31st DIVISION

Formed at South Camp, Ripon in May/June 1915 from the Locally Raised or Pals Battalions raised mainly in Yorkshire. In December 1915 the Division went to Egypt to complete its training, remaining in Egypt until February 1916 when the Division sailed for France. Arrived in France in March 1916. 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 the Ancre. 13-18 Nov 1916, including the capture of Beaumont Hamel.

Third Battle of the Scarpe. 3-4 May 1917, including the capture of Fresnoy.
Capture of Oppy Wood. 28 Jun 1917.

Battle of St. Quentin. 21-23 Mar 1918.
First Battle of Bapaume. 24-25 Mar 1918.
First Battle of Arras. 28 Mar 1918.
Battle of Estaires. 9-11 Apr 1918, including the first defence of Givenchy.
Battle of Hazebrouck. 12-15 Apr 1918, including the defence of the Hinges Ridge and the Nieppe Forest.
Action of La Becque. 28 Jun 1918.
Advance in Flanders. 18 Aug-6 Sep 1918.
Battle of Ypres. 28 Sep-2 Oct 1918.
Actions of Tieghem. 31 Oct 1918.

Infantry Units

4th (Guards) Brigade. (Served with the Division from 08 Feb 1918 until 20 May 1918.)

4th Bn Grenadier Guards. 08 Feb 1918 - 20 May 1918. To the GHQ Troops.
3rd Bn Coldstream Guards. 08 Feb 1918 - 20 May 1918. To the GHQ Troops.
2nd Bn Irish Guards. 08 Feb 1918 - 20 May 1918. To the GHQ Troops.
13th Bn York and Lancaster Regt. 12 Feb 1918 - 17 Feb 1918. To the 93rd Brigade.

92nd Brigade.

10th Bn East Yorkshire Regt. Jun 1915 - 11 Nov 1918.
11th Bn East Yorkshire Regt. Jun 1915 - 11 Nov 1918.
12th Bn East Yorkshire Regt. Jun 1915 - 08 Feb 1918. Disbanded, personnel (33 officers and 733 men) to the 6th, 7th, 10th and 11th Bns.
13th Bn East Yorkshire Regt. Jun 1915 - 08 Feb 1918. Disbanded, personnel to the 4th Entrenching Bn.
11th Bn East Lancashire Regt. 11 Feb 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.

93rd Brigade.

15th Bn West Yorkshire Regt. Jun 1915 - 07 Dec 1917. Amalgamated with the 17th Bn to form the 15/17th Bn.
15/17th Bn West Yorkshire Regt. 07 Dec 1917 - 11 Nov 1918.
16th Bn West Yorkshire Regt. May 1915 - 15 Feb 1918. Disbanded, personnel (3 officers and 132 men) to the 15/17th Bn and (12 officers and 583 men) to the 3rd Entrenching Bn.
18th Bn West Yorkshire Regt. May 1915 - 15 Feb 1918. Disbanded, personnel (33 officers and 720 men) to nine different West Yorkshire Battalions.
13th Bn York and Lancaster Regt. 17 Feb 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
18th Bn Durham Light Infantry. May 1915 - 11 Nov 1918.

94th Brigade. (The Brigade was broken up on 17 Feb 1918 and was reformed on 30 May 1918 with Training Cadres. The Brigade was fully reconstituted on 21 Jun 1918 and was renamed the 94th (Yeomanry) Brigade.)

11th Bn East Lancashire Regt. May 1915 - 11 Feb 1918. To the 92nd Brigade.
12th Bn York and Lancaster Regt. May 1915 - 17 Feb 1918. Disbanded.
13th Bn York and Lancaster Regt. May 1915 - 12 Feb 1918. To the 4th (Guards) Brigade.
14th Bn York and Lancaster Regt. May 1915 - 16 Feb 1918. Disbanded.

Attached to the Brigade after it had been reformed in May 1918.

2nd Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regt. 04 Jun 1918 - 28 Jun 1918. To the 34th Division.
Cadre 2nd Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers. 31 May 1918 - 16 Jun 1918. To the L of C Troops. (Reconstituted on 06 Jun 1918 by absorbing the 6th Bn.)
Cadre 2nd Bn Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 01 Jun 1918 - 16 Jun 1918. To the L of C Troops. (Reconstituted by absorbing the 7th Bn.)

After the Brigade had been reformed as the 94th (Yeomanry) Brigade.

12th Bn Norfolk Regt. 21 Jun 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
12th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers. 21 Jun 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
24th Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 21 Jun 1918 - 1 Nov 1918.

Pioneers.

12th Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. May 1915 - 11 Nov 1918. Attached to the Fifth Army Troops for work on the light railways from 01 Jul 1917 until 30 Nov 1917.

 

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