16th (IRISH) DIVISION

Formed in Ireland in September 1914 as part of the Second New Army. Arrived in France in December 1915. Served in France and Flanders until April 1918 when the Division was reduced to Cadre and returned to England. The Division was reconstituted and returned to France in July 1918. Served in France and Flanders until the Armistice.

Battles and Engagements.

France and Flanders.

Battle of Guillemont. 3-6 Sep 1916.
Battle of Ginchy. 9 Sep 1916.

Battle of Messines. 7-14 Jun 1917, including the capture of Wytschaete.
Battle of Langemarck. 16-18 Aug 1917.

Battle of St. Quentin. 21-23 Mar 1918.
Battle of Rosieres. 26-27 Mar 1918.
The final advance to Artois. 2 Oct-11 Nov 1918, including the capture of Douai.

Infantry Units

47th Brigade.

Prior to being reduced to Cadre.

6th Bn Royal Irish Regt. 06 Sep 1914 - 09 Feb 1918. Disbanded, personnel to the 2nd and 7th Bns.
6th Bn Connaught Rangers. Sep 1914 - 17 Jun 1918. Reduced to Training Cadre on 13 Apr 1918. Surplus personnel (50 officers, 281 men) to the 2nd Bn Leinster Regt. Cadre to the 34th Division.
2nd Bn Leinster Regt. 02 Feb 1918 - 23 Apr 1918. To the 29th Division.
7th Bn Leinster Regt. Oct 1914 - 14 Feb 1918. Disbanded, personnel (3 officers, 225 men) to the 2nd Bn.
1st Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers. 22 Nov 1916 - 20 Apr 1918. To the 57th Division.
8th Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers. Oct 1914 - 23 Nov 1916. Disbanded, personnel (21 officers, 446 men) to the 2nd Bn.

Attached to the Brigade after it had been reduced to Cadre.

Cadre 6/7th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers. 18 Jun 1918 - 20 Jul 1918. Absorbed by the 18th Bn Cameronians.

After being reformed.

18th Bn Welsh Regt. 18 Jun 1918 - 11 Nov 1918. The Cadre of the Battalion joined the Division on 18 Jun 1918 and was reconstituted on 20 Jun 1918 by absorbing the 25th Bn.
14th Bn Leicestershire Regt. 26 Jun 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
9th Bn Black Watch. 02 Jul 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.

48th Brigade.

Prior to being reduced to Cadre.

7th Bn Royal Irish Rifles. Sep 1914 - 23 Aug 1917. To the 49th Brigade.
1st Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers. 28 May 1916 - 22 Nov 1916. To the 47th Brigade.
2nd Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers. 03 Feb 1918 - 31 May 1918. Reduced to Training Cadre on 19 Apr 1918. Surplus personnel to the 1st Bn. Cadre to the 31st Division.
9th Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers. Oct 1914 - 30 May 1916. Disbanded, personnel to the 1st, 2nd and 8th Bns.
1st Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 19 Oct 1917 - 26 Apr 1918. To the 29th Division.
2nd Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 15 Nov 1916 - 01 Jun 1918. Reduced to Cadre on 19 Apr 1918. Surplus personnel to the 1st Bn. Cadre to the 31st Division.
8th Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Sep 1914 - 24 Oct 1917. Amalgamated with the 9th Bn to form the 8/9th Bn.
8/9th Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 24 Oct 1917 - 10 Feb 1918. Disbanded, personnel to the 1st and 2nd Bns.
9th Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Sep 1914 - 24 Oct 1917. Amalgamated with the 8th Bn to form the 8/9th Bn.
10th Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 23 Jun 1917 - 24 Oct 1917. To the Army Troops.

After being reconstituted.

22nd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. Jun 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
18th Bn Cameronians. 02 Jul 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
5th Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers. 24 Aug 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.

49th Brigade.

Prior to being reduced to Cadre.

2nd Bn Royal Irish Regt. 14 Oct 1916 - 23 Apr 1918. To the 63rd Division.
7th Bn Royal Irish Regt. 14 Oct 1917 - 04 Jul 1918. Reduced to Cadre on 18 Apr 1918. The Battalion was reformed on 26 Jun 1918. The Battalion then joined the 30th Division.
7th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Oct 1914 - 23 Aug 1917. Amalgamated with the 8th Bn to form the 7/8th Bn.
7/8th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 23 Aug 1917 - 17 Jun 1918. Reduced to Training Cadre on 22 Apr 1918. Surplus personnel to the 2nd Bn Royal Irish Regt. Cadre to the 34th Division.
8th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Oct 1914 - 23 Aug 1917. Amalgamated with the 7th Bn to form the 7/8th Bn.
7th Bn Royal Irish Rifles. 23 Aug 1917 - 14 Oct 1917. To the 36th Division.
7th Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers. Sep 1914 - 15 Oct 1916. Amalgamated with the 8th Bn to the 7/8th Bn.
7/8th Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers. 15 Oct 1916 - 10 Feb 1918. Disbanded.
8th Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers. Sep 1914 - 15 Oct 1916. Amalgamated with the 7th Bn to form the 7/8th Bn.

Attached to the Brigade after it had been reduced to Cadre.

Cadre 1/4th Bn Lincolnshire Regt. 03 Jun 1918 - 17 Jun 1918. To the 34th Division.

After being reconstituted.

6th Bn Somerset Light Infantry. 04 Jul 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
18th Bn Gloucestershire Regt. 02 Jul 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
34th Bn London Regt. 27 Jul 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.

Pioneers.

11th Bn Hampshire Regt. Dec 1914 - 11 Nov 1918. Reduced to Cadre on 02 Apr 1918. Reconstituted in Jul 1918 by absorbing the 13th Bn Border Regt.

Attached Troops.

Prior to being reduced to Cadre.

11th Bn Hampshire Regt. Sep 1914 - Dec 1914. Became the Pioneer Bn.

After being reduced to Cadre.

Cadre 22nd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. Jun 1918 - Jun 1918. Reconstituted on 18 Jun by absorbing the 38th Bn, then joining the 48th Brigade.
Cadre 6th Bn Somerset Light Infantry. 18 Jun 1918 - 04 Jul 1918. Reconstituted by absorbing the 13th Bn Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, then joining the 49th Brigade.
Cadre 2/4th Bn Leicestershire Regt. 18 Jun 1918 - 20 Jun 1918. Absorbed by the 14th Bn.
Cadre 9th Bn Black Watch. 17 Jun 1918 - 02 Jul 1918. Reconstituted on 19 Jul 1918 by absorbing the 15th Bn, then joining the 47th Brigade.
Cadre 5th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. 16 Jun 1918 - 20 Jun 1918. Absorbed by the 18th Bn Gloucestershire Regt.
Cadre 2/5th Bn Sherwood Foresters. 02 Jun 1918 - 17 Jun 1918. To the 34th Division.
Cadre 20th Bn Middlesex Regt. 31 May 1918 - 16 Jun 1918. To the 14th Division.
Cadre 7th Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 16 Jun 1918 - 27 Jun 1918. Absorbed by the 34th Bn London Regt.
Cadre 1/5th Bn North Staffordshire Regt. 09 May 1918 - 17 Jun 1918. To the 34th Division.
Cadre 7th Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 10 Jun 1918 - 18 Jun 1918. Absorbed by the 11th Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers (which in turn was absorbed by the 5th Bn).

 

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