7th Meerut Divisional Area

The 7th Meerut Divisional Area was a wartime formation of the British Indian Army created in September 1914 during the opening phase of the First World War. Its establishment followed the mobilization of the original 7th (Meerut) Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. When that division departed India, the new formation assumed responsibility for the military area and units left behind. It therefore served a different function from the original expeditionary 7th (Meerut) Division, which fought in Europe. The formation developed into a territorial and administrative command for northern India. During the war it organized or controlled several brigades, including the 14th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade, the Bareilly Brigade, the Delhi Brigade, the Dehra Dun Brigade and, later, the Garhwal Brigade. A Nepalese Brigade was attached from January 1916, while additional formations, including the Agra Brigade, were associated with the division toward the end of the war. The Delhi Brigade was initially disbanded in February 1915 and re-formed in December 1918; the Dehra Dun Brigade was disbanded in December 1918. The cavalry brigade was renumbered as the 4th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade in February 1915. Although the divisional area remained in India throughout the First World War, one of its associated formations, the Meerut Cavalry Brigade, was mobilized for the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919. In 1918 the command had responsibility for a broad network of posts and stations, including Agra, Almora, Bareilly, Bhim Tal, Chakrata, Chambattia, Dehra Dun, Delhi, Gangora, Kailana, Lansdowne, Meerut, Moradabad, Muttra, Ranikhet, Rurki and Sitoli. This network illustrates the formation's principal role: maintaining military administration, garrison organization and force control across a substantial area rather than operating as a single continuously deployed field formation. The formation initially operated under the Northern Army and came under Northern Command from January 1918. In June 1917 it was renamed Meerut Division, reflecting the evolution of its administrative identity during the war. The renamed division continued until it was broken up in 1920. It is therefore best understood as a historical military organization rather than a commercial brand, product line or continuing institution.

The 7th Meerut Divisional Area emerged from the British Indian Army's response to the mobilization of the original 7th (Meerut) Division. That division was called up in August 1914 and sailed from Bombay on 20 September for service on the Western Front. The 39th Royal Garhwal Rifles accompanied the expeditionary division. To preserve military administration in India after the division's departure, the 7th Meerut Divisional Area was formed in September 1914 and took over responsibility for the units and territory left behind. The new formation gradually assembled a brigade structure. The 14th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade was formed in November 1914 and renumbered the 4th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade in February 1915. The Bareilly and Delhi Brigades were established in December 1914. The Delhi Brigade was later broken up in February 1915, although it was re-formed in December 1918. The Dehra Dun Brigade was created in March 1915 and disbanded in December 1918. The Garhwal Brigade was not re-established until April 1917. A Nepalese Brigade was attached to the formation from January 1916, and an Agra Brigade was formed in December 1918. The order of battle also included the Kali Bahadur Battalion, Sabuj Barakh Battalion, Mahindra Dal Battalion and 2nd Rifle Battalion. The division did not deploy as a complete formation to the principal European fronts. Instead, it remained in India throughout the First World War and performed regional command, garrison and administrative duties. In 1918 its area included posts and stations at Agra, Almora, Bareilly, Bhim Tal, Chakrata, Chambattia, Dehra Dun, Delhi, Gangora, Kailana, Lansdowne, Meerut, Moradabad, Muttra, Ranikhet, Rurki and Sitoli. These responsibilities placed it within the infrastructure supporting the British Indian Army's wartime mobilization and internal military administration. The formation was initially subordinate to Northern Army and transferred to Northern Command in January 1918. In June 1917 it was renamed Meerut Division. The renamed division remained in India, although the Meerut Cavalry Brigade was mobilized during the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919. The formation was ultimately broken up in 1920. Its history is documented in studies of British Indian Army organization and First World War divisional orders of battle.

• 1920

  Dissolution

  [1]7th Meerut Divisional Areaen.wikipedia.org

  The Meerut Division was broken up, ending the formation's existence.

• 1919

  Cavalry service in the Third Anglo-Afghan War

  [1]7th Meerut Divisional Areaen.wikipedia.org

  The Meerut Cavalry Brigade associated with the division was mobilized for the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

• 1918

  Transfer to Northern Command

  [1]7th Meerut Divisional Areaen.wikipedia.org

  The formation came under Northern Command in January and continued to administer a wide network of posts and stations in northern India.

• 1917

  Renamed Meerut Division

  [1]7th Meerut Divisional Areaen.wikipedia.org

  The formation adopted the name Meerut Division in June 1917.

• 1915

  Expansion and renumbering

  [1]7th Meerut Divisional Areaen.wikipedia.org

  The cavalry brigade became the 4th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade in February, while the Dehra Dun Brigade was formed in March.

• 1914

  Formation of the divisional area

  [1]7th Meerut Divisional Areaen.wikipedia.org

  The 7th Meerut Divisional Area was created in September 1914 after the original 7th (Meerut) Division was mobilized and sent to the Western Front.

• 1914

  Initial brigade organization

  [1]7th Meerut Divisional Areaen.wikipedia.org

  The 14th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade was formed in November, followed by the Bareilly and Delhi Brigades in December.

A wartime military administrative and command formation responsible for units, brigades, garrisons and stations in northern India.

• 1919Third Anglo-Afghan War

  British India · Afghanistan

  The Meerut Cavalry Brigade, associated with the formation, was mobilized for service during the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

  Source
• 1914First World War home administration

  British India

  The formation remained in India during the First World War and administered military units, brigades and stations in northern India while the original 7th (Meerut) Division served on the Western Front.

  Outcome. It continued in this administrative role until its renaming in 1917 and dissolution in 1920.

  Source

• 1917

  Change of divisional designationStrategy

  Background

  The wartime formation had operated as the 7th Meerut Divisional Area since replacing the expeditionary 7th (Meerut) Division in India.

  Action taken

  It was renamed Meerut Division in June 1917.

  Aftermath

  The renamed division continued its India-based command responsibilities until being broken up in 1920.

  Source

1. 17th Meerut Divisional Areaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Army Commands 1900–2011gulabin.com