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3rd Indian Division (Lahore)    The 3rd (Lahore) Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army, first organised in 1852. It saw service during the Great War with the Indian Corps in France before being moved to the Middle East where it fought against troops of the Ottoman Empire. Western Front 1914 In 1914 the 3rd (Lahore) Division was part of Indian Expeditionary Force A sent to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force fighting in France. The bulk constituted an infantry division as part of Indian Corps, while the Ambala Cavalry Brigade was detached to form part of 1st Indian Cavalry Division in the Indian Cavalry Corps. While in France the division was known as the Lahore Division, and its brigades by their names, to avoid confusion with the 3rd British Division. Despatch from India was delayed by the activities of the German raiders Emden and Konigsberg operating in the Indian Ocean, and by the slow speed of the transport vessels. The first two brigades landed at Marseilles on 26 September 1914, but there were further delays while the troops were re-armed with the latest pattern rifle, and the supply train could be improvised, using tradesmen's vans procured locally. The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area was formed in late 1914 to take over the garrison duties of the 3rd Division when it left for France. The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area was disbanded in May 1917, the responsibilities of the area being taken over by the 16th Division. Ferozepore Brigade - GOC: Brig-Gen R.G. Egerton, CB 1st Btn. Connaught Rangers 9th Bhopal Infantry 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force) 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis Jullundur Brigade - GOC: Maj-Gen P.M. Carnegy, CB 1st Btn. Manchester Regiment 4th Btn. Suffolk Regiment (Territorial Force) - joined from GHQ Reserve 4 December 1914 15th Ludhiana Sikhs 47th Sikhs 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force) Sirhind Brigade - arrived at Marseilles from Egypt 30 November, joined 9 December 1914 - GOC: Maj-Gen J.M.S. Brunker 1st Btn. Highland Light Infantry 125th Napier's Rifles 1/1st Gurkha Rifles 1/4th Gurkha Rifles Divisional Troops: Mounted Troops: 15th Lancers (Cureton’s Multanis) Artillery: V Brigade, Royal Field Artillery - joined 22 November 1914 from 7th (Meerut) Division 64th, 73rd & 81st Batteries, V Brigade Ammunition Column XI Brigade, RFA - joined 22 November 1914 from 7th (Meerut) Division 83rd, 84th & 85th Batteries, XI Brigade Ammunition Column XVIII Brigade, RFA 59th, 93rd & 94th Batteries, XVIII Brigade Ammunition Column 109th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (4.7-inch guns) Heavy Battery Ammunition Column Lahore Divisional Ammunition Column Engineers 20th & 21st Companies, 3rd Sappers and Miners Signals Service: Lahore Signal Company Pioneers - 34th Sikh Pioneers Supply & Transport - Lahore Divisional train Medical Units: 7th & 8th British Field Ambulances 111th, 112th and 113th Indian Field Ambulances The division finally got into action piecemeal at the simultaneous Battles of La Bassee, 1st Messines and Armentieres along the British part of the Western Front in October,November 1914. When the troops were relieved in November 1914, the reassembled division defended a section of the front in Indian Corps' sector. Western Front 1915 After winter operations (in which the Indian soldiers suffered badly) the division next took part in the Battles of Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge, Festubert and Loos in 1915. Order of Battle May 1915 - GOC: Maj-Gen H.D'U. Keary Ferozepore Brigade - GOC: Brig-Gen R.G. Egerton, CB 1st Btn. Connaught Rangers 1/4th Btn. London Regiment (Territorial Force) 9th Bhopal Infantry 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force) 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis Jullundur Brigade - GOC: Brig-Gen E.P. Strickland 1st Btn. Manchester Regiment 1/4th Btn. Suffolk Regiment (Territorial Force) 1/5th Btn Border Regiment (Territorial Force) 40th Pathans 47th Sikhs 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force) Sirhind Brigade - GOC: Brig-Gen W.G. Walker, VC 1st Btn. Highland Light Infantry 4th Btn. King's Regiment (Special Reserve) 15th Ludhiana Sikhs 1/1st Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment) 1/4th Gurkha Rifles Divisional Troops: As before, with addition of XLIII (Howitzer Bde, RA (40th & 57th Batteries) Mesopotamia On 13th of August 1915, General Sir John Nixon, commanding Indian Expeditionary Force D in Mesopotamia, requested one of the Indian infantry divisions in France as reinforcements for his advance on Baghdad. Coincidentally, on the same day, the Secretary of State for India, Austen Chamberlain, told the Viceroy of India that he was anxious for the Indian infantry to be withdrawn from France before they had to endure another winter. The system for supplying drafts had broken down and the Indian battalions were becoming very weak after the heavy casualties they had suffered. Although the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, objected to their withdrawal from the Western Front, orders were issued on 31 October for the two divisions of Indian Corps (3rd (Lahore) and 7th (Meerut) Division) to embark at Marseilles for Mesopotamia. They were to leave behind their attached Territorial Force and Special Reserve battalions, and the three RFA brigades of 18-pounder guns of 3rd (Lahore) Division. The two divisions were relieved in the front line on 6 November and were due at Basra in December, but their departure from Marseilles was delayed because of fear of submarine attack. 3rd (Lahore) Division finally arrived in Mesopotamia in April 1916 and joined Tigris Corps, too late to relieve 6th (Poona) Division at Kut-al-Amara. Palestine After the fall of Baghdad, the Palestine Campaign was given priority over Mesopotamia, and in March 1918 the division was transferred to Egypt to join Sir Edmund Allenby's Egyptian Expeditionary Force until the end of the war. At the Battle of Megiddo in September 1918 it formed part of Sir Edward Bulfin's XXI Corps on the right flank. Order of Battle September 1918 - GOC: Maj-Gen A.R. Hoskins 7th Brigade 1st Btn. Connaught Rangers 2/7th Gurkha Rifles 27th Punjabis 91st Punjabis 8th Brigade 1st Btn. Manchester Regiment 47th Sikhs 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force) 2/124th Baluchistan Infantry 9th Brigade 1st Btn. Seaforth Highlanders 28th Punjabis 92nd Punjabis 125th Napier's Rifles 26th Sep 1914 Indian Contingent in France 24th of October 1914 Germans Attack   25th of October 1914 More Attacks   26th of October 1914 Germans Repulsed   28th of October 1914 Counter Attack Falters    29th Oct 1914 Separated 31st of October 1914 A Counter Attack    4th Dec 1914 Artillery Active   13th Jan 1915 Very Wet 31st of January 1915 Trench Improvements Reported   7th Mar 1915 13th Londons on the March 26th of April 1915 Report on St. Julien   26th Apr 1915 In Action 26th Apr 1915 In Action  Report on the action at St Julien on Monday 26th April 1915 Reference Belgium sheet 28 1/40,000 1. On the morning of the 26th April 1915 the Northumberland Brigade (4th, 5th, 6th & 7th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers) were concentrated at Wieltje and placed under the orders of the 1st Canadian Division as Reserve. At 10.15 am General Riddell commanding the Northumberland Brigade received orders from the G.O.C 10th Sub Brigade to verify a report received from the 28th Division that the enemy were breaking through the first line trucks in D 13 c & d and to counter attack with whatever force he considered necessary. The 5th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers was directed at 10.45 AM to send forward an officers patrol to verify the report & to proceed with his Battalion to Fortuin with a view to counter attacking if the enemy were discovered breaking through. By 12 noon the officer commanding this Battalion was satisfied that no attempt was being made by the enemy to break through at the place indicated and so his battalion has being heavily shelled to proceed to dig in and remained in the position he had reached and consequently took no part in the subsequent operations. 2 At 1.30 pm operation orders from the 1st Canadian division were received. It will be seen from these orders that the Brigade was to attack St Julien in cooperation with the Lahore Division and one battalion of the 10th Infantry Brigade and that the assault was to take place at 2.5 pm. The distance from Wieltje to St Julien is approximately 1 3/4 miles and the ground had not previously been reconnoitered by the staff or any of the officers of the Brigade. No information was received or could be obtained as to the actual position of either our own or the enemys trenches nor was it known that the G.H.Q line was strongly wired and that there were only certain places through which the troops would be able to pass. No communication was ever made with the artillery and no artillery officer got in any way into touch with the Brigade. The time was short, the order to attack being received at 1.30 pm. Nevertheless considering that any failure to attack on the part of the Brigade might seriously hamper the operations General Riddell decided to carry out the orders he had received impossible as they seemed. By 1.50 pm the Battalions were on the move the 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers attacking with the right Wieltje - St Julien road and the 4th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers with their left on the road. The 7th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers was ordered to follow the 4th bn in the second line. At 2.5 pm the leading battalions reached the G.H.Q in C22b and C23c and came under very heavy shell and rifle fire. The Battalions deployed on both sides of the Wieltje - St Julien and lost very heavily by not having reconnoitered the openings to the wire entanglements in front of the line of trenches. However they found places and the advance towards St Julien continued steadily both battalions in the front line suffering heavily from machine gun fire apparently coming from the wood in C17 A on their left flank. By 2.45 pm both of the leading Battalions had reached the front line of our trenches in C17b and the 7th Battalion had been absorbed in the attack. At 3.10pm isolated parties of the 6th Northumberlands on the left of the road pushed forward about 250 yards in front of our first line trench and occupied some small trenches from which the enemy had apparently retreated. The 4th and 7th Northumberlands were unable to make any advance. During the whole of this period no signs of the Lahore Division or the battalion of the 10th Brigade had been observed and it was subsequently ascertained that the movement of this battalion had been cancelled although no verification has been sent to the Northumberland Brigade. The culminating point in the advance of the 6th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers was reached at about 3.45pm when unsupported on their left flank and heavily shelled with high explosive shells they were compelled to dig themselves in and remained in possession of the ground they had gained until dusk when they returned to the first line trenches. At 3.30pm Bigadier general Riddell accompanied by his Brigade Officer left his HQ in C23a and proceeded towards Farm Vanchule in C17d for the purpose of getting into closer touch with his battalion Commanders and was shot through the head 150yards to the south of the farm at 3.45pm. The command devolved to Colonel Foster 4th Northumberland Fusiliers, the senior officer present with the battalions and a message was sent to Col Coles CMS DSO commanding t he 5th Northumberlands informing him of General Riddell's death and that the command of the Brigade had devolved to him. The position of Colonel Cole's HQ was not actually known and it was not until about 7pm that he arrived at Brigade HQ. Orders had however been issued by Colonel Foster for the battalion to remain where they were until dusk and at 7.30pm Col Coles having ascertained that the services of the Brigade in the first line trench were not required, ordered the troops to return to bivouac at Wieltje. 149th Brigade war diary 26th Apr 1915 Operational Order No. 12 27th of April 1915  Reliefs   28th of April 1915 Report   30th of April 1915 Fairly Quiet Day    1st May 1915 Infantry Attack 6th May 1915 Orders   13th May 1915 Instruction 13th Nov 1915 On the March 1st Jan 1916 On the Move 2nd Jan 1916 On the Move 3rd Jan 1916 On the Move 4th Jan 1916 On the Move 5th Jan 1916 On the Move 6th Jan 1916 On the Move 7th Jan 1916 On the Move 8th Jan 1916 Reinforcements 9th Jan 1916 On the Move 14th Jan 1916 On the Move 15th Jan 1916 Outposts 16th Jan 1916 Reorganisation 17th Jan 1916 Outposts 18th Jan 1916 Reliefs 19th Jan 1916 Orders 20th Jan 1916 Heavy Bombardment 21st Jan 1916 Attack Made 22nd Jan 1916 Wounded Collected 23rd Jan 1916 Snipers 24th Jan 1916 Snipers 25th Jan 1916 Recce 28th Jan 1916 Snipers Active 31st Jan 1916 Positions Improved 7th Mar 1916 In Action 9th Jan 1917 Counter Attacks 10th Jan 1917 Steady Progress 11th Jan 1917 Assault Fails 12th Jan 1917 Hard Fighting 13th Jan 1917 Progress Made 13th Jan 1917 Equipment Captured 14th Jan 1917 Aircraft shot down 15th Jan 1917 Air Raid 16th Jan 1917 Slight Advance 17th Jan 1917 Hard Fighting 18th Jan 1917 Heavy Bombardment 18th Jan 1917 Ground Gained 13th Oct 1919 Funeral If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 3rd Indian Division (Lahore)? There are:59 items tagged 3rd Indian Division (Lahore) available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 3rd Indian Division (Lahore) during the Great War 1914-1918. Amblin Henry George. Cpl. 18th Briade All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? 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Henry George Amblin MM. 18th Briade Royal Field Artillery Henry Amblin enlisted in the the Wiltshire Regiment on 1st of Apr 1896 . He was trained at the Regimental Depot at Devizes and then posted to the 2nd Battalion on 8 Jul 1896 who were serving in Guernsey before transferring to 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment on 22nd of Feb 98 with whom he was posted to India after serving 1 yr 327 days in Britain. Whilst serving in India with the Wiltshires he transferred to 30th Battery Royal Field Artillery with effect the 30 Nov 1903. Whilst in India he also served with 44th Brigade, 59th Battery RFA, of the 3rd Lahore Division. He served in India for 16 yrs and 185 days and remained in India until being sent to France at the start of the Great War He arrived in France on 26th of Aug 1914 and remained there until 25 Jan 1919 serving in France for 4 yrs and 123 days when he returned to the UK and was discharged on the 23rd of Feb 1919 with 22 yrs 329 days service. During his time in France he was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field on 27th of September 1918 for an action in or near the village of Moislains on the first day of the Battle of Canal Du Nord, this was published in the London Gazzette on 11th of Feb 1919. Add to this record.

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