| 10th Indian Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 24 December 1914 – 7 March 1916 |
| Country | India |
| Branch | British Indian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Major-GeneralA. Wilson |
The10th Indian Division was aninfantrydivision of theBritish Indian Army duringWorld War I. It was formed inEgypt in December 1914 with three infantrybrigades ofIndian Expeditionary Force F. After taking part in theActions on the Suez Canal, the division was dispersed as its brigades were posted away.
It was re-formed in January 1916 as part of theSuez Canal Defences with units and formations in Egypt, but this was short-lived. It was broken up again on 7 March 1916 as the need to re-form depleted units fromFrance made this plan unrealistic.
The division was commanded throughout its existence byMajor-GeneralAlexander Wilson.[1]
The28th,29th and30th Indian Brigades were formed in October 1914[2] and posted to Egypt asIndian Expeditionary Force F.[3] The 10th Indian Division was formed on 24 December 1915 with these three brigades, and little else in terms of divisional troops. The division had beat offTurkish attempts to cross theSuez Canal on 3–4 February 1915 in theActions on the Suez Canal.[4]
Thereafter, the division was soon dissolved with a brigade (30th) sent toMesopotamia in March 1915, another (29th) detached toGallipoli from April to December 1915, and the third (28th) detached toAden from July to September 1915, before it also departed for Mesopotamia in November.[2]
The division commanded the following units in January 1915:[5][6]
The division was re-formed on 7 January 1916 as part of theSuez Canal Defences with units and formations in Egypt:20th Indian Brigade joined from7th (Meerut) Division, 29th Indian Brigade rejoined from Gallipoli and31st Indian Brigade joined from11th Indian Division. The new division was short-lived: it was broken up again on 7 March 1916 as the need to re-form depleted units fromFrance made this plan unrealistic.[4]
The division commanded the following units in January 1916:[6]