8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade

The Kitchener Reforms, carried out during Lord Kitchener's tenure as Commander-in-Chief, India (1902–09), completed the unification of the three former Presidency armies, the Punjab Frontier Force, the Hyderabad Contingent and other local forces into one Indian Army. Kitchener identified the Indian Army's main task as the defence of the North-West Frontier against foreign aggression (particularly Russian expansion into Afghanistan) with internal security relegated to a secondary role. The Army was organized into divisions and brigades that would act as field formations but also included internal security troops.{{harvnb|Haythornthwaite|1996|p=244}}

The Lucknow Cavalry Brigade was formed in October 1911{{efn|name=Formed|16 October 1911 was the appointment date of the brigade's first commanding officer.{{cite web | url = https://archive.org/stream/hartsannualarmy1913lond#page/112/mode/2up | title = Hart's Annual Army List for 1913 | author = The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart | author-link = Henry George Hart | publisher = John Murray | location = London | access-date=18 July 2015 }}}} as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. The brigade was one of the last to be formed before the outbreak of the First World War. It formed part of the 8th (Lucknow) Division in peacetime.{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=102}}

;8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade

File:Comrades France (Photo 24-158).jpg

In September 1914, the brigade was mobilized as the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade and assigned to the 1st Indian Cavalry Division. With the division, it departed Bombay on 16 October 1914 and landed at Marseilles on 7 November. However, the brigade did not reach the Front until 8–10 December due to horse sickness. While in France, the brigade was known by its geographical rather than numerical designation so as to avoid confusion with the British 8th Cavalry Brigade also serving on the Western Front at the same time.{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=16}}

Other than the Battle of Cambrai when it helped to hold the German counter-attack, it was not involved in battle. Instead, it was held in reserve in case of a breakthrough, although it did send parties to the trenches on a number of occasions. They would hold the line, or act as Pioneers; such parties were designated as the Lucknow Battalion.

;Dissolved

In March 1918, the brigade was broken up in France. The British units (1/1st Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons and U Battery, RHA) remained in France, 12th Machine Gun Squadron was broken up on 14 April 1918{{cite web|publisher=The Long Long Trail|access-date=11 May 2013|last=Baker|first=Chris|title=Cavalry units of the Machine Gun Corps|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/mgccav.html}} and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt. On 24 April 1918, these were merged with the 8th Mounted Brigade of the Yeomanry Mounted Division.{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=33}} On 22 July 1918 the 8th Mounted Brigade was redesignated as 11th Cavalry Brigade and the division as 4th Cavalry Division.{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=22}}

;{{anchor|4}}Post war

The Lucknow Cavalry Brigade was reformed in April 1920. In September 1920 it was designated as the 4th Indian Cavalry Brigade until 1923 when it was broken up.{{harvnb|Mackie|2015|p=368}}

The Lucknow Cavalry Brigade / 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade had the following commanders:{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=12}}

The new Lucknow Cavalry Brigade / 4th Indian Cavalry Brigade was commanded throughout it existence (April 1920{{snd}}1923) by Major-General L.C. Jones.

• 22nd (Lucknow) Brigade
• Indian Cavalry Corps order of battle First World War
• Indian Expeditionary Force A

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|2}}

• {{cite book

| last = Haythornthwaite | first = Philip J.

| author-link = Philip Haythornthwaite

| year = 1996

| title = The World War One Source Book

| publisher = Arms and Armour Press

| location = London

| isbn = 1-85409-351-7

}}

• {{cite book

| last = Becke | first = Major A.F.

| year = 1936

| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42-56)

| publisher = His Majesty's Stationery Office

| location = London

| isbn = 1-871167-12-4

}}

• {{cite book

| last = James | first = Brigadier E.A.

| year = 1978

| title = British Regiments 1914–18

| publisher = Samson Books Limited

| location = London

| isbn = 0-906304-03-2

}}

• {{cite web

|last=Mackie

|first=Colin

|date=June 2015

|title=Army Commands 1900-2011

|publisher=www.gulabin.com

|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf

|access-date=1 July 2015

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705211343/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf

|archive-date=5 July 2015

}}

• {{cite book

| last = Perry | first = F.W.

| year = 1993

| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions

| publisher = Ray Westlake Military Books

| location = Newport

| isbn = 1-871167-23-X

}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/8_ind_div.htm |title=8th (Lucknow) Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell |access-date=19 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517123918/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/8_ind_div.htm |archive-date=17 May 2008 }}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_cav/1_ind_cav_div.htm |title=1st Indian Cavalry Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell |access-date=31 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517085204/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_cav/1_ind_cav_div.htm |archive-date=17 May 2008 }}
• {{cite web | url=http://www.1914-1918.net/1cavdiv_indian.htm | title=The 1st Indian Cavalry Division in 1914-1918 | last=Baker | first=Chris | publisher=The Long Long Trail | access-date=19 July 2015 }}

C08

Category:Cavalry brigades of the British Indian Army

Category:Military units and formations established in 1911

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1918