42nd (East Lancashire) Division

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42nd (East Lancashire) Division
Image:British_42nd_(East_Lancashire)_Division_Insignia.png
Active 1908 - 1918/9, 1920-1941, 1947-67
Branch Territorial Army
Type Infantry
Battles/wars Battle of Gallipoli
* Second Battle of Krithia
* Third Battle of Krithia
* Battle of Krithia Vineyard
Battle of Romani

The British 42nd (East Lancashire) Division was a Territorial Army division. Originally called the 'East Lancashire Division', it was redesignated as the 42nd Division in 1915. It was the first Territorial division to be sent overseas during the First World War. The division fought at Gallipoli, in the Sinai desert and on the Western Front in France.

Contents

[edit] Unit history

[edit] Gallipoli

A boat carrying Lancashire Fusiliers, bound for Gallipoli.
A boat carrying Lancashire Fusiliers, bound for Gallipoli.

The division was sent to Egypt in September 1914 to protect the Suez Canal from Turkish attack. In early May 1915 the division was sent to Cape Helles following the failure of the Allies to achieve the anticipated swift success at Gallipoli during April. The 125th Brigade landed in time to participate in the Second Battle of Krithia on May 6. The entire division was involved in the Third Battle of Krithia on June 4.

The division carried out the Helles diversion at the start of the Battle of Sari Bair in what became known as the Battle of Krithia Vineyard. It remained at Gallipoli until the final evacuation of Helles in January 1916 but was severely depleted by casualties and illness.

After the evacuation of Gallipoli, the division returned to Egypt and participated in the advance across the Sinai without becoming seriously engaged in the fighting.

[edit] Western Front

In February 1917 the division moved to France.

  • March - May 1917 : Held line at Epéhy
  • June - August : Held line at Havrincourt
  • August - September : Ypres
  • September - November : Held line at Nieuport
  • November 1917 - February 1918 : Held line at La Bassée
  • March - April : Retired Ervillers - Bucquoy
  • May - July : Held line at Bucquoy, Gommecourt, Hebuterne
  • August : Advanced Miraumont, Riencourt, Villers au Flos
  • September : Advanced Havrincourt Wood to Welsh Ridge
  • October : Advanced Esnes, Beauvois, across River Selle
  • November : Advanced Le Quesnoy, Forest of Mormal, Hautmont
  • November 11 1918 : Stood fast on line Maubeuge-Avesnes Road

[edit] World War II

In 1940 the division was deployed as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France. After the evacuation of Dunkirk the Division was regrouped but then reorganised as 42nd Armoured Division on 1 November 1941. It was later disbanded on 17 October 1943 without seeing action as an armoured formation.

[edit] Post 1945

The Division was reformed in the post-war Territorial Army but disbanded by 1968.

In the modern British Army the division survives as the 42 North West Brigade.

[edit] Composition in World War I

A surgery of one of the division's field ambulances. A surgeon removes a bullet from a soldier wounded during fighting at Cape Helles.
A surgery of one of the division's field ambulances. A surgeon removes a bullet from a soldier wounded during fighting at Cape Helles.

The division comprised three infantry brigades:

125th Brigade (Lancashire Fusiliers Brigade) 
  • 1/5th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
  • 1/6th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
  • 1/7th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
  • 1/8th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
126th Brigade (East Lancashire Brigade) 
127th Brigade (Manchester Brigade) 
  • 1/5th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
  • 1/6th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
  • 1/7th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
  • 1/8th (Ardwick) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
Independent 
Divisional Artillery 
  • 1st East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Blackburn Artillery). Renamed 210 Brigade May 1916.
  • 2nd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Manchester Artillery). Arrived Egypt May 1915, did not go to Gallipoli; renamed 211 Brigade May 1916.
  • 3rd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Bolton Artillery). Renamed 212 Brigade May 1916.

Originally each of the above Brigades was equipped with 3 4-gun batteries of obsolescent 15-pounder field guns ("relics of South Africa"[1]). They were replaced in March 1916 with 18-pounder guns handed over by 29th Division in Egypt.[2]

  • 4th East Lancs (Howitzer) Brigade R.F.A. (Cumberland Artillery). Renamed 213 Brigade in May 1916. Originally equipped with obsolescent 5 inch howitzers ("some of them Omdurman veterans"[1]), re-equipped in June 1916 with modern 4.5 inch Q.F. howitzers.[2]

In February 1917 the Cumberland Artillery / 213 Brigade was disbanded and its 2 Howitzer batteries merged into the 18-pounder Brigades in accordance with the new artillery brigade philosophy. Existing 4-gun 18-pounder batteries in each of 210, 211 and 212 Brigades were merged into 6-gun batteries, and the 4 Brigades replaced by new 210 and 211 Brigades each with 3 6-gun 18-pounder batteries and 1 Howitzer battery.

Gibbon's divisional history states that the above occurred on paper on Christmas day 1916, when the division was on manouvres at Al Mazar, and the reorganization actually occurred in February 1917 on return to the canal zone.[2]

Hence from February 1917 to November 11 1918 the divisional artillery consisted of 210 and 211 Brigades, each with 3x6-gun batteries of 18-pounders (A,B,C) and 1 battery of 4.5 inch howitzers (D).

[edit] Battles

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b General SIR IAN HAMILTON, G.C.B. Gallipoli Diary Vol. I. NEW YORK: GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY, 1920
  2. ^ a b c Frederick P. Gibbon. The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division 1914-1918. London: Country Life, 1920. Facsimile reprint by Naval & Military Press, Uckfield U.K.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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