6th (Poona) Division

The 6th (Poona) Division was a division of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1903, following the Kitchener reforms of the Indian Army.

World War I
The 6th (Poona) Division served in the Mesopotamian campaign. Led by Major General Barrett then Major General Townshend, the division were the first British Indian troops to land in Mesopotamia in November 1914 at the Fao Landing. After a string of early successes, the 6th Division was delivered a setback at the Battle of Ctesiphon in November 1915. Following this engagement, the division withdrew back to Kut, where Townshend made the decision to hold the city. After a lengthy siege by the Ottomans, Townshend surrendered in April 1916. 10,061 troops were taken captive. Following the surrender, the garrisoned force conducted a forced march back to Anatolia. The suffering of the enlisted soldiers was particularly egregious, and over 4000 died in captivity.

After the surrender, the Poona Division ceased to exist until another 6th Division was raised in 1920 for the Iraq Rebellion.

Order of Battle December 1914

 * 16th Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 2nd Bn. Dorsetshire Regiment
 * 1st Bn. 20th Duke of Cambridge's Own Infantry (Brownlow's Punjabis)
 * 1st Bn. 104th Wellesley's Rifles
 * 1st Bn. 117th Mahrattas


 * 17th Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Bn. Ox & Bucks
 * 1st Bn. 119th Infantry (The Mooltan Regiment)
 * 1st Bn. 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry
 * 1st Bn. 22nd Punjabis


 * 18th Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 2nd Bn. Norfolk Regiment
 * 1st Bn. 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
 * 1st Bn. 120th Rajputana Infantry
 * 1st Bn. 7th (Duke of Connaught's Own) Rajputs


 * Divisional Artillery
 * X Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA)
 * 76 Bty. RFA
 * 82 Bty. RFA
 * 63 Bty. RFA
 * 1st Indian Mountain Artillery Brigade
 * 23rd (Peshawar) Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)
 * 30th Mountain Battery
 * 1/5th Hampshire Howitzer Battery


 * Divisional troops
 * 33rd Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry
 * 17 Co. 3rd Sappers and Miners
 * 22 Co. 3rd Sappers and Miners
 * 48th Pioneers