66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division
The British 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division was raised as a second-line Territorial Force division in August 1914 shortly after the commencement of the First World War. It went on to serve as a full-fledged frontline division on the Western Front in 1917 and 1918. It fought in the Third Battle of Ypres (1917), the Second Battle of the Somme (1918), and the Battle of Cambrai (1918).
The division was moved into Germany after the Armistice with Germany to take part in the occupation of the Rhineland. The division's final billeting area was Dinant - Huy - Marche - Rochefort. "Demobilisation began here and at midnight 24–25 March 1919 the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division, the "Clickety Clicks", ceased to exist."[1]
The division's general from March 1918 was Hugh Keppel "Beetle" Bethell (1882-1947), the youngest British divisional commander in both world wars.[2][3]
Organisation (March 1917)
197th Brigade (2nd Lancashire Fusiliers)
- 2/6th Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers
- 2/7th Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers
- 2/8th Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers
- 3/5th Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers
- 202nd Brigade Machine Gun Company
- 197th Trench Mortar Battery
198th Brigade (2nd East Lancashire)
- 2/4th Battalion, the East Lancashire Regiment
- 2/5th Battalion, the East Lancashire Regiment
- 2/9th Battalion, the Manchester Regiment
- 2/10th Battalion, the Manchester Regiment
- 203rd Brigade Machine Gun Company
- 198th Trench Mortar Battery
199th Brigade (2nd Manchester)
- 2/5th Battalion, the Manchester Regiment
- 2/6th Battalion, the Manchester Regiment
- 2/7th Battalion, the Manchester Regiment
- 2/8th (Ardwick) Battalion, the Manchester Regiment
- 204th Brigade Machine Gun Company
- 199th Trench Mortar Battery
Royal Engineers
- 430th (2/1st East Lancashire Regiment) Field Company
- 431st (2/2nd East Lancashire Regiment) Field Company
- 432nd (2/3rd East Lancashire Regiment) Field Company
- 66th (2/1st East Lancashire Regiment) Divisional Signal Company
Royal Artillery
- CCCXXX (2/I East Lancashire Regiment) Brigade, Royal Foot Artillery
- CCCXXXI (2/II East Lancashire Regiment) Brigade, Royal Foot Artillery
- CCCXXXII (2/III East Lancashire Regiment) Brigade, Royal Foot Artillery
- 66th (2/1st East Lancashire Regiment) Divisional Ammunition Column
- V.66 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery Royal Foot Artillery
- X.66 Medium Mortar Battery Royal Foot Artillery
- Y.66 Medium Mortar Battery Royal Foot Artillery
- Z.66 Medium Mortar Battery Royal Foot Artillery
Royal Army Medical Corps
- 2/1st East Lancashire Field Ambulance
- 2/2nd East Lancashire Field Ambulance
- 2/3rd East Lancashire Field Ambulance
Other
- 66th (2/1st East Lancashire Regiment) Divisional Train Army Service Corps
- 1/1st East Lancashire Regiment Mobile Veterinary Section
See also
Notes
- ^ Chris Baker, The British Army in the Great War: The 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division
- ^ "Who's Who in World War One" J. M. Bourne, pp.24-25.
- ^ KCL web page
External links