India. Army; World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Western Front; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- India
Prior to this, once again, in order to make the most of our weak Indian
battalions, the Brigades of both Divisions were readjusted as under:
MEERUT DIVISION
GARHWAL BRIGADE.—
2nd Leicesters.
3rd Londons.
2/3rd Gurkhas.
2/8th Gurkhas.
The Garhwal Rifles (both battalions of the 39th having been
amalgamated owing to shortage of men).
BAREILLY BRIGADE.—
2nd Black Watch.
4th Black Watch.
41st Dogras.
58th Rifles.
125th Rifles.
DEHRA DUN BRIGADE.—
1st Seaforths.
4th Seaforths.
2/2nd Gurkhas.
1/9th Gurkhas.
6th Jats.
DIVISIONAL TROOPS.—
4th Cavalry.
107th Pioneers.
Sappers and Miners as before.
LAHORE DIVISION
SIRHIND BRIGADE.—
1st Highland Light Infantry.
4th King’s Liverpools.
1/1st Gurkhas.
1/4th Gurkhas.
15th Sikhs.
JALANDAR BRIGADE.—
1st Manchesters.
4th Suffolks.
40th Pathans.
47th Sikhs.
59th Rifles.
FEROZEPORE BRIGADE.—
Connaught Rangers (1st and 2nd battalions amalgamated).
4th Londons.
9th Bhopals.
57th Rifles.
129th Baluchis.
DIVISIONAL TROOPS.—
15th Lancers.
34th Sikh Pioneers.
Sappers and Miners as before.
On 28th April I was up in the aid posts of several units then in the
trenches. The Boche, as was his usual custom, had selected one
particular spot to shell, and was dropping them at regular intervals of
time. Naturally I avoided this particular spot, but in passing a short
distance from it I saw a sepoy carrying a load of trench props. He
appeared quite oblivious of danger, as he deliberately walked into the
ruined house that was chiefly receiving the attention of the German
gunners. As he did so, a cloud of dust and smoke rose, timbers flew into
the air, and I thought our sepoy had taken his _congé_ from this world.
I took out my glasses and watched till the atmosphere was clear, when I
saw my gallant friend, apparently not in the least disconcerted, quietly
picking up his props, which he presently shouldered again, and went on
his way. I envied that man his cool contempt of danger.
The Highland Division, commanded by Major-General Bannatine-Allason, was
posted to the Indian Corps and joined us on the 2nd May. This fine
Division afterwards became the famous “Fifty-first Highland,” commonly
referred to as the “Fighting Fifty-first.” My son in the Black Watch was
with me the day I first inspected them, and two years later was sent to
them as G.S.O., and shared in their glory at the battles near Rheims,
where the Division was sent to assist the French during the big German
push in 1918, and in the final phases of the war.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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