16th Indian Division

16th Indian Division
Active	1916–1922
Country	British India
Allegiance	British Crown
Branch	British Indian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Part of	Northern Army
Engagements	First World War Third Afghan War

Military unit

The 16th Indian Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during the First World War. It was formed in December 1916, during the First World War. It was the only war formed division of the British Indian Army that was not sent overseas,^[a] instead it was sent to guard the North West Frontier. The division took over the responsibilities of the 3rd Lahore Divisional Area when it was disbanded in May 1917.

The 16th Division was called into action for the Waziristan Campaign in 1917, the 45th (Jullundur) Brigade under command of Brigadier Reginald Dyer were responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. In 1919, they were sent into Afghanistan during the Third Afghan War.^[4]

The division was not reformed for the Second World War.^[5]

Order of Battle

The division was composed as follows:^[6]

43rd Indian Brigade

2/6th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
2nd Battalion 12th Pioneers
1st Battalion 124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan
1st Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles

44th (Ferozepore) Brigade

Joined the division in February 1917:

1/9th Battalion Hampshire Regiment
2nd Battalion 17th Infantry
2nd Battalion 30th Punjabis (Replaced by the 3rd battalion August 1918)

45th (Jullundur) Brigade

Joined the division in May 1917:

1/25th Battalion London Regiment
3rd Battalion 23rd Sikh Pioneers
55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force)
2nd Battalion 151st Sikh Infantry

In the Third Afghan War the formation was:

1 Squadron 37th Lancers (Baluch Horse)
1/25th Battalion London Regiment
2nd Battalion 41st Dogras
2nd Battalion 69th Punjabis
2nd Battalion 150th Infantry
57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force)
1 Company 2/4th Battalion Border Regiment
23rd (Peshawar) Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)^[7]

Ambala Brigade

Joined the division in May 1917:

1/9th Battalion Middlesex Regiment
4th Battalion 30th Punjabis

Divisional troops

23rd Battalion Rifle Brigade
2nd Battalion 10th Jats

Divisional Artillery

Notes

^ The 3rd Lahore,^[1] 6th Poona,^[2] and 7th Meerut Divisional Areas^[3] also remained in India throughout the war.

References

^ Perry 1993, p. 55
^ Perry 1993, p. 82
^ Perry 1993, p. 97
^ "Waziristan Campaign 1917". 25th County of London Cycle Battalion. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
^ Kempton 2003a, i
^ Perry 1993, pp. 67–71
^ Collett, pp.301–302

Bibliography

Collett, Nigel (2007). The Butcher of Amritsar: General Reginald Dyer. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 1-85285-575-4.
Kempton, Chris (2003a). 'Loyalty & Honour', The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947. Vol. Part I Divisions. Milton Keynes: The Military Press. ISBN 0-85420-228-5.
Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.