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THE 56th DIVISION
[Illustration:
_Photo, Elliott & Fry._
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR AMYATT HULL, K.C.B.
[_Frontispiece_]
THE 56th DIVISION
(1st London Territorial Division)
by
MAJOR C. H. DUDLEY WARD
D.S.O., M.C.
With a Foreword by General Lord Horne of Stirkoke,
G.C.B., K.C.M.G.
London
John Murray, Albemarle Street, W.
1921
All Rights Reserved
TO THE MEMORY
OF
MAJOR-GENERAL
SIR CHARLES PATRICK AMYATT HULL,
K.C.B.
BORN JULY 3RD, 1865
DIED JULY 24TH, 1920
FOREWORD
When day broke on the 28th March, 1918, the 56th London Territorial
Division was in position on the southern portion of the Vimy Ridge. At
nightfall the division still held its ground, having beaten back three
separate assaults delivered in great strength by picked German troops
specially trained in the attack and inspired with confidence resulting
from the successes of the previous week. Truly a great achievement,
and important as great, for the Vimy Ridge covered the city of Arras
and the coalfields of Béthune.
Important as this success was held to be at the time, a time of great
strain upon the forces of the Empire, it was not till later on, when
Ludendorff took us into his confidence, that we learned its full
significance. Ludendorff gives us to understand that the failure of
the German effort of 28th March constituted the turning-point of the
1918 campaign. That evening Ludendorff recognised the beginning of the
end; the German nation lost heart; the _moral_ of the German Army
deteriorated rapidly.
I have selected the above--one of the many achievements of the 56th
London Territorial Division--to illustrate the stage of efficiency to
which the troops of our Territorial Army had attained in war.
I saw much of our Territorial troops in France: I had seen something
of them in pre-war days, and I recall an absence of appreciation of
the devotion of those whose patriotic enthusiasm put life into the
great organisation evolved from the brain of a statesman to whom
history will give the credit hitherto unworthily begrudged to Lord
Haldane.
I take this opportunity of paying my tribute of respect and admiration
to the Territorial Army as a whole, and the 56th London Division in
particular.
This note would not be complete without reference to that fine
soldier, the late Major-Gen. Sir Amyatt Hull, whose professional
qualities and personal charm gained the respect and affection of all
ranks, and who imbued with his own unconquerable spirit the officers
and men of the division which he commanded so long, and of which he
was so justly proud.
HORNE OF STIRKOKE,
_General_.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD BY GENERAL LORD HORNE OF STIRKOKE,
G.C.B., K.C.M.G.
CHAPTER I
FORMATION AND THE ATTACK ON THE GOMMECOURT SALIENT
The Assembly--The Grouping of Units--The Size of a Division--Perfecting
the Organisation--General Situation--Falkenhayn’s View--Haig’s
Summary--Preparations for the Somme--The Division at Hébuterne--The
First Task--Extent of the New Line--The German Positions--Note by Gen.
Hull--The Date of Attack--Operation Orders--Artillery and
Smoke--Patrol Reports--The Attack--Gen. Hull’s Conclusion--The Battle
of Albert, 1916 pp. 1-48