Part 14

NOTE.—Although the 49th was not attacking during the battle of the Selle, 17th-25th October, or the battle of the Sambre, 4th November, it may have a claim as having been within the boundaries. Part of the Division did remain in the front line between 2nd and 11th November.

50TH (NORTHUMBRIAN) DIVISION. First Line.

The Battles of Ypres, Battle of Gravenstafel 1915. Ridge. 22-23 April, 1915. In Sir John French’s despatch, paragraph 4, he mentioned that he placed the 50th at the disposal of General Plumer on the night of the 22nd. A portion of the Division was within the boundary of the battle on the evening of the 23rd. Battle of St. Julien 24 April-4 May, 1915. _Battle of Frezenberg Ridge._ 8-13 May, 1915. _Battle of Bellewaerde Ridge._ 24-25 May, 1915.

The Battles of the Somme, 1916 Battle of Flers-Courcelette. 15-22 Sept., 1916. Battle of Morval. 25-28 Sept., 1916. Battle of the Transloy Ridges. 1-18 Oct., 1916.

The Battles of Arras, First Battle of the 1917. Scarpe, 1917. 9-14 April, 1917. Second Battle of the Scarpe, 1917. 23-24 April, 1917.

_The Battles of Ypres, _Second Battle of 1917._ Passchendaele._ 26 Oct.-10 Nov., 1917.

The First Battles of Battle of St. Quentin. 21-23 March, 1918. the Somme, 1918. With actions for the Somme crossings, 24th-25th March. Battle of Rosières. 26-27 March, 1918.

NOTE.—Paragraph 47 of the despatch shows that there was very heavy fighting in the Avre and Luce valleys on 29th, 30th and 31st March, in which the 50th was engaged, but the official list gives the Battle of the Avre one day only, the 4th April, and takes no notice of the battle 29th to 31st March.

The Battles of the Battle of Estaires. 9-11 April, 1918. Lys. _Battle of Hazebrouck._ 12-15 April, 1918. The Division was still fighting on the 12th and 13th.

The Battle of the Aisne, 1918. 27 May-6 June, 1918.

The Battles of the Battle of Beaurevoir Hindenburg Line. Line. 3-5 Oct., 1918. Battle of Cambrai, 1918. 8-9 Oct., 1918. See map, p. 287, Messrs. Dent’s edition.

The Final Advance. Battle of the Selle. 17-25 Oct., 1918. Battle of the Sambre. 4 Nov., 1918.

51ST (HIGHLAND) DIVISION. First Line.

The Battles of the Battle of Bazentin Somme, 1916. Ridge. 14-17 July, 1916 And “subsequent attack on High Wood,” 20th-25th July. The Division is not mentioned as engaged in the British attack, 14th-17th July, but is stated in the despatch to have repulsed an attack at High Wood on the 24th. Battle of the Ancre, 1916 (Beaumont 13-18 Nov., 1916. Hamel).

The Battles of Arras, First Battle of the 1917. Scarpe, 1917. 9-14 April, 1917. Second Battle of the Scarpe, 1917. 23-24 April, 1917. Third Battle of the Scarpe, 1917. 3-4 May, 1917. And “capture of Rœux, 13th-14th.”

The Battles of Ypres, Battle of Pilckem 1917. Ridge. 31 July-2 Aug., 1918. Battle of Menin Road Ridge. 20-25 Sept., 1917.

Battle of Cambrai, 1917. 20 Nov.-3 Dec., 1917.

The First Battles of Battle of St. Quentin. 21-23 March, 1918. the Somme, 1918. _First Battle of Bapaume._ 24-25 March, 1918. The Division is not referred to in the despatch, but was still fighting hard on the 24th-25th as rearguard.

The Battles of the Battle of Estaires. 9-11 April, 1918. Lys. Battle of Hazebrouck. 12-15 April, 1918.

The Battles of the Battle of Tardenois Marne, 1918. (Ardre Valley). 20-31 July, 1918.

The Second Battles of Battle of the Scarpe, Arras, 1918. 1918. 26-30 Aug., 1918.

The Battles of the _Battle of Cambrai, Hindenburg Line. 1918, and pursuit to the Selle._ 8-12 Oct., 1918. The Division captured several positions on the 12th, after stiff fighting.

The Final Advance. Battle of the Selle. 17-25 Oct., 1918. _Battle of Valenciennes and capture of Mount Houy._ 1-2 Nov., 1918. The Division was not in the first line on the 1st-2nd November, but attacked and captured a portion of Mount Houy on 28th October. The time limit may exclude its claim.

52ND (LOWLAND) DIVISION. First Line.

The Battles of Helles. Third Battle of Krithia. 4 June, 1915. With subsequent actions.

NOTE.—The Division did not land in time for the battle of 4th June, but, as narrated in the despatch, took part in several fiercely contested actions, mentioned in the Official List subsequent to that date, when they had very heavy losses.

Egypt. Battle of Rumani. 4-5 Aug., 1916.

The Invasion of First Battle of Gaza. 26-27 March, 1917. Palestine. Second Battle of Gaza. 17-19 April, 1917. Third Battle of Gaza. 27 Oct.-7 Nov., 1917. Battle of Nebi Samwil. 17-24 Nov., 1917. Battle of Jaffa. 21-22 Dec., 1917.

The Second Battles Battle of Albert. 21-23 Aug., 1918. of Arras, 1918. Battle of the Scarpe, 1918. 26-30 Aug., 1918. Battle of the Drocourt-Quéant Line. 2-3 Sept., 1918.

The Battles of the Battle of the Canal du Hindenburg Line. Nord. 7 Sept.-1 Oct., 1918.

53RD (WELSH) DIVISION. First Line.

The Battles of Suvla, The Landing at Suvla. 6-15 Aug., 1915. Dardanelles. Battle of Scimitar Hill. 21 Aug., 1915.

Egypt. Battle of Rumani. 4-5 Aug., 1916.

The Invasion of First Battle of Gaza. 26-27 March, 1917. Palestine. Second Battle of Gaza. 17-19 April, 1917. Third Battle of Gaza. 27 Oct.-7 Nov., 1917. Defence of Jerusalem. 26-30 Dec., 1917.

The Battles of Battle of Sharon. 19-25 Sept., 1918. Megiddo. Battle of Nablus. 19-25 Sept., 1918.

54TH (EAST ANGLIAN) DIVISION. First Line.

The Battles of Suvla, The Landing at Suvla. 6-15 Aug., 1915. Dardanelles. Battle of Scimitar Hill. 21 Aug., 1915.

The Invasion of First Battle of Gaza. 26-27 March, 1917. Palestine. Second Battle of Gaza. 17-19 April, 1917. Third Battle of Gaza. 27 Oct.-7 Nov., 1917. _Battle of Nebi Samwil._ 17-24 Nov., 1917. Battle of Jaffa. 21-22 Dec., 1917.

The Battles of Battle of Sharon. 19-25 Sept., 1918. Megiddo. Battle of Nablus. 19-25 Sept., 1918.

55TH (WEST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION. First Line.

The Battles of the _Battle of Ginchy._ 9 Sept., 1916. Somme, 1916. The Division is not referred to in the despatch as attacking on the 9th Sept. According to the _History of the 55th_ they attacked at Guillemont on 8th August, during the period of the fighting at Delville Wood, but the locus of that battle is the wood, and they also attacked at Ginchy on the 9th September. Battle of Morval. 25-28 Sept., 1916.

The Battles of Ypres, Battle of Pilckem 1917. Ridge. 31 July-2 Aug., 1917. Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. 20-25 Sept., 1917.

Battle of Cambrai, 1917. 20 Nov.-3 Dec., 1917.

The Battles of the Battle of Estaires Lys. and First Defence of Givenchy. 9-11 April, 1918. Battle of Hazebrouck. 12-15 April, 1918. The Division was not relieved till the 15th, and had some hard fighting on the 12th and 13th, _see_ Sir D. Haig’s special order.

56TH (FIRST LONDON) DIVISION. First Line.

The Battles of the Battle of Albert, Somme, 1916. 1916. 1-13 July, 1916. Battle of Ginchy. 9 Sept., 1916. Battle of Flers-Courcelette. 15-22 Sept., 1916. _Battle of Morval._ 25-28 Sept., 1916. _Battle of the Transloy Ridges._ 1-18 Oct., 1916. The 56th was one of the attacking divisions on 26th September near Combles, and on 7th-8th Oct. further north.

The Battles of Arras, First Battle of the 1917. Scarpe, 1917. 9-14 April, 1917. _Third Battle of the Scarpe, 1917._ 3-4 May, 1917. The Division attacked on the 3rd, and is mentioned in the despatch as capturing a position on the 11th.

The Battles of Ypres, Battle of Langemarck, 1917. 1917. 16-18 Aug., 1917.

The Battle of Cambrai, 1917. 20 Nov.-3 Dec., 1917.

The First Battles of First Battle of Arras, the Somme, 1918. 1918. 28 March, 1918.

The Second Battles Battle of Albert, of the Somme, 1918. 1918. 21-23 Aug., 1918.

The Second Battles Battle of the Scarpe, of Arras, 1918. 1918. 26-30 Aug., 1918. See Sir D. Haig’s telegram of 13th Sept. _Battle of the Drocourt-Quéant Line._ 2-3 Sept., 1918.

The Battles of the Battle of the Canal Hindenburg Line. du Nord. 27 Sept.-1 Oct., 1918. _Battle of Cambrai, with pursuit to the Selle._ 8-12 Oct., 1918. The Division attacked and took positions on the 11th and 12th.

The Final Advance. _Battle of Valenciennes,_ 1-2 Nov., 1918. Although the 56th did not attack on the 1st or 2nd, they entered the line on the night of the 2nd, and have a claim as being within the official boundaries. Battle of the Sambre. 4 Nov., 1918.

57TH (WEST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION. Second Line.

The Battles of Ypres, _Second Battle of 1917. Passchendaele._ 26 Oct.-10 Nov., 1917. The Division is not referred to in the despatch, but as part of the XIVth Corps they attacked on 26th October.

The Battles of the _Battle of Hazebrouck._ 12-15 April, 1918. Lys. Part of the Division was engaged.

The Second Battles Battle of the Scarpe, of Arras, 1918. 1918. 26-30 Aug., 1918. Battle of the Drocourt-Quéant Line. 2-3 Sept., 1918.

The Battles of the Battle of the Canal Hindenburg Line. du Nord. 27 Sept.-1 Oct., 1918. Battle of Cambrai, 1918. 8-9 Oct., 1918.

58TH (FIRST LONDON) DIVISION. Second Line.

The Advance to the Hindenburg Line, 1917. March, 1917.

The Battles of Arras, 1917. Battle of Bullecourt. 3-17 May, 1917.

The Battles of Ypres, Battle of the Menin 1917. Road Ridge. 20-25 Sept., 1917. Battle of Polygon Wood. 26 Sept.-3 Oct., 1917. Second Battle of Passchendaele. 26 Oct.-10 Nov., 1917.

The First Battles of Battle of St. Quentin. 21-23 March, 1918. the Somme, 1918. Battle of the Ancre, 1918. 5th April with subsequent action of _Villers Bretonneux_. 24-25 April, 1918. The Division was on the south flank and had rather heavy losses about the 24th-25th.

The Battle of Amiens. 8-11 Aug., 1918.

The Second Battles of _Battle of Albert, 1918._ 21-23 Aug., 1918. the Somme, 1918. As part of the III. Corps they entered the front line on the 22nd. Second Battle of Bapaume. 31 Aug.-3 Sept., 1918.

The Battles of the Hindenburg Line. Battle of Epéhy. 18 Sept., 1918.

59TH (NORTH MIDLAND) DIVISION. Second Line.

The Advance to the Hindenburg Line, 1917. March, 1917.

The Battles of Ypres, Battle of Polygon 1917. Wood. 26 Sept.-3 Oct., 1917.

Battle of Cambrai, 1917. 20 Nov.-3 Dec., 1917. See map in Messrs. Dent’s Edition.

The First Battles of Battle of St. Quentin. 21-23 March, 1918. the Somme, 1918. See map in Messrs. Dent’s edition. One brigade was engaged in the First Battle of Bapaume. 24-25 March, 1918.

The Battles of the _Battle of Bailleul._ 13-15 April, 1918. Lys. At this period the Division was much split up, and parts of it were in others of the Lys battles.

60TH (SECOND LONDON) DIVISION. Second Line.

Macedonia. _Battle of Doiran, 1917._ 24-25 April, and 8-9 May, 1917.

The Invasion of Third Battle of Gaza. 27 Oct.-7 Nov., 1917. Palestine. Battle of Nebi Samwil. 17-24 Nov., 1917. Defence of Jerusalem 26-30 Dec., 1917. and numerous subsequent actions, January to July, 1918.

The Battles of Battle of Sharon. 19-25 Sept., 1918. Megiddo. Battle of Nablus. 19-25 Sept., 1918.

61ST (SOUTH MIDLAND) DIVISION. Second Line.

The Battles of the Somme, 1916. 14-17 July, 1916. The Division took part in an attack at Fromelles, 19th-20th July, 1916, which in the Official List was stated to be subsidiary to the Battle of Bazentin Ridge.

Advance to Hindenburg Capture of Bapaume Line, 1917. and Chaulnes. March, 1917.

_The Battles of Ypres, The Division is not mentioned in the 1917._ despatch, but was engaged at Ypres on in the latter half of August and first week various dates of September. These were not perhaps within the limits of “recognised battles.”

Battle of Cambrai, 1917. 20 Nov.-3 Dec., 1917. Mentioned in the despatch as assembling, took over from the 12th Division about 1st December, and had stiff fighting for several days.

The First Battles of Battle of St. Quentin 21-23 March, 1918. the Somme, 1918. And actions for Somme crossings, 24th and 25th March. Battle of Rosières. 26-27 March, 1918.

The Battles of the Battle of Lys. Hazebrouck. 12-15 April, 1918. Battle of Béthune. 18 April, 1918.

The Final Advance. Battle of the Selle. 17-25 Oct., 1918. Battle of Valenciennes. 1-2 Nov., 1918. _Battle of the Sambre._ 4 Nov., 1918. The Division left the front line on the 2nd, but appears to have remained within the official boundaries.

62ND (WEST RIDING) DIVISION. Second Line.

The Advance to the Hindenburg Line, 1917. March, 1917.

The Battles of Arras, 1917. Battle of Bullecourt, 3-17 May, 1917.

Battle of Cambrai, 1917. 20 Nov.-3 Dec., 1917.

The First Battles of _First Battle of the Somme, 1918. Bapaume._ 24-25 March, 1918. The Division was in action on the afternoon and evening of the 25th.

First Battle of Arras, 1918. 28 March, 1918.

The Battles of the Battle of Tardenois Marne, 1918. (Ardre valley). 20-31 July, 1918.

The Second Battles of Second Battle of the Somme, 1918. Bapaume. 31 Aug.-3 Sept., 1918. The Division had hard fighting on 25-27 August, but these dates do not fall within the time limits of either of the battles of Albert, 21-23 August, or of Bapaume.

The Battles of the Battle of Havrincourt. Hindenburg Line. 12 Sept., 1918. Battle of the Canal du Nord. 27 Sept.-1 Oct., 1918. See map, p. 280, Messrs. Dent’s edition. The 62nd passed through the 3rd on the 27th, continued the attack, and captured Marcoing, etc.

The Final Advance. Battle of the Selle. 17-25 Oct., 1918. Battle of the Sambre. 4 Nov., 1918.

NOTE.—The Division was not in the front line during the Battle of Cambrai, 8th-9th October, 1918, but other divisions of the VI. Corps were engaged and part at least of the 62nd may have been within the official boundaries.

66TH (EAST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION. Second Line.

The Battles of Ypres, Battle of Poelcappelle. 9 Oct., 1917. 1917.

The First Battles of Battle of St. Quentin. 21-23 March, 1918. the Somme, 1918. With actions for Somme crossings, 24th-25th March. Battle of Rosières. 26-27 March, 1918. _Battle of the Avre._ 4 April, 1918.

Para. 47 of the despatch shows that the 66th was in the heavy fighting, 28th-31st March, in the Avre and Luce valleys, when they made counter-attacks; it is not said they were fighting on 4th April. The Official List makes no reference to the fighting 28th-31st March in this neighbourhood.

The Battles of the Battle of Cambrai, Hindenburg Line. 1918. 8-9 Oct., 1918.

The Final Advance. Battle of the Selle. 17-25 Oct., 1918. Battle of the Sambre. 4 Nov., 1918. The map, p. 294, Messrs. Dent’s edition, shows the 66th in support to the north-east of Le Cateau. It would thus be within the official boundary.

In regard to the Battle of the Beaurevoir Line, 3rd-5th October, the divisions of the XIII. Corps in the front line were the 25th and 50th. The 66th was in reserve and it is not clear that it was within the official limits, although certainly close thereto.