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{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 15th Indian Division
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| dates = 7 May 1916 – March 1919; 1 October 1964 - onwards
| country = {{flag|British India|23px}}<br>{{flag icon|India}} [[India]]
| branch = {{army|British India|23px}}<br>[[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Indian Army]]
| type = [[Infantry]]
| role =
| size = [[Division (military)|Division]]
| command_structure =
| garrison =
| garrison_label =
| nickname =Panther Division
| patron =
| motto =
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles=[[World War I]]
:[[Mesopotamian Campaign]]
::[[Battles of Ramadi (1917)|Capture of Ramadi]]
::[[Action of Khan Baghdadi]]
:[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
:[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| disbanded =
| notable_commanders =Major General H T Brooking<br>Major General Mohinder Singh {{Small|MVC}}<br>Major General BM Bhattacharjee {{Small|PVSM, MVC}}
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
}}
The '''15th Indian Division''' was an [[infantry]] [[Division (military)|division]] of the [[British Indian Army]] that saw active service in the [[Indian Army during World War I|First World War]]. It served in the [[Mesopotamian Campaign]] on the Euphrates Front throughout its existence. It did not serve in the [[Second World War]],<ref>{{harvnb|Kempton|2003a|loc=i}}</ref> but was reformed at [[Dehradun]] in 1964 as part of the post-independence [[Indian Army]].

==History==
[[Image:KhanBaghdadi.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The 2nd Battalion, [[6th Gurkha Rifles]] of [[42nd Indian Brigade]] march towards the [[action of Khan Baghdadi]]]]
;World War I
The division was formed on 7 May 1916 to replace the [[12th Indian Division]] on the Euphrates Front. It remained on the Euphrates Front until the end of the war. It took part in the action of As Sahilan (11 September 1916), the [[Battles of Ramadi (1917)|Capture of Ramadi]] (28 and 29 September 1917), the Occupation of [[Hīt]] (9 March 1918) and the [[action of Khan Baghdadi]] (26 and 27 March 1918).<ref name=Perry136>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=136}}</ref> The division was not attached to either of the army corps operating in Mesopotamia, the [[I Corps (British India)|I Corps]] and [[III Corps (India)|III Corps]].{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

The division was commanded from formation on 7 May 1916 by [[Brigadier-general (United Kingdom)|Brigadier-General]] Harry T Brooking. Brooking was promoted to [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] on 5 June 1916.<ref name=Perry131>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=131}}</ref>

At the end of the war, the division was rapidly run down and it was disbanded in March 1919.<ref name=Perry136/>
;Post Independence
The division was re-raised on 1 October 1964 at Clement Town, [[Dehradun]] under Major General Niranjan Prasad and assigned to [[XI Corps (India)|XI Corps]].<ref>Richard A. Renaldi and Ravi Rikhye, 'Indian Army Order of Battle,' Orbat.com for Tiger Lily Books: A division of General Data LLC, {{ISBN|978-0-9820541-7-8}}, 2011, 103-4.</ref><ref name="BS">{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/army-ad-errs-on-1965-war-history-makes-amends-115082601143_1.html|title=Army ad errs on 1965 war history, makes amends|date=2015-08-17|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref> The divisional headquarters has been located at [[Amritsar]] since 1965.
==Order of battle, First World War==
The division commanded the following units, although not all of them served at the same time:<ref name=Perry134>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=134}}</ref>

===[[12th Indian Brigade]]===
* 1/5th Battalion, [[Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)]]
* 2nd Battalion, [[39th Garhwal Rifles]]
* 1st Battalion, [[43rd Erinpura Regiment|43rd Erinpura Infantry]]
* [[90th Punjabis]]
* 128th Machine Gun Company
* 12th Light [[Trench mortar|Trench Mortar]] Battery

===[[34th Indian Brigade]]===
:''Joined the division on formation and left for the [[17th Indian Division]] in August 1917''
* 2nd Battalion, [[Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)]]
* [[31st Punjabis]]
* 1st Battalion, [[112th Infantry]]
* [[114th Mahrattas]]
* 129th Machine Gun Company

===[[42nd Indian Brigade]]===
* 1/4th Battalion, [[Devonshire Regiment]]
* 1/4th Battalion, [[Dorsetshire Regiment]]
* 1st Battalion, [[5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)]]
* 2nd Battalion, 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
* 2nd Battalion, [[6th Gurkha Rifles]]
* 130th Machine Gun Company
* 42nd Light Trench Mortar Battery

===[[50th Indian Brigade]]===
:''Joined from the 17th Indian Division in September 1917''
* 1st Battalion, [[Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry]]
* [[6th Jat Light Infantry]]
* [[14th King George's Own Ferozepore Sikhs]]
* [[24th Punjabis]]
* 1st Battalion, [[97th Deccan Infantry]]
* 256th Machine Gun Company
* 50th Light Trench Mortar Battery

===Divisional Artillery===
* VII Mountain Brigade, [[Indian Mountain Artillery]] ([[21st Kohat Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)|21st Kohat]] and [[26th Jacob's Mountain Battery|26th Jacob's]] Mountain Batteries){{efn|VII Mountain Brigade, [[Indian Mountain Artillery]] joined in May 1916 and left in April 1917.<ref name=Perry135>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=135}}</ref>}}
* [[1st Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers|CCXXII Brigade]], [[Royal Field Artillery]] (375th, 1070th, 1072th, 77th ([[Howitzer|H]]) and 429th (H) Batteries){{efn|CCXXII Brigade, [[Royal Field Artillery]] joined in October 1916. It was originally the [[1st Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers|III Home Counties Brigade]] of the [[Home Counties Division]], [[Territorial Force]], plus the 375th and 77th ([[Howitzer|H]]) Batteries. 429th (H) Battery replaced 77th (H) Battery in October 1918.<ref name=Perry135/>}}
* [[1st Wessex Artillery|CCXV Brigade, Royal Field Artillery]] ([[2/1st Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery|816th]], 1087th, 1088th and 524th (H) Batteries}{{efn|CCXV Brigade, Royal Field Artillery joined in October 1917 from [[3rd (Lahore) Division]]. It was originally the [[1st Wessex Artillery|I Wessex Brigade]] of the [[Wessex Division]], Territorial Force, plus the 816th and 524th (H) Batteries. 816th Battery was originally [[2/1st Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery]].<ref name=Perry135/>}}
* Volunteer Battery{{efn|The Volunteer Battery left in April 1918 for [[17th Indian Division]].<ref name=Perry135/>}}
* M, N and O Light Trench Mortar Batteries{{efn|M, N and O Light Trench Mortar Batteries joined in September 1917 and were assigned to the infantry brigades in February 1918.<ref name=Perry135/>}}
* X.15 Medium Trench Mortar Battery
* 15th Divisional Ammunition Column

===Engineers and Pioneers===
* 4th Field Company, [[1st King George's Own Sappers and Miners]]
* [[Malerkotla Sappers|Malerkotla]] Sappers and Miners, [[Indian State Forces|ISF]]
* [[448th (Northumbrian) Field Company, Royal Engineers]]
* [[450th (Northumbrian) Field Company, Royal Engineers]]
* [[451st (Northumbrian) Field Company, Royal Engineers]]
* 15th Division Signal Company, [[Royal Engineers Signal Service]]
* [[48th Pioneers]]

===Divisional troops===
* D Squadron [[1/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry]] (6 August 1917 to May 1918)
* 275th Machine Gun Company
* 3rd, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 34th, 105th and 108th Combined Field Ambulances, [[Royal Army Medical Corps|RAMC]]
* No. 16 (renumbered No. 6) Mobile Veterinary Section, [[Royal Army Veterinary Corps|AVC]]
* 15th Division Train, [[Royal Army Service Corps|ASC]]

==Battles and engagements during World War I==
The division was involved in the following actions:<ref name=Perry136/>
* Action of As Sahilan ''(11 September 1916)''
* [[Battle of Ramadi (1917)|Capture of Ramadi]] ''(28{{snd}}29 September 1917)''
* Occupation of [[Hīt]] ''(9 March 1918)''
* [[Action of Khan Baghdadi]] ''(26{{snd}}27 March 1918)''

==Indo-Pakistani War of 1965==
{{main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}}
The division was fully operational on 31 March 1965 and moved to its headquarters in Amritsar by 1 April 1965. It took part in Operation Ablaze and the [[Battle of Dograi]].<ref name="GoldenJubilee">{{cite web|url=https://samsshopping.com/product/15-infantry-division/|title=15 Infantry Division, Golden Jubilee Cover|date=2014-10-01|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref>

The division consisted of 38 Infantry Brigade, 54 Infantry Brigade and 15 Artillery Brigade.<ref name="Harbaksh">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Harbaksh |title=War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965|date=2012|publisher= Lancer Publishers LLC|isbn=978-8170621171|page=}}</ref> 38 Infantry Brigade consisted of 1 [[Jat Regiment|Jat]], 1/[[3rd Gorkha Rifles|3 Gorkha Rifles]] and 3 [[Garhwal Rifles]]. 54 Infantry Brigade consisted of 3 [[Jat Regiment|Jat]], 15 [[Dogra Regiment|Dogra]], 13 [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab]]. In addition to the two infantry brigades, the division consisted of [[14 Horse (Scinde Horse)]], 60 Heavy Regiment and 71 Field Company.<ref name="Scindestamp">{{cite web|url=https://www.istampgallery.com/the-scinde-horse/|title=The Scinde Horse|date=2015-01-09|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://southasiamonitor.org/open-forum/recalling-epic-tank-battles-1965-war-when-pakistan-army-began-avoiding-indian-army-tanks|title= Recalling epic tank battles of 1965 war: When Pakistan Army began avoiding Indian Army tanks|date=2021-01-04|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref> 96 Infantry Brigade, consisting of 6 [[Kumaon Regiment|Kumaon]], 7 [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab]] and 16 [[Dogra Regiment|Dogra]] was initially part of the XI Corps reserve, but subsequently placed under the division's operational command.<ref name="Harbaksh"/> [[50th Parachute Brigade (India)|50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade]] was placed under the division on 11 September. It was tasked to capture the road and rail bridges in Jallo area, but suffered heavy casualties during 16 and 17 September and had to be withdrawn.

The division was given the task to advance on the [[Grand Trunk Road]] axis and capture the bridge on the [[Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian Canal]] (also called Ichhogil Canal) in Dograi east of [[Lahore]]. 3 Jat under Lieutenant Colonel [[Desmond Hayde]] captured Dograi on the eastern bank of the Canal on 6 September 1965. The same day, 3 Jat captured the Batapore and Attokeawan localities on the west bank of the Canal. Due to lack of support, the unit had to fall back. 1 Jat managed to reach Bhaini Dhilwan bridge, but could not secure it due to armour and artillery fire and had to withdraw. This bridge was subsequently captured by 96 Infantry Brigade.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=KVK|title=Prepare or Perish: A Study of National Security|publisher=Lancer Publishers|date=1991|isbn=978-8172120016|page=131-132}}</ref> Following the initial reverses faced by the division, Major General Niranjan Prasad was replaced by Major General Mohindar Singh on 9 September 1965.<ref name="Harbaksh"/><ref name="BS"/> The period of 11 to 18 September was characterised by a series of unproductive actions. The division subsequently plunged in the battle for the Ichhogil canal with zeal and determination. On 21 and 22 September, 3 Jat of the 54 Brigade captured Dograi. The unit won 3 Maha Vir Chakras, 4 [[Vir Chakra]]s, 7 [[Sena Medal]]s, 12 [[Mentioned in dispatches|Mention in Dispatches]] and 11 COAS Commendation Cards.<ref name="SS">{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2015/oct01-15/h5.htm|title=GOLDEN JUBILEE OF 1965 WAR, The Battle of Dograi|date=2015-10-01|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref>

At the end of the war, 15 Division saw 486 killed (26 Officers, 9 JCOs, 451 ORs), 1569 wounded (60 Officers, 57 JCOs, 1450 ORs, 2 NCEs) and 85 missing (3 Officers, 2 JCOs, 79 ORs, 1 NCE).<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Jogindar|title=Behind the Scene: An Analysis of India's Military Operations, 1947-1971|year=1993|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=978-1897829202|page=152}}</ref>
===Awards and honours===
*The following regiments won the battle honour ''Dograi''-<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2016/oct01-16/h5.htm|title=8 MECHANISED INFANTRY (7 PUNJAB ICHHOGIL WARRIORS|date=2016-10-01|access-date=2021-09-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2008/nov01-08/h8.html|title=Battle Honour Day Celebrated|date=2008-11-01|access-date=2021-09-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2015/oct01-15/h9.htm|title=INDO – PAK WAR OF 1965, Valour of Punjab Regiment and Brigade of Guards|date=2015-10-01|access-date=2021-09-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defstrat.com/magazine_articles/battles-that-made-history-5/|title=BATTLES THAT MADE HISTORY|date=2020-01-01|access-date=2021-09-18}}</ref>
**14 Horse
**3 Jat
**15 Dogra
**7 Punjab
**13 Punjab

*During the campaign, four [[Maha Vir Chakra]]s were awarded for conspicuous bravery-<ref name="SS"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1966/O-1665-1966-0041-75918.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 41, page 661|date=1966-10-08|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref>
**Major General Mohinder Singh, GOC 15 Infantry Division
**Lieutenant Colonel Desmond E Hayde, Commanding Officer, 3 Jat
**Major AR Tyagi (Posthumous), 3 Jat
**Captain Kapil Singh Thapa (Posthumous), 3 Jat

==Indo-Pakistani War of 1971==
{{main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
The division was under Major General BM Bhattacharjee {{Small|MVC}} during the 1971 war and was responsible for the area between [[Gurdaspur]] and the Grand Trunk road opposite Amritsar. It took part in the battles of [[Dera Baba Nanak]] and Fatehpur - Burj.<ref name="GoldenJubilee"/>

===Order of battle===
<ref name="Gill 2003">{{cite book|last=Gill|first=JH|title=An Atlas Of 1971 India Pakistan War - Creation of Bangladesh|date=2003|publisher=National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies|page=86}}</ref>
*[[66th Armoured Regiment (India)|66 Armoured Regiment]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Praval|first=KC|title=Indian Army After Independence|date=2009|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=978-1935501107}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forceindia.net/guest-column/guts-grit-and-glory/bravehearts-victory/|title=Guts, Grit and Glory - Braveheart’s Victory|access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref>
*86 Infantry Brigade
**[[71st Armoured Regiment (India)|71 Armoured Regiment]] (from 14 (Independent) Armoured Brigade)<ref name="Jagjit1">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Jagjit |title=Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971|date=1994|publisher= Spantech & Lancer|isbn=978-1897829554|page=164}}</ref>
**10 [[Dogra Regiment|Dogra]]
**1/[[9th Gorkha Rifles|9 Gorkha Rifles]]
**4/[[8th Gorkha Rifles|8 Gorkha Rifles]]
**17 [[Rajput Regiment|Rajput]]
**21 [[Border Security Force|BSF]]
*58 Infantry Brigade (detached from 14 Infantry Division)
**24 [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab]]
*96 Infantry Brigade
**15 [[Maratha Light Infantry]]<ref name=Forceindia>{{cite web|url=https://forceindia.net/guest-column/guts-grit-and-glory/bravehearts-victory/|title=Guts, Grit and Glory - Braveheart’s Victory - How Major Ranbir Singh won the landmark Battle of Burj, 1971|date=|access-date=2021-09-17}}</ref>
**8 [[Sikh Light Infantry]]
*54 Infantry Brigade
**2 [[Sikh Regiment|Sikh]]
**9 Punjab
**11 [[The Grenadiers|Grenadiers]]
**23 BSF
**27 BSF
*38 Infantry Brigade
**16 Grenadiers
**4 [[Assam Regiment|Assam]]
**8 [[Garhwal Rifles]]
*15 Artillery Brigade<ref name="Jagjit">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Jagjit|title=Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971|date=1994|publisher= Spantech & Lancer|isbn=978-1897829554|page=162}}</ref>
**42 Field Regiment
**175 Field Regiment
**177 Field Regiment
**74 Medium Regiment
**84 Light Regiment
**202 Divisional Locating Battery
*Additional Artillery Regiments<ref name="Jagjit"/>
**163 Field Regiment
**71 Medium Regiment
**76 Medium Regiment
**49 AD Regiment (two troops)
**3 Air Observation Post Flight
**[[20 SATA Regiment (India)|20 Locating Regiment]]
===Awards and honours===
15 Infantry Division won numerous gallantry awards during the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1972/O-1319-1972-0007-58736.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No |date=1972-02-12|access-date=2021-09-17}}</ref> Prominent among them are -
;[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] awardee-
*Major General BM Bhattacharjee {{Small|MVC}}
;[[Maha Vir Chakra]] awardees-
*Battle of Dera Baba Nanak
**Brigadier Krishnaswamy Gowri Shankar, Commander of 86 Infantry Brigade
**Lieutenant Colonel Narinder Singh Sandhu of 10 Dogra
**Captain Devinder Singh Ahlawat of 10 Dogra
*Battle of Burj
**Sepoy Pandurang Salunkhe of 15 Maratha Light Infantry
*Ranian
**Major Basidev Singh Makotia of 9 Punjab
*Fathepur
**Lieutenant Colonel Harish Chandra Pathak of 8 Sikh Light Infantry
*Pul Kanjiri
**Lance Naik Shangara Singh of 2 Sikh
;Battle Honours
*86 Infantry Brigade was awarded the battle honour ''Dera Baba Nanak''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061206/cth1.htm|title=DBN Brigade celebrates anniversary|date=2006-12-06|access-date=2021-09-17}}</ref>
*15 Maratha Light Infantry was awarded the battle honour ''Burj'' and the theatre honour ''Punjab''. It was declared as the ‘Best Performing Battalion’ during the 1971 Indo-Pak War in the XI Corps Zone by the GOC, Lieutenant General [[N. C. Rawlley]] {{small|PVSM, AVSM, MC}}.<ref name=Forceindia/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/BaatCheet/English/Apr%202021.pdf|title=Baatcheet, April 2021|date=2021-04-01|access-date=2021-09-17}}</ref>
*10 Dogra was awarded the battle honour ''Dera Baba Nanak''.<ref name="The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment">{{cite book|last=Prasad|first=Shankar|title=The Gallant Dogras-An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment|date=2008|publisher=Lancer International|isbn=978-8170622680|page=}}</ref>
*1/9 Gorkha Rifles was awarded the battle honour ''Dera Baba Nanak'' and theatre honour ''Punjab''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2017/apr01-17/h17.htm|title=A Saga of Valour – 200 Years of First Nine Gorkhas|date=2017-04-01|access-date=2021-09-17}}</ref>

==Other Operations==
*[[Operation Blue Star]]
*[[Kargil War|Operation Vijay]]
*[[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|Operation Parakram]]

==See also==
{{portal|World War I}}
* [[List of Indian divisions in World War I]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book
| last = Kempton | first = Chris
| year = 2003a
| title = 'Loyalty & Honour', The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947
| volume = Part I Divisions
| publisher = The Military Press
| location = Milton Keynes
| isbn = 0-85420-228-5
}}
* {{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/15_ind_div.htm |title=15th Indian Division on ''The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918'' by PB Chappell |accessdate=2015-06-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517084847/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/15_ind_div.htm |archivedate=17 May 2008 |df=dmy }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080403224244/http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/armyunit.htm British Empire] has list of all Indian Army regiments with pictures of their regimental badges.

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

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[[Category:Divisions of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:British Indian Army divisions]]
[[Category:Indian World War I divisions]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1916]]

15th Infantry Division India - Revision history

MetaBOT at 13:08, 8 July 2023