The Meerut Division first appeared in the Indian Army List in 1829, under the command of Sir Jasper Nicolls, KCB.

Over succeeding decades, the stations controlled by Meerut Division varied, and the forces under command were regularly rotated.

Greave, KCB, KCMG Divisional HQ: Meerut Fatehgarh: Agra Brigade: Muttra: Dehra Dun: Delhi: Landour: Roorki: Chakrata: Under the reforms introduced by Lord Roberts as Commander-in-Chief (CinC) India, the Divisions were renamed 1st Class Districts in 1890.

In the next round of reforms inaugurated by Lord Kitchener as CinC, they became numbered divisions with their territorial affiliation as a subsidiary title.

The title 7th (Meerut) Division first appeared in the Army List between 30 September and 31 December 1904, as part of Western (later Northern) Command.

Despatch from India was delayed by the activities of the German raiders Emden and Konigsberg operating in the Indian Ocean, and by the slow speed of the transport vessels.

The division landed at Marseilles 12–14 October 1914 but there were further delays while the troops were re-armed with the latest pattern rifle and the supply train could be improvised, using tradesmen's vans procured locally.

[7] The division finally got into action at the Battles of La Bassee, 1st Messines and Armentieres in October and November 1914.

The system for supplying drafts had broken down and the Indian battalions were becoming very weak after the heavy casualties they had suffered.