17th Indian Division

British Indian Army unit during World War I the World War II formation 17th Infantry Division (India) May 2015 May 2026 17th Indian Division August 1917 – August 1923 British India 23px British Crown British India 23px Infantry Division I Corps World War I Mesopotamian Campaign Battle of Sharqat Major-General Webb GillmanMajor-General G.A.J. Leslie The 17th Indian Division was formed in 1917 from units of the British Indian Army for service in the Mesopotamia Campaign during World War I. After the war, it formed part of the occupation force for Iraq and took part in the Iraq Rebellion in 1920. In August 1923, the division was reduced to a single brigade. History 300px|right|thumb|Indian troops Mesopotamia The 17th Indian Division started forming in Mesopotamia from August 1917 with the 50th, 51st, and 52nd Indian Brigades. Shortly after being formed, the 50th Brigade exchanged places with the 34th Indian Brigade of 15th Indian Division.Perry 1993 146 Most of the infantry battalions that had already been guarding lines of communications in Mesopotamia for some months, were somewhat acclimatized and accustomed to the country. The division was involved in the action at Fat-ha Gorge on the Little Zab between 23–26 October 1918 and the Battle of Sharqat, 28–30 October 1918http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/17_ind_div.htm 17th Indian Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell 2015-05-30 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080528042736/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/17_ind_div.htm 28 May 2008 dmy under command of I Corps At the end of the war, the 17th Division was chosen to form part of the occupation force for Iraq. It took part in the Iraq Rebellion in 1920. In August 1923, the division was reduced to a single brigade; the last British troops left in March 1927 and the Indian ones in November 1928. Order of battle The division commanded the following units, although not all of them served at the same time:Perry 1993 144 34th Indian Brigade 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) 31st Punjabis 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry 114th Mahrattas 129th Machine Gun Company 34th Light Trench Mortar Battery 51st Indian Brigade 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry 1st Battalion, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry 14th Ferozepore Sikhs 1st Battalion, 10th Gurkha Rifles 257th Machine Gun Company 51st Light Trench Mortar Battery 52nd Indian Brigade 1/6th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment 45th Rattray's Sikhs 84th Punjabis 1st Battalion, 94th Russell's Infantry 1st Battalion, 113th Infantry 258th Machine Gun Company 52nd Light Trench Mortar Battery Divisional Artillery CCXX Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (1064th, 1065th, 403rd (H) and Anglo-Indian Batteries)CCXX Brigade, Royal Field Artillery was originally the 1/I Home Counties Brigade of the Home Counties Division, Territorial Force, plus the 403rd (H) Battery. The Anglo-Indian Battery joined in May 1918.Perry 1993 145 CCXXI Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (1067th, 1068th, 404th (H) and Volunteer Batteries)CCXXI Brigade, Royal Field Artillery was originally the 1/II Home Counties Brigade of the Home Counties Division, TF, plus the 404th (H) Battery. The Volunteer Battery joined in April 1918 from 15th Indian Division.Perry 1993 135 X.17 Medium Trench Mortar Battery 17th Divisional Ammunition Column Engineers and Pioneers Sirmoor, Tehri Garhwal and Malerkotla Sappers and Miners, ISF 17th Division Signal Company, Royal Engineers Signal Service 1st Battalion, 32nd Sikh Pioneers Divisional Troops 276th Machine Gun Company 17th Machine Gun Battalion17th Machine Gun Battalion was organised in November 1918 from the 129th, 257th, 258th and 276th Machine Gun Companies. 3rd, 19th, 35th and 36th Combined Field Ambulances, RAMC No. 7 Mobile Veterinary Section, AVC 17th Division Train, ASC Commanders The division was commanded from 25 August 1917 by Major-General W. Gillman. On 17 December 1917, Major-General G.A.J. Leslie took command.Perry 1993 141 See also List of Indian divisions in World War I Notes References Further reading Haythornthwaite Philip J. 1996 The World War One Source Book Arms and Armour Press London 1-85409-351-7 Moberly F.J. 1923 1997 Official History of the War: Mesopotamia Campaign Imperial War Museum London 1-870423-30-5 Perry F.W. 1993 Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions Ray Westlake Military Books Newport 1-871167-23-X External links http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/17_ind_div.htm 17th Indian Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell 2015-05-30 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080528042736/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/17_ind_div.htm 28 May 2008 dmy http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/sharqat.htm Battle of Sharqat, 1918 FirstWorldWar.com 31 May 2015 Category:British Indian Army divisions Category:Indian World War I divisions Category:Military units and formations established in 1917 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1923