15th Infantry Division (India) explained

Unit Name:15th Indian Division
Dates:7 May 1916 – March 1919; 1 October 1964 onwards
Country:
India
Branch:
Indian Army
Type:Infantry
Size:Division
Nickname:Panther Division
Battles:World War I

Mesopotamian Campaign

Action of Khan Baghdadi

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

Notable Commanders:Major General H T Brooking
Major General Mohinder Singh
Major General BM Bhattacharjee

The 15th Indian Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army that saw active service in the First World War. It served in the Mesopotamian Campaign on the Euphrates Front throughout its existence. It did not serve in the Second World War, but was reformed at Dehradun in 1964 as part of the post-independence Indian Army.

History

World War IThe division was formed on 7 May 1916 to replace the 12th Indian Division on the Euphrates Front. It remained on the Euphrates Front until the end of the war. It took part in the action of As Sahilan (11 September 1916), the Capture of Ramadi (28 and 29 September 1917), the Occupation of Hīt (9 March 1918) and the action of Khan Baghdadi (26 and 27 March 1918). The division was not attached to either of the army corps operating in Mesopotamia, the I Corps and III Corps.

The division was commanded from formation on 7 May 1916 by Brigadier-General Harry T Brooking. Brooking was promoted to Major-General on 5 June 1916.

At the end of the war, the division was rapidly run down and it was disbanded in March 1919.

Post Independence The division was re-raised on 1 October 1964 at Clement Town, Dehradun under Major General Niranjan Prasad and assigned to XI Corps.[1] [2] The divisional headquarters has been located at Amritsar since 1965.

Order of battle, First World War

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

12th Indian Brigade

34th Indian Brigade

Joined the division on formation and left for the 17th Indian Division in August 1917

42nd Indian Brigade

50th Indian Brigade

Joined from the 17th Indian Division in September 1917

Divisional Artillery

Engineers and Pioneers

Divisional troops

Battles and engagements during World War I

The division was involved in the following actions:

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

See main article: Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. The division was fully operational on 31 March 1965 and moved to its headquarters in Amritsar by 1 April 1965. It took part in Operation Ablaze and the Battle of Dograi.[3]

The division consisted of 38 Infantry Brigade, 54 Infantry Brigade and 15 Artillery Brigade.[4] 38 Infantry Brigade consisted of 1 Jat, 1/3 Gorkha Rifles and 3 Garhwal Rifles. 54 Infantry Brigade consisted of 3 Jat, 15 Dogra, 13 Punjab. In addition to the two infantry brigades, the division consisted of 14 Horse (Scinde Horse), 60 Heavy Regiment and 71 Field Company.[5] [6] 96 Infantry Brigade, consisting of 6 Kumaon, 7 Punjab and 16 Dogra was initially part of the XI Corps reserve, but subsequently placed under the division's operational command.[4] 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade was placed under the division on 11 September. It was tasked to capture the road and rail bridges in Jallo area, but suffered heavy casualties during 16 and 17 September and had to be withdrawn.

The division was given the task to advance on the Grand Trunk Road axis and capture the bridge on the Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian Canal (also called Ichhogil Canal) in Dograi east of Lahore. 3 Jat under Lieutenant Colonel Desmond Hayde captured Dograi on the eastern bank of the Canal on 6 September 1965. The same day, 3 Jat captured the Batapore and Attokeawan localities on the west bank of the Canal. Due to lack of support, the unit had to fall back. 1 Jat managed to reach Bhaini Dhilwan bridge, but could not secure it due to armour and artillery fire and had to withdraw. This bridge was subsequently captured by 96 Infantry Brigade.[7] Following the initial reverses faced by the division, Major General Niranjan Prasad was replaced by Major General Mohindar Singh on 9 September 1965.[4] [2] The period of 11 to 18 September was characterised by a series of unproductive actions. The division subsequently plunged in the battle for the Ichhogil canal with zeal and determination. On 21 and 22 September, 3 Jat of the 54 Brigade captured Dograi. The unit won 3 Maha Vir Chakras, 4 Vir Chakras, 7 Sena Medals, 12 Mention in Dispatches and 11 COAS Commendation Cards.[8]

At the end of the war, 15 Division saw 486 killed (26 Officers, 9 JCOs, 451 ORs), 1569 wounded (60 Officers, 57 JCOs, 1450 ORs, 2 NCEs) and 85 missing (3 Officers, 2 JCOs, 79 ORs, 1 NCE).[9]

Awards and honours

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The division was under Major General BM Bhattacharjee during the 1971 war and was responsible for the area between Gurdaspur and the Grand Trunk road opposite Amritsar. It took part in the battles of Dera Baba Nanak and Fatehpur – Burj.[3]

Order of battle

[15]

Awards and honours

15 Infantry Division won numerous gallantry awards during the war.[21] Prominent among them are:

Param Vishisht Seva Medal awardee-
Maha Vir Chakra awardees-
Battle Honours

Other Operations

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Richard A. Renaldi and Ravi Rikhye, 'Indian Army Order of Battle,' Orbat.com for Tiger Lily Books: A division of General Data LLC,, 2011, 103-4.
  2. Web site: Army ad errs on 1965 war history, makes amends. 2015-08-17. 2021-09-14.
  3. Web site: 15 Infantry Division, Golden Jubilee Cover. 2014-10-01. 2021-09-14.
  4. Book: Singh, Harbaksh . War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965. 2012. Lancer Publishers LLC. 978-8170621171.
  5. Web site: The Scinde Horse. 2015-01-09. 2021-09-14.
  6. Web site: Recalling epic tank battles of 1965 war: When Pakistan Army began avoiding Indian Army tanks. 2021-01-04. 2021-09-14.
  7. Book: Rao, KVK. Prepare or Perish: A Study of National Security. Lancer Publishers. 1991. 978-8172120016. 131–132.
  8. Web site: GOLDEN JUBILEE OF 1965 WAR, The Battle of Dograi. 2015-10-01. 2021-09-14.
  9. Book: Singh, Jogindar. Behind the Scene: An Analysis of India's Military Operations, 1947–1971. 1993. Lancer Publishers. 978-1897829202. 152.
  10. Web site: 8 MECHANISED INFANTRY (7 PUNJAB ICHHOGIL WARRIORS. 2016-10-01. 2021-09-18.
  11. Web site: Battle Honour Day Celebrated. 2008-11-01. 2021-09-18.
  12. Web site: INDO – PAK WAR OF 1965, Valour of Punjab Regiment and Brigade of Guards. 2015-10-01. 2021-09-18.
  13. Web site: BATTLES THAT MADE HISTORY. 2020-01-01. 2021-09-18.
  14. Web site: Gazette of India, No 41, page 661. 1966-10-08. 2021-09-14.
  15. Book: Gill, JH. An Atlas Of 1971 India Pakistan War – Creation of Bangladesh. 2003. National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. 86.
  16. Book: Praval, KC. Indian Army After Independence. 2009. Lancer Publishers. 978-1935501107.
  17. Web site: Guts, Grit and Glory – Braveheart's Victory. 2021-09-14.
  18. Book: Singh, Jagjit . Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. 1994. Spantech & Lancer. 978-1897829554. 164.
  19. Web site: Guts, Grit and Glory – Braveheart's Victory – How Major Ranbir Singh won the landmark Battle of Burj, 1971. 2021-09-17.
  20. Book: Singh, Jagjit. Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. 1994. Spantech & Lancer. 978-1897829554. 162.
  21. Web site: Gazette of India, No . 1972-02-12. 2021-09-17.
  22. Web site: DBN Brigade celebrates anniversary. 2006-12-06. 2021-09-17.
  23. Web site: Baatcheet, April 2021. 2021-04-01. 2021-09-17.
  24. Book: Prasad, Shankar. The Gallant Dogras-An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment. 2008. Lancer International. 978-8170622680.
  25. Web site: A Saga of Valour – 200 Years of First Nine Gorkhas. 2017-04-01. 2021-09-17.

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