The Bannu Brigade was formed after the 1903 reforms of the British Indian Army by Herbert Kitchener when he was Commander-in-Chief, India. The brigade was part of the Northern Army and deployed along the North West Frontier. In 1914 at the start of World War I the composition of the brigade was:
The brigade was involved in the between November 1914 and March 1915 when it was commanded by Major-General Vere Bonamy Fane.