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{{Redirect-distinguish2|Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade|[[4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade]] that also served in the [[First World War]] as "Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade"}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade<br>9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| dates = 17 September 1907 – March 1918
| country = {{flag|British India|23px}}
| allegiance = [[British Crown]]
| branch = {{army|British India|23px}}
| type = [[Cavalry]]
| role =
| size = [[Brigade]]
| command_structure = [[9th (Secunderabad) Division]]<br>[[1st Indian Cavalry Division]]<br>[[2nd Indian Cavalry Division]]
| garrison = [[Bolarum]]
| garrison_label = Peacetime HQ
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto =
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles = [[First World War]]
:[[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]
::[[Battle of La Bassée]]
::[[Battle of Armentières]]
::[[Battle of Givenchy]]
::[[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.]] [[Michael Rimington|M.F. Rimington]]<br>[[Brigadier-General|Br.-Gen.]] [[Charles Levinge Gregory|C.L. Gregory]]
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
}}
The '''Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade''' was a [[cavalry]] [[brigade]] of the [[British Indian Army]] formed in 1907 as a result of the [[Kitchener Reforms]]. It was mobilized as '''9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade''' at the outbreak of the [[First World War]] and departed for [[France]]. It served on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] as part of the [[1st Indian Cavalry Division|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 '''Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade''' was formed on 17 September 1907{{efn|name=Formed|17 September 1907 was the appointment date of the brigade's first commanding officer.<ref name=Hart1909>{{cite web | url = https://archive.org/stream/hartsannualarmy1909lond#page/110/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>}} as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. The brigade formed part of the [[9th (Secunderabad) Division]].<ref name=Hart1909/>

;9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade
At the outbreak of the [[First World War]], the Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade was still part of the 9th (Secunderabad) Division. It was mobilized in August 1914 as the '''9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade''' with the first elements of [[Indian Expeditionary Force A]]. It was composed of one British ([[7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards]]) and two Indian ([[20th Deccan Horse]] and [[34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse]]) [[cavalry]] [[regiment]]s; it sailed with [[N Battery, Royal Horse Artillery]], Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade [[Field Ambulance]], H Section [[Ammunition Column]] and 1st Field [[Troop]], [[1st King George's Own Sappers and Miners]].<ref name=Perry13>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=13}}</ref>

It paused briefly in Egypt before arriving in France on 12 October 1914 where it was attached to the [[Indian Corps]] and then to the [[1st Indian Cavalry Division]] in November.<ref name=Perry13/> At this time, just the [[3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade]] had reached the Front: the other two brigades of the division{{snd}}[[2nd (Sialkot) Cavalry Brigade|2nd (Sialkot)]] and [[8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade|8th (Lucknow)]]{{snd}}had been held up after arrival in France by horse sickness and did not reach the Front until 8{{snd}}10 December.<ref name=Perry16>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=16}}</ref> While in France, the brigade was known by its geographical rather than numerical designation so as to avoid confusion with the British [[9th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)|9th Cavalry Brigade]] also serving on the Western Front at the same time.<ref name=Perry20>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=20}}</ref>

Among the brigade's engagements in 1914 were the [[Battle of La Bassée]], the [[Battle of Armentières]] and the [[Battle of Givenchy]].<ref name=Mils7DG>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/DG7.htm |title=7th (The Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards at regiments.org by T.F.Mills |access-date=2007-03-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015183436/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/DG7.htm |archive-date=15 October 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref name=Mils20H>{{cite web|url=http://regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1921-09.htm |title=The Royal Deccan Horse (9th Horse) at regiments.org by T.F.Mills |access-date=2015-07-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070420134548/http://regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1921-09.htm |archive-date=20 April 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref name=Mils34H>{{cite web|url=http://regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1921-17.htm |title=The Poona Horse (17th Queen Victoria's Own Cavalry) at regiments.org by T.F.Mills |access-date=2015-07-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070420083726/http://regiments.org/regiments/southasia/cav/1921-17.htm |archive-date=20 April 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref> On 24 November, [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|Lieutenant]] [[Frank de Pass]] of the [[34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse]] won the [[Victoria Cross]] at [[Festubert]].<ref name=Gaylor95>{{harvnb|Gaylor|1996|p=95}}</ref>

[[File:Deccan Horse, Bazentin Ridge 1916.jpg|thumb|right|[[Battle of Bazentin Ridge]], [[Battle of the Somme]]: the [[20th Deccan Horse]] drawn up in ranks in the Carnoy Valley waiting for the opportunity to attack.]]
The brigade was assigned to the [[2nd Indian Cavalry Division]] on 23 December 1914<ref name=Perry13/> and remained with it until broken up in Match 1918.<ref name=Perry19>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=19}}</ref>

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 '''Secunderabad Battalion'''.<ref name=Perry20/>

;Dissolved
In March 1918, the brigade was broken up in France. The British units ([[7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards]] and [[N Battery, Royal Horse Artillery]]) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt.<ref name=Perry20/> On 24 April 1918, these were merged with the [[7th 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 7th Mounted Brigade was redesignated as [[14th Cavalry Brigade (British Indian Army)|14th 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=Perry108>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=108}}</ref>
* [[7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards]]
* [[7th (Queen's Own) Hussars]] ''(to [[Bangalore]] in August 1914)''
* [[20th Deccan Horse]]
* [[26th King George’s Own Light Cavalry]] ''(to Bangalore in August 1914)''
* [[34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse]]
|}
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; background:transparent;"
!Western Front
|-
|The brigade's composition on the Western Front included:<ref name=Perry13/><ref name=Perry1819>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|pp=18,19}}</ref>
* [[7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards]]
* [[20th Deccan Horse]]
* [[34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse]]
* [[N Battery, Royal Horse Artillery]]{{efn|[[N Battery, Royal Horse Artillery]] joined from [[IX Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery]] at Secunderabad and sailed from India with the brigade. It was assigned to [[II Indian Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery]] but in practice was permanently attached to the brigade.<ref name=Perry18>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=18}}</ref>}}
* Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade [[Field Ambulance]] ''(sailed from India with the brigade; joined [[2nd Indian Cavalry Division]] in December 1914)''
* H Section [[Ammunition Column]] ''(sailed from India with the brigade; joined 2nd Indian Cavalry Division in December 1914)''
* 1st Field [[Troop]], [[1st King George's Own Sappers and Miners]] ''(sailed from India with the brigade; joined 2nd Indian Cavalry Division in December 1914)''
* [[Jodhpur Lancers]] ([[Imperial Service Troops]]) ''(attached September to December 1914 then joined [[Indian Cavalry Corps]] troops)''
* Jodhpur Cavalry Field Ambulance ''(attached September to December 1914 then joined Indian Cavalry Corps troops)''
* 13th [[Machine Gun]] [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]] ''(joined on 29 February 1916)''{{efn|13th [[Machine Gun]] [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]] was formed on 29 February 1916 by combining the machine gun sections of the [[7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards]], [[20th Deccan Horse]] and [[34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse]].<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=18 July 2015}}</ref>}}
|}

==Commanders==
The Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade / 9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade had the following commanders:<ref name=Hart1909/><ref name=Mackie372>{{harvnb|Mackie|2015|p=372}}</ref><ref name=Perry17>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=17}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! From !! Rank !! Name !! Notes
|-
| 17 September 1907 || [[Brigadier-General]] || [[Michael Rimington|M.F. Rimington]] ||
|-
| May 1911 || Brigadier-General || [[Edmund B. Burton|E.B. Burton]] ||
|-
| July 1912 || Brigadier-General || [[Richard Wapshare|R. Wapshare]] ||
|-
| 7 January 1913 || [[Major-General (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] || [[Fredrick William George Wadeson|F.W.G. Wadeson]] ||
|-
| 1 May 1916 || Brigadier-General || [[Charles Levinge Gregory|C.L. Gregory]] || Brigade broken up in March 1918
|}

==See also==
{{portal|World War I}}
* [[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 = Gaylor | first = John
| year = 1996
| edition = 2nd
| title = Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991
| publisher = Parapress
| location = Tunbridge Wells
| isbn = 1-898594-41-4
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Griffith | first = Paddy
| year=1998
| title = British Fighting Methods in the Great War
| publisher=Routledge
| isbn=978-0714634951
}}
* {{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 book
| last = Kempton | first = Chris
| year = 2003b
| title = 'Loyalty & Honour', The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947
| volume = Part II Brigades
| publisher = The Military Press
| location = Milton Keynes
| isbn = 0-85420-238-2
}}
* {{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
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Rinaldi | first = Richard A
| year = 2008
| title = Order of Battle of the British Army 1914
| publisher = Ravi Rikhye
| isbn = 978-0-97760728-0
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hzUZ-26KYQ4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=isbn:9780977607280
}}

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/9_ind_div.htm |title=9th (Secunderabad) Division on ''The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918'' by PB Chappell |access-date=2015-07-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528042810/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/9_ind_div.htm |archive-date=28 May 2008 |df=dmy }}
*{{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=2014-07-08 |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 }}

[[Category:Brigades of India in World War I|C09]]
[[Category:Cavalry brigades of the British Indian Army]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1907]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918]]

9th Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade - Revision history

Bot at 09:14, 16 January 2021