2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade The brigade was embodied on 4 August 1914 upon the outbreak of the
First World War. Initially, it concentrated in
Berkshire and on 5 August 1914 joined the
1st Mounted Division. On 2 September it was transferred to the
2nd Mounted Division and in mid November 1914 it moved with its division to
Norfolk on coastal defence duties. On 19 September 1914, the
Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars was posted to the
BEF, joining the
4th Cavalry Brigade. The
Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry joined in the same month to replace them.
Egypt In April 1915, the 2nd Mounted Division moved to
Egypt arriving at
Alexandria between 19 and 21 April and was posted to
Cairo by the middle of May. In May 1915 the brigade was designated
2nd (2nd South Midland) Mounted Brigade. Each regiment left a
squadron headquarters and two
troops (about 100 officers and men) in Egypt to look after the horses.
Gallipoli The brigade landed at "A" Beach,
Suvla Bay on 18 August and moved into
bivouacs at Lala Baba on 20 August. On 21 August it advanced to Chocolate Hill via Salt Lake and Hetman Chair and took part in the attack on Scimitar Hill. The brigade formed a battalion sized unit
2nd South Midland Regiment. The brigade embarked for
Mudros on 31 October and returned to Egypt in December 1915 where it was reformed and remounted. On 31 March 1916, the remaining Mounted Brigades were numbered in a single sequence. As a consequence, the 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade was redesignated as
6th Mounted Brigade. The brigade served with the
Western Frontier Force from January to October 1916. The 17th Machine Gun Squadron was formed on 12 January 1917. The complete brigade was transferred to the newly formed
Yeomanry Mounted Division on 27 June 1917, joining it at el Maraqeb. From 31 October it took part in the
Third Battle of Gaza, including the
Battle of Beersheba and the Capture of the Sheria Position. It took part in the
Battle of Mughar Ridge on 13 and 14 November and the
Battle of Nebi Samwil from 17 to 24 November. From 27 to 29 November, it withstood the Turkish counter-attacks during the
Capture of Jerusalem.
10th Cavalry Brigade In March 1918, the
1st Indian Cavalry Division was broken up in France. The British units (notably
6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons,
17th Lancers,
1/1st Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons and
A,
Q and
U Batteries RHA) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt. By an
Egyptian Expeditionary Force GHQ Order of 12 April 1918, the mounted troops of the EEF were reorganised when the Indian Army units arrived in
theatre. On 24 April 1918, the Yeomanry Mounted Division was
indianized and its title was changed to 1st Mounted Division, the third distinct division to bear this title. On 24 April 1918, the 6th Mounted Brigade was merged with elements of the
5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade: After the
Armistice of Mudros, the brigade remained with 4th Cavalry Division in Palestine as part of the occupation forces. However, demobilization began immediately and by May 1919 most of the British units had been repatriated. The division was finally broken up in 1921. ==Commanders==