Surf Wiki
Save to docs
history

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

1st Mounted Division

WW1 British Army formation

WW1 British Army formation

FieldValue
unit_name1st Mounted Division
1st Cyclist Division
dates5 August 1914 – 16 November 1916
countryUKGBI
branch
typeYeomanry
Bicycle infantry
sizeDivision
battlesWorld War I
battles_labelService
notable_commandersEdwin Alderson
Robert Broadwood

1st Cyclist Division Bicycle infantry Robert Broadwood The 1st Mounted Division was a Yeomanry Division of the British Army active during World War I. It was formed in August 1914 for the home defence of the United Kingdom from four existing mounted brigades of the Territorial Force, each of three regiments of Yeomanry. The divisional order of battle changed often, as the 1st Line brigades left for service overseas and were replaced by 2nd Line formations. It was converted to the 1st Cyclist Division in July 1916, and was broken up in November 1916 without being involved in active service. It remained in East Anglia throughout its existence.

An unrelated 1st Mounted Division was formed in July 1916, from the 3rd Mounted Division, lasting until September 1917. Another incarnation of 1st Mounted Division was created in April 1918 from the Yeomanry Mounted Division, lasting until July 1918.

History

1st Mounted Division

The Mounted Division was formed on 5 August 1914, immediately after the outbreak of World War I, from four existing mounted brigades of the Territorial ForceEastern, 1st South Midland, 2nd South Midland, and Notts. and Derby. It was assembled in East Anglia with Headquarters at Bury St Edmunds and the brigades at Ipswich, Diss and two at Bury. The division was to spend its entire existence in East Anglia.

Later in the month, a decision was made to concentrate mounted troops in the Churn area of Berkshire and at the end of August 1914 these were formed into a new 2nd Mounted Division. The original division was designated as 1st Mounted Division and gained three more 1st Line mounted brigadesSouth Wales, Welsh Border, and North Midlandto replace the 1st South Midland, 2nd South Midland, and Notts. and Derby brigades.

As the 1st Line mounted brigades left for overseas service, they were replaced by 2nd Line formations. As with other 2nd Line divisionswhich the 1st Mounted Division was in all but namethe division experienced considerable problems with regard to equipment and personnel. Even as late as July 1915, some Royal Horse Artillery batteries were without guns, wagons or harnesses, machine guns were lacking and few of the men had fired a recruits' course of musketry.

By the beginning of March 1916, the last 1st Line brigades had left and the division was now composed entirely of 2nd Line formations. On 31 March 1916, the remaining mounted brigades were ordered to be numbered in a single sequence and the division now commanded the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Mounted Brigades.

{{anchor|1st Cyclist Division}} 1st Cyclist Division

In July 1916 there was a major reorganization of 2nd Line yeomanry units in the United Kingdom. All but 12 regiments were converted to cyclists: In exchange, the 12th Mounted Brigade (2/1st London) joined as the 4th Cyclist Brigade.

A further reorganization in November 1916 saw the 1st Cyclist Division broken up. The cyclist brigades were dispersed and the yeomanry regiments were amalgamated in pairs to form Yeomanry Cyclist Regiments in new cyclist brigades.

Other formations

Two other divisions of the British Army were named 1st Mounted Division during World War I.

When the original division was converted to a cyclist division in July 1916, the 3rd Mounted Division was renumbered as the 1st Mounted Division as it was the only remaining mounted division. It, too, was converted to cyclists as The Cyclist Division on 4 September 1917.

In March 1918, the 1st Indian Cavalry Division was broken up in France. The British units remained on the Western Front and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt. By an Egyptian Expeditionary Force GHQ Order of 12 April 1918, the mounted troops of the EEF were reorganised when the Indian Army units arrived in theatre. On 24 April 1918, the Yeomanry Mounted Division was indianized and its title was changed to 1st Mounted Division. On 22 July 1918, it was renumbered as the 4th Cavalry Division.

Orders of battle

1st Mounted Division – August 1914
**Eastern Mounted Brigade**
**[1st South Midland Mounted Brigade](1st-south-midland-mounted-brigade)**{{refn1st South Midland Mounted Brigade left for the [2nd Mounted Division](2nd-mounted-division) in September 1914. It was replaced by the South Wales Mounted Brigade.
**[2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade](2nd-south-midland-mounted-brigade)**{{refn2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade left for the 2nd Mounted Division in September 1914. It was replaced by the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade.
**Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade**{{refnNottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade left for the 2nd Mounted Division in September 1914. It was replaced by the North Midland Mounted Brigade.
**Attached**
1st Mounted Division – September 1914 to September 1915
**Eastern Mounted Brigade**{{refnEastern Mounted Brigade was dismounted in September 1915 and departed for ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli where it was attached to the [54th (East Anglian) Division](54th-east-anglian-division). It was replaced by the [2/1st South Wales Mounted Brigade](2-1st-south-wales-mounted-brigade).
**South Wales Mounted Brigade**{{refnSouth Wales Mounted Brigade replaced the [1st South Midland Mounted Brigade](1st-south-midland-mounted-brigade) in September 1914. It was dismounted in March 1916 and departed for Egypt. It was replaced, in turn, by the [2/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade](2-1st-eastern-mounted-brigade).
**Welsh Border Mounted Brigade**{{refnWelsh Border Mounted Brigade replaced the [2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade](2nd-south-midland-mounted-brigade) in September 1914. It was dismounted in March 1916 and departed for Egypt. It was replaced, in turn, by the [2/1st Welsh Border Mounted Brigade](2-1st-welsh-border-mounted-brigade).
**North Midland Mounted Brigade**{{refnNorth Midland Mounted Brigade replaced the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade in September 1914. It left in October 1915, mounted, for Salonika but its destination was changed while at sea and it landed in Egypt. It was replaced by its 2nd Line [2/1st North Midland Mounted Brigade](2-1st-north-midland-mounted-brigade).
**Attached**
1st Mounted Division – September 1915 to March 1916
**[2/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade](2-1st-eastern-mounted-brigade)**{{refn2/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade replaced South Wales Mounted Brigade in March 1916. and was replaced by the [2/1st Highland Mounted Brigade](2-1st-highland-mounted-brigade).
**[2/1st North Midland Mounted Brigade](2-1st-north-midland-mounted-brigade)**{{refn2/1st North Midland Mounted Brigade replaced the North Midland Mounted Brigade in October 1915.
**[2/1st South Wales Mounted Brigade](2-1st-south-wales-mounted-brigade)**{{refn2/1st South Wales Mounted Brigade replaced the Eastern Mounted Brigade in March 1916.
**[2/1st Welsh Border Mounted Brigade](2-1st-welsh-border-mounted-brigade)**{{refn2/1st Welsh Border Mounted Brigade replaced the Welsh Border Mounted Brigade in September 1915. and was replaced by the [2/2nd South Western Mounted Brigade](2-2nd-south-western-mounted-brigade).
**Attached**
1st Mounted Division – March 1916 to July 1916
**[1st Mounted Brigade](1st-mounted-brigade-united-kingdom) (2/1st Highland)**{{refn[2/1st Highland Mounted Brigade](2-1st-highland-mounted-brigade) replaced [2/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade](2-1st-eastern-mounted-brigade) in March 1916.
**[2nd Mounted Brigade](2nd-mounted-brigade-united-kingdom) (2/2nd South Western)**{{refn[2/2nd South Western Mounted Brigade](2-2nd-south-western-mounted-brigade) replaced the [2/1st Welsh Border Mounted Brigade](2-1st-welsh-border-mounted-brigade) by July 1916.
**[3rd Mounted Brigade](3rd-mounted-brigade-united-kingdom) (2/1st North Midland)**{{refn[2/1st North Midland Mounted Brigade](2-1st-north-midland-mounted-brigade) was numbered as 3rd Mounted Brigade on 31 March 1916 and [3rd Cyclist Brigade](3rd-cyclist-brigade) in July 1916.
**[4th Mounted Brigade](4th-mounted-brigade-united-kingdom) (2/1st South Wales)**{{refn[2/1st South Wales Mounted Brigade](2-1st-south-wales-mounted-brigade) was numbered as 4th Mounted Brigade on 31 March 1916 and [2nd Cyclist Brigade](2nd-cyclist-brigade) in July 1916.
**Attached**
1st Cyclist Division – July 1916 to November 1916
**[1st Cyclist Brigade](1st-cyclist-brigade)**{{refn[1st Mounted Brigade](1st-mounted-brigade-united-kingdom) (2/1st Highland) was redesignated as 1st Cyclist Brigade in July 1916. [2/1st West Somerset Yeomanry](2-1st-west-somerset-yeomanry) of [2nd Mounted Brigade](2nd-mounted-brigade-united-kingdom) (2/2nd South Western) exchanged places with [2/1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry](2-1st-fife-and-forfar-yeomanry).
**[2nd Cyclist Brigade](2nd-cyclist-brigade)**{{refn[4th Mounted Brigade](4th-mounted-brigade-united-kingdom) (2/1st South Wales) was redesignated as 2nd Cyclist Brigade in July 1916. [2/1st Royal North Devon Yeomanry](2-1st-royal-north-devon-yeomanry) of [2nd Mounted Brigade](2nd-mounted-brigade-united-kingdom) (2/2nd South Western) exchanged places with [2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry](2-1st-montgomeryshire-yeomanry).
**[3rd Cyclist Brigade](3rd-cyclist-brigade)**{{refn[3rd Mounted Brigade](3rd-mounted-brigade-united-kingdom) (2/1st North Midland) was redesignated as 3rd Cyclist Brigade in July 1916.
**[4th Cyclist Brigade](4th-cyclist-brigade)**{{refn[12th Mounted Brigade](12th-mounted-brigade) (2/1st London) of the [3rd Mounted Division](3rd-mounted-division) joined the division and was redesignated as 4th Cyclist Brigade in July 1916.

Commanders

The 1st Mounted Division / 1st Cyclist Division had the following commanders:

FromRankName
5 August 1914Major-GeneralE. A. H. Alderson
29 September 1914Lieutenant GeneralR. G. Broadwood

Notes

References

Bibliography

  • {{cite book
  • {{cite book
  • {{cite book
  • {{cite book
  • {{cite book

References

  1. Baker, Chris. "The 1st Mounted Division, TF 1914–1918". The Long, Long Trail.
  2. {{harvnb. Rinaldi. 2008
  3. Baker, Chris. "Was my soldier in the Territorial Force (TF)?". The Long, Long Trail.
  4. {{harvnb. James. 1978
  5. {{harvnb. Becke. 1936
  6. the rest were dismounted, handed over their horses to the remount depots and were issued with bicycles. The 1st Mounted Division was reorganized as the '''1st Cyclist Division''', now commanding the [[1st Cyclist Brigade. 1st]], [[2nd Cyclist Brigade. 2nd]], [[3rd Cyclist Brigade. 2nd Mounted Brigade]]{{sndwith [[2/1st Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry. 2/1st Royal 1st Devon]], [[2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry. Becke. 1936
  7. {{harvnb. Becke. 1936
  8. {{harvnb. Becke. 1936
  9. {{harvnb. Becke. 1936
  10. {{harvnb. Becke. 1936
  11. {{harvnb. Becke. 1936
  12. {{harvnb. Perry. 1993
  13. {{harvnb. Becke. 1936
  14. {{harvnb. Perry. 1993
  15. {{harvnb. Becke. 1936
  16. {{harvnb. James. 1978
  17. Baker, Chris. "The Essex Yeomanry". The Long, Long Trail.
  18. {{harvnb. James. 1978
  19. James. 1978
  20. Baker, Chris. "The Welsh Horse Yeomanry". The Long, Long Trail.
  21. {{harvnb. Becke. 1936
  22. {{harvnb. Westlake. 1996
  23. {{harvnb. James. 1978
  24. Baker, Chris. "The Leicestershire Yeomanry". The Long, Long Trail.
  25. {{harvnb. James. 1978
  26. Baker, Chris. "The East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry". The Long, Long Trail.
  27. Becke. 1936
  28. {{harvnb. Becke. 1936
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

cavalry-divisions-of-the-british-army-in-world-war-i british-cavalry-divisions military-units-and-formations-established-in-1914 military-units-and-formations-disestablished-in-1916 1914-establishments-in-the-united-kingdom
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 1st Mounted Division — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report