4th Infantry Division (India)

4th Indian Infantry Division
Insignia of the 4th Indian Infantry Division, Second World War.
Active	1939–present
Country	British India (1939–1947) India (1947–present)
Allegiance	British Empire  India
Branch	British Indian Army (1939–1947)  Indian Army (1947–present)
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Part of	XIII Corps (historical) I Corps (India)
Nickname(s)	"Red Eagle Division"
Engagements	Second World War Sino-Indian War Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The 4th Indian Infantry Division, also known as the Red Eagle Division, is an infantry division of the Indian Army.

The division was formed in Egypt in 1939 and was the first Indian formation to go overseas during the Second World War. As with all formations in the Indian Army prior to independence, it primarily had British officers and Indian other ranks. However, it did include Indian officer with ranks as high as Captain and Major. During World War II, it took part in campaigns in East Africa (Eritrea and Sudan), Syria, North Africa and Italy.

During World War II, the 4th Indian Division was in the vanguard during nine campaigns in the Mediterranean theatre. Major-General The Hon. P. Gerald Scarlett appears to have been the division's first commander, from October 1939 to January 1940. The British 14th Infantry Brigade was attached to the division from 1 June to 20 July 1940; the British 16th Infantry Brigade was attached from 9 September 1940 to 14 December 1940. In the first of Archibald Wavell's operations in Egypt, as part of the Western Desert Force, it took part in Operation Compass in December 1940. The Division was involved in the decisive battles of that campaign in the camps around Sidi Barrani. Along with the 7th Royal Tank Regiment, the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade of the 4th Indian Infantry Division destroyed the Italian Maletti Group at the Nibiewa Camp.