The 56th Division (1st London Territorial Division)

The move to St. Riquier, in the neighbourhood of Abbeville, revealed to some of the officers that their men were not very fit for marching. This knowledge appears to come as a r...

When once the great offensive had started there was no pause in the fighting. Divisions were relieved to reorganise. Sometimes they stood their ground, so that supplies could be...

After the declaration of war, when the first news of the Expeditionary Force began to trickle across the Channel, the people of England were told that troops were marching to th...

The Divisional Headquarters opened at Reninghelst on the morning of the 18th August; brigades were quartered at Steenvoorde and Wippenhoek. These forward areas did not give unin...

Troops in line, though they were not being attacked, probably worked harder than ever before and the nervous tension was as great as ever. All were conscious that the Germans mi...

Telegrams of congratulation on the action at Cambrai came from Corps and Army Headquarters; Sir Douglas Haig also sent a wire. But there was no question of rest for the 56th Div...

The Germans had commenced their retreat, and we know that the British Higher Command had planned large movements. On the 14th March the 169th Brigade took over the front line be...

On the 2nd July a rearrangement of the front had placed the 56th Division in the VII Corps, and they remained at Le Cauroy under the orders of that Corps until the 23rd July, wh...

One might well imagine that the 56th Division was entitled to a rest, but the days when armies retired into winter-quarters had passed--unless a “quiet” bit of the line may be s...

Special thanks are due to Messrs. Hutchinson & Co., publishers of _My War Memories 1914-1918_, by Gen. Ludendorff, and _General Headquarters 1914-1916, and Its Critical Decision...

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 D...

Tanks--Progress on the Somme--The Move to Battle Positions--In Contact with the Enemy--The Battle of Ginchy--The Attack-Haig’s Dispatch-- Battle of Flers-Courcelette--Orders to...

The German Retreat, 1917--Plan of Attack--Artillery Control Signals-- First Battle of the Scarpe--The Attack--Clearing the Hindenburg Line--The Advance Checked--German Comments-...

American Action--The Enemy Strength--British Strength--German Assembly--British Preparations--Frequent Change of Orders--Imminence of Enemy Attack--Disposition of Troops--Enemy...