Ambala Brigade

The Ambala Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that formed part of the Indian Army during the First World War. It was formed in November 1914 to replace the original Ambala Brigade that had been mobilized as the 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade for service on the Western Front. It remained in India throughout the war.

The brigade continued to exist between the World Wars and by September 1939 it was designated Ambala Brigade Area. It was broken up in 1941.

History At the outbreak of the First World War, the Ambala Cavalry Brigade was part of the 3rd (Lahore) Division. It was mobilized in August 1914 as the 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade, assigned to the newly formed 1st Indian Cavalry Division and sailed from Bombay on 16 October for the Western Front. Likewise, the 3rd (Lahore) Division was transferred to France in August 1914. The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area was formed in September 1914 to take over the area responsibilities of the 3rd (Lahore) Division and on 11 November 1914 a new Ambala Brigade was formed in 3rd Lahore Divisional Area to replace the original brigade. The brigade served with the division in India until May 1917.

From December 1916, the 16th Indian Division began forming as a reserve division for the North-West Frontier eventually taking over the responsibilities and brigades of the 3rd Lahore Divisional Area: 44th (Ferozepore) Brigade in February 1917 and the Ambala and 45th (Jullundur) Brigades in May. It remained with the new division until June 1918 when it became an independent formation.

The brigade continued to exist after the end of the war. By 1926 it had been redesignated as Ambala Brigade Area. It was broken up in 1941.

Orders of battle 3rd Lahore Divisional AreaThe brigade commanded the following units while assigned to 3rd Lahore Divisional Area: 1/5th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry) (arrived in India with the 43rd (Wessex) Division and joined the brigade in December 1914; transferred in March 1916 to the 7th Meerut Divisional Area) 1st Battalion, 8th Gurkha Rifles (joined in January 1915 from Shillong, 8th (Lucknow) Division; transferred in March 1916 to Mesopotamia where it joined 21st (Bareilly) Brigade, 7th (Meerut) Division) 1/4th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment (joined in March 1915 from Mhow, 5th (Mhow) Division; transferred in February 1916 to Mesopotamia where it joined the 42nd Indian Brigade, 15th Indian Division) 1/6th (Duke of Connaught's Own) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (joined in March 1916 from Dehra Dun Brigade, 7th Meerut Divisional Area) 1/7th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (joined in March 1916 from Meerut) 1/9th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) (joined in March 1917 from 43rd Indian Brigade, 16th Indian Division) 16th Indian DivisionThe brigade commanded the following units while assigned to 16th Indian Division: 1/6th (Duke of Connaught's Own) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (transferred in August 1917 to Mesopotamia where it joined the 52nd Indian Brigade, 17th Indian Division) 1/9th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) (transferred in November 1917 to the 53rd Indian Brigade, 18th Indian Division) 1/7th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (transferred in January 1918 to the Aden Brigade) 1/4th Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) (joined in January 1918 from 43rd Indian Brigade; transferred in March to the 45th (Jullundur) Brigade 33rd Punjabis (joined in February 1918 from East Africa; transferred in April to 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division) 2nd Battalion, 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force) (formed in February 1918; transferred in April to Multan) Jind (Imperial Service) Infantry (joined in February 1918 from East Africa) 1/9th (Cyclist) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (joined in February 1918 from 44th (Ferozepore) Brigade) 2nd Battalion, 69th Punjabis (formed in May 1918) Independent formationThe brigade commanded the following units while serving as an independent formation: Jind (Imperial Service) Infantry 1/9th (Cyclist) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (transferred in October 1918 to Siberia) 2nd Battalion, 69th Punjabis (transferred in August 1918 to Delhi Brigade, 7th Meerut Divisional Area) 3rd Battalion, 34th Sikh Pioneers (formed in June 1918) 3rd Battalion, 30th Punjabis (formed in June 1918; transferred in August to 44th (Ferozepore) Brigade) 4th Battalion, 30th Punjabis (formed in June 1918; transferred in December to 44th (Ferozepore) Brigade) 1st Battalion, 140th Patiala Infantry (formed in July 1918) 1/5th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (joined in October 1918 from Rangoon Brigade, Burma Division) Ambala Brigade Area on 3 September 1939At the outbreak of the Second World War, the brigade area had the following units under command: 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (at Kasauli) Detachments at Ambala and Jutagh Detachment, 2nd Battalion, Green Howards (at Solon) 3rd Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment 10th Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment Frontier Post, Indian Artillery (at Arawali) The Mountain Artillery Training Centre The Survey Section (India) (at Kakul) 11th Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment, ITF

Commanders The Ambala Brigade had the following commanders: From To Rank Name 11 November 1914 15 October 1915 Brigadier-General H.A. Iggulden 15 October 1915 2 June 1918 Brigadier-General C.E. Hendley 3 June 1918 March 1920 Major-General November 1920 April 1921 Brigadier-General H.C. Wooldridge April 1921 October 1921 Brigadier-General C.H. Rowcroft September 1922 Brigadier-General C.C. Newnham December 1923 Brigadier-General H.J.P. Browne December 1923 December 1927 Major-General D. Deane December 1927 March 1929 Brigadier E.C. Gepp April 1929 May 1931 Brigadier W.E. Wilson-Johnston May 1931 May 1932 Brigadier H.L. Scott May 1932 February 1934 Brigadier F.G. Gillies February 1934 February 1938 Brigadier E.G. Hall February 1938 1941 Brigadier C.A.L. Howard

Ambala Brigade

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