56th Indian Brigade

56th Indian Brigade
Active	10 March 1918 – 1919
Country	British India
Allegiance	British Crown
Branch	British Indian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Brigade
Part of	14th Indian Division
Engagements	First World War Mesopotamian Campaign

The 56th Indian Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that saw active service with the Indian Army during the First World War. It took part in the Mesopotamian campaign and was disbanded shortly after the end of the war. It was not reformed for the Second World War.^[1]

The 56th Indian Brigade was formed in March 1918 in Mesopotamia. It joined the 14th Indian Division in August 1918 to replace the 36th Indian Brigade which had departed for the North Persia Force. It did not take part in any significant actions.^[2]

At the end of the war, the 14th Division was rapidly demobilized. The 35th and 37th Indian Brigades were broken up in February 1919, and the 56th Indian Brigade followed later in the year.^[2]

The brigade had the following composition in the First World War:^[3]

• 1/4th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry) (joined in March 1918 from Corps Troops)
• 1st Battalion, 42nd Deoli Regiment (joined in March 1918 from Corps Troops)
• 95th Russell's Infantry (joined in March 1918 from Corps Troops; left in September to join British 22nd Division)
• 104th Wellesley's Rifles (joined in March 1918 from Corps Troops)
• 1st Patiala Lancers (attached March to June 1918)
• 2nd Indian Machine Gun Company (joined in June 1918)
• 56th Light Trench Mortar Battery

The brigade was commanded from 10 March 1918 by Brigadier-General E.C. Tidswell.^[4]

• Kempton, Chris (2003b). 'Loyalty & Honour', The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947. Vol. Part II Brigades. Milton Keynes: The Military Press. ISBN 0-85420-238-2.
• Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.

• "Independent Indian Brigades on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 2015-07-03.
• "14th Indian Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2015-06-30.