8th DIVISION

Although a Regular Division the 8th Division was not formed until after the war had started. It was assembled at Winchester between September and November 1914. Arrived in France in November 1914. Served in France and Flanders until the Armistice.

Battles and Engagements.

France and Flanders.

Battle of Neuve Chappelle. 10-13 Mar 1915.
Battle of Aubers. 9 May 1915, including the attack on Fromelles and the attack at Rue du Bois.
Actions of Bois Grenier. 25 Sep 1915.

Battle of Albert. 1-13 Jul 1916, including the capture of Montauban, Mametz, Fricourt, Contalmaison and La Boisselle.

German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. 14 Mar-5 Apr 1917.
Battle of Pilkem. 31 Jul-2 Aug 1917.
Battle of Langemarck. 16-18 Aug 1917.

Battle of St. Quentin. 21-23 Mar 1918.
Actions of the Somme crossings. 24-25 Mar 1918.
Battle of Rosieres. 26-27 Mar 1918.
Action of Villers Bretonneux. 24-25 Apr 1918.
Battle of the Aisne. 27 May-7 Jun 1918, including the attack on Bligny and Bois des Buttes.
Battle of the Scarpe. 26-30 Aug 1918, including the capture of Monchy le Preux.
The final advance to Artois. 2 Oct-11 Nov 1918, including the capture of Douai.

Infantry Units

23rd Brigade.

2nd Bn Devonshire Regt. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
2nd Bn Cameronians. Sep 1914 - 03 Feb 1918. To the 20th Division.
1/6th Bn Cameronians. 24 Mar 1915 - 02 Jun 1915. To the 51st Division.
2nd Bn Middlesex Regt. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/7th Bn Middlesex Regt. 15 Mar 1915 - 08 Feb 1916. To the 56th Division.
1/8th Bn Middlesex Regt. 21 Jun 1915 - 27 Aug 1915. To the 25th Brigade.

24th Brigade. (Exchanged with the 70th Brigade, 23rd Division from 18 Oct 1915 until 15 Jul 1916. All the Battalions serving with the Brigade at that time went to the 23rd Division.)

1st Bn Worcestershire Regt. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
2nd Bn East Lancashire Regt. Nov 1914 - 03 Feb 1918. To the 25th Brigade.
1/5th Bn Black Watch. 13 Nov 1914 - 18 Oct 1915. Became the Pioneer Bn.
1st Bn Sherwood Foresters. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
2nd Bn Northamptonshire Regt. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918
1/4th Bn Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. 23 Feb 1915 - 08 Apr 1915. To the 7th Division.

25th Brigade.

2nd Bn Lincolnshire Regt. Nov 1914 - 03 Feb 1918. To the 21st Division.
2nd Bn East Lancashire Regt. 03 Feb 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
2nd Bn Royal Berkshire Regt. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/8th Bn Middlesex Regt. 27 Aug 1915 - 23 Oct 1915. To the 70th Brigade.
1st Bn Royal Irish Rifles. Oct 1914 - 03 Feb 1918. To the 36th Division.
2nd Bn Rifle Brigade. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/1st Bn London Regt. 14 Mar 1915 - 08 Feb 1916. To the 56th Division.
1/13th Bn London Regt. 13 Nov 1914 - 20 May 1915. To the GHQ Troops.

70th Brigade. (Served with the Division from 18 Oct 1915 until 17 Jul 1916.)

11th Bn Sherwood Foresters. 18 Oct 1915 - 17 Jul 1916. To the 23rd Division.
8th Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. 18 Oct 1915 - 17 Jul 1916. To the 23rd Division.
8th Bn York and Lancaster Regt. 18 Oct 1915 - 17 Jul 1916. To the 23rd Division.
9th Bn York and Lancaster Regt. 18 Oct 1915 - 17 Jul 1916. To the 23rd Division.
1/8th Bn Middlesex Regt. 23 Oct 1915 - 08 Feb 1916. To the 56th Division.

Pioneers.

1/5th Bn Black Watch. 18 Oct 1915 - 06 Jan 1916. To the 51st Division.
1/7th Bn Durham Light Infantry. 20 Jun 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
22nd Bn Durham Light Infantry. 02 Jul 1916 - 03 Jul 1918. Absorbed by the 1/7th Bn.

Artillery Units

A Royal Horse Artillery Brigade served with this Division, I have included it under the Royal Field Artillery as that is the role it carried out it would have been re-equipped with 18 Pdr guns at some time.

Royal Field Artillery

V Brigade Royal Horse Artillery. (Became an Army Brigade on 13 Jan 1917.)

G Bty RHA. Oct 1914 - 24 Nov 1914. to the 3rd Cavalry Division.
O Bty RHA. Oct 1914 - 13 Jan 1917. To the Army Brigade.
Z Bty RHA. Oct 1914 - 13 Jan 1917. to the Army Brigade.
D (Howitzer) Bty. 08 May 1916 - 13 Jan 1917. Broken up, sections returned to their original batteries 55th (Howitzer) Bty and 57th (Howitzer) Bty.

XXXIII Brigade.

32nd Bty. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
33rd Bty. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
36th Bty. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
55th (Howitzer) Bty. 18 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

XLV Brigade.

1st Bty. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
3rd Bty. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
5th Bty. Oct 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
57th (Howitzer) Bty. 18 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

CXXVII Brigade. (Joined the Division on 05 Aug 1915). Broken up 18 May 1916.

55th (Howitzer) Bty. 05 Aug 1915 - 18 May 1916. To the XXXIII Brigade.
57th (Howitzer) Bty. 05 Aug 1915 - 18 May 1916. To the XLV Brigade.
When the Brigade was broken up one section from each battery went to form D (Howitzer) Bty, V Brigade RHA.

Royal Garrison Artillery

VIII Heavy Brigade. (Joined No Group Heavy Artillery Reserve 05 Mar1915.)

118th Heavy Bty. Oct 1914 - 05 Mar 1915. To No 2 Group Heavy Artillery Reserve.
119th Heavy Bty. Oct 1914 - 05 Mar 1915. To No 2 Group Heavy Artillery Reserve.

Attached Units

55th (Howitzer) Bty. 03 Mar 1915 - 05 Aug 1915. To the CXXVII Brigade.
57th (Howitzer) Bty. 23 Jun 1915 - 05 Aug 1915. To the CXXVII Brigade.
5th Mountain Bty. 03 Mar 1915 - 26 Mar 1915. To the 7th Division.
5th Mountain Bty. 20 Apr 1915 - 30 May 1915. To the Army Troops.
7th Mountain Bty. 13 Dec 1914 - 24 Dec 1914. To the 1st Division.

 

 

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