CHAPTER XI
THE TERRITORIAL FORCE—THE INDIAN ARMY
The Territorial Force
A British “Second Line Army” is provided by the Territorial Force. It consists of 14 Divisions, 14 Mounted Brigades, and certain “Army Troops.” These are organized on the same lines as the regular Units, but differ in the following points:
1. The Cavalry and Mounted Infantry Units are both provided by the “Yeomanry,” and consist of Regiments of 4 Squadrons instead of 3 as in the regular Cavalry. The Divisional Cavalry is formed of a Regiment of Yeomanry, instead of 2 Companies of Mounted Infantry as in the regular Division.
2. The Artillery is in Batteries of four guns, instead of six as in the regular Artillery.
3. The Divisional Supply Column is formed of 4 A.S.C. Companies, that is 1 per Brigade and 1 for the Divisional Troops. There are no Divisional Supply Parks.
4. There are no Divisional Ammunition Columns.
5. Cyclist Battalions will form part of the Army Troops.
The Army of India
The Field Force which can be mobilized in India for war consists of 9 Divisions and 8 Cavalry Brigades. It is composed of British and Indian Troops in combination. This fact necessitates an organization somewhat different in detail from that in England, especially as to number of Officers and men and constitution of Administrative Services. But, on the whole, the organization of the Army of India is on the same lines as that of the Home Army.
The main differences are as follows:
The Infantry Brigade, which has 4 Battalions as in the Home Army, is organized for independent action, having its own Administrative Services—namely: two Ambulances, a Supply Column, and a Field Post Office.
The Cavalry Brigade, like that of the Home Army, is of 3 Regiments, but the Regiment has 4 Squadrons. The Brigade is also organized for independent action, having a Horse Artillery Battery and Ammunition Column, and the necessary Administrative Services, like the Infantry Brigade.
The Division is of three Brigades, with two Field Companies of Engineers, like the British Division, but it has an extra Battalion of Pioneers and a whole Cavalry Regiment. It is weaker in Artillery, having only one Brigade of Field Artillery, but it has 2 Mountain Batteries. The Indian Division has the same Administrative Services as a British Division in England, with a Survey Party in addition.
The Staff and the Field and Horse Artillery are British. The Infantry Battalions, Cavalry Regiments, and Mountain Batteries are either British or Indian. The Engineer Companies and Administrative Services are Indian. In all Indian Units the higher ranks are filled by British Officers.
The following gives the Establishment of Brigades and Divisions:
Indian Army Organization
Cavalry Brigade
Battery Horse Artillery.
Cavalry Regiments, 1 British and 2 Indian.
Ammunition Column.
Field Hospital, 1 Section British, 2 Sections Indian.
Field Post Office.
Brigade Supply Column.
Total Strength: British: 70 Officers, 650 men.
” ” Indian: 40 Officers, 1,100 men, 1,950 horses.
Infantry Brigade (British or Indian)
Infantry Battalions, 4.
Field Hospitals, 2.
Field Post Office.
Brigade Supply Column.
Total Strength: British Brigade: 132 Officers, 3,300 men,
122 horses, with 700 Indian followers.
” ” Indian Brigade: 88 Officers, 3,000 men,
600 followers, 122 horses, with 70 British Officers.
Infantry Brigades are sometimes organized with
1 or 2 British and 3 or 2 Indian Battalions.
Infantry Division
Infantry Brigades, 1 British and 2 Indian.
Cavalry Regiment, 1 Indian.
Pioneer Battalion, 1 Indian.
Field Artillery Brigade, 1 British.
Mountain Batteries, 2 British or Indian.
Engineer Field Companies, 2 Indian.
Field Hospitals, 1 Indian and 2 Sections British.
Divisional Ammunition Column.
Field Post Office.
Supply Column for Divisional Troops.
Divisional Supply Column.
Survey Party.
Total Strength: British: 370 Officers, 4,100 men.
” ” Indian: 230 Officers, 8,200 men,
2,600 followers, 1,950 horses.