Kitchener identified the Indian Army's main task as the defence of the North-West Frontier against foreign aggression (particularly Russian expansion into Afghanistan) with internal security relegated to a secondary role.

The Army was organized into divisions and brigades that would act as field formations but also included internal security troops.

[6] With 1st Indian Cavalry Division, it departed Bombay on 16 October and landed at Marseilles on 7 November.

At other times it was held in reserve in case of a breakthrough, although it did send parties to the trenches on a number of occasions.

The British units (8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars and X Battery, RHA) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt.