The brigade was reformed in India in 1917 for internal security duties and to aid the expansion of the Indian Army in the last year of the war.

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.

[2] In August 1914, Indian Expeditionary Force B was intended to assault Dar es Salaam in German East Africa with 16th (Poona) Brigade as its nucleus.

After the failure of the Battle of Tanga (2–5 November), the Force disembarked at Mombassa and joined the defences of British East Africa.

In the final year of the war, the division (and brigade) took part in the general expansion of the Indian Army as new units were formed.