Machine Gun Corps

A British Army regiment

Also see

• Royal Tank Corps for Armoured Motor Batteries and Armoured Motor Brigades of the Machine Gun Corps

First World War

• The MGC Motor Machine Gun units of 1914-1918 www.1914-1918.net. Includes India.
• The Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) units of 1914-1918 www.1914-1918.net. Advises:

Machine Gun Cavalry Brigade Squadrons

• 10: Formed after February 1916 in 2nd (Sialkot) Brigade in 1st Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 17th and 19th Lancers and 6th King Edward's Own Cavalry (the latter being of the Indian Army).
• 11: Formed 29 February 1916 for 5th (Mhow) Brigade in 1st Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, 2nd Lancers and 38th King George's Own Central Indian Horse (the latter being of the Indian Army). Broken up 14 April 1918.
• 12: Formed 29 February 1916 for 8th (Lucknow) Brigade in 1st Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) and 36th Jacob's Horse (of the Indian Army). Broken up 14 April 1918.
• 13: Formed 29 February 1916 for 13th (Secunderabad) Brigade in 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 7th Dragoon Guards, Poona Horse and 20th Deccan Horse (both of the Indian Army).
• 14: Formed 29 February 1916 for 14th (Ambala) Brigade in 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 8th Hussars, 18th Lancers and 9th Hodson's Horse (of the Indian Army).
• 15: Formed 29 February 1916 for 15th (Meerut) Brigade in 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections taken from 13th Hussars, 14th Lancers and Watson's Horse (of the Indian Army).
  • The 15th Machine Gun Squadron took part in the 3rd Afghan War
• 22, 23 and 24: Formed in 1st Indian Mounted Brigade
• 25: Formed in 11th Indian Mounted Brigade

Records

National Archives, Kew

War Diaries

Catalogue entries include

• WO 95/5391 1 Cavalry Brigade: 15 Squadron Machine Gun Company 1919 May - Aug.
• WO 95/5391 10 Cavalry Brigade: 24 Squadron Machine Gun Corps 1919 May – June
• WO 95/5392 Kohat-Kurram Force: Force Troops: 287 Machine Gun Company 1919 May - Aug.
• WO 95/5405 263 Company Machine Gun Corps 1919 May - Sept.
• WO 95/5405 285 Company Machine Gun Corps 1919 May – July

Medal Rolls

India General Service Medal Rolls for the Machine Gun Corps may be found at WO 100/480, WO 100/485, WO 100/492 These are stated to be for the period 1920-1935, but probably include the 1919 awards for the 3rd Afghan War. There may be additional references. All may be downloaded for free. This data is also available on the pay website Ancestry.

External Links

• Machine Gun Corps Old Comrades Association
• The Machine Gun Corps Research Database “Contains details of over 100,000 soldiers who served with the MGC. Continuously updated”. A research fee applies. The database includes information relating to the India General Service Medal (Afghanistan, Waziristan etc) from the medal rolls. As an example, a page from the Afgh/NWF19(MGC) is shown.
• Listen to the 1976 interview with Walter Cousins, British private served with 1/5th Battalion, East Surrey Regt in India, 1914-1916; NCO served with 222nd Coy, Machine Gun Corps in India and Afghanistan, 1916-1920. Imperial War Museums
• Listen to the 1977 interview with Charles Douglas Armstrong, British officer served with 7th Bn Machine Gun Corps in India, 1920- 1921; served with 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regt in India, 1926-1929; served as staff officer with Manzai Bde on North West Frontier in India, 1929-1933; served as adjutant with 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regt in India, 1933-1938. Imperial War Museums