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{{about||the replacement brigade in India in the First World War|Ambala Brigade|the Second World War formation|3rd (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Ambala Brigade<br>Ambala Cavalry Brigade<br>3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| dates = July 1904 – March 1918
| country = {{flag|British India|23px}}
| allegiance = [[British Crown]]
| branch = {{army|British India|23px}}
| type = [[Cavalry]]
| role =
| size = [[Brigade]]
| command_structure = [[3rd (Lahore) Division]]<br>[[1st Indian Cavalry Division]]<br>[[2nd Indian Cavalry Division]]
| garrison = [[Ambala Cantonment]]
| garrison_label =
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto =
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles = [[First World War]]
:[[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]
::[[Battle of the Somme (1916)]]
:::[[Battle of Bazentin Ridge|Battle of Bazentin]]
:::[[Battle of Flers–Courcelette]]
::[[Battle of Cambrai (1917)]]
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| disbanded =
| notable_commanders = [[Brigadier-General|Br.-Gen.]] [[Robert Bellew Adams|R.B. Adams]] {{postnom|VC|country=GBR}}
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
}}
The '''Ambala Cavalry Brigade''' was a [[cavalry]] [[brigade]] of the [[British Indian Army]] formed in 1904 as a result of the [[Kitchener Reforms]]. It was mobilized as '''3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade''' at the outbreak of the [[First World War]] as part of the [[1st Indian Cavalry Division]] and departed for France. It served on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] with the 1st and [[2nd Indian Cavalry Division]]s until it was broken up in March 1918.

==History==
The [[Kitchener Reforms]], carried out during [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Lord Kitchener's]] tenure as [[Commander-in-Chief, India]] (1902–09), completed the unification of the three former [[Presidency armies]], the [[Frontier Force (disambiguation)|Punjab Frontier Force]], the [[Hyderabad Contingent]] and other local forces into one [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]]. Kitchener identified the Indian Army's main task as the defence of the [[North-West Frontier (military history)|North-West Frontier]] against foreign aggression (particularly Russian expansion into Afghanistan) with [[internal security]] relegated to a secondary role. The Army was organized into [[division (military)|divisions]] and [[brigade]]s that would act as field formations but also included internal security troops.<ref name=Haythornthwaite244>{{harvnb|Haythornthwaite|1996|p=244}}</ref>

The '''Ambala Brigade''' (also referred to as ''[[Umballa]] Brigade'') was formed in July 1904{{efn|name=Formed|18 July 1904 was the appointment date of the brigade's first commanding officer.<ref name=Hart1906>{{cite web | url = https://archive.org/stream/hartsannualarmy1906hart#page/101/mode/2up | title = Hart's Annual Army List for 1906 | author = The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart | author-link = Henry George Hart | publisher = John Murray | location = London | access-date=8 July 2015 }}</ref>}} as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. The brigade formed part of the [[3rd (Lahore) Division]].<ref name=Hart1906/> In 1908, it was redesignated as '''Ambala Cavalry Brigade'''.<ref name=Hart1908>{{cite web | url = https://archive.org/stream/hartsannualarmy1908hart#page/96/mode/2up | title = Hart's Annual Army List for 1908 | author = The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart | author-link = Henry George Hart | publisher = John Murray | location = London | access-date=8 July 2015 }}</ref><ref name=Hart1909>{{cite web | url = https://archive.org/stream/hartsannualarmy1909lond#page/108/mode/2up | title = Hart's Annual Army List for 1909 | author = The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart | author-link = Henry George Hart | publisher = John Murray | location = London | access-date=8 July 2015 }}</ref>

;3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade
In August 1914, the brigade was mobilized as the '''3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade''' and assigned to the [[1st Indian Cavalry Division]].<ref name=Perry16>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=16}}</ref> A new [[Ambala Brigade]] was formed in November 1914 as part of the [[3rd Lahore Divisional Area]] to take over the original brigade's internal security duties.<ref name=Perry55>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=55}}</ref>

With 1st Indian Cavalry Division, it departed [[Bombay]] on 16 October and landed at [[Marseilles]] on 7 November. It concentrated around [[Orléans]] on 16 November and was sent up to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Front]] on 26 November. While in France, the brigade was known by its geographical rather than numerical designation so as to avoid confusion with the British [[3rd Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)|3rd Cavalry Brigade]] also serving on the Western Front at the same time.<ref name=Perry16/> On 15 September 1915, the brigade swapped places with the [[5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade]] from [[2nd Indian Cavalry Division]].<ref name=Perry14>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=14}}</ref><ref name=Perry18>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=18}}</ref>

[[File:Hodsons Horse France 1917 IWM Q 2061.jpg|thumb|right|Forward scouts of the [[9th Hodson's Horse]] pause to consult a map, near [[Vraignes-en-Vermandois|Vraignes]], France in April 1917]]
In 1916, the brigade took part in the [[Battle of the Somme]], notably the [[Battle of Bazentin Ridge|Battle of Bazentin]] (14{{snd}}17 July) and the [[Battle of Flers–Courcelette]] (15{{snd}}22 September). In 1917, the brigade took part in the [[Battle of Cambrai (1917)|Battle of Cambrai]], notably the Tank Attack (20{{snd}}21 November) and the German Counter-attacks (30 November{{snd}}3 December). At other times it was held in reserve in case of a breakthrough, although it did send parties to the trenches on a number of occasions. They would hold the line, or act as [[Pioneer (military)|Pioneers]]; such parties were designated as the '''Ambala Battalion'''.<ref name=Perry20>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=20}}</ref>

;Dissolved
In March 1918, the brigade was broken up in France. The British units ([[8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars]] and X Battery, [[Royal Horse Artillery|RHA]]) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt.<ref name=Perry20/> On 24 April 1918, these were merged with the [[5th Mounted Brigade]] and joined the new [[2nd Mounted Division (British Indian Army)|2nd Mounted Division]].<ref name=Becke33>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=33}}</ref> On 22 July 1918 the 5th Mounted Brigade was redesignated as [[13th Cavalry Brigade (British Indian Army)|13th Cavalry Brigade]] and the division as [[5th Cavalry Division (British Indian Army)|5th Cavalry Division]].<ref name=Perry28>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=28}}</ref>

==Orders of battle==
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; background:transparent;"
!In India in August 1914
|-
|At the outbreak of the [[First World War]], the brigade had the following composition:<ref name=Perry49>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=49}}</ref>
* [[8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars]]
* [[9th Hodson's Horse]]
* [[30th Lancers (Gordon's Horse)]]
* [[7th Hariana Lancers]] ''(attached to [[7th (Ferozepore) Brigade]] from August to September 1914; remained at [[Ferozepore]] under [[3rd Lahore Divisional Area]] when the brigade departed for France)''
* [[15th Lancers (Cureton's Multanis)]] ''(attached to [[8th (Jullundur) Brigade]] from August to September 1914; went to France as divisional cavalry for the [[3rd (Lahore) Division]])''
* [[37th Lancers (Baluch Horse)]] ''(in the [[Multan]] garrison from August to September 1914; transferred to [[Jullundur]] garrison under 3rd Lahore Divisional Area)''
* [[23rd Cavalry (Frontier Force)]] ''(in the [[Lahore]] garrison in August 1914; remained there under 3rd Lahore Divisional Area)''
|}
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; background:transparent;"
!Western Front
|-
|The brigade's composition on the Western Front included:<ref name=Perry14/><ref name=Perry18/>
* [[8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars]]
* [[9th Hodson's Horse]]
* [[30th Lancers (Gordon's Horse)]] ''(transferred in June 1916 to [[7th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade]])''
* [[18th King George's Own Tiwana Lancers]] ''(joined in June 1916 from 7th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade)''
* [[A Battery, Royal Horse Artillery]] ''(joined in December 1914; transferred on 15 September 1915 to [[5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade]] when the brigades swapped places)''{{efn|[[A Battery, Royal Horse Artillery]] was part of [[I Indian Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery]] but was attached to the brigade.<ref name=Perry14/>}}
* [[X Battery, Royal Horse Artillery]] ''(joined on 15 September 1915 from 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade)''{{efn|[[X Battery, Royal Horse Artillery]] was part of [[II Indian Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery]] but was attached to the brigade.<ref name=Perry18/>}}
* 14th [[Machine Gun]] [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]] ''(joined on 29 February 1916)''{{efn|14th [[Machine Gun]] [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]] was formed on 29 February 1916 by combining the machine gun sections of the [[8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars]], [[9th Hodson's Horse]] and [[18th King George's Own Tiwana Lancers]].<ref name=LLT_Cav_MGC>{{cite web | url=http://www.1914-1918.net/mgccav.html | title=Cavalry units of the Machine Gun Corps | publisher=The Long Long Trail | last=Baker | first=Chris | access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref>}}
|}

==Commanders==
The Ambala Brigade / Ambala Cavalry Brigade / 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade had the following commanders:<ref name=Mackie350>{{harvnb|Mackie|2015|p=350}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! From !! Rank !! Name !! Notes
|-
| 18 July 1904<ref name=Hart1906/> || [[Brigadier-General]] || [[Robert Bellew Adams]] {{postnom|VC|country=GBR}} ||
|-
| 28 April 1906<ref name=Hart1907>{{cite web | url = https://archive.org/stream/hartsannualarmy1907hart#page/98/mode/2up | title = Hart's Annual Army List for 1907 | author = The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart | author-link = Henry George Hart | publisher = John Murray | location = London | access-date=8 July 2015 }}</ref> || Brigadier-General || [[Edward Henry McSwiney]] ||
|-
| 4 March 1907<ref name=Hart1908/> || Brigadier-General || [[Francis Sudlow Garratt]] ||
|-
| July 1909 || Brigadier-General || [[Ernest Rivett-Carnac|Ernest Henry Rivett-Carnac]] ||
|-
| 11 April 1910<ref name=Hart1914>{{cite web | url = https://archive.org/stream/hartsannualarmy1914lond#page/108/mode/2up | title = Hart's Annual Army List for 1914 | author = The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart | author-link = Henry George Hart | publisher = John Murray | location = London | access-date=8 July 2015 }}</ref> || [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] || [[Charles Patrick William Pirie]] ||
|-
| 1 May 1916<ref name=Perry17>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=17}}</ref> || Brigadier-General || [[Charles Herbert Rankin]] || Broken up in March 1918
|}

==See also==
{{portal|World War I}}
* [[Ambala Brigade]] formed in India to replace the original brigade when it was mobilized
* [[Indian Cavalry Corps order of battle First World War]]
* [[Indian Expeditionary Force A]]


==Notes==
{{notelist}}

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

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book
| last = Becke | first = Major A.F.
| year = 1936
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42-56)
| publisher = His Majesty's Stationery Office
| location = London
| isbn = 1-871167-12-4
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Haythornthwaite | first = Philip J.
| author-link = Philip Haythornthwaite
| year = 1996
| title = The World War One Source Book
| publisher = Arms and Armour Press
| location = London
| isbn = 1-85409-351-7
}}
* {{cite web
|last=Mackie
|first=Colin
|date=June 2015
|title=Army Commands 1900-2011
|publisher=www.gulabin.com
|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf
|access-date=1 July 2015
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705211343/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf
|archive-date=5 July 2015
|df=dmy
}}
* {{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.1914-1918.net/1cavdiv_indian.htm | title=The 1st Indian Cavalry Division in 1914-1918 | last=Baker | first=Chris | publisher=The Long Long Trail | access-date=19 July 2015 }}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_cav/1_ind_cav_div.htm |title=1st Indian Cavalry Division on ''The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918'' by PB Chappell |access-date=2008-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517085204/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_cav/1_ind_cav_div.htm |archive-date=17 May 2008 |df=dmy }}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_cav/2_ind_cav_div.htm |title=2nd Indian Cavalry Division on ''The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918'' by PB Chappell |access-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517085102/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_cav/2_ind_cav_div.htm |archive-date=17 May 2008 |df=dmy }}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/3_ind_div.htm |title=3rd (Lahore) Division on ''The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918'' by PB Chappell |access-date=2015-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517124422/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/3_ind_div.htm |archive-date=17 May 2008 |df=dmy }}

[[Category:Brigades of India in World War I|C03]]
[[Category:Cavalry brigades of the British Indian Army]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1904]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918]]

3rd Ambala Cavalry Brigade - Revision history

Bot at 19:36, 26 April 2022