56th (1st LONDON) DIVISION

The 1st London Division was a Territorial Force Division already in existence at the outbreak of the war. The Division was broken up early in 1915 and the Battalions went to serve in various other units. The Division was reformed in France in February 1916 and this was when the Division and Brigades were numbered. Served in France and Flanders until the Armistice.

Infantry Units

1st London Brigade. (Left the Division in Sep 1914 and went to Malta.)

1/1st Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1914. To Malta.
1/2nd Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1914. To Malta.
1/3rd Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1914. To Malta.
1/4th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1914. To Malta.

2nd London Brigade.

1/5th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Nov 1914. To the 4th Division.
1/6th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 05 Nov 1914. To the 47th Division.
1/7th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 05 Nov 1914. To the 47th Division.
1/8th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 06 Nov 1914. To the 47th Division.

3rd London Brigade.

1/9th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Nov 1914. To the 5th Division.
1/10th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Apr 1915. To the 54th Division.
1/11th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Apr 1915. To the 54th Division.
1/12th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Dec 1914. To the L of C Troops.

Attached Troops.

2/25th Bn London Regt. Nov 1914 - Apr 1915. To the coastal defences.
1/1st Bn Honourable Artillery Company. 04 Aug 1914 - 20 Sep 1914. To the L of C Troops.

After being reformed.

Battles and Engagements.

France and Flanders.

Attack on the Gommecourt Salient. 1 Jul 1916.
Battle of Ginchy. 9 Sep 1916.
Battle of Flers-Courcelette. 15-22 Sep 1916, including the capture of Martinpuich.
Battle of Morval. 25-28 Sep 1916, including the capture of Combles, Lesboeufs and Gueudecourt.
Battle of Le Transloy. 1-18 Oct 1916, including the capture of Eaucourt l’Abbaye, Le Sars and the attacks on Butte de Warlencourt.

First Battle of the Scarpe. 9-14 Apr 1917, including the capture Monchy le Preux and the Wancourt Ridge.
Third Battle of the Scarpe. 3-4 May 1917, including the capture of Fresnoy.
Battle of Langemarck. 16-18 Aug 1917.
The tank attack. 20-21 Nov 1917.
Capture of Bourlon Wood. 23-28 Nov 1917.
German counter attacks. 30 Nov-3 Dec 1917.

Battle of Amiens. 8-11 Aug 1918.
Battle of Albert. 21-23 Aug 1918, including the capture of Chuignes.
Battle of the Scarpe. 26-30 Aug 1918, including the capture of Monchy le Preux.
Battle of the Canal du Nord. 27 Sep-1 Oct 1918, including the capture of Bourlon Wood.
Battle of Cambrai. 8-9 Oct 1918, including the capture of Villers Outreaux and Cambrai.
The pursuit to the Selle. 9-12 Oct 1918.
Battle of the Sambre. 4 Nov 1918, including the passage of the Sambre-Oise canal and the capture of Le Quesnoy.
Passage of the Grande Honelle. 5-7 Nov 1918.

Infantry Units

167th Brigade.

1/7th Bn Middlesex Regt. 09 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/8th Bn Middlesex Regt. 09 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
4th Bn North Staffordshire Regt. Oct 1917 - Nov 1917. To the 35th Division.
1/1st Bn London Regt. 08 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/3rd Bn London Regt. 09 Feb 1916 - 31 Jan 1918. To the 58th Division.

168th Brigade.

1/4th Bn London Regt. 09 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/12th Bn London Regt. 12 Feb 1916 - 31 Jan 1918. To the 58th Division.
1/13th Bn London Regt. 11 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/14th Bn London Regt. 08 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

169th Brigade.

1/2nd Bn London Regt. 09 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/5th Bn London Regt. 10 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/9th Bn London Regt. 13 Feb 1916 - 01 Feb 1918. To the 58th Division.
1/16th Bn London Regt. 10 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

Pioneers.

1/5th Bn Cheshire Regt. 13 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

Attached Troops.

2/25th Bn London Regt. Nov 1914 - Apr 1915. To the 1st Mounted Division.

 

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