7th (Meerut) Division
| 7th (Meerut) Indian Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1829 - 1920 |
| Country |
 British India
|
| Allegiance | British Crown |
| Branch |
 British Indian Army
|
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | Bengal Army/Northern Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Meerut |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Maj-Gen Claud Jacob (1915) Maj-Gen Sir George Younghusband (1915-16) Maj-Gen Sir V. B. Fane (1918) |
Mesopotamian Campaign
Palestine Campaign
The 7th (Meerut) Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army that saw active service during World War I.
The Meerut Division first appeared in the Indian Army List in 1829, under the command of Sir Jasper Nicolls, KCB. At this period Divisions were primarily administrative organisations controlling the brigades and stations in their area, rather than field formations, but they did provide field forces when required. There were generally one Indian cavalry and two Indian infantry regiments stationed at Meerut itself, in addition to British troops: in 1829 these were the 4th Bengal Light Cavalry, 29th and 32nd Bengal Native Infantry.
In May 1857, on the eve of the 'Indian Rebellion of 1857' (or 'First War of Independence'), the troops at Meerut comprised the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) and a battalion of the 60th (King’s Royal Rifle Corps), the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry, and 11th and 20th Bengal Native Infantry under the command of Maj-Gen W.H. Hewitt. The outbreak of the rebellion at Meerut was one of the first and most serious of the whole conflict.
The division was reconstituted when peace returned. Over succeeding decades, the stations controlled by Meerut Division varied, and the forces under command were regularly rotated. For example:
GOC: Maj-Gen Sir G.R. Greave, KCB, KCMG
Divisional HQ: Meerut
Agra Brigade:
...
Wikipedia