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| 17th Indian Division | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 17th Indian Division |
| Country | British India |
| Type | Infantry |
| Branch | British Indian Army |
| Dates | 1917–1920 |
| Notable commanders | See Commanders |
17th Indian Division The 17th Indian Division was an infantry formation of the British Indian Army raised during the First World War for service in the Mesopotamian campaign and subsequent occupation duties. Formed from units drawn from the Indian Army and Imperial Service Troops, the division participated in major operations alongside formations of the British Army, Indian Army brigades, and allied Royal Air Force reconnaissance, contributing to the eventual capture and stabilization of key positions in Mesopotamia, Iraq, and the Persian campaign. Its actions intersected with wider events including the Siege of Kut, the Battle of Ctesiphon, and the postwar occupation that followed the Armistice of Mudros.
Raised in 1917 under the aegis of the Mesopotamian campaign command structure, the division assembled at bases in Basra and Amara from battalions previously engaged in the Persian Gulf and Tigris operations. Its formation reflected reorganizations following the setbacks at the Siege of Kut and the relief efforts under commanders associated with previous actions, aligning with staff drawn from the Indian Army's Southern Command and officers who had served with the 10th Indian Division and 13th (Western) Division. Early training emphasized riverine operations on the Tigris River, coordination with Royal Navy gunboats, and integration of attached machine gun and engineering companies previously employed during the Kut Relief Expedition.
The division comprised three infantry brigades, divisional artillery, engineers, medical units, supply and transport elements, and cavalry and machine gun detachments. Brigade elements included battalions from regiments such as the 3rd Gurkha Rifles, 5th Gurkha Rifles, 36th Sikhs, 89th Punjabis, and battalions of the Royal West Kent Regiment and Middlesex Regiment when British units were attached. Artillery support drew on batteries from the Royal Field Artillery and Indian Mountain Batteries, while engineers were provided by companies of the Royal Engineers and the Sappers and Miners of the Indian establishment. Logistic support involved the Indian Army Service Corps, veterinary sections from the Army Veterinary Corps, and field ambulances of the Indian Medical Service.
Deployed to the Mesopotamian theatre, the division took part in offensive operations aimed at securing the Lower Tigris and advancing on Baghdad. It engaged in set-piece battles and river-crossing operations, coordinating with No. 30 Squadron RAF reconnaissance and naval support from elements of the Royal Navy's Mesopotamian Squadron. Actions included engagements during the advance upriver, defensive operations against Ottoman counter-attacks by forces of the Ottoman Empire's Sixth Army, and the occupation of strategic towns such as Kuwait and Hillah. The division suffered casualties from combat, disease, and the harsh climate, mirroring the experiences of contemporaneous formations like the 6th (Poona) Division and the 17th (Northern) Division in nearby sectors. Its operations contributed to the wider collapse of Ottoman control in Mesopotamia and to the strategic position leveraged at the Armistice of Mudros in 1918.
Following the armistice, the division remained in Mesopotamia and the newly constituted mandate territories to perform occupation duties, internal security, and lines-of-communication tasks during the period of political transition involving the British Mandate for Mesopotamia and the eventual formation of the Kingdom of Iraq. Units provided manpower for garrison duties in Mosul, Kirkuk, and Baghdad, and sometimes assisted civil authorities amid unrest involving tribal leaders and local factions linked to the collapse of Ottoman administration. The slow drawdown of forces and reversion of wartime-raised battalions led to progressive disbandment, and the division was stood down by 1920 as regiments returned to peacetime establishments or were redeployed to other imperial stations such as Egypt and Aden.
Senior officers who commanded the formation included brigadiers and major-generals drawn from the Indian Staff Corps and the British Army. Command appointments featured officers with prior Mesopotamian experience and postings in the North-West Frontier Province and Straits Settlements. Notable commander names associated with division-level leadership in the theatre included officers who had served in related commands such as the 13th (Western) Division and the Tigris Corps; their careers often encompassed service in the Second Boer War, the Sudan campaign, and later postings to the British Expeditionary Force or colonial commands.
Elements of the division and constituent regiments received battle honours for campaigns in Mesopotamia, including distinctions tied to engagements at Sharqat, Tikrit, and operations on the Lower Tigris. Individual decorations awarded to soldiers and officers included the Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, and Indian Order of Merit among others, reflecting gallantry and distinguished service across battalions such as the 36th Sikhs and Gurkha units. Unit citations and campaign medals—such as the British War Medal and Victory Medal—were issued to qualifying personnel.
The division's legacy is preserved in regimental histories, memorials in former garrison towns, and commemorative rolls held by museums like the Imperial War Museum, National Army Museum (United Kingdom), and archives of the British Library and India Office Records. Memorial plaques and cenotaphs in Basra, Kuwait City, and in regimental messes of units such as the Gurkha Regiments and the Punjab Regiments commemorate the service of those who served. Remnants of wartime infrastructure and maps in collections at the National Archives (United Kingdom) and research in journals such as the Journal of Military History continue to inform study of the division's role in the wider collapse of Ottoman authority and the shaping of postwar Iraq.
Category:Divisions of the British Indian Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1917 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1920