MonteZaleski33 at 07:21, 10 February 2024

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{{for|the World War II formation|12th Infantry Division (India)}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= 12th Indian Division
|abbreviation=
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1915–1916
|country= [[British Raj|India]]
|allegiance= [[British Crown]]
|branch= [[British Indian Army]]
|type= Infantry
|role=
|size= Division
|command_structure=
|equipment=

|Past Commanders=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|notable_commanders= Major General [[G. F. Gorringe|Gerald Frederick Gorringe]]

|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_2=

|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=[[Battle of Shaiba]]<br>[[Battle of Khafajiya]]<br>[[Battle of Nasiriya]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
}}

The '''12th Indian Division''' was formed in March 1915 from units of the [[British Indian Army]]. It formed part of the [[Tigris Corps]], for service during the [[Mesopotamia Campaign]] of [[World War I]]. The Division arrived in Mesopotamia in April 1915 and remained there until it was broken up in March 1916.
The Division's brigades remained in Mesopotamia as independent formations until forming part of the [[15th Indian Division]] in May 1916.<ref name="army.mod">{{cite web|title=army.mod|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/rahs_mesopotamia1914_15_article.doc }}</ref>
During its short existence it fought in a number of actions including the [[Battle of Shaiba]] between April 12–14, 1915, the [[Battle of Khafajiya]] between May 14–16, 1915, the [[Battle of Nasiriya]] between July 5, 13-14, 24 1915, where 400 British and Indian soldiers were killed in the battle and up to 2,000 Turkish Soldiers.{{citation needed|date=June 2009}} The Occupation of [[Nasiriya]] and the affair at [[Butanuja]], January 14, 1916.<ref name="army.mod" />

==Order of battle==
The division included the following units; not all of them served at the same time:<ref name="army.mod"/><ref name="warpath">{{cite web|title=warpath |url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/12_ind_div.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517084906/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/12_ind_div.htm |archivedate=17 May 2008 }}</ref><ref name=Perry124>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=124}}</ref>

===[[12th Indian Brigade]]===
* 2nd Battalion, [[Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)]]
* [[90th Punjabis]]
* [[44th Merwara Infantry|44th Mherwara Infantry]]
* [[4th Prince Albert Victor's Rajputs]]
* [[67th Punjabis]]
* 1/5th Battalion, [[Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)]]

===[[30th Indian Brigade]]===
* [[24th Punjabis]]
* [[76th Punjabis]]
* [[126th Baluchistan Infantry|126th Baluchis]]
* 2nd Battalion, [[7th Gurkha Rifles]]
* 1/4th Battalion, [[Hampshire Regiment]]
* half of 2nd Battalion, [[Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)]]
* half of [[67th Punjabis]]

===[[33rd Indian Brigade]]===
The brigade was broken up in December 1915.
* 1/4th Battalion, [[Hampshire Regiment]]
* [[11th Rajputs]]
* [[66th Punjabis]]
* [[67th Punjabis]]
* [[4th Prince Albert Victor's Rajputs]]
* [[43rd Erinpura Regiment]]
* [[20th Punjabis]]

===[[34th Indian Brigade]]===
Replaced 33rd Brigade when it was broken up.
* 1/5th Battalion, [[Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)]]
* [[31st Punjabis]]
* 1st Battalion, [[112th Infantry]]
* [[114th Mahrattas]]
* half of 2nd Battalion, [[Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)]]

===Divisional Cavalry===
*Two [[Squadron (army)|squadrons]] of [[33rd Queen Victoria’s Own Light Cavalry]]<ref name="army.mod" /><ref name="warpath" />

===Divisional Artillery===
*86th Heavy Battery, [[Royal Garrison Artillery]]
*104th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
*[[2nd Wessex Brigade, Royal Field Artillery|1/5th Hampshire (Howitzer) Battery]], [[Royal Field Artillery]] ([[Territorial Force]]) <ref name="army.mod" /><ref name="warpath" />

===Divisional Engineers===
*12th Field Company, 2nd Sappers and Miners
*12th Division Signal Company <ref name="army.mod" /><ref name="warpath" />

==See also==

* [[List of Indian divisions in World War I]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book
| last = Haythornthwaite | first = Philip J.
| year = 1996
| title = The World War One Source Book
| publisher = Arms and Armour Press
| location = London
| isbn = 1-85409-351-7
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Moberly | first = F.J.
| year = 1923
| title = Official History of the War: Mesopotamia Campaign
| publisher = Imperial War Museum
| location = London
| isbn = 1-870423-30-5
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Perry | first = F.W.
| year = 1993
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions
| publisher = Ray Westlake Military Books
| location = Newport
| isbn = 1-871167-23-X
}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/12_ind_div.htm |title=12th Indian Division on ''The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918'' by PB Chappell |accessdate=2009-09-30 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517084906/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/12_ind_div.htm |archivedate=17 May 2008 |df=dmy }}

{{Indian Divisions in World War I}}
{{Indian Expeditionary Forces}}

[[Category:British Indian Army divisions]]
[[Category:Indian World War I divisions]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1915]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1916]]

12th Indian Division - Revision history

MonteZaleski33 at 07:21, 10 February 2024