31st Indian Armoured Division

31st Indian Armoured Division

31st Indian Armoured Division was a former armoured division of the British Indian Army. The battalion remained in service from the year 1940 to 1945.

The 31st Indian Armoured Division was a former armoured division of the British Indian Army. The battalion remained in service from the year 1940 to 1945. It was raised with the purpose of providing service during the Second World War. The unit initially comprised two Armoured Brigades, namely 1st Indian Armoured Brigade and 2nd Indian Armoured Brigade; and one Motor Brigade, namely 3rd Indian Motor Brigade.

History of 31st Indian Armoured Division
The 31st Indian Armoured Division was raised in 1941. It was established from the 1st Indian Support Group. The brigades were renamed as the 251st and 252nd Indian Armoured Brigades and 31st Indian Support Group. The support group was dissolved in 1942 and the 251st brigade was detached. The remainder of the 31st Indian Armoured Division was attached with the British Tenth Army. Later it participated in military operations in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. The motor brigade was stationed in Egypt and took part in the Western Desert Campaign in 1942 and later from 1944 to 1945. In April 1944, the division was sent to Egypt.

On 1st September 1945, the 31st Indian Armoured Division was re-designated as the 1st Indian Armoured Division. After the country gained freedom from the supremacy of the British Empire in India on 15th August 1947, the nation was divided into the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan with the Partition of India. The regiment was assigned to the modern Army of India. Presently it is headquartered at Jhansi in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Brigades of 31st Indian Armoured Division
The 31st Indian Armoured Division consisted of the following British Indian brigades-
252nd Indian Armoured Brigade (Commander G. Carr White)
* 14th/20th Hussars
* 14th Prince of Wales's Own Scinde Horse
* 1/4th Bombay Grenadiers

3rd Indian Motor Brigade (Commander A.A.E. Filose)
* 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)
* 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)
* 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry
* 2/6th Gurkha Rifles
* 2/8th Gurkha Rifles
* 2/10th Gurkha Rifles

Divisional Units
* 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers
* 15th Field Artillery, Royal Artillery
* 144th Field Artillery, Royal Artillery
* 79th Antitank Regiment, Royal Artillery
* 32nd Field Squadron, QVO Madras Sappers and Miners
* 39th Field Park Squadron, QVO Madras Sappers and Miners
* 31st Indian Armoured Divisional Signals

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