6th Indian Cavalry Brigade - 15th Squadron Machine Gun Corps?

[BroadwayWarMemorial]

I am researching Jack Cull (Private 46558 John Sydney Cull) from Badsey, Worcestershire, who enlisted in October 1914 with the Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars. I know that he subsequently trained as a gunner (Feb 1916) and transferred to the MGC.

Pte Jack Cull died in Basra on 18 October 1918 and CWGC records him as with the 15th MGC.

The 1918 Absent Voters List records him as being with the "15th LG Squadron 6th Cavalry Brigade".

Am I correct in assuming the 15th MGC formed part of the 6th Indian Cavalry Brigade in Mesopotamia, information I have found at http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/917BKMA.pdf ?

Information 1914-1918.net states that the 15th MGC were formed on 29 February 1916 for 15th (Meerut) Brigade in 2nd Indian Cavalry Division with machine gun sections taken from 13th Hussars, 14th Lancers and Watson's Horse (of the Indian Army) but the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division served on the Western Front and became part of the 5th Cavalry Division.

Any advice gratefully received.

Debbie

[mcassell]

Unfortunately, the site is repeating an error found on the otherwise excellent LLT website. 15th Squadron was part of the 6th (Poona) Cavalry Brigade and was formed from (originally) the MG Sections of the 14th Hussars, 21 Cavalry and 22 Cavalry. It went back to India in July 1918. Most of the Indian machine gunners were replaced by men of MGC (Cavalry) sent out from the UK, a sizable proportion of whom were from 2nd and 3rd line Yeomanry units. I suspect your man was one of these, though from his number he may have been in a Reserve Cavalry Regiment at some time. He may have stayed in Mesopotamia because of sickness or was en route to the UK from India.

16th Squadron was part of the 7 (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade and was formed from MG Sections from 13th Hussars, Watson's Horse and 14 Lancers.

Hope this is useful

[BroadwayWarMemorial]

Very useful. Thanks. I had come across references to the 15th MGC being with the 6th Indian Cavalry elsewhere on the web.

The Evesham Journal reported in Nov 1918 that "After a machine-gun course he went out to Mesopotamia as a mounted machine-gunner, in which capacity he saw a considerable amount of fighting."

Pte (or Cpl as reported locally at the time) Cull died on 25th October 1918 of 'flu. He wrote home on 9th Oct that although there had been cases of 'flu he was in the best of health.

Thanks again.

Debbie