42nd (East Lancashire) Division

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 42nd (East Lancashire) Division


caption=
dates= 1908 - 1918/9, 1920-1941, 1947-67
allegiance=
branch= Territorial Force
type= Infantry
role=
size=
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=Go One Better
colors=
march=
mascot=
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
notable_commanders=A Solly-Flood
anniversaries=The British 42nd (East Lancashire) Division was a Territorial Force division. Originally called the East Lancashire Division, it was redesignated as the 42nd Division on May 25 1915. [Gibbon 1920, page 33] 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.

First World War

Egypt

The division was sent to Egypt in September 1914 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. [Farndale 1988, page 5] 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. [Bean, page 156-162. See map of positions page 156]

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.

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 [Farndale 1988, page 39] .

The 125th Brigade landed in time to participate in the Second Battle of Krithia on May 6. The 126th Brigade arrived on May 11. 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. Captain William Thomas Forshaw of the 1/9th Manchesters was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in this battle from August 7 to 9 August.

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

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. [Gibbon 1920, page 62]

Egypt

After the evacuation of Gallipoli, the division returned to Egypt and participated in the Battle of Romani and the advance across the Sinai.

Western Front

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

*April 8 - May 23 1917 : Relieved 48th Division. Held line at Épehy

*May 23 - July 8 1917 : Relieved 20th Division. Held line at Havrincourt, north of Epéhy.

*July 8 : Infantry relieved by 58th Division.
Divisional artillery remained in the line in support of 58th and then 9th (Scottish)Division at Havrincourt Wood.

*July 9 - August 22, 1917 : Ytres sector.

*August 23 - September 1, 1917 : Joined 5 Corps in Fifth Army. Infantry in Poperinghe area behind Ypres for training.
Divisional artillery entered line immediately in support of 15th Division near Potijze Chateau.

*September 1 - 18 September 1917 : Ypres. Infantry relieved 15th Division in the line to the right of Potijze Road near Frezenberg Ridge. On September 6 125 Brigade made an unsuccessful attempt to capture the fortified Iberian, Borry and Beck Farms. (Third Battle of Ypres)

*September 18, 1917 : Infantry relieved by 9th Division and retired to Poperinghe area.
Divisional artillery remained in the Line until September 29, participated in heavy fighting from September 20 and advanced to exposed positions on Frezenberg Ridge on September 25. (Battle of Menin Road)

*September 26 - November 1917 : Relieved 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. Divisional artillery rejoined. Held line at Nieuport

*November 29, 1917 - February 15, 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 December 10, 1917.

*February 15, 1918 - March 22, 1918 : Relieved by 55th Division. In reserve and training at Busnes - Burbure - Fouquieres area. 1 Corps reserve and then GHQ reserve from March 1.

*March 23/24 : 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.

*March 25 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 Guard Reserve Division, at Ervillers. [Gray 2002, page 57]

*March 26, 1918 : Retired Ervillers - Bucquoy. Together the 42nd and 62nd Division held the Rossignol Wood - Bucquoy sector under heavy shelling against 6 attacks by the German 3rd Guard Division, the last with assistance of 11 Mk. IV tanks. [Gray 2002, page 62]

*March 27 - April 5, 1918 : Held line until end of final German assault on 5 April at Bucquoy.

*April 6 - July 1918 : Held line at Bucquoy, Gommecourt, Hébuterne.

*August 21 - 25 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 August 21 and enemy counterattacks on August 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 Division on outskirts of Loupart Wood.

*August 28 - September 5, 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)

*September 6, 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.

*September 21/22 September 1918 : Relieved 37th Division east of Havrincourt Wood.

*September 27 - 28 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 Beaucamp to the right of the Division's front. (Battle of the Canal du Nord)

*September 29 - October 8, 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

*October 9 - 12 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.

*October 12 - 23 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 October 20 at Marou. The Division's opponent in these actions was the German 25th Division. [Gibbon 1920, page 180]

*October 24 - November 3, 1918 : Relieved by New Zealand Division. Withdrew to Beauvois for rest.

*November 3 - 6 1918 : Moved up though Le Quesnoy and Forest of Mormal in support of the advance of 37th and New Zealand Divisions.

*November 6 - 9 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.

*November 11, 1918 : Stood fast on line Maubeuge - Avesnes-sur-Helpe Road

Second World War

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.

Post 1945

In 1947, the 42nd and 55th 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. [ [http://www2.army.mod.uk/42bde/history.htm History of 42 (North West) Brigade, official British Army website] ]

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

First World War composition

Infantry

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). [Gibbon 1920, page 86-87]

The division comprised three infantry brigades:

125th Brigade (Lancashire Fusiliers Brigade) : [ [http://www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk Fusiliers' Museum, Lancashire] ]
*1/5th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
from Bury
*1/6th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
from Rochdale
disbanded February 1918. Men transferred within 42nd Division and to 66th Division.
*1/7th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
from Salford
*1/8th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
from Salford

126th Brigade (East Lancashire Brigade) :
*1/4th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment
from Blackburn
disbanded February 1918. Men transferred within 42nd Division and to 66th Division.
*1/5th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment
from Burnley
*1/8th (Ardwick) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
from Ardwick and East Manchester
transferred from 127th Brigade February 1918.
*1/9th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
from Ashton-under-Lyne
disbanded February 1918. Men transferred within 42nd Division and to 66th Division.
*1/10th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
from Oldham

127th Brigade (Manchester Brigade) :
See: [http://www.tameside.gov.uk/museumsgalleries/mom/history/territorial1914 Museum of The Manchester Regiment. History Territorial Force 1914 - 1919 (external link)]
*1/5th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
from Wigan
*1/6th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
from Manchester and suburbs including Cheshire
*1/7th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
from Manchester and suburbs including Cheshire
*1/8th (Ardwick) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
from Ardwick and East Manchester
transferred to 126th Brigade February 1918.

Pioneer Battalion

[ Captain Francis Buckley, [http://www.fairmile.fsbusiness.co.uk/7thn_f.htm Extract from "War History of The Seventh Northumberland Fusiliers"] ]
*1/7th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
Joined the 42nd Division from 50th Division on February 12, 1918 near Bethune after being converted from an infantry battalion.
3 companies

Cavalry

*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

*1st East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Blackburn Artillery)
Renamed 210 Brigade May 6 1916] Farndale 1988, page 71]
**4th Lancashire Battery from Blackburn. Renamed A Battery May 6 1916.
**5th Lancashire Battery from Church. Renamed B Battery May 6 1916.
**6th Lancashire Battery from Burnley. Renamed C Battery May 6 1916.
*2nd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Manchester Artillery)
Arrived Egypt May 1915, did not go to Gallipoli.
Renamed 211 Brigade May 29 1916
**15th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed A Battery May 29 1916.
**16th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed B Battery May 29 1916.
**17th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed C Battery May 29 1916.
*3rd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Bolton Artillery)
Renamed 212 Brigade May 29 1916
**18th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed A Battery May 29 1916.
**19th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed B Battery May 29 1916.
**20th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed C Battery May 29 1916.

Originally each of the above Batteries was equipped with 4 obsolescent BLC 15 pounder field guns (referred to somewhat inaccurately by Ian Hamilton as "relics of South Africa"Hamilton, Gallipoli Diary Volume I 1920] ). They were replaced on February 29 1916 with modern QF 18 pounder guns handed over by 29th Division in Egypt.

*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"Simpson-Baikie 1920] ).
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. [Gibbon 1920, page 70]
**1st Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery from Carlisle. Renamed A Battery May 1916.
**2nd Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery from Workington. Renamed B Battery May 1916.

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 manouevres at Al Mazar, and the reorganization actually occurred in February 1917 on return to the canal zone. [Gibbon 1920, page 83, 85]

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 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 February 15, 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 February 23, 1918 from the previous 4 separate companies. 1 Company was attached to each of the 3 infantry brigades and 1 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, [http://www.kellybadge.co.uk/42sqnhistory/42history.htm#WorldWar1 42 Squadron History World War One (external link)]

Army Service Corps

*3 Companies
*Transport and Supply Column
Left and joined 53d Division in March 1917 and served in the operations against Gaza, then joined 74th 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.

Royal Army Medical Corps

*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

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

Memorials and Monuments

Trescault, France

The 42nd Division Memorial stands on the north edge of Trescault village ( [http://www.multimap.com/maps/?&t=l&
] ) 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 September 28, 1918"

On the north-east side of Trescault, 274 metres to the east of the monument, is [http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=65901&mode=1 Ribecourt Road Cemetery] , which the 42nd Division called the Divisional Cemetery, Trescault.

Further details and photographs can be found on the [http://www.ww1battlefields.co.uk/others/cambrai.html World War One Battlefields: Cambrai page (external link)] .

Bucquoy, France

Notes

References

*C.E.W. Bean, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/2/chapters/08.pdf Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918, Volume I, Chapter VIII]
*General Sir Martin Farndale, [http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Royal-Regiment-Artillery-M-Farndale/dp/1870114051 "History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The Forgotten Fronts and the Home Base, 1914-18". London: The Royal Artillery Institution, 1988]
*Frederick P. Gibbon. [http://www.naval-military-press.com/FMPro?-db=nmp%5fproducts.fp5&-format=nmpweb%2fdetail.htm&-lay=cgi&-sortfield=date&Co=NMP&search=42nd%20(East%20Lancashire)%20Division%201914%20-%201918&-max=20&-recid=36098&-token.0=3630835&-find= "The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division 1914-1918". London: Country Life, 1920.]
*Randal Gray, [http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=P1572 Kaiserschlacht 1918. The Final German Offensive. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1991, Reprinted 2002.]
*General Sir Ian Hamilton, G.C.B. [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19317/19317-h/19317-h.htm "Gallipoli Diary Vol. I". New York: George H. Doran Company, 1920]
*Brigadier-General Sir Hugh Simpson-Baikie, Ex-Commander of the British artillery at Cape Helles. Appendix I STATEMENT ON ARTILLERY in [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22021/22021-h/22021-h.htm#Page_284 "General Sir Ian Hamilton, G.C.B. Gallipoli Diary Vol. II". New York: George H. Doran Company, 1920]

See also

*List of British divisions in WWI

External links

*Chris Baker, [http://www.1914-1918.net/42div.htm The British Army in the Great War: The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division]
*PB Chappell, [http://www.warpath.orbat.com/divs/42_div.htm 42nd (East Lancashire) Division Battles & Units]
* [http://www.shelford.vic.edu.au/intranet/students/Gallipoli/CHAPTERS/PLACES/VIRTUAL%20TOUR/Zones/Cape%20Helles%20Zone/Cape%20Helles%20Zone%20Title%20Page.htm#anchor1156556 Virtual Tour of Helles war zone of Gallipoli]
*Major I G Kelly, [http://www.kellybadge.co.uk/42sqnhistory "Go One Better" A History of the 42nd (City of Manchester) Signal Squadron (Volunteers)]
* [http://www.tameside.gov.uk/museumsgalleries/mom/history/territorial1914 Museum of The Manchester Regiment. History Territorial Force 1914 - 1919]
*Linda Corbett, [http://www.ashtonpals.fusiveweb.co.uk/ The Ashton Territorials, 9th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment During WWI]
*John Hartley, [http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/worthington.htm "IN FROM THE COLD" A Manchester at Gallipoli. Sgt. Thomas Worthington, 1/6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment]
*Captain S. J. Wilson, M.C. " [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18659/18659-h/18659-h.htm The Seventh Manchesters July 1916 to March 1919] " Manchester University Press, 1920.
* [http://www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk Fusiliers' Museum, Lancashire]
*Neil Drum and Roger Dowson, [http://www.1914-1918.net/books/hell_let.htm "Hell let loose. The 1/7th (Salford) Territorial Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers" published by Neil Richardson, 2005]
*John Hartley, [http://www.stockport1914-1918.co.uk More than a Name. The stories of the men from the Stockport area who fought and died in the Great War 1914-1918]