Yeomanry Mounted Division The Yeomanry Mounted Division was a Territorial Force cavalry division formed at Khan Yunis in Palestine in June 1917 from three yeomanry mounted brigades . It served in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I , mostly as part of the Desert Mounted Corps . In April 1918 six of the regiments were withdrawn from the division and sent to France , being converted from Yeomanry to battalions of the Machine Gun Corps . These were replaced by Indian Army cavalry regiments withdrawn from France , and the division was renamed 1st Mounted Division , the third such division to bear that title . In July the combined division was renamed as the 4th Cavalry Division . Formation . In June 1917 , it was decided to reorganize the mounted troops of the Desert Column into three divisions . Previously , the two existing divisions ( ANZAC Mounted Division and Imperial Mounted Division ) each contained four mounted brigades ; hereafter , the three divisions would have three mounted brigades each . As a result , between 20 June and 22 July 1917 , the Yeomanry Mounted Division was formed at Khan Yunis , Palestine . Battles . The Yeomanry Mounted Division served as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Palestine throughout its brief existence . From 31 October it took part in the Third Battle of Gaza , including the Battle of Beersheba ( in GHQ Reserve ) and the Capture of the Sheria Position under the Desert Mounted Corps ( DMC ) . Still with the DMC , it took part in the Battle of Mughar Ridge on 13 and 14 November and the Battle of Nebi Samwil for 17 to 24 November . From 23 November it was attached to XXI Corps . From 27 to 29 November , it withstood the Turkish counter - attacks during the Capture of Jerusalem . From 28 November it was attached to XX Corps . Restructured and renamed . In March 1918 , the 1st Indian Cavalry Division was broken up in France . The British units ( notably 6th Dragoons , 17th Lancers , 1 / 1st Queen ' s Own Yorkshire Dragoons and A , Q and U Batteries RHA ) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt . By an Egyptian Expeditionary Force GHQ Order of 12 April 1918 , the mounted troops of the EEF were reorganised when the Indian Army units arrived in theatre . On 24 April 1918 , the Yeomanry Mounted Division was " indianized " and its title was changed to 1st Mounted Division , the third distinct division to bear this title . On 24 April 1918 , the 6th Mounted Brigade was merged with elements of the 5th ( Mhow ) Cavalry Brigade , the 8th Mounted Brigade with the 8th ( Lucknow ) Cavalry Brigade , and the 22nd Mounted Brigade with the 2nd ( Sialkot ) Cavalry Brigade . Six of the Yeomanry Regiments were merged in pairs , converted to Machine Gun Battalions , and posted to the Western Front : They were replaced by Indian Cavalry Regiments from France . The Field Ambulances and Mobile Veterinary Sections merged with their Indian counterparts . Other units were retained unchanged , though some were renumbered to reflect the new divisional designation . On 22 July 1918 , the 1st Mounted Division was renumbered as the 4th Cavalry Division and the brigades as the 10th , 11th and 12th Cavalry Brigade s . The sub units ( Signal Troops , Combined Cavalry Field Ambulances and Mobile Veterinary Sections ) were renumbered on the same date .