18th (EASTERN) DIVISION

Formed at Colchester in September 1914 as part of the Second New Army. Arrived in France in July 1915. Served in France and Flanders until the Armistice.

Battles and Engagements.

France and Flanders.

Battle of Albert. 1-13 Jul 1916, including the capture of Montauban, Mametz, Fricourt, Contalmaison and La Boisselle.
Battle of Bazentin. 14-17 Jul 1916, including the capture of Longueval, Trones Wood and Ovillers.
Battle of Delville Wood. 15 Jul-3 Sep 1916.
Battle of Thiepval. 26-28 Sep 1916.
Battle of the Ancre Heights. 1-11 Oct 1916, including the capture of the Schwaben Redoubt, Stuff Redoubt and the Regina Trench.
Battle of the Ancre. 13-18 Nov 1916, including the capture of Beaumont Hamel.

Actions of Miraumont. 17-18 Feb 1917.
Capture of Irles. 10 Mar 1917.
German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. 14 Mar-5 Apr 1917.
Third Battle of the Scarpe. 3-4 May 1917, including the capture of Fresnoy.
Battle of Pilkem. 31 Jul-2 Aug 1917.
Captured of Westhoek. 10 Aug 1917.
Battle of Langemarck. 16-18 Aug 1917.
First Battle of Passchendaele. 12 Oct 1917.
Second Battle of Passchendaele. 26 Oct-10 Nov 1917.

Battle of St. Quentin. 21-23 Mar 1918.
Battle of the Avre. 4 Apr 1918.
Action of Villers Bretonneux. 24-25 Apr 1918.
Battle of Amiens. 8-11 Aug 1918.
Battle of Albert. 21-23 Aug 1918, including the capture of Chuignes.
Second Battle of Bapaume. 31 Aug-3 Sep 1918.
Battle of Epehy. 18 Sep 1918.
Battle of the St. Quentin Canal. 29 Sep-2 Oct 1918, including the passage at Bellenglise and the capture of the Bellicourt tunnel defences.
Battle of the Selle. 17-25 Oct 1918.
Battle of the Sambre. 4 Nov 1918, including the passage of the Sambre-Oise canal and the capture of Le Quesnoy.

Infantry Units

53rd Brigade.

8th Bn Norfolk Regt. Sep 1914 - 06 Feb 1918. Disbanded, personnel to the 7th and 9th Bns.
8th Bn Suffolk Regt. 09 Sep 1914 - 07 Feb 1918. Disbanded, personnel to the 2nd, 1/4th and 7th Bns.
10th Bn Essex Regt. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
6th Bn Royal Berkshire Regt. Sep 1914 - 06 Feb 1918. Disbanded, personnel to the 1st, 2nd and 5th Bns.
8th Bn Royal Berkshire Regt. 02 Feb 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
7th Bn Queen’s Own. 09 Feb 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.

54th Brigade.

10th Bn Royal Fusiliers. Sep 1914 - Oct 1914. Left the Brigade but remained attached to the Division.
11th Bn Royal Fusiliers. 06 Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
2nd Bn Bedfordshire Regt. 22 May 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
7th Bn Bedfordshire Regt. 25 Feb 1915 - 26 May 1918. Reduced to Cadre on 25 May 1918. Surplus personnel to the 2nd Bn. Cadre to the 30th Division.
8th Bn Royal Sussex Regt. Sep 1914 - 04 Feb 1915. Became the Pioneer Bn.
6th Bn Northamptonshire Regt. Nov 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
12th Bn Middlesex Regt. Aug 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.

55th Brigade.

7th Bn Queen’s. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
7th Bn Buffs. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
8th Bn East Surrey Regt. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
7th Bn Queen’s Own. Sep 1914 - 09 Feb 1918. To the 53rd Brigade.

Pioneers.

8th Bn Royal Sussex Regt. 04 Feb 1915 - 11 Nov 1918.

Attached Troops.

10th Bn Royal Fusiliers. Oct 1914 - 24 Feb 1915. To the 37th Division.
6th Bn Northamptonshire Regt. Sep 1914 - Nov 1914. To the 54th Brigade.

 

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