42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division

East Lancashire Division 42nd (East Lancashire) Division 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division 42nd Armoured Division 42nd (Lancashire) Division
42nd (East Lancashire) Division insignia, First World War
Active	1908–1919 1920–1941 1947–1961
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Territorial Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Motto	Go One Better
Engagements	Battle of Gallipoli * Second Battle of Krithia * Third Battle of Krithia * Battle of Krithia Vineyard Battle of Romani Third Battle of Ypres First Battle of the Somme (1918) * First Battle of Bapaume Second Battle of the Somme (1918) * Battle of Albert (1918) * Second Battle of Bapaume Battle of the Canal du Nord Battle of the Selle Battle of France Dunkirk evacuation
Commanders
Notable commanders	William Douglas Bertram Mitford Arthur Solly-Flood
Insignia
Identification symbol	42nd Division insignia, Second World War

The 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army. The division was raised in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force, originally as the East Lancashire Division, and was redesignated as the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division on 25 May 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 and Belgium. In World War II it served as the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and fought in Belgium and France before being evacuated at Dunkirk. The division was later reformed in Britain in November 1941 as the 42nd Armoured Division which was disbanded in October 1943 without serving overseas. A 2nd Line duplicate formation, the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division, was created when the Territorials were doubled in both world wars.

The division was disbanded during the war but was reformed in the Territorial Army in 1947 after the Second World War. Beckett 2008 says that TA units that were in suspended animation were formally reactivated on 1 January 1947, although no personnel were assigned until commanding officers and permanent staff had been appointed in March and April 1947. From December 1955, the division was placed on a lower establishment, for home defence purposes only. On 1 May 1961 the division was merged with North West District to become 42nd Lancashire Division/North West District.

First World War

The division was embodied upon the outbreak of war. The war station was intended to be Ireland, but due to its pacific state, the intended move did not materialise. After a brief period at their drill halls, the various units proceeded to large tented camps at Turton Bottoms (near Bolton), Chesham (near Bury) and Holingworth Lake, Littleborough (near Rochdale). The personnel were asked to volunteer for overseas service, and the overwhelming majority did so, the deficiences made up of men from the National Reserve and other re-enlistments. The 'home service' men formed the cadre of duplicate units, intended to train the rush of volunteers at the drill halls. These would form the divisional reserve, and later become the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.

In 1914 the East Lancashire Division was one of 14 infantry divisions and 55 mounted regiments called the Yeomanry which made up the Territorial Force. Lord Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War, described these divisions and regiments of mainly white–collar workers as "a town clerk's army." Their junior officers were trained at the Officer Training Corps set up at the universities and large public schools such as Eton and Harrow and Kitchener sent these forces to the peripheral campaigns; to the Sudan, Mesopotamia, Egypt, to the Caucasus to release Regular British Army soldiers for duty on the Western Front because he thought these amateur soldiers 'might not be able to hold their own with the German Army.'

Egypt

Suez Canal zone and Sinai, WWI

The East Lancashire Division arrived in Egypt on 25 September 1914 and served in the interior, around Cairo (with some elements stationed in Cyprus and the Sudan) together with some Yeomanry units, and the Australian and New Zealand contingents before going to Gallipoli.

The division was sent to Egypt to defend the Suez Canal against anticipated Turkish attacks. The 15 pounder gun batteries were deployed at key points on the west bank in support of Indian Army and New Zealand troops manning guardposts. The 20th Battery (Bolton Artillery) fired the Division's first artillery rounds of the Great War, and the first of the Territorial Force of the campaign, near El Ferdan on 2 February 1915. The 19th Battery (Bolton Artillery) was in action in support of Indian and New Zealand troops between Tussum and Serapeum on the night and morning of 3–4 February 1915, against the attempted crossing of the canal by the 74th Regiment, Turkish 25th Division.

Gallipoli

A boat carrying Lancashire Fusiliers, bound for Gallipoli. Photo by Ernest Brooks.

Area of operations of 42nd Division on Gallipoli

Beginning in early May 1915 the division joined the British Army Corps, from June known as VIII Corps, at Cape Helles following the failure of the Allies to achieve the anticipated swift success at Gallipoli during April. On 26 May 1915 the division received its number, becoming the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, and the brigades were also numbered, becoming 125th (1/1st Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade, 126th (1/1st East Lancashire) Brigade and 127th (1/1st Manchester) Brigade.

The 4th (Blackburn) battery, 1 section of the 6th (Burnley) battery, and 19th and 20th (Bolton) batteries did not join the division on Gallipoli until 23/24 September, and the 1st/2nd East Lancs Brigade RFA (Manchester Artillery) arrived in Egypt in May from Britain and remained in Egypt.

The 125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade landed in time to participate in the Second Battle of Krithia on 6 May. The 126th Brigade arrived on 11 May. The entire division was involved in the Third Battle of Krithia on 4 June.

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. Captain William Thomas Forshaw of the 1/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in this battle from 7 to 9 August.

2nd Lieutenant Alfred Victor Smith of the 1/5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his action at Helles on 23 December.

The division remained at Gallipoli until the final evacuation of Helles in January 1916 but was severely depleted by casualties and illness.

42nd Division's casualties at Gallipoli were 395 officers and 8152 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.

Egypt and the Sinai Campaign

After the evacuation of Gallipoli, the division returned to Egypt, and was renamed the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. As such the participated in the Battle of Romani and the advance from Romani to Katia.

The 42nd Division served at Kantara on the Suez Canal in No. 3 Section of the Suez Canal Defences under General Lawrence until they were entrained for railhead at Pelusium on the first day of the Battle of Romani 4 August 1916.

File:Powles pp.32-3 Romani.jpg

Map of Romani Battlefield

On arrival late in the day, the 127th Brigade of the 42nd Division took over outpost duties at 1930 hours while the New Zealand Mounted Rifle and 5th Mounted Yeomanry Brigades, which had been heavily involved in fighting during the day, withdrew to water and rest at Pelusium.

On the second day of battle, 5 August 1916, the 42nd Division along with the 52nd (Lowland) Division which had fought the previous day from their entrenched position, were ordered to move out to support the Australian Light Horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigades in a pursuit of the enemy. The 42nd Division was not prepared for the conditions they found in the Sinai desert. They had not been trained to operate in heavy sand in mid summer heat, and with insufficient water, extreme distress and tragedy followed. The mounted troops alone, were unable to stop the enemy making a disciplined withdrawal to water at Katia and to fall back in good order, the following day.

The 127th Brigade, 42nd Division eventually reached Katia the next day, 6 August; 800 men had died in the two-day march from Pelusium Station. The 125th Brigade of the 42nd Division and the 155th, and 157th brigades of the 52nd Division also had many men fall victim to thirst and the blazing sun; the infantry pursuit could not go on.

Robert Bethel, Army Service Corps, and McPherson, an officer in the Egyptian Camel Transport Corps, worked to transport provisions and water to the 125th and 127th brigades. They recorded what they saw of these terrible days. Nearly fifty years after serving with the 42nd Division in the Sinai, one veteran, gunner J. Thompson, confessed that the "sight of a leaking tap" made him "squirm."

By December 1916, the 42nd Division was furnishing units to protect the lines of communication at Salmana, Abu Tilul and the railway station Maadan and took part in a practice attack on 13 December. On 21 December 42nd and 52nd Divisions marched from Kilo 128 to Bardawil and continued to move eastwards towards Masaid.

On 17 January 1917, the 42nd Division was no longer in the Sinai Campaign, having been among the first of the Territorial Force to receive orders for the Western Front. The division was replaced in Desert Column by another Territorial Division, the 53rd (Welsh) Division commanded by Dallas. The two other Territorial infantry divisions; the 52nd at Rafa and the 54th (East Anglian) Division ordered out to Romani from the Suez Canal, were put directly under General Dobell commander of Eastern Force. The 42nd Division departed Egypt early in February 1917.

Western Front

File:42DivisionFinalAdvance2686x984.jpg

42nd Division 8 April – 22 August 1917, and 23 March – 11 November 1918

In March 1917 the division moved to France and joined 3 Corps in Fourth Army.

• 8 April – 23 May 1917 : Relieved 48th (South Midland) Division. Held line at Épehy
• 23 May – 8 July 1917 : Relieved 20th (Light) Division. Held line at Havrincourt, north of Epéhy.
• 8 July : Infantry relieved by 58th (2/1st London) Division.
  Divisional artillery remained in the line in support of 58th and then 9th (Scottish) Division at Havrincourt Wood.
• 9 July – 22 August 1917 : Ytres sector.

Area of 42nd Division's operations near Ypres, 23 August – 29 September 1917

• 23 August – 1 September 1917 : Joined 5 Corps in Fifth Army. Infantry in Poperinghe area behind Ypres for training.
  Divisional artillery entered line immediately in support of 15th (Scottish) Division near Potijze Chateau.
• 1–18 September 1917 : Ypres. Infantry relieved 15th Division in the line to the right of Potijze Road near Frezenberg Ridge. On 6 September 125 Brigade made an unsuccessful attempt to capture the fortified Iberian, Borry and Beck Farms. (Third Battle of Ypres)
• 18 September 1917 : Infantry relieved by 9th Division and retired to Poperinghe area.
  Divisional artillery remained in the Line until 29 September, participated in heavy fighting from 20 September and advanced to exposed positions on Frezenberg Ridge on 25 September. (Battle of the Menin Road Ridge)
• 26 September – November 1917 : Relieved 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. Divisional artillery rejoined. Held line at Nieuport

Trench message dog of 10th Manchesters waits while message is written, Cuinchy, 26 January 1918

Men of the 4th East Lancs at a sap-head, Givenchy, 28 January 1918

• 29 November 1917 – 15 February 1918 : Relieved 25th Division. Held line at Givenchy on La Bassée sector. Constructed fortifications according to the new British defensive doctrine of "defended localities" in anticipation of major German attack.
  Private Walter Mills of C Company, the 1/10th Manchesters, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for actions at Red Dragon Crater, Givenchy on the night of 10 December 1917.
• 15 February 1918 – 22 March 1918 : Relieved by 55th (West Lancashire) Division. In reserve and training at Busnes – Burbure – Fouquieres area. 1 Corps reserve and then GHQ reserve from 1 March.
• 23 March/24 : Joined 6 Corps (Lt-General Sir Aylmer Haldane) in Third Army, initially in reserve, then at Ervillers, to defend the line against the German Seventeenth Army (General Otto von Below) on the right (i.e. north) wing of the "Michael 1" German Spring Offensive (Kaiserschlacht) in the First Battle of the Somme (1918). First Battle of Bapaume.
• 25 March 1918 : Counterattacked in the afternoon with 7 tanks and 300 infantry from Logeast Wood to delay the German VI Reserve Corps. 10th Manchesters repelled 8 attacks by the German 2nd Guards Reserve Division, at Ervillers.

Positions on 5 April 1918

• 26 March 1918 : Retired Ervillers – Bucquoy. Together the 42nd and 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division held the Rossignol Wood – Bucquoy sector under heavy shelling against 6 attacks by the German 3rd Guards Infantry Division, the last with assistance of 11 Mk. IV tanks.
• 27 March – 5 April 1918 : Held line until end of final German assault on 5 April at Bucquoy.

Bucquoy Crossroads, held by 125 Brigade in heavy fighting on 5 April 1918

• 6 April – July 1918 : Held line at Bucquoy, Gommecourt, Hébuterne.
• 21–25 August 1918 : With 4 Corps in Third Army. Attacked and advanced Miraumont, across the River Ancre, Pys, Warlencourt. (Second Battle of the Somme (1918) including Battle of Albert (1918))
  Their opponent was the German 183rd Division.
  Lance-Sergeant Edward Smith of the 1/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions in the capture of The Lozenge (Hill 140, a German machine-gun nest) on 21 August and enemy counterattacks on 22 August.
• 25–27 August 1918 : Infantry withdrew for 2 days rest in Miraumont-Pys area.
  Divisional artillery went into action under heavy fire in support of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division on outskirts of Loupart Wood.
• 28 August – 5 September 1918 : Relieved 63rd Division in the line and resumed advance. Attacked and advanced Thilloy, Riencourt-lès-Bapaume, Villers-au-Flos, Ytres, across the Canal du Nord to Metz-en-Couture (Second Battle of the Somme (1918) including the Second Battle of Bapaume)
• 6 September 1918 : Infantry relieved by New Zealand Division and moved to rest in Pys-Tholloy area. Divisional artillery remained in the line in support of New Zealand Division.
• 21 September/22 September 1918 : Relieved 37th Division east of Havrincourt Wood.

Graves of 42nd Division's fallen in the breaking of the Hindenburg Line, near Bilhem Farm, Trescault – Ribecourt Road, photographed in 1919 (Today known as Ribecourt Road Cemetery)

42nd Division's attack through the Hindenburg Line 27/28 September 1918

Trench in the Hindenburg Line near Havrincourt taken by 42nd Division

• 27–28 September 1918 : Attacked and advanced Havrincourt Wood through the Siegfried Stellung section of the Hindenburg Line via successive planned objectives denoted Black, Red, Brown, Yellow, Blue Lines, to Welsh Ridge. The Hindenburg Line was attacked in enfilade, or diagonally, as can be seen from the map. Many casualties were sustained from machine guns situated in Beaucamps to the right of the Division's front. (Battle of the Canal du Nord)
• 29 September – 8 October 1918 : Infantry relieved by New Zealand Division and withdrew to Havrincourt Wood for rest.
  Divisional artillery remained in action in support of the New Zealand Division in the Pursuit to the Selle
• 9–12 October 1918 : Infantry marched up to the front through Lesdain, Esnes, Beauvois and relieved New Zealand Division, who had established a bridgehead across the River Selle at Briastre.
• 12–23 October 1918 : Defended Briastre against heavy German counterattacks and shelling. Advanced across River Selle to Marou, Virtigneul and Belle Vue Farm (Battle of the Selle).
  Private Alfred Robert Wilkinson of the 1/5th Manchesters was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions on 20 October at Marou. The Division's opponent in these actions was the German 25th Division.
• 24 October – 3 November 1918 : Relieved by New Zealand Division. Withdrew to Beauvois for rest.
• 3–6 November 1918 : Moved up though Le Quesnoy and Forest of Mormal in support of the advance of 37th and New Zealand Divisions.
• 6–9 November 1918 : Relieved New Zealand Division in line of attack on eastern edge of Forest of Mormal. Attacked and advanced to Hautmont in the Arrondissement of Avesnes-sur-Helpe.
• 11 November 1918 : Stood fast on line Maubeuge – Avesnes-sur-Helpe Road.

First World War battles

• Battle of Gallipoli
  • Second Battle of Krithia
  • Third Battle of Krithia
  • Battle of Krithia Vineyard
• Battle of Romani
• Third Battle of Ypres
• First Battle of the Somme (1918)
  • First Battle of Bapaume
• Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
  • Battle of Albert (1918)
  • Second Battle of Bapaume
• Battle of the Canal du Nord
• Battle of the Selle

First World War composition

The infantry were equipped with the obsolescent Long Magazine Lee–Enfield (MLE) rifle from embarkation in 1914 until arrival in France in March 1917, when they were re-equipped with the standard modern Short Magazine Lee–Enfield (SMLE).

Infantry

The division comprised three infantry brigades:

125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade

Main article: 125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade

• 1/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers from Bury, outlying detachments at Radcliffe and Heywood.
• 1/6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers from Rochdale, outlying detachments at Middleton and Todmorden.

Disbanded February 1918. Men transferred within 42nd Division and to 66th Division.

• 1/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers from Salford
• 1/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers from Salford

126th (East Lancashire) Brigade

Main article: 126th (East Lancashire) Brigade

• 1/4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment from Blackburn

Disbanded February 1918. Men transferred within 42nd Division and to 66th Division.

• 1/5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment from Burnley
• 1/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment from Ashton-under-Lyne

Disbanded February 1918. Men transferred within 42nd Division and to 66th Division.

• 1/10th Battalion, Manchester Regiment from Oldham
• 1/8th (Ardwick) Battalion, Manchester Regiment

Transferred from 127th Brigade February 1918.

127th (Manchester) Brigade

Main article: 127th (Manchester) Brigade

• 1/5th Battalion, Manchester Regiment from Wigan, outlying detachments at Haydock, Atherton, Patricroft, and Swinton.
• 1/6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment from Manchester and suburbs including Cheshire
• 1/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment from Manchester and suburbs including Cheshire
• 1/8th (Ardwick) Battalion, Manchester Regiment from Ardwick and East Manchester

Transferred to 126th Brigade February 1918.

Pioneers and Cavalry

• 1/7th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers

Joined the 42nd Division from 50th (Northumbrian) Division on 12 February 1918 near Bethune after being converted from an infantry battalion. 3 companies

• A Squadron, 1/1st Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry from Oldham

Did not proceed to Gallipoli; remained in Egypt and fought in the Western Desert expedition against the Senussi. Rejoined 42nd Division after it returned to Egypt from Gallipoli. Transferred to 53rd Division January 1917 and fought at Gaza, then served with 60th and 52nd Divisions in Palestine and Syria.

Divisional Artillery

Originally each of the field gun batteries was equipped with four obsolescent BLC 15 pounder field guns (referred to somewhat inaccurately by Ian Hamilton as "relics of South Africa"). They were replaced on 29 February 1916 with modern QF 18 pounder guns handed over by 29th Division in Egypt.

• 1st East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Blackburn Artillery)
  Renamed 210 Brigade 6 May 1916
  • 4th Lancashire Battery from Blackburn. Renamed A Battery 6 May 1916.
  • 5th Lancashire Battery from Church. Renamed B Battery 6 May 1916.
  • 6th Lancashire Battery from Burnley. Renamed C Battery 6 May 1916.
• 2nd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Manchester Artillery)
  Arrived Egypt May 1915, did not go to Gallipoli.
  Renamed 211 Brigade 29 May 1916
  • 15th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed A Battery 29 May 1916.
  • 16th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed B Battery 29 May 1916.
  • 17th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed C Battery 29 May 1916.
• 3rd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Bolton Artillery)
  Renamed 212 Brigade 29 May 1916
  • 18th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed A Battery 29 May 1916.
  • 19th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed B Battery 29 May 1916.
  • 20th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed C Battery 29 May 1916.
• 4th East Lancs (Howitzer) Brigade R.F.A. (Cumberland Artillery)
  Originally each of the 2 batteries was equipped with 4 obsolescent BL 5 inch Howitzers ("some of them Omdurman veterans").
  Joined Division on Gallipoli in July 1915 from Egypt. However, only limited supplies of the new 40 pound 5-inch shells were sent from Mudros (older shells were 50 pounds). No range tables for the lighter and hence longer-range shell were available, and they had a new pattern fuse for which no fuse keys were available. Hence use of these howitzers on Gallipoli became very limited.
  Renamed 213 Brigade in May 1916.
  Re-equipped in June 1916 with modern QF 4.5 inch Howitzers.
  • 1st Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery from Carlisle. Renamed A Battery May 1916.
  • 2nd Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery from Workington. Renamed B Battery May 1916.

1917 field artillery reorganization

In February 1917 the Cumberland Artillery / 213 Brigade was disbanded and its two howitzer batteries merged into the 18-pounder brigades in accordance with the new artillery brigade philosophy. Existing four-gun, 18-pounder batteries in each of 210, 211 and 212 Brigades were merged into six-gun batteries, and the four brigades replaced by new 210 and 211 Brigades each with 3 six-gun, 18-pounder batteries and one howitzer battery.

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

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

Trench mortar batteries

• V/42 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery. Formed in France March 1917
  Equipped with 4 9.45 inch Heavy Mortars. Part of Divisional Artillery until 15 February 1918 when it remained in La Bassée sector under Corps command when the Division departed.
• Medium Trench Mortar Batteries. Formed in France March 1917
  Initially 3 batteries, each equipped with 4 Newton 6 inch Mortars, and 2 batteries of 6 from February 1918, following the disbanding of Z Battery. Part of Divisional Artillery
  • X/42 Battery
  • Y/42 Battery
  • Z/42 Battery. Broken up February 1918. Redistributed to X and Y Batteries.
• Light Trench Mortar Batteries. Formed in France March 1917. Equipped with the 3 inch Stokes Mortar. Attached to the 3 infantry brigades and named after them.

42 Battalion Machine Gun Corps

Formed 23 February 1918 from the previous four separate companies. One company was attached to each of the three infantry brigades and one company in Divisional Reserve.

Royal Engineers

• 1st East Lancashire Field Company renamed 427 Field Company February 1917
• 2nd East Lancashire Field Company renamed 428 Field Company February 1917
• 3rd East Lancashire Field Company joined Division June 1916 in Egypt. Renamed 429 Field Company February 1917
• 42nd Division Signal Company. See: Major I G Kelly, 42 Squadron History World War One (external link)

Combat Service Support

• Army Service Corps: 3 Companies
• Transport and Supply Column ASC. Left and joined 53rd (Welsh) Division in March 1917 and served in the operations against Gaza, then joined 74th (Yeomanry) Division. A new Divisional Train was formed in England and joined the 42nd Division in France after previously serving in France with the 3rd (Lahore) Division.

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

• 1/1st East Lancashire Field Ambulance attached to 127 Brigade
• 1/2nd East Lancashire Field Ambulance did not proceed to Gallipoli; attached to 126 Brigade
• 1/3rd East Lancashire Field Ambulance; attached to 125 Brigade
• 19th Mobile Veterinary Section
• 239th Divisional Employment Company

Between the wars

The division was disbanded after the war, along with the rest of the Territorial Force. However, it was later reformed in the 1920s as the Territorial Army and the 42nd Division was reconstituted.

Second World War

In the early stages of the Second World War, the 42nd Division was deployed as part of the British Expeditionary Force during the Battle of France. After the Dunkirk evacuation the division was regrouped and spent most of its time training and preparing for a German invasion of England. In 1941, due to a shortage of armoured troops in the British Army, the division was converted to the 42nd Armoured Division on 1 November. It was later disbanded on 17 October 1943 without seeing action as an armoured formation and many of its units were sent elsewhere. The name of the division was later used for the purpose of military deception. The 42nd Division was awarded its first and only Victoria Cross of the Second World War, belonging to Captain Marcus Ervine-Andrews of the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, during the Battle of Dunkirk. He was also the first of eight Irishmen to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the Second World War.

Order of Battle World War II

125th Infantry Brigade

• 1/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
• 1/6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
• 1/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (until 4 May 1940)
• 125th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (formed 31 January 1940, disbanded 25 January 1941)
• 1st Battalion, Border Regiment (from 4 May, left 1 December 1940)
• 9th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (from 1 December 1940)

126th Infantry Brigade

• 5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
• 4th Battalion, Border Regiment (until 29 October 1939)
• 5th Battalion, Border Regiment
• 126th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (formed 20 January 1940, disbanded 21 February 1941)
• 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (from 10 November 1939 until 25 October 1941)
• 5th Battalion, Manchester Regiment (from 8 September 1941)

127th Infantry Brigade

• 4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (until 22 October 1941)
• 5th Battalion, Manchester Regiment (until 8 September 1941)
• 8th Battalion, Manchester Regiment (until 6 May 1940)
• 127th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (formed 2 February 1940, disbanded 21 January 1941)
• 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (from 6 May 1940)
• 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (from 6 September until 19 October 1941)
• 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (from 25 October 1941)

Divisional Troops

• 51st (Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (until 10 April 1940)
• 52nd (Manchester) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (until 20 October 1941)
• 53rd (Bolton) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (until 20 October 1941)
• 111th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (from 3 July 1940)
• 147th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (from 20 October 1941)
• 56th (King's Own) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (until 20 October 1941)
• 53rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (from 20 October 1941)
• 200th (East Lancashire) Field Company, Royal Engineers (until 18 October 1939, rejoined 27 April 1940)
• 201st (East Lancashire) Field Company, Royal Engineers
• 202nd (East Lancashire) Field Company, Royal Engineers (until 11 April 1940)
• 250th (East Anglian) Field Company, Royal Engineers (from 14 May 1940)
• 203rd (East Lancashire) Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
• 42nd (East Lancashire) Divisional Signals Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals

Post 1945

In 1947, the 42nd and 55th (West Lancashire) Divisions were amalgamated to form the 42nd (Lancashire) Division as part of the post-war Territorial Army but this was disbanded by 1968 with changes to the Territorial Army structure.

In the modern British Army the 42 North West Brigade has adopted the former 42nd (Lancashire) Division badge.

Commanders

• Major-General William Fry: April 1908-October 1910
• Major-General Cecil W. Park: October 1910-May 1913
• Major-General Sir William Douglas: May 1913-March 1917
• Major-General Bertram R. Mitford: March–October 1917
• Major-General Arthur Solly-Flood: October 1917-June 1919
• Major-General T. Herbert Shoubridge: June 1919-June 1923
• Major-General Arthur Solly-Flood: June 1923-March 1927
• Major-General Claude D. H. Moore: March 1927-September 1928
• Major-General William H. Beach: January 1929-May 1933
• Major-General Arthur E. McNamara: May–October 1933
• Major-General Sir Hugh J. Elles: October 1933-March 1934
• Major-General Kenneth G. Buchanan: March 1934-March 1938
• Major-General William G. Holmes: March 1938-May 1940
• Major-General Henry B.D. Willcox: June 1940-April 1941
• Major-General Eric G. Miles: April–October 1941
• Major-General Miles C. Dempsey; October 1941-December 1942
• Major-General John A. Aizlewood: December 1942-October 1943
• Major-General Geoffrey C. Evans: January 1947-January 1948
• Major-General Vyvyan Evelegh: March 1948-October 1950

Memorials and Monuments

The 42nd Division Memorial stands on the north edge of Trescault village (Multimap external link) on the left of the road to Havrincourt. It was unveiled by Major-General Solly-Flood on Easter Sunday, 1922.

The inscription reads: "In memory of all ranks of the 42nd East Lancashire Territorial Division who gave their lives for King and Country during the Great War and in commemoration of the attack and capture of the Hindenburg line at Trescault by the Division on 28 September 1918"

On the north-east side of Trescault, 274 metres to the east of the monument, is Ribecourt Road Cemetery, which the 42nd Division called the Divisional Cemetery, Trescault.

Further details and photographs can be found on the World War One Battlefields: Cambrai page (external link).

There is also a memorial at Bucquoy, France.

Recipients of the Victoria Cross

• Lance Sergeant Edward Smith, 1/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, Great War
• Lieutenant William Thomas Forshaw, 1/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, Great War
• Private Walter Mills, 1/10th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
• Private Alfred Robert Wilkinson, 1/5th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
• 2nd Lieutenant Alfred Victor Smith, 1/5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, Great War
• Captain Marcus Ervine-Andrews, Second World War

See also

• List of British divisions in World War I
• List of British divisions in World War II
• British Army Order of Battle (September 1939)

Bibliography

• C.E.W. Bean, Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918, Volume I, Chapter VIII
• Anthony Bruce, The Last Crusade The Palestine Campaign in the First World War (London: John Murray Ltd, 2002)
• Ian F.W. Beckett, 'Territorials: A Century of Service,' First Published April 2008 by DRA Printing of 14 Mary Seacole Road, The Millfields, Plymouth PL1 3JY on behalf of TA 100, ISBN 978-0-9557813-1-5, 102.
• Field Marshal Lord Carver, The National Army Museum Book of The Turkish Front 1914–1918 The Campaigns at Gallipoli, in Mesopotamia and in Palestine (London: Pan Macmillan, 2003)
• General Sir Martin Farndale, "History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The Forgotten Fronts and the Home Base, 1914–18". London: The Royal Artillery Institution, 1988
• Randal Gray, Kaiserschlacht 1918. The Final German Offensive. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1991, Reprinted 2002.
• A.J. Hill, Chauvel of the Light Horse A Biography of General Sir Harry Chauvel, GCMG, KCB (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1978)
• E.G. Keogh, Suez to Aleppo (Melbourne: Directorate of Military Training, 1955)
• Terry Kinloch, Devils on Horses in the words of the Anzacs in the Middle East 1916–19 (Auckland, Exisle Publishing, 2007)
• Powles, C. Guy Lieut.–Colonel. CMG, DSO, The New Zealanders in Sinai and Palestine Volume III Official History New Zealand's Effort in the Great War (Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington: Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd, 1922)
• David R. Woodward, Hell in the Holy Land World War I in the Middle East (Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 2006)

External links

• Chris Baker, The British Army in the Great War: The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division
• PB Chappell, 42nd (East Lancashire) Division Battles & Units
• Major I G Kelly, "Go One Better" A History of the 42nd (City of Manchester) Signal Squadron (Volunteers)
• Museum of The Manchester Regiment. History Territorial Force 1914 – 1919
• Linda Corbett, The Ashton Territorials, 9th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment During WWI
• Captain S. J. Wilson, M.C. The Seventh Manchesters July 1916 to March 1919 Manchester University Press, 1920.
• Fusiliers' Museum, Lancashire
• Neil Drum and Roger Dowson, "Hell let loose. The 1/7th (Salford) Territorial Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers" published by Neil Richardson, 2005
• John Hartley, More than a Name. The stories of the men from the Stockport area who fought and died in the Great War 1914–1918
• Rob Palmer 42 (East Lancashire) Division 1930–38