1.
United Kingdom
–
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country in western Europe. Lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland, the United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland, with an area of 242,500 square kilometres, the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world and the 11th-largest in Europe. It is also the 21st-most populous country, with an estimated 65.1 million inhabitants, together, this makes it the fourth-most densely populated country in the European Union. The United Kingdom is a monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. The monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 6 February 1952, other major urban areas in the United Kingdom include the regions of Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester. The United Kingdom consists of four countries—England, Scotland, Wales, the last three have devolved administrations, each with varying powers, based in their capitals, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, respectively. The relationships among the countries of the UK have changed over time, Wales was annexed by the Kingdom of England under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. A treaty between England and Scotland resulted in 1707 in a unified Kingdom of Great Britain, which merged in 1801 with the Kingdom of Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Five-sixths of Ireland seceded from the UK in 1922, leaving the present formulation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, there are fourteen British Overseas Territories. These are the remnants of the British Empire which, at its height in the 1920s, British influence can be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former colonies. The United Kingdom is a country and has the worlds fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP. The UK is considered to have an economy and is categorised as very high in the Human Development Index. It was the worlds first industrialised country and the worlds foremost power during the 19th, the UK remains a great power with considerable economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence internationally. It is a nuclear weapons state and its military expenditure ranks fourth or fifth in the world. The UK has been a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since its first session in 1946 and it has been a leading member state of the EU and its predecessor, the European Economic Community, since 1973. However, on 23 June 2016, a referendum on the UKs membership of the EU resulted in a decision to leave. The Acts of Union 1800 united the Kingdom of Great Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have devolved self-government
2.
British Army
–
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom. As of 2017 the British Army comprises just over 80,000 trained Regular, or full-time, personnel and just over 26,500 trained Reserve, or part-time personnel. Therefore, the UK Parliament approves the continued existence of the Army by passing an Armed Forces Act at least once every five years, day to day the Army comes under administration of the Ministry of Defence and is commanded by the Chief of the General Staff. Repeatedly emerging victorious from these decisive wars allowed Britain to influence world events with its policies and establish itself as one of the leading military. In 1660 the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were restored under Charles II, Charles favoured the foundation of a new army under royal control and began work towards its establishment by August 1660. The Royal Scots Army and the Irish Army were financed by the Parliament of Scotland, the order of seniority of the most senior line regiments in the British Army is based on the order of seniority in the English army. At that time there was only one English regiment of dragoons, after William and Marys accession to the throne, England involved itself in the War of the Grand Alliance, primarily to prevent a French invasion restoring Marys father, James II. Spain, in the two centuries, had been the dominant global power, and the chief threat to Englands early transatlantic ambitions. The territorial ambitions of the French, however, led to the War of the Spanish Succession and the Napoleonic Wars. From the time of the end of the Seven Years War in 1763, Great Britain was the naval power. As had its predecessor, the English Army, the British Army fought the Kingdoms of Spain, France, and the Netherlands for supremacy in North America and the West Indies. With native and provincial assistance, the Army conquered New France in the North American theatre of the Seven Years War, the British Army suffered defeat in the American War of Independence, losing the Thirteen Colonies but holding on to Canada. The British Army was heavily involved in the Napoleonic Wars and served in campaigns across Europe. The war between the British and the First French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte stretched around the world and at its peak, in 1813, the regular army contained over 250,000 men. A Coalition of Anglo-Dutch and Prussian Armies under the Duke of Wellington, the English had been involved, both politically and militarily, in Ireland since being given the Lordship of Ireland by the Pope in 1171. The campaign of the English republican Protector, Oliver Cromwell, involved uncompromising treatment of the Irish towns that had supported the Royalists during the English Civil War, the English Army stayed in Ireland primarily to suppress numerous Irish revolts and campaigns for independence. Having learnt from their experience in America, the British government sought a political solution, the British Army found itself fighting Irish rebels, both Protestant and Catholic, primarily in Ulster and Leinster in the 1798 rebellion. The Haldane Reforms of 1907 formally created the Territorial Force as the Armys volunteer reserve component by merging and reorganising the Volunteer Force, Militia, Great Britains dominance of the world had been challenged by numerous other powers, in the 20th century, most notably Germany
3.
151st Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
–
The brigade was part of the 50th Infantry Division, and for most of its existence consisted of three battalions of the Durham Light Infantry the 6th, 8th and 9th. Senior Lieutenant Colonel R. P. Lidwill Brigadier B. B, walton Lieutenant Colonel R. P. Lidwill Brigadier D. S. Gordon Brigadier J. F. Walker 50th Division with the Brigade was deployed to France with the British Expeditionary Force in January 1940. The BEF was deployed on the border of Belgium, around the city of Lille, in May 1940, German armoured forces broke through French positions east of the BEF, and moved rapidly across its rear, separating it from the main French armies. To close this gap, General Weygand ordered a counterattack by British forces around the city of Arras, frankforce was to include the 5th and 50th Divisions and the 1st Army Tank Brigade. The attack was made by just two battalions of the 151st Brigade, the 6th and 8th DLI, with the 4th and 7th Royal Tank Regiments. The attack made significant progress before it was stopped, and the shocked Germans estimated that five divisions had attacked and it may have been one of the factors for the surprise German halt on 24 May that let the BEF begin evacuation from Dunkirk. After the failure of the Arras attack, the BEF had to get out of France, most of 151st Brigade and 50th Division were fortunate enough to be evacuated from Dunkirk, but had to leave all equipment behind. Together with the rest of the 50th Division, the prepared to repel an expected German invasion. The 50th Division remained in Britain until 22 April 1941, when it was sent to the Middle East, in April 1941, 50th Division with the Brigade was dispatched to the Middle East. The Brigade was first deployed in Cyprus, then in Iraq, Syria, in May 1942, 50th Division was deployed in Libya as part of XIII Corps in Eighth Army. The 50th Division held the centre of the Allied line, with 151st Brigade on its right, by 14 June, Rommel had achieved a decisive victory, and the Eighth Army ordered the evacuation of the Gazala line. The rest of 151st Brigade continued east into Egypt, where the 9th DLI rejoined them, 50th Division was transferred to X Corps on 24 June. Eighth Army ordered X Corps and XIII Corps to make a stand at Mersa Matruh. 151st Brigade was deployed about 17 miles south of Mersa Matruh, on 27 June, the German 90th Light Division attacked 151st Brigade, striking 9th DLI which lost 300 prisoners. On 28 June, British forces abandoned the Mersa Matruh position, on 1 July, 50th Division was withdrawn into Eighth Army reserve in Egypt. Adam Herbert Wakenshaw, 28-year-old private in the 9th DLI, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his valiant actions in the face of the enemy on 27 June 1942 south of Mersa Matruh. On 5 October, 50th Division rejoined XIII Corps in preparation for the Second Battle of El Alamein, during the opening phase of the battle, 50th Division attacked the Italian 185th Parachute Division Folgore in the southern part of the line with little success. On 29 October, 151st Brigade was attached to the 2nd New Zealand Division for Operation Supercharge, 151st Brigade was on the right for the initial drive through the German minefields, which started at 1 AM and was a success
4.
60th (2/2nd London) Division
–
The 60th Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised during World War I. The division was the second of two second-line Territorial Force divisions formed from the surplus of London recruits in 1914, originally the division merely supplied the first-line Territorial divisions with drafts to replace losses through casualties. It was not until late 1915 that the division began to be equipped for field operations, as a lesser division it was sent to the minor fronts of Salonika and finally Palestine. In mid-1918, most British battalions were replaced with Indian battalions and sent to the Western Front, the divisional insignia was a bee
5.
3rd (Lahore) Division
–
The 3rd Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army, first organised in 1852. It saw service during World War I as part of the Indian Corps in France before being moved to the Middle East where it fought against troops of the Ottoman Empire. The Lahore Division first appears in the Indian Army List in 1852, the Cis-Jhelum Division in turn had previously been the Saugor Division, a longstanding formation of the Bengal Army. The Lahore Division absorbed the Lahore Field Force under Brigadier Sir James Tennant, Lahore Fort was occupied by the British after the First Anglo-Sikh War and the city of Lahore was annexed in 1849 at the conclusion of the Second Anglo-Sikh War. In 1852 a military cantonment was established outside the city, general Officer Commanding, Brigadier-General Sir John Cheape, KCB, Bengal Engineers. R. T. Over succeeding decades, the controlled by Lahore Division varied. For example, GOC, Maj-Gen Sir Hugh Henry Gough, VC Aide-de-Camp, in the next round of reforms inaugurated by Lord Kitchener as CinC, they became numbered divisions with their territorial affiliation as a subsidiary title. The title 3rd Division first appears in the Army List between 30 September and 31 December 1904, as part of Northern Command, with the Jullunder, Sirhind and Ambala brigades under command. Lahore District/3rd Division at this time was under the command of Maj-Gen Walter Kitchener, the CinC’s younger brother, in 1914 the division, with HQ at Dalhousie, consisted of the Ferozepore, Jullunder and Sirhind infantry brigades, and the Ambala cavalry brigade. In 1914 the 3rd Division was part of Indian Expeditionary Force A sent to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force fighting in France. The bulk constituted a division as part of Indian Corps. While in France the division was known as the Lahore Division, despatch from India was delayed by the activities of the German raiders Emden and Konigsberg operating in the Indian Ocean, and by the slow speed of the transport vessels. The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area was formed in late 1914 to take over the duties of the 3rd Division when it left for France. The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area was disbanded in May 1917, the responsibilities of the area being taken over by the 16th Division, Order of Battle October 1914 GOC, Lieut-Gen H. B. B. Watkis, CB Ferozepore Brigade GOC, Brig-Gen R. G, egerton, CB 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers 9th Bhopal Infantry 57th Wildes Rifles 129th Duke of Connaughts Own Baluchis Jullundur Brigade GOC, Maj-Gen P. M. M. S. The degree to which the division was broken up can be gauged by the 29 October entry in the diary kept by the Indian corps commander, Lt-Gen Sir James Willcocks, Ferozepore Brigade, somewhere in the north, split up into three or four bits. Jullunder Brigade, Manchesters gone south to 5 Division 47th Sikhs, Half fighting with some British division, 59th Rifles and 15th Sikhs, In trenches 34th Pioneers also in trenches 15th Lancers, In trenches. Two companies of Sappers and Miners fighting as infantry with British divisions, thank heaven the Meerut Division will get a better chance
6.
Central Provinces and Berar
–
The Central Provinces and Berar was a province of British India and later the Dominion of India which existed from 1936 to 1950. It was formed by the merger of the Central Provinces with the province of Berar, the Central Provinces was formed in 1861 by the merger of the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories and Nagpur Province. As its name suggests, the province was situated in the center of the Indian peninsula and it comprised large portions of the broad belt of hill and plateau which interposes between the plains of the Ganges and the Deccan plateau. In 1835 the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories were included in the newly formed North-Western Provinces, in 1842, in consequence of an uprising, they were again placed under the jurisdiction of an agent to the governor-general. They were restored to the North-Western Province in 1853, in 1818, the Maratha Bhonsle Maharajas of Nagpur submitted to British sovereignty. In 1853, on the death of Raghoji III without heirs, the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories were joined with the Nagpur province to constitute the new Central Provinces in 1861. On 1 October 1903 Berar was placed under the administration of the commissioner of the Central Provinces, in 1935 the Government of India Act was passed by the British Parliament. This act provided for the election of an assembly, with an electorate made up of men with a minimum of financial resources, and excluding women. Supervisory powers over the enclaved and attached Princely States were reserved to the Governor, elections were held in 1937, and the Indian National Congress took a majority of the seats but declined to form the government. A minority provisional government was formed under E. Raghavendra Rao, the Congress reversed its decision and resolved to accept office in July 1937. Therefore, the Governor invited N. B, khare to form the government in August 1937. Khare resigned in 1938, and Ravi Shankar Shukla next became Premier, another round of elections were held in 1946, yielding another Congress majority, and Shukla again became Premier. India became independent on 15 August and the Central Provinces & Berar became a province of the Dominion of India, the princely states, which were under the Central Provinces before 1936, were merged into the province, and organized into new districts. When the Constitution of India went into effect in 1950, the Central Provinces & Berar was reorganized with territorial changes as the state of Madhya Pradesh, after Indian Independence in 1947, the Central Provinces and Berar became part of India as Madhya Pradesh. On 1 November 1956, Madhya Bharat, together with the states of Vindhya Pradesh, in 1956, under pressure from Marathi Irredentists, the Berar and Nagpur divisions were transferred to Bombay state. In 1960, the Bombay State was partitioned into Maharashtra & Gujarat, in 2000, the eastern portion of Madhya Pradesh was split off to become the new state of Chhattisgarh. The 1941 Census of India counted 16,813,584 persons in the province, the Central provinces and Berar was made up of 22 districts, grouped into five divisions, Jubbulpore Division, which included Jubbulpore, Saugor, Damoh, Seoni and Mandla districts. Nerbudda Division, which included Narsinghpur, Hoshangabad, Nimar, Betul, Nagpur Division, which included Nagpur, Bhandara, Chanda, Wardha and Balaghat districts
7.
Eastern Command (India)
–
The Eastern Command of the Indian Army is one of the seven operational commands of the army. It is headquartered in Fort William in the city of Kolkata in the state of West Bengal, lt Gen Praveen Bakshi is the current commander. The Presidency armies were abolished with effect from 1 April 1895 when the three Presidency armies became the Indian Army, the Indian Army was divided into four Commands each under a lieutenant general. In 1908, the four commands were merged into two Armies, this persisted until 1920 when the arrangement reverted to four commands again. Renaldi and Ravi Rikhe, Indian Army Order of Battle, Orbat. com for Tiger Lily Books, A division of General Data LLC, ISBN 978-0-9820541-7-8,2011
8.
Chitral Expedition
–
The Chitral Expedition was a military expedition in 1895 sent by the British authorities to relieve the fort at Chitral which was under siege after a local coup. After the death of the old ruler power changed hands several times, an intervening British force of about 400 men was besieged in the fort until it was relieved by two expeditions, a small one from Gilgit and a larger one from Peshawar. In the last phase of the Great Game attention turned to the mountainous area north of British India along the later Sino-Soviet border. Chitral was thought to be a route for a Russian invasion of India. The British sent people like George W. Hayward, Robert Shaw, the ruler of Chitral may have had some involvement in Haywards murder. From 1871 there were Russian explorers in the Pamir Mountains to the north, around 1889 some Russians entered Chitral territory as well as Hunza to the east and Gabriel Bonvalot reached Chitral from Russian territory. From around 1876 Chitral was under the protection of the Maharaja of Kashmir to the southeast and therefore in the British sphere of influence, at this time Chitrali power extended east to the Yasin Valley about half way to Hunza. The British established the Gilgit Agency about 175 miles east in 1877, in 1891 the British occupied Hunza north of Gilgit. From 1857 to 1892 the ruler was Aman ul-Mulk of the Katoor Dynasty, when the old ruler died in 1892 one of his sons, Afzul ul-Mulk, seized the throne, consolidating his rule by killing as many of his half-brothers as he could. The old rulers brother, Sher Afzul Khan, who had been in exile at Kabul in Afganistan about 150 miles southwest, secretly entered Chitral with a few supporters and murdered Afzul. Another of the old rulers sons, Nizam ul-Mulk, who had fled to the British at Gilgit, advanced westward from Gilgit, accumulating troops as he went, including 1200 men Sher had sent against him. Seeing the situation was hopeless, Sher fled back to Afghanistan and Nizam took the throne with British blessing, within a year Nizam was murdered on the orders of his brother, Amir ul-Mulk, while the two were out hunting. Umra Khan, a leader from Bajour to the south marched north with 3,000 Pathans either to assist Amir ul-Mulk or replace him. Amir ul-Mulk began negotiating with Umra Khan so Robertson replaced him with his 12-year-old brother Shuja ul-Mulk, at this point Sher Afzul Khan re-entered the contest. The plan seems to have been that Sher would take the throne, Robertson moved into the fortress for protection which increased local hostility. Since Umra Khan and Sher Afzul continued their march secret messengers were sent out requesting help, the fort was 80 yards square and built of mud, stone and timber. The walls were 25 feet high and eight feet thick, there was a short covered way to the river, the only water source. The fort held 543 people of whom 343 were combatants including five British officers, the units were the 14th Sikhs and a larger detachment of Kashmiri Infantry
United Kingdom
British Army