Ambala Brigade


The Ambala Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that formed part of the Indian Army during the First World War. It was formed in November 1914 to replace the original Ambala Brigade that had been mobilized as the 3rd Cavalry Brigade for service on the Western Front. It remained in India throughout the war.
The brigade continued to exist between the World Wars and by September 1939 it was designated Ambala Brigade Area. It was broken up in 1941.

History

At the outbreak of the First World War, the Ambala Cavalry Brigade was part of the 3rd Division. It was mobilized in August 1914 as the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, assigned to the newly formed 1st Indian Cavalry Division and sailed from Bombay on 16 October for the Western Front. Likewise, the 3rd Division was transferred to France in August 1914. The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area was formed in September 1914 to take over the area responsibilities of the 3rd Division and on 11 November 1914 a new Ambala Brigade was formed in 3rd Lahore Divisional Area to replace the original brigade. The brigade served with the division in India until May 1917.
From December 1916, the 16th Indian Division began forming as a reserve division for the North-West Frontier eventually taking over the responsibilities and brigades of the 3rd Lahore Divisional Area: 44th Brigade in February 1917 and the Ambala and 45th Brigades in May. It remained with the new division until June 1918 when it became an independent formation.
The brigade continued to exist after the end of the war. By 1926 it had been redesignated as Ambala Brigade Area. It was broken up in 1941.

Orders of battle

16th Indian Division
The brigade commanded the following units while assigned to 16th Indian Division:
Ambala Brigade Area on 3 September 1939
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the brigade area had the following units under command:

Commanders

The Ambala Brigade had the following commanders:
FromToRankName
11 November 191415 October 1915Brigadier-GeneralH.A. Iggulden
15 October 19152 June 1918Brigadier-GeneralC.E. Hendley
3 June 1918March 1920Major-GeneralC.E. Hendley
November 1920April 1921Brigadier-GeneralH.C. Wooldridge
April 1921October 1921Brigadier-GeneralC.H. Rowcroft
September 1922Brigadier-GeneralC.C. Newnham
December 1923Brigadier-GeneralH.J.P. Browne
December 1923December 1927Major-GeneralD. Deane
December 1927March 1929BrigadierE.C. Gepp
April 1929May 1931BrigadierW.E. Wilson-Johnston
May 1931May 1932BrigadierH.L. Scott
May 1932February 1934BrigadierF.G. Gillies
February 1934February 1938BrigadierE.G. Hall
February 19381941BrigadierC.A.L. Howard