It was withdrawn from the Western Front in December 1915 and reconstituted as I Indian Corps in Mesopotamia until the end of the war.

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

Lahore Division began landing at Marseilles on 26 September 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 tradesmens' vans procured locally.

General Officer Commanding: Lieut-Gen Sir J. Willcocks, KCB, KCSI, KCMG, DSOBrig-Gen, General Staff: Brig-Gen H. Hudson, CB, CIEBrig-Gen, Royal Artillery: Brig-Gen H.F. Mercer, CB, ADCColonel, Royal Engineers: Col H.C. Nanton On 13 August 1915, General Sir John Nixon, commanding Indian Expeditionary Force D in Mesopotamia, requested one of the Indian infantry divisions in France as reinforcements for his advance on Baghdad.

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