Transcriber’s Note
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THE TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS
THE
TERRITORIAL
DIVISIONS
1914-1918
BY
J. STIRLING
LATE MAJOR
8TH BATT. ROYAL SCOTS
[Illustration: Decoration]
1922
LONDON & TORONTO
J. M. DENT & SONS LTD.
NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO.
_All rights reserved_
INTRODUCTION
These Notes are composed very largely of extracts, relating to the
work of Territorial Infantry Divisions, taken from the published
despatches. These divisions saw a great deal of heavy fighting
throughout the years 1916 and 1917, but the numbers, or Territorial
designations, of formations operating on the Western Front were
not given in despatches, as published in the _Gazette_, until the
Commander-in-Chief reported on 20th February, 1918, as to the battle
of Cambrai, November 1917. However, in the edition of _Sir Douglas
Haig’s Despatches_, published by Messrs. Dent, the divisions, which
are referred to as being engaged in the more important battles, are
identified by number; and, in compiling these Notes, advantage (with
permission) has been taken of this additional information.
The facts recited by the Field-Marshals and Generals, who commanded
the British Armies in the field, and the judgments expressed by them
in their despatches seem to be the best, if not the only reliable,
material from which to form an opinion on the value of the services
of the Territorial Force in the great struggle. It will generally be
admitted that the opinion of units on their own doings would not be
quite impartial and could not be used to form a basis for assessing
the value of the Force as a whole.
Under the Territorial Act of 1907 fourteen infantry divisions were
formed. Some of these sailed for the East in September and October,
1914, and all the fourteen had embarked for abroad before July 1915.
If it had not been necessary to keep in view the question of armament
and the possibility of invasion, several divisions might have been
in France before the close of the first battle of Ypres. If that had
been found practicable Lord French might have had fewer anxieties
in November 1914. His Lordship, in his despatches and elsewhere,
has borne testimony to the valuable services of the Territorial
battalions which were under his command in 1914.
It is doubtful if Britain ever quite realised what it owed to the
Territorials who went abroad before the New Armies were ready. Apart
from the four divisions which went to the East in the autumn of
1914, thus allowing the Indian Corps to be brought to France, the
Territorial strength, in France alone, in April 1915, before the
second great struggle at Ypres broke out, probably exceeded that of
the British Army at Mons, and it is by no means certain that the ten
Regular divisions plus two Indian divisions and one Canadian could
have held the great “gas attack.”
In September 1914 the Army Council decided to raise second line
units to take the place of those which had gone or were to go
abroad. Before the end of that year most counties had raised their
second lines, and in many, third line, or depot battalions to supply
drafts had been recruited. The original function of the second line
divisions was to form an army for use in the event of invasion being
attempted, but, eventually, eight of these divisions went to active
service abroad, chiefly in 1916; and one division of infantry, the
74th, was formed in the East, mainly from dismounted Yeomanry, and
acquitted itself with credit in Palestine and afterwards in France.
From those second line divisions which were not sent abroad some
individual battalions were taken and all “A” category men remaining
went as drafts.
Several of the second line divisions did extremely well, perhaps
because they had the advantage of a long mobilised training at home
before embarking, and the brotherhood or family spirit among all
ranks was thoroughly developed. The original Territorial Force was
doubtless deficient in many respects, but it started on mobilisation
with the enormous advantage that the officers, N.C.O.s and men of
a battalion were known to one another and the family spirit grew
quickly.
During the first four months of the War, as already stated, many
Territorial battalions went to the Front and were attached to Regular
divisions; some of these rejoined the Territorial divisions from
their own districts when the latter arrived in the battle area;
others were never in Territorial formations, serving throughout the
War with the Regular or New Armies. No account of the doings of these
latter battalions is given in these Notes, although some of the very
best units in the Force were among those which never served in it at
the Front. The value of their services, which was enhanced because
they were able to go abroad at a most critical period, should not be
forgotten.
The _Croix de Guerre_ (_Palme en Bronze_), a coveted but seldom
bestowed honour, was awarded by the President of the French Republic
to one such battalion, the 4th, The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry,
T.F., in the following circumstances, as set out in the orders of the
General commanding one of the French Armies:
“On June 6th, 1918, when the right flank of an English brigade, which
had been heavily engaged, was threatened by the enemy’s advance, the
battalion in reserve, the 1/4th Battalion of the King’s Shropshire
Light Infantry, was ordered to deliver a counter-attack against an
important position, from which the garrison had been driven. With
magnificent dash and after heavy fighting the position was recovered,
and with it the key to the whole line of defence, which made it
possible to re-establish the line and maintain it intact.”
At that time the battalion was serving with the 19th (New Army)
Division, south-west of Reims, when the enemy was making one of his
greatest efforts.
There were occasions when Territorial battalions earned the praise
of British Divisional, Corps and Army Commanders, while they were
serving in Regular or New Army formations; but we have not yet
adopted the system of giving honours to units, although there is much
to be said for it.
The Mounted Brigades, Artillery, Medical and Technical branches
of the Force do not come within the scope of these Notes, but no
assessment of its value would be just which neglected to take their
services into account.
It is generally recognised that the defeat of Turkey helped to bring
the end of the War nearer; it is not generally known, or realised,
that the Force under Sir Edmund Allenby, which between 31st October
and 9th December, 1917, smashed the Turks and cleared southern
Palestine from Gaza and Beersheba to Joppa and Jerusalem, was
practically a Territorial Army; nearly five-sixths of the Infantry
belonged to that Force, while the mounted men were chiefly Yeomanry
and Colonials.
At a conference as to the reorganisation of the Force held on 1st
April, 1919, when the Secretary of State for War met representatives
of the County Associations, Mr. Churchill said: “I could not meet
this body representing the Territorial Associations of the United
Kingdom without expressing on behalf of the War Office and on behalf
of King and country our profound gratitude to the Territorial Force
for the services which they have rendered in the Great War. There
have been killed in the Territorial Force more than 6,500 officers,
and more than 105,000 men; and in the killed, wounded, and missing,
26,900 officers and 565,000 men are included. This Force, which in
so many quarters was hardly regarded seriously as a military factor
before the Great War, has sent 1,045,000 men to fight against the
best troops of Germany and of Turkey, and having sustained these
terrible losses, has acquitted itself on all occasions in a manner
which has won the whole-hearted acceptance of their Regular comrades
and of the finest soldiers who have come to our assistance from the
Dominions overseas. Twenty-nine officers and forty-two men of other
ranks in the Territorial Force have gained the supreme honour of the
Victoria Cross.”
As some of the principal newspapers did not quote this part of Mr.
Churchill’s remarks it is excusable to repeat it here.
Most grateful acknowledgment is made of the permission granted by
the Controller of His Majesty’s Stationery Office to quote the
extracts given from the published despatches as appearing in the
_Gazette_, also, of that of Messrs. J. M. Dent and Sons, Limited, to
refer to their edition of _Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatches_, December
1915-April 1919, edited by Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Boraston, O.B.E.,
Private Secretary to Earl Haig. Permission to refer to Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle’s _British Campaign in France and Flanders_ has also
very kindly been given. Although that work is not recognised as
an official history, Sir Arthur had a very large mass of official
material placed at his disposal, and much of the information he
gives, particularly in regard to the work of divisions and the losses
sustained by them in the big battles, is of great value. Thanks for
similar permissions are also tendered to the author of _The Fifth
Army in March 1918_, Mr. W. Shaw Sparrow, and his publishers Messrs.
John Lane, The Bodley Head, Limited, and to the author of _The
Story of the Fourth Army_, Major-General Sir Archibald Montgomery,
K.C.M.G., C.B., and his publishers Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton,
Limited. In a letter signifying his approval, Major-General
Montgomery remarks: “I know what excellent work the Territorial
Divisions did and I hope that they will always get full credit for
it.”
CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION v
42ND (EAST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION. First Line 1
43RD (WESSEX DIVISION), FIRST LINE. 44TH (HOME
COUNTIES DIVISION), FIRST LINE. 45TH (WESSEX)
DIVISION, Second Line 15
46TH (NORTH MIDLAND) DIVISION. First Line 21
47TH (LONDON) DIVISION, FORMERLY 2ND LONDON. First
Line 29
48TH (SOUTH MIDLAND) DIVISION. First Line 41
49TH (WEST RIDING) DIVISION. First Line 51
50TH (NORTHUMBRIAN) DIVISION. First Line 59
51ST (HIGHLAND) DIVISION. First Line 75
52ND (LOWLAND) DIVISION. First Line 91
53RD (WELSH) DIVISION. First Line 109
54TH (EAST ANGLIAN) DIVISION. First Line 121
55TH (WEST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION. First Line 129
56TH (LONDON) DIVISION, FORMERLY 1ST LONDON. First
Line 141
57TH (WEST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION. Second Line 151
58TH (1ST LONDON) DIVISION. Second Line 155
59TH (NORTH MIDLAND) DIVISION. Second Line 165
60TH (2ND LONDON) DIVISION. Second Line 169
61ST (SOUTH MIDLAND) DIVISION. Second Line 179
62ND (WEST RIDING) DIVISION. Second Line 187
66TH (EAST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION. Second Line 195
APPENDIX 203
THE
TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS
42ND (EAST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION
FIRST LINE
The Division sailed for Egypt on September 10th, 1914, at a time when
sanguine people thought that the only rôle of the Territorial Force
would be to provide garrisons for our outlying Dependencies. It was
the first Territorial division to leave Britain.
While in Egypt the Division supplied part of the Canal Defence Force,
the Artillery and Engineers of the Division being engaged in February
1915, when the Turkish attack on the Canal was driven off. See
despatches from Sir A. Wilson, C.B., dated 11th February, 1915, and
1st August, 1915. In the former, paragraph 37, the 19th Lancashire
Battery R.F.A., T.F., was said to have rendered excellent service.
During the six months following their arrival in Egypt, the Division
did much hard marching and training of all kinds.
At the beginning of May 1915 the Division embarked for the
Dardanelles, and the Lancashire Fusilier Brigade, the 125th,
disembarked on 5th May (see Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch of 20th May)
in time to take part in the sanguinary fighting, 6th-10th May, now
called the Second Battle of Krithia.
In his despatch of 26th August, 1915, Sir Ian Hamilton describes
the struggle. Our tired troops had to attack formidable opposing
lines, the enemy being well entrenched. The Brigade was attached
temporarily to the 29th Division. A certain amount of progress was
made on the 6th May. On the 7th at 3 p.m. the two brigades on the
left, Lancashire Fusilier Brigade and 88th Brigade, were held up,
but a general attack of the whole line ordered for 4.45 p.m. gained
ground. Heavy counter-attacks were delivered till dawn on the 10th,
these were repulsed. On the 11th the 42nd, which had completed its
disembarkation on the 9th, relieved the 29th Division, now worn out
after eighteen days’ hard fighting. Shortly after this the Force
settled down to what was practically siege warfare.
During the latter half of May the 42nd Division worked night and
day on a series of new fire and communication trenches in “no man’s
land,” which brought their front line within assaulting distance. On
25th May the Royal Naval and 42nd Divisions crept 100 yards nearer to
the Turks, and on the night of May 28th/29th the whole British Line
made a further small advance.
Each night till 3rd/4th June attacks by the enemy were made on the
new line, but these were repulsed.
A general assault was ordered for the 4th June. This is now the Third
Battle of Krithia. Sir Ian said: “The Manchester Brigade of the 42nd
Division advanced magnificently. In five minutes the first line of
Turkish trenches was captured and by 12.30 p.m. the Brigade had
carried with a rush the line forming their second objective, having
made an advance of 600 yards in all. The working parties got to work
without incident and the position here could not possibly have been
better.”
Unfortunately the advance was not successful on the front of the
29th Division, on the left of the 42nd, while later there was a
withdrawal of troops on the right. “The enfilade fire of the Turks
began to fall upon the Manchester Brigade of the 42nd Division which
was firmly consolidating the furthest distant line of trenches it
had so brilliantly won. After 1.30 p.m. it became increasingly
difficult for this gallant Brigade to hold its ground, heavy
casualties occurred, the Brigadier and many other officers were
wounded or killed, yet it continued to hold out with the greatest
tenacity and grit. Every effort was made to sustain the Brigade in
its position, its right flank was thrown back to make face against
the enfilade fire.... It became clear that unless the right of our
line could advance again it would be impossible for the Manchesters
to maintain the very pronounced salient in which they now found
themselves.” Eventually “By 6.30 p.m. therefore the 42nd Division
had to be extricated with loss from the second line Turkish trenches
and had to content themselves with consolidating on the first line
which they had captured within five minutes of commencing the attack.
Such was the spirit displayed by this Brigade that there was great
difficulty in persuading the men to fall back. Had their flanks been
covered nothing would have made them loosen their grip.... About 400
prisoners were taken in the attack. The majority of these captures
were made by the 42nd Division under Major-General W. Douglas.”
The Division was not heavily engaged in the battles of 28th June and
12th-13th July.
The despatch of 11th December, 1915, contains an account of the
Suvla Bay fighting and of certain operations undertaken on 6th-8th
August at Helles to contain the enemy there. The 29th Division was to
attack about 1200 yards of front and the 42nd was asked to capture
two trenches. The Turks were found “full of fight.” The 29th did
not progress. “Two resolute separate attacks were made by the 42nd
Division but both of these recoiled in face of the unexpected volume
of fire developed by the Turks.” The reason was that our attack and
one by the Turks had almost coincided and the enemy trenches were
full of men.
On August 7th the attack was renewed and there was again very heavy
fighting. “In the centre a stiff battle raged all day up and down a
vineyard.... A large portion of the vineyard had been captured in
the first dash and the East Lancashire men in this part of the field
stood their ground against a succession of vigorous counter-attacks.
The enemy suffered very severely in these counter-attacks which were
launched in strength and at short intervals.... Owing to the fine
endurance of the 6th and 7th Battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers
it was found possible to hold the vineyard through the night, and a
massive column of the enemy which strove to overwhelm their thinned
ranks was shattered to pieces in the attempt.... For two more days
the troops (42nd Division) were called upon to show their qualities
of vigilance and power of determined resistance, for the enemy had
by no means yet lost hope of wresting from us the ground we had
won in the vineyard. This unceasing struggle was a supreme test
for battalions already exhausted by 48 hours’ desperate fighting,
and weakened by the loss of so many good leaders and men, but the
peculiar grit of the Lancastrians was equal to the strain, and they
did not fail. Two specially furious counter-attacks were delivered by
the Turks on the 8th August, one at 4.40 a.m., and another at 8.30
p.m., where again our bayonets were too much for them. Throughout
the night they made continuous bomb attacks, but the 6th Lancashire
Fusiliers and the 4th East Lancashire Regiment stuck gamely to their
task at the eastern corner of the vineyard. There was desperate
fighting also at the northern corner, where the personal bravery of
Lieutenant W. T. Forshaw, 1/9th Manchester Regiment, who stuck to his
post after his detachment had been relieved, an act for which he has
since been awarded the V.C., was largely instrumental in the repulse
of three very determined onslaughts.”
By the morning of August 9th “things were quieter and the sorely
tried troops were relieved.” The fighting, 6th to 13th August, is now
officially the “Actions of Krithia Vineyard.”
The Division, which was now at little more than one-third of its
establishment, received a reinforcement of dismounted yeomen in
September. It was incidentally mentioned in Sir C. C. Monro’s
despatch of 6th March, 1916, regarding the evacuation of Helles, as
being, in December 1915, badly in need of rest. The losses of the
Division on the Peninsula, killed, wounded and missing, the last
being mostly killed, exceeded 8000.
After the evacuation, 8th January, 1916, the Division had a short
stay at Mudros and was then taken to Egypt.
In Sir A. Murray’s despatch of 1st October, 1916, dealing with
operations east of the Canal, he stated that of the East Lancashire
troops commanded by Major-General Sir W. Douglas, only two battalions
were in action on the 4th August, now the Battle of Rumani, when the
Turks were driven back with heavy loss, but he said that the force
carried out a march under very trying conditions on the subsequent
days.
At no time during their long war-service did the Division experience
a greater physical strain than on this march. The 52nd on the
left were nearer the coast, with its sea air, and on the whole
had harder going. The two brigades of the 42nd were wading and
struggling in loose desert sand while the heat was intense. Very many
men collapsed. Sir A. Murray in the despatch, paragraph 5, said:
“Vigorous action, to the utmost limits of endurance was ordered
for the 5th August and the troops, in spite of the heat, responded
nobly.” Certainly the sufferings of the 127th Brigade on the 5th and
6th bounded on the limits of human endurance. The 125th had slightly
better ground and a shorter distance. The 126th was in reserve.
The Division, along with the 52nd, alternately formed the advance
guard, in co-operation with mounted troops, until the railhead
reached El Arish, when it returned to Kantara. Before the end of
February 1917 it had embarked at Alexandria for France.
After being re-equipped the Division as part of the III. Corps,
Fourth Army, entered the line in the Epéhy district and thereafter
held a sector about Havrincourt until 8th July, when they went out
for rest and training in the back area of the Third Army, about the
ground of the First Battle of the Somme.
In September 1917, the Division took over from the 15th in the Third
Battle of Ypres, in the area of the Fifth Army. On 6th September they
assaulted several fortified farms, but, in consequence of a little
hill on the left being still in the enemy’s possession, they failed
to make much progress. Their losses were heavy, partly because the
Division was so persistent in their pursuit of a success. During the
following days they had further fighting.
On the 26th the Division relieved the 66th in the Coastal Sector at
Nieuport. When relieved there by a French unit in November the 42nd
moved to Givenchy. There they constructed many concrete defence works
which earned the gratitude and praise of the 55th when the Lys battle
opened on 9th April, 1918. See 55th Division.
When, early in 1918, brigades were reduced to three battalions, any
surplus of men or of experience was transferred to the second line
division, the 66th, a gift which was to be of inestimable value
during the terrible fighting the 66th endured in the March Retreat.
About 23rd March, 1918, the 42nd were “bused” to the Arras-Bapaume
area to assist in arresting the great German offensive. On the 24th
they entered the line about Ervillers, and now had fighting of the
most trying description; the flanks being often “in the air,” partly
because divisions which had been in the battle since its commencement
on the 21st were almost worn to the bone.
In a supplementary despatch of 23rd April, 1918, as to the work of
different divisions, Sir Douglas Haig said: “In fierce fighting at
end of March and early in April around Bucquoy and Ablainzevelle the
42nd (East Lancashire) Division (T.) and 62nd (West Riding) Division
(T.) beat off many attacks and contributed greatly to the successful
maintenance of our line in this important sector.”
In Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of 20th July, 1918, as to the March
Retreat, paragraph 33, Third Army front, he said: “A counter-attack
by the 42nd Division, under Major-General A. Solly-Flood (on 25th
March) drove the enemy out of Sapignies,” and notwithstanding that
the Germans maintained great pressure and made many attacks, the 42nd
Division at end of the day held Ervillers “where the 1/10th Battalion
Manchester Regiment, 42nd Division, had repulsed eight attacks.”
The fighting 24th/25th March is now the “First Battle of Bapaume,
1918.” Paragraph 42, as to the 26th-27th March: “Elsewhere all his
assaults were heavily repulsed by troops of the 62nd, 42nd and Guards
Divisions.”
Paragraph 45 deals with the great attack on 28th March, now
officially the “First Battle of Arras, 1918,” when the fighting was
“of the utmost intensity.” “On the southern portion of his attack the
enemy’s repulse was, if possible, even more complete than on the new
front east of Arras.... The 42nd Division drove off two attacks from
the direction of Ablainzevelle.”
The worst was over and the line now stabilised, but on the 5th and
6th April the enemy launched very heavy attacks in the neighbourhood
where the 42nd were holding the line. See also 47th Division. These
new attacks were also repulsed. This is now the “Battle of the Ancre,
1918.”
In the _History of the 42nd Division_ by Mr. F. P. Gibbon (_Country
Life_ Office, London, 1921, price 6s. 6d.) there is quoted an
order by the Commander of the IV. Corps, Sir G. M. Harper, in
which he said: “The Corps Commander congratulates 42nd Division on
their magnificent behaviour during the last few days of fighting.
Numerous heavy attacks have been made by the enemy and have been
completely repulsed with heavy loss, and the capture of prisoners and
machine-guns. He heartily thanks the troops for their courage and
endurance, and is confident that they will continue to hold the line
against all attacks.”
The Divisional Commander also issued a special order congratulating
the Division on their “magnificent work,” and subsequently in his
farewell order, dated 18th March, 1919, after referring to the
Division being hurried in buses “to help in stemming the great enemy
offensive,” he said: “This it effectually did in an epic battle, in
a manner which has earned for it undying fame.... For seventeen
consecutive days it remained in action, and held its ground in a
manner that cannot be surpassed by the performance of any troops in
any period of history.”
Mr. Gibbon states the losses of the Division between 24th March and
8th April at 2963. He makes it clear that on no occasion did the
Division retire except under orders.
Throughout the summer the Division, with brief intervals, held
the line about Gommecourt and Hebuterne, and when the Third Army
attacked, on 21st August, the Division advanced through Serre.
The supplementary despatch of 13th September, 1918, said: “The 42nd
Division, which, in the latter days of March, fought with great
gallantry north of Bapaume, took part in the attack launched by us
on the 21st August and in spite of obstinate resistance by the enemy
captured Miraumont. During the following days it had heavy fighting
on a number of occasions but, before the end of the month, reached
and captured Riencourt-lez-Bapaume.”
This good work was again referred to in the despatch of 21st
December, 1918, paragraph 21 of which shows that at 4.55 a.m. on
21st August the IV. and V. Corps of the Third Army attacked, the
42nd Division being in the assaulting troops of the IV. Corps.
“The enemy’s foremost defences were carried rapidly and without
difficulty.”
The fighting 21st-23rd August is now officially designated the
“Battle of Albert, 1918.” Paragraph 22 deals with the fighting on
23rd and 24th August. “Miraumont, which for three days had resisted
our attacks, was taken by the 42nd Division (Major-General A.
Solly-Flood) with many prisoners and, pressing forward, the same
Division seized Pys.”
Mr. Gibbon states that between 21st August and 6th September the
Division took 1261 prisoners and 24 guns, and their casualties were
253 killed and 1305 wounded.
The fighting 31st August-3rd September is now the “Second Battle of
Bapaume.”
During the remainder of the “Advance to Victory,” the 42nd alternated
with the New Zealand Division in one of the two divisional sections
of the IV. Corps.
On 27th September the Division attacked and broke through the portion
of the old Hindenburg line between Havrincourt and Beaucamp. After
two days’ unceasing fighting they were able to claim over 1700
prisoners and nine field guns. Their own losses were about 1000.
In paragraph 35 of the despatch “The Battle of Cambrai and the
Hindenburg line, 27th September-5th October,” Sir Douglas Haig
remarked: “The attack proceeded according to plan from the
commencement. On the right strong resistance was encountered at
Beaucamp. Several strong counter-attacks were made during the day in
this neighbourhood, but in spite of them troops of the 5th and 42nd
Divisions successfully established the right flank of our attack
between Beaucamp and Ribecourt.”
The fighting 27th September-1st October is now officially designated
the “Battle of the Canal du Nord,” and that on 8th-9th October is
the “Battle of Cambrai, 1918.”
During the latter period the Division was resting about Havrincourt
Wood but re-entered the line on the 12th.
On 20th October at 2 a.m. the Third Army and a portion of the
First Army made an attack on the line of the Selle river, north
of Le Cateau. On this occasion the Division carried all its four
objectives. The despatch, paragraph 46, deals with the “Battle of the
Selle,” and states: “On this occasion also the enemy’s resistance was
serious, and he had been able to erect wire entanglements along the
greater part of the line. Our advance was strongly contested at every
point, frequent counter-attacks being made. Supported by a number of
Tanks which had successfully crossed the river, our infantry after
severe fighting ... gained their objectives on the high ground east
of the Selle, pushing out patrols as far as the river Harpies.”
Paragraph 47 described another assault made on the 23rd October, in
which the 42nd is included among the attacking troops. “At the end
of the day the western outskirts of the Forêt de Mormal had been
reached.”
Both on the 20th and the 23rd there was much bitter and often
hand-to-hand fighting. The 42nd had as its opponents a crack German
division, fresh from reserve, the 25th and part of another, and
success was only attained by a fine exhibition of skilful tactics and
great fearlessness on the part of the troops. The Divisional R.E. did
particularly well at the crossing of the Selle.
The map opposite page 294 of Messrs. Dent’s edition of _Sir Douglas
Haig’s Despatches_ shows that the 42nd Division was among the troops
employed at the Battle of the Sambre, commencing 4th November. The
Division took over from the New Zealand Division in the Forêt de
Mormal and, becoming the spear-head of the IV. Corps, kept up the
pressure. This was a task of very great difficulty as the roads
through the Forest had been mined and otherwise destroyed, and off
the roads, owing to continued rain, the ground was a morass. In the
words of a Special Order by the G.O.C. Division they “forced the
passage of the bridgeless River Sambre in face of severe enemy fire
and captured Hautmont.”
On Armistice day the Division was just east of the Maubeuge-Avesnes
road.
All through the “Advance to Victory” the work of the 42nd was up to
the very high standard they themselves had set in Gallipoli in 1915,
and unofficial writers have uniformly referred to their services in
that Advance in terms of the highest praise.
In the Farewell Order before referred to Major-General Solly-Flood
said: “From the 21st August until the Armistice on 11th November
it played a continuous part in the great offensive. We can with
reason be proud of the Division’s share in that fighting. Its record
includes an advance of 64 miles during which it fought in 12 general
actions—each of several days’ duration. Its captures include 18 towns
and villages, over 4,000 prisoners, 37 guns of all calibre, 122
trench mortars, 455 machine guns and much other valuable booty.
“Early in 1918 I set the Division a motto: ‘Go one better,’ believing
the spirit it expressed would always carry them to success. It has
invariably acted up to that motto, and it is my pride to be able to
say that never has the Division been called upon to undertake an
operation in which it did not succeed, and never was it set a task
which it did not more than accomplish.”
These are the words of a friendly critic but they are something
more than “faint praise.” To have so thoroughly satisfied a Regular
officer of the standing of their Commander meant service of great
merit.
The foregoing account had been written and, like a number of those
which follow, had been gone over by a senior officer of the Division
before Mr. Gibbon’s _History of the 42nd_ was published, but the
losses and certain other details concerning 1918 are as given by Mr.
Gibbon. His chronicle gives a full account of the March battle and of
the last Advance, and claims which he makes, such as that the losses
of the Division were increased because it attained its objectives up
to time and while its flanks were uncovered, are substantiated by
other authorities.
43RD (WESSEX) DIVISION. FIRST LINE
44TH (HOME COUNTIES) DIVISION. FIRST LINE
45TH (WESSEX) DIVISION. SECOND LINE
These three divisions sailed for the East early in the war, chiefly
in September 1914, and were among the first Territorial units to
leave Britain. As regards being mentioned in despatches as divisional
units they were unfortunate, no such references having been made, but
their services to the Empire were, nevertheless, very great.
It has been suggested that if these three divisions had been sent to
France when they went East, two months’ intensive training would have
fitted them to be of use in the First Battle of Ypres, certainly they
might have been veterans before the Second. They would have stood the
climatic conditions much better than the two Indian divisions, and
a vast amount of shipping might have been saved. Probably political
reasons demanded that a representation from India should appear
on the Western Front, while, as Mr. Churchill said on 1st April,
1919, the Territorial Force was, in many quarters, hardly regarded
seriously as a military factor before the Great War.
The public has learned that over 20,000 Territorials were still
in India in the beginning of 1919 and were not relieved until the
close of that year. Throughout the war, and for a year after the
Armistice, the garrison of India was largely composed of these
divisions, but units of all three saw much heavy fighting in various
theatres. It should be remembered also that facilities for leave did
not exist in the East.
Doubtless imperious necessity compelled the breaking up of these
divisions, and the sending of a battalion in one direction and its
sister units in others.
In the despatches from India and Mesopotamia one misses that
appreciation, so freely given by Sir John French to even individual
battalions of the Territorial Force in the early stages of the war on
the western front, and in these Eastern despatches the letters T.F.
are not appended to the names of battalions. In Lists of Mention,
however, this omission is remedied.
In Sir John Nixon’s despatch of 1st January, 1916, thirty-five
officers and men of the Hampshire Regiment, T.F., were mentioned for
good services on the Euphrates, 26th June to 25th July, 1915.
About the close of 1915 and early in 1916 the 1/4th Hampshire
Regiment, 1/4th Somersetshire Light Infantry and 1/4th Devonshire
Regiment, all of the 43rd, and 1/5th Royal West Surrey and 1/5th East
Kent Regiments of the 44th Division were in the Mesopotamia Army and
had heavy casualties. Some of the 43rd Division were actually in Kut
when it was besieged and were taken prisoners on the surrender of
General Townshend’s force. Other battalions of these three divisions
sent drafts from India to Mesopotamia, which were, for the most part,
attached to Regular regiments.
Officers and other ranks of the 4th East Kent, 4th Devons, 6th
Devons, and 2/5th Hampshire were mentioned in General Maude’s last
despatch.
In September 1918, the 1/4th Hampshire of the 43rd was serving in a
force which was operating in Transcaspia.
There was published by the War Office on 13th January, 1920, a
list of names, brought forward by Lieut.-General W. R. Marshall,
K.C.B., for distinguished and gallant services with the Mesopotamia
Expeditionary Force; the following units are represented in it:
43rd Division 1/4th and 1/6th Devonshire
1/4th Somersetshire Light Infantry
1/4th and 1/6th Hampshire
1/4th Dorsetshire
44th Division 1/5th Royal West Surrey
1/5th East Kent
1/5th East Surrey
1/5th Royal West Kent
1/9th Middlesex
45th Division 2/7th Hampshire
2/6th Devonshire
The 1/5th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, originally of the
43rd, were Pioneers to the 61st Division in France in March 1918,
and a successful counter-attack by the battalion is referred to in
paragraph 31 of Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of 20th July, 1918.
The 1/7th and 1/8th Middlesex of the 44th served throughout most
of the war with the 56th London Division in France. The 1/7th was
selected for the Army of the Rhine.
The 2/4th Royal West Surrey, the 2/10th Middlesex and the 2/4th Royal
West Kent of the 67th, Second Line, Home Counties Division, served
with the 53rd, Welsh, Division and saw much fighting at Suvla Bay,
Gallipoli, and in Palestine. Latterly the 2/4th West Surrey was in
France, and was selected for the Army of the Rhine.
Sir A. Wilson’s despatch of 1st March, 1916, deals with operations
in Western Egypt at the close of 1915, and the beginning of 1916.
He mentions the 2/7th and 2/8th Middlesex, of the 67th Division, as
forming part of the force employed.
When in April 1918 the 52nd Division and other troops were taken from
Palestine to France certain units of these divisions were brought
to Palestine and along with the Indian troops were engaged in the
last victorious operations in that sphere. Among the mentions by Sir
E. Allenby for good work in Palestine, March to September 1918, the
following battalions are represented:
43rd Division 1/4th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
1/5th Somersetshire Light Infantry
1/4th and 1/5th Devonshire Regiment
1/4th Wiltshire Regiment
45th Division 2/5th Hampshire Regiment
2/4th Dorset Regiment
The 1/5th Devonshire of the 43rd and the 2/4th Hampshire of the
45th joined the 62nd Division in France in June 1918 and were with
it until the Armistice. When the 62nd was with the French Army on
the Ardre, upon the east side of the salient between the Aisne and
the Marne, in July 1918, these two battalions did work which was
highly spoken of and quite worthy of the famous division to which
they were attached. They gained a large number of awards in the
last five months’ fighting. This remark applies particularly to the
2/4th Hampshire, the number of whose awards for work in France was
quite exceptional. As to the 62nd Division, see _The West Riding
Territorials in the Great War_, Kegan Paul and Co. Both the above
battalions were chosen for the Army of Occupation.
The official lists issued by the War Office in November 1920 showed
that awards were gained by a non-commissioned officer of the 1/4th
East Kent for valuable service when with the Baluchistan Force, and
by men of the 1/4th and 1/7th Hampshire for gallant service when with
the Waziristan Force as late as 25th May, 1919.
For the Armies of Occupation there were chosen: Mesopotamia, the
1/5th East Kent, 1/5th Royal West Kent and 1/5th East Surrey of the
44th, and the 1/4th Dorsetshire of the 43rd. For Persia the 1/4th
Hampshire of the 43rd. For Egypt the 1/4th Wiltshire and 1/5th
Somerset Light Infantry of the 43rd, while the 1/8th Hampshire was
also selected for Egypt and the 1/9th (Cyclists) for Siberia.
Although they were never operating as divisions the units from Wessex
and the Home Counties can at least count themselves as very “far
travelled.”
46TH (NORTH MIDLAND) DIVISION
FIRST LINE
This Division sailed for France in February 1915. One brigade was
in reserve at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10th-13th March, see
paragraph 4 of the despatch from Sir John French, dated 5th April,
1915. In that despatch, paragraph 9, Sir John French said: “Several
T.F. Battalions were engaged in the most critical moments of the
fighting which occurred in the middle of March and they acquitted
themselves with the utmost credit.” He looked forward to the T.F.
troops being employed as divisions and said: “These opinions are
fully borne out by the results of the close inspection I have
recently made of the North Midland Division under Major-General The
Hon. Montague-Stuart-Wortley and the 2nd London Division (afterwards
the 47th) under Major-General Barter.”
This generous appreciation gave great encouragement not only to
those of the Force in France, but to those who were then preparing
themselves to go abroad, as well as to those who were working for the
Territorial Force at home.
The Division spent the next six months in front of Neuve Église
and in the Ypres salient, and at times had sharp fighting. It was
involved in the first “Flammenwerfer” attack but stood its ground and
repelled the enemy.
The 46th Division is mentioned in Sir John French’s last despatch
dated 31st July, 1916, as having on 13th October, 1915, taken part
in an attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt and Fosse 8, near Loos. The
Division retook the redoubt, but as they could make no progress up
the trenches to Fosse 8, and as the Redoubt was commanded from Fosse
8, they were pressed back to the west edge of the Redoubt where they
made a defensive line.
See also an authorised account by the Press Association Correspondent
written on 24th November, 1915, who was then able to stand on the
part captured and look back over the glacis crossed by the Division,
who had done all that the bravest could do.
The Division was, in December 1915, ordered to Egypt; two brigades
had arrived there when the move was countermanded and, in February
1916, it was concentrated in the Arras district, where it took over a
sector hitherto held by our French allies.
Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of 23rd December, 1916, which deals with
the Somme battle, paragraph 8 (Dent’s edition), shows that the 46th
and 56th Divisions, VII. Corps, Third Army, made a subsidiary attack
at Gommecourt on 1st July, 1916. “The subsidiary attack at Gommecourt
also forced its way into the enemy’s positions; but there met with
such vigorous opposition that, as soon as it was considered that the
attack had fulfilled its object, our troops were withdrawn.”
The losses of both the 46th and 56th Divisions were very heavy. None
of the other divisions operating north of La Boisselle succeeded
in consolidating the ground gained on 1st July. At that part of the
line the enemy seems to have expected the attack and had made the
most ample preparation to meet it. The efforts of these divisions,
however, certainly contributed to the success of those further south.
In March 1917, when there were signs of a German retreat, the
Division was about Bucquoy, as part of the II. Corps, and at times
had sharp fighting and considerable losses. Thereafter they were
taken to the north of Arras, where they were when the Battle of Arras
opened on 9th April.
The despatch of 25th December, 1917, paragraph 36, Dent’s edition,
deals with “Minor Operations” in the Lens area and states:
“Substantial progress was made in this area on the 5th and 19th
June, and five days later North Midland troops (46th Division,
Major-General W. Thwaites) captured an important position on the
slopes of a small hill south-west of Lens, forcing the enemy to make
a considerable withdrawal on both sides of the river.” On 28th June
an attack was made by the 46th Division and the 3rd and 4th Canadian
Divisions on a front of two and a half miles astride the Souchez
river. “All our objectives were gained,” and 300 prisoners taken.
At that time the Division was in the I. Corps. Sir A. Conan Doyle
states that when they were taken out on 2nd July, after ten weeks’
continuous service in the line, none of the battalions were more than
300 strong. The tasks set to their neighbours, the Canadians, and to
the 46th involved almost constant fighting, many strong positions
being assaulted between the middle of April and the end of June.
The Division remained in the Lens-Givenchy area for many months. They
were frequently engaged about Givenchy when the enemy made his great
effort in that district in April 1918 (see 55th Division). They took
part in the first advance eastward which began at the end of August.
In September they were relieved and taken south where on the 19th
they joined the IX. Corps, Fourth Army, and they remained in it till
the battle of one hundred days was closed by the Armistice.
In Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of 21st December, 1918, paragraph 36,
“The Hindenburg Line broken,” 29th September, he said, “On the Fourth
Army front the 46th Division (Major-General G. F. Boyd) greatly
distinguished itself in the capture of Bellenglise. The village is
situated in the angle of the Scheldt canal, which, after running in a
southerly direction from Bellicourt, here bends sharply to the east
towards the Le Tronquoy tunnel. Equipped with life-belts and carrying
mats and rafts, the 46th Division stormed the western arm of the
canal at Bellenglise and to the north of it, some crossing the canal
on footbridges which the enemy was given no time to destroy, others
dropping down the sheer sides of the canal wall, and having swum or
waded to the far side, climbing up the farther wall to the German
trench lines on the eastern bank. Having captured these trenches,
the attacking troops swung to the right and took from flank and
rear the German defences along the eastern arm of the canal, and on
the high ground south of the canal, capturing many prisoners and
German batteries in action before the enemy had had time to realise
the new direction of the attack. So thorough and complete was the
organisation for this attack, and so gallantly, rapidly and well was
it executed by the troops, that this one division took on this day
over 4000 prisoners and 70 guns.”
This feat of arms seems to be as fine as anything done in the whole
course of the war.
The despatch as published in the _Gazette_ speaks of the 32nd
Division passing through the 46th and taking Lehaucourt and Magny La
Fosse, but according to the history of the 46th[1] the 46th captured
these villages which were within their objectives. The 32nd then
passed through them at 5.30 p.m. and next day took Levergies. The
error is corrected by a note on page 283 of Messrs. Dent’s _Sir
Douglas Haig’s Despatches_.
A detailed account of the battle of 29th September is given by
Major-General Sir Archibald Montgomery in his _Story of the Fourth
Army_ (Hodder and Stoughton). Towards the close of that account he
says: “The success attending the operations of the IX. Corps was
primarily due to the dash and determination with which the troops
of the 46th Division pressed forward to their objective, and to the
excellent leadership and initiative of the subordinate commanders.
When their flanks were exposed, they exerted pressure where the
enemy was weak and gave way, and only strengthened their flanks just
sufficiently to safeguard them.”
The fighting 29th September-2nd October is now designated the “Battle
of St. Quentin Canal.”
The Division captured Ramicourt and broke the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme
line, after stiff fighting, on 3rd October—the “Battle of the
Beaurevoir Line.”
One brigade, the 139th, was attached to the 6th Division, for an
attack on 8th October when Mannequin Hill and other strong positions
were captured. (_Story of Fourth Army_, pp. 194 and 195.)
The Division was in the line on 9th and 10th October during the
“Battle of Cambrai, 1918,” when rapid progress was made until they
were stopped at Riquerval Wood. They were again employed in the
Battle of the Selle River, 17th-25th October, see paragraphs 37 and
46 of the despatch.
In his _Breaking the Hindenburg Line_, Major Priestley gives detailed
accounts of the Battle of Ramicourt, 3rd October, and the Battle
of Andigny or Riquerval, a phase of the Battle of the Selle, 17th
and 18th October. He points out that on the 3rd, the 46th not only
took Ramicourt but captured and cleared Montbrehain to the east
of it, 1000 prisoners being taken in the latter place; but, in
consequence of the Division on the left of the 46th having been held
up, the latter had to withdraw from Montbrehain, establishing their
line to the west of it. He also mentions that both on the 3rd and
17th/18th October, as well as in the preliminary actions between
these dates, the enemy’s resistance was much more stubborn than at
Bellenglise, where the crossing of the canal had probably upset all
his calculations and temporarily knocked the heart out of him.
The IX. Corps took part in the “Battle of the Sambre,” 4th November,
and continued to move forward till the 10th November. The 46th
Division, which had been out at rest from 18th October till 1st
November, on the night of the 4th relieved brigades of the 1st and
32nd Divisions and continued to press and pursue the enemy. On the
evening of the 6th they entered Cartignies and on the 7th, in face of
resistance, crossed the Petite Helpe. On the 8th they had crossed the
La Capelle-Avesnes road and when the Armistice came the Division was
east of Sains.
The 1/5th South Staffordshire was selected for the Army of the
Rhine.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] _Breaking the Hindenburg Line. The Story of the 46th (North
Midland) Division_, by Major Priestley. London. Fisher Unwin.
47TH (LONDON) DIVISION, FORMERLY 2ND LONDON. FIRST LINE