/1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanrywas posted to the new 1st Mounted Division (3rd Mounted Division redesignated) and remained mounted. In exchange, the 12th Mounted Brigade (2/1st London) joined as the 4th Cyclist Brigade.
A further reorganization in November 1916 saw the 1st Cyclist Division broken up. The cyclist brigades were dispersed and the yeomanry regiments were amalgamated in pairs to form Yeomanry Cyclist Regiments in new cyclist brigades.
Other formations Two other divisions of the British Army were named 1st Mounted Division during World War I.
When the original division was converted to a cyclist division in July 1916, the 3rd Mounted Division was renumbered as the 1st Mounted Division as it was the only remaining mounted division. It, too, was converted to cyclists as The Cyclist Division on 4 September 1917.
In March 1918, the 1st Indian Cavalry Division was broken up in France. The British units remained on the Western Front and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt. By an Egyptian Expeditionary Force GHQ Order of 12 April 1918, the mounted troops of the EEF were reorganized when the Indian Army units arrived in theatre. On 24 April 1918, the Yeomanry Mounted Division was indianized and its title was changed to 1st Mounted Division. On 22 July 1918, it was renumbered as the 4th Cavalry Division.
Orders of battle 1st Mounted Division – August 1914On formation immediately after the outbreak of World War I, the 1st Mounted Division commanded the following units: Eastern Mounted Brigade 1/1st Suffolk Yeomanry 1/1st Norfolk Yeomanry 1/1st Essex Yeomanry 2nd King Edward's Horse Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) 1/1st Essex RHAEastern Ammunition Column 1/1st Warwickshire RHA1st South Midland Ammunition Column 1/1st Berkshire RHA2nd South Midland Ammunition Column 1/1st Nottinghamshire RHANotts. and Derby. Ammunition Column Royal Engineers Signal Service Eastern Signal Troop 1st South Midland Signal Troop 2nd South Midland Signal Troop Notts. and Derby. Signal Troop London Wireless Signal Company Southern Wireless Signal Company Scottish Cable Signal Company Medical Eastern Field Ambulance, RAMC 1st South Midland Field Ambulance, RAMC 2nd South Midland Field Ambulance, RAMC Notts. and Derby. Field Ambulance, RAMC Veterinary Eastern Mobile Veterinary Section 1st South Midland Mobile Veterinary Section 2nd South Midland Mobile Veterinary Section Notts. and Derby. Mobile Veterinary Section 1st Mounted Division Train Eastern Transport and Supply Column, ASC 1st South Midland Transport and Supply Column, ASC 2nd South Midland Transport and Supply Column, ASC Notts. and Derby. Transport and Supply Column, ASC 1st Mounted Division Company, ASC 1st South Midland Mounted Brigade 1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry 1/1st Royal Gloucestershire Hussars 1/1st Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade 1/1st Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars 1/1st Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars 1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade 1/1st Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry 1/1st South Nottinghamshire Hussars 1/1st Derbyshire Yeomanry Attached 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 1/25th (Cyclist) Battalion, London Regiment
1st Mounted Division – September 1914 to September 1915The 1st Mounted Division had the following structure after the departure of three of the original brigades to the 2nd Mounted Division and before the 1st Line mounted brigades started to be replaced by 2nd Line formations: Eastern Mounted Brigade 2nd King Edward's Horse 1/1st Suffolk Yeomanry 1/1st Norfolk Yeomanry 1/1st Welsh Horse Yeomanry Royal Artillery 1/1st Essex RHAEastern Ammunition Column 1/1st Glamorganshire RHASouth Wales Ammunition Column 1/1st Shropshire RHAWelsh Border Ammunition Column 1/1st Leicestershire RHANorth Midland Ammunition Column 117th Heavy Battery, RGA 41st Siege Battery, RGA RE Signal Service Eastern Signal Troop South Wales Signal Troop Welsh Border Signal Troop North Midland Signal Troop London Wireless Signal Company Scottish A.T. Signal Company Southern Command A.T. Signal Company Medical Eastern Field Ambulance, RAMC South Wales Field Ambulance, RAMC Welsh Border Field Ambulance, RAMC North Midland Field Ambulance, RAMC Veterinary Eastern Mobile Veterinary Section South Wales Mobile Veterinary Section Welsh Border Mobile Veterinary Section North Midland Mobile Veterinary Section 1st Mounted Division Train Eastern Transport and Supply Column, ASC South Wales Transport and Supply Column, ASC Welsh Border Transport and Supply Column, ASC North Midland Transport and Supply Column, ASC 1st Mounted Division Company, ASC South Wales Mounted Brigade 1/1st Pembroke Yeomanry 1/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry 1/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry Welsh Border Mounted Brigade 1/1st Shropshire Yeomanry 1/1st Cheshire Yeomanry 1/1st Denbighshire Hussars North Midland Mounted Brigade 1/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry 1/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry 1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry 1/1st Welsh Horse Yeomanry 1/1st East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry Attached 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 1/25th (Cyclist) Battalion, London Regiment
1st Mounted Division – September 1915 to March 1916The 1st Mounted Division had the following structure after the departure of the last 1st Line mounted brigade and before the mounted brigades were numbered: 2/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade 2/1st Suffolk Yeomanry 2/1st Norfolk Yeomanry 2/1st Essex Yeomanry Royal Artillery 2/1st Leicestershire RHANorth Midland Ammunition Column 2/1st Glamorganshire RHASouth Wales Ammunition Column 2/1st Shropshire RHAWelsh Border Ammunition Column 117th Heavy Battery, RGA 2/1st Devon Heavy Battery, RGA Signal Service 2/1st Eastern Signal Troop 2/1st North Midland Signal Troop 2/1st South Wales Signal Troop 2/1st Welsh Border Signal Troop 1st Mounted Division Signal Squadron Medical 2/1st Eastern Field Ambulance, RAMC 2/1st North Midland Field Ambulance, RAMC 2/1st South Wales Field Ambulance, RAMC 2/1st Welsh Border Field Ambulance, RAMC Veterinary 2/1st Eastern Mobile Veterinary Section 2/1st North Midland Mobile Veterinary Section 2/1st South Wales Mobile Veterinary Section 2/1st Welsh Border Mobile Veterinary Section 1st Mounted Division Train 2/1st Eastern Transport and Supply Column, ASC 2/1st North Midland Transport and Supply Column, ASC 2/1st South Wales Transport and Supply Column, ASC 2/1st Welsh Border Transport and Supply Column, ASC 1st Mounted Division Company, ASC 2/1st North Midland Mounted Brigade 2/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry 2/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry 2/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry 2/1st South Wales Mounted Brigade 2/1st Pembroke Yeomanry 2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry 2/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry 2/1st Welsh Horse Yeomanry 2/1st Welsh Border Mounted Brigade 2/1st Shropshire Yeomanry 2/1st Cheshire Yeomanry 2/1st Denbighshire Hussars Attached 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 2/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 1/25th (Cyclist) Battalion, London Regiment 2/25th (Cyclist) Battalion, London Regiment
1st Mounted Division – March 1916 to July 1916The 1st Mounted Division had the following structure after the mounted brigades were numbered and before it was converted to a cyclist division: 1st Mounted Brigade (2/1st Highland) 2/1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry 2/1st Lovat Scouts 2/2nd Lovat Scouts Royal Artillery 2/1st Leicestershire RHA and Ammunition Column 2/1st Glamorganshire RHA and Ammunition Column 2/1st Shropshire RHA and Ammunition Column 117th Heavy Battery, RGA Signal Service 1st Mounted Brigade Signal Troop 2nd Mounted Brigade Signal Troop 3rd Mounted Brigade Signal Troop 4th Mounted Brigade Signal Troop 1st Mounted Division Signal Squadron Medical 1st Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, RAMC 2nd Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, RAMC 3rd Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, RAMC 4th Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, RAMC 1st Mounted Division Train 1st Mounted Brigade Transport and Supply Column, ASC 2nd Mounted Brigade Transport and Supply Column, ASC 3rd Mounted Brigade Transport and Supply Column, ASC 4th Mounted Brigade Transport and Supply Column, ASC 1st Mounted Division Company, ASC 2nd Mounted Brigade (2/2nd South Western) 2/1st Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry 2/1st Royal North Devon Yeomanry 2/1st West Somerset Yeomanry 3rd Mounted Brigade (2/1st North Midland) 2/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry 2/1st Leicestershire Yeomanry 2/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry 4th Mounted Brigade (2/1st South Wales) 2/1st Pembroke Yeomanry 2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry 2/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry Attached 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 1/6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment