4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade

The 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry brigade of the British Indian Army that formed part of the Indian Army during the First World War. It was formed as Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade in February 1915 to replace the original brigade that had been mobilized as the 9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade for service on the Western Front. It remained in India throughout the war.

For a similarly designated Indian cavalry brigade in the First World War, see 9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade.

Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade
5th Indian Cavalry Brigade
4th Indian Cavalry Brigade
4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade
Active3 February 1915 – July 1940
Country British India
AllegianceBritish Crown
Branch British Indian Army
TypeCavalry
SizeBrigade
Part of9th (Secunderabad) Division
Poona District
Deccan District
Garrison/HQSecunderabad
Bolarum
ServiceFirst World War
Second World War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Br.-Gen. W.G.K. Green
Brig. A.F. Hartley
Brig. A.G.O. Mosley Mayne

The brigade continued to exist between the wars and by September 1939 it was designated 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade. It briefly served as part of the Indian Army during the Second World War before being broken up in July 1940.

History

First World War

At the outbreak of the First World War, the Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade was 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 departed for the Western Front, arriving in France on 12 October 1914. It was attached to the newly formed 1st Indian Cavalry Division before joining the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division on 23 December 1914.[1]

On 3 February 1915[lower-alpha 1] a new Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade was formed in 9th (Secunderabed) Division to replace the original brigade and to take over its area responsibilities. The brigade served with the division in India throughout the First World War.[2] The brigade remained unnumbered throughout the First World War, the only unnumbered Indian cavalry brigade.[3][lower-alpha 2]

Between the world wars

The brigade continued to exist between the world wars. In September 1920 it was redesignated as the 5th Indian Cavalry Brigade and in 1923 as 4th Indian Cavalry Brigade. Later in the decade it regained its geographical designation as 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade. From 1920 it was under the command of the Poona District and from 1927 under the Deccan District.[5]

Second World War

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the brigade was still under the command of Deccan District. It was broken up in July 1940 with some of its units moving to the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade[6] which was forming at Sialkot at this time.[7]

Orders of battle

First World War units

The Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade commanded the following units in the First World War:[8]

Second World War units

The 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade commanded the following units in the Second World War:[6][9]

Commanders

The Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade / 5th Indian Cavalry Brigade / 4th Indian Cavalry Brigade / 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade had the following commanders:[5]

FromRankNameNotes
3 February 1915Brigadier-GeneralH. KennedyAppointment vacated 20 February 1915[2]
14 April 1915Brigadier-GeneralF.H.B. Commerline
April 1920Brigadier-GeneralA.G. Pritchard
January 1921Brigadier-GeneralC.A.C. Godwin
December 1923Brigadier-GeneralW.G.K. Green
April 1925Brigadier-GeneralG.A.H. Beatty
October 1925Brigadier-GeneralE.D. Giles
August 1927Brigadier-GeneralH.A. Tomkinson
December 1927BrigadierA. Campbell-Ross
January 1932BrigadierA.F. Hartley
September 1933BrigadierD.K. McLeod
December 1934BrigadierG. de la P. Beresford
September 1938BrigadierA.G.O. Mosley Mayne
September 1939Commander unknown[6]

A note on name and number

The brigade carried several designations during its existence. This can be a cause for confusion as other Indian cavalry brigades carried the same or similar designations at different times, and even at the same time.

  • a particular cause for confusion is that the Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade was in existence in India at the same time that the original brigade was serving as the 9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade on the Western Front. This brigade was referred to by geographical name, rather than by number, so as to avoid confusion with the British 9th Cavalry Brigade also serving on the Western Front at the same time.[12]
  • the brigade was numbered as 5th from September 1920 to 1923.[5] The 5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade had been formed on 11 November 1914[13] for service on the Western Front until it was broken up in March 1918.[14]
  • the brigade was numbered as 4th from 1923 onwards[5] when the previous 4th Indian Cavalry Brigade (formerly Lucknow Cavalry Brigade) was broken up.[15] At this time, the 4th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade became the 3rd (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade.[16]

See also

Notes
  1. The first commanding officer was appointed on 3 February 1915.[2]
  2. In contrast, the brigade formed to replace the 7th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade in similar circumstance – 14th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade – was numbered.[4]

References
  1. Perry 1993, p. 13
  2. Perry 1993, p. 106
  3. Perry 1993, pp. 12,17,29,35,60,92,106
  4. Perry 1993, p. 92
  5. Mackie 2015, p. 373
  6. Kempton 2003b, p. 6
  7. Kempton 2003b, p. 7
  8. Perry 1993, p. 108
  9. Nafziger n.d., p. 7
  10. Kempton 2003c, p. 14
  11. Joslen 1990, p. 499
  12. Perry 1993, p. 20
  13. Perry 1993, p. 14
  14. Perry 1993, p. 19
  15. Mackie 2015, p. 368
  16. Mackie 2015, p. 365

Bibliography
  • Gaylor, John (1996). Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991 (2nd ed.). Tunbridge Wells: Parapress. ISBN 1-898594-41-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Joslen, Lt-Col H.F. (1990) [1st. Pub. HMSO:1960]. Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939–1945. London: London Stamp Exchange. ISBN 0-948130-03-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Kempton, Chris (2003b). 'Loyalty & Honour', The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947. Part II Brigades. Milton Keynes: The Military Press. ISBN 0-85420-238-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Kempton, Chris (2003c). 'Loyalty & Honour', The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947. Part III. Milton Keynes: The Military Press. ISBN 0-85420-248-X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Mackie, Colin (June 2015). "Army Commands 1900-2011" (PDF). www.gulabin.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Nafziger, George (n.d.). "The Indian Army 3 September 1939" (PDF). Fort Leavenworth: Combined Arms Research Library, United States Army Combined Arms Center. Retrieved 9 July 2015.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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