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| 1st Cavalry Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | World War I World War II |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Cavalry Yeomanry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | World War I Battle of Mons Action of Elouges Rearguard Action of Solesmes Battle of Le Cateau Rearguard Affair of Etreux Affair of Nery Rearguard Actions of Villers-Cotterets Battle of the Marne Battle of the Aisne Actions on the Aisne Heights First Battle of Ypres 1915 Second Battle of Ypres 1916 Battle of Flers Courcelette 1917 Battle of Arras Battle of Cambrai 1918 First Battle of the Somme 1918 Battle of Amiens 1918 Second Battle of the Somme 1918 Hindenburg Line 1918 Final Advance in Artois Final Advance in Picardy World War II Anglo-Iraqi War Syria-Lebanon Campaign |
The 1st Cavalry Division was a regular Division of the British Army during the First World War where if fought on the Western Front. During the Second World War it was a second line formation, formed from Yeomanry Regiments. It fought in the Middle East Theatre before being converted to the 10th Armoured Division.
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World War I
The 1st Cavalry Division was one of the first Divisions to move to France in 1914 , they would remain on the Western Front throughout the war. It participated in most of the major actions where cavalry were used as a mounted mobile force, they would also be used as dismounted troops and effectively serve as infantry.1 On November 11 , 1918 , orders were received that the Division would lead the advance of Second Army into Germany, by December 6 , having passed through Namur , the Division secured the Rhine bridgehead at Cologne.1
Order of battle in World War One
Commanding Generals:
- Major-General E. Allenby (from August to October 1914)
- Major-General H. de Lisle (from 12 October 1914 to May 1915)
- Major-General Hon. C. Bingham (from 27 May 1915 to October 1915)
- Major-General R. Mullens (from 24 October 1915 onwards)
1st Cavalry Brigade
- 2nd Dragoon Guards
- 5th Dragoon Guards
- 11th Hussars
- 1st Signal Troop
- 1st Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron (from February 1916)1
2nd Cavalry Brigade
- 4th Dragoon Guards
- 9th Lancers
- 18th Hussars
- 2nd Signal Troop
- 2nd Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron (from 28 February 1916)1
9th Cavalry Brigade
Brigade was formed on 14 April 1915
- 15th (King's) Hussars
- 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars
- 1/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry (left 10 March 1918 to become part of Cavalry Corps Cyclist Regiment)
- 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars (joined 10 March 1918 from 5th Cavalry Division. Briefly returned and came under Divisional orders during the enemy offensive from 21 March 1918)
- 9th Signal Troop RE
- 9th Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron (formed 28 February 1916)1
Cavalry Divisional troops
- VII Brigade Royal Horse Artillery.
- 1st Field Squadron Royal Engineers.
- 1st Signal Squadron.1
History in World War Two
The only British cavalry division during the War, this formation was sent in January 1940 to the Middle East as a garrison and occupation force. In May 1941 the 4th Cavalry Brigade, together with a battalion of infantry from The Essex Regiment, a mechanised regiment from the Arab Legion and supporting artillery was reorganised as Habforce for operations in Iraq including the relief of the base at RAF Habbaniya and the occupation of Baghdad. Following this, in July 1941 it was involved in operations against the Vichy French in Syria, advancing from eastern Iraq near the Trans-Jordan border on Palmyra to secure the Haditha - Tripoli oil pipeline.
On 1 August 1941 the division was converted to the 10th Armoured Division.
Order of battle in World War II
Commanding General:
- Major-General J.G.W. Clark
4th Cavalry Brigade
5th Cavalry Brigade
6th Cavalry Brigade
Support Units
- 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
- 1st Cavalry Division Signal Regiment
References
- Compton Mackenzie (1951). Eastern Epic. London: Chatto & Windus. p. 623 pages.
- Rothwell, Steve. "Orders of Battle: Arab Legion". Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
Notes
External links
- 1 Cavalry Division at Orders of Battle.com?
