The Bannu Brigade was formed after the 1903 reforms of the British Indian Army by Herbert Kitchener when he was Commander-in-Chief, India. The brigade was part of the Northern Army and deployed along the North West Frontier. In 1914 at the start of World War I the composition of the brigade was:Commander Major General Hugh O'Donnell 25th Cavalry 33rd Punjabis 52nd Sikhs 55th Coke's Rifles 29 Mountain Battery