18th Indian Division


The 18th Indian Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army that saw active service in the Indian Army during [World War I|First World War]. It took part in the Mesopotamian campaign and formed part of the occupation force for Iraq post-war. The division was not reformed for the Second World War.

History

The 18th Indian Division was formed in Mesopotamia on 24 December 1917, although the last of its brigades was not formed until January 1918. Many of the division's units transferred directly from India so time was needed for them to become acclimatized. It remained in Mesopotamia for the rest of the First World War, taking part in the action at Fat-ha Gorge on the Little Zab and the Battle of Sharqat under the command of I Corps.
At the end of the war, the 18th Division was chosen to form part of the occupation force for Iraq. It took part in the Iraq Rebellion in 1920 and was broken up in the following year.

Order of battle

The division commanded the following units, although not all of them served at the same time:

[53rd Indian Brigade]

The division was commanded from 7 January 1918 by Major-General H.D. Fanshawe and from 12 March 1919 by Major-General Theodore Fraser.