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42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division

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42nd (East Lancashire) Division
WWI Badge
WWII Badge
Active1908 - 1918/9, 1920-1941, 1947-67
BranchTerritorial Army
TypeInfantry
Motto(s)Go One Better
EngagementsBattle of Gallipoli
* Second Battle of Krithia
* Third Battle of Krithia
* Battle of Krithia Vineyard
Battle of Romani
Third Battle of Ypres
First Battle of the Somme (1918)
* First Battle of Bapaume
Second Battle of the Somme (1918)
* Battle of Albert (1918)
* Second Battle of Bapaume
Battle of the Canal du Nord
Battle of the Selle

The British 42nd (East Lancashire) Division was a Territorial Army division. Originally called the 'East Lancashire Division', it was redesignated as the 42nd Division on May 25 1915[1]. It was the first Territorial division to be sent overseas during the First World War. The division fought at Gallipoli, in the Sinai desert and on the Western Front in France and Belgium.

Unit History in World War I

Egypt

The division was sent to Egypt in September 1914 and defended the Suez Canal against Turkish attacks.

Gallipoli

A boat carrying Lancashire Fusiliers, bound for Gallipoli

In early May 1915 the division joined the British Army Corps, from June known as VIII Corps, at Cape Helles following the failure of the Allies to achieve the anticipated swift success at Gallipoli during April. The 125th Brigade landed in time to participate in the Second Battle of Krithia on May 6. The entire division was involved in the Third Battle of Krithia on June 4.

Area of operations of 42nd Division on Gallipoli

The Division carried out the Helles diversion at the start of the Battle of Sari Bair in what became known as the Battle of Krithia Vineyard. Captain William Thomas Forshaw of the 1/9th Manchesters was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in this battle from August 7 to 9.

Second Lieutenant Alfred Victor Smith of the 1/5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his action at Helles on December 23.

The Division remained at Gallipoli until the final evacuation of Helles in January 1916 but was severely depleted by casualties and illness.

42nd Division's casualties at Gallipoli : 395 officers and 8152 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.[1]

Egypt Again

After the evacuation of Gallipoli, the division returned to Egypt and participated in the Battle of Romani and the advance across the Sinai.

Western Front

In March 1917 the division moved to France and joined 3 Corps in Fourth Army.

42nd Division April 8 - August 22 1917, and March 23 - November 11 1918
  • April 8 - May 23 1917 : Relieved 48th Division. Held line at Epéhy
  • July 8 : Infantry relieved by 58th Division.
    Divisional artillery remained in the line in support of 58th and then 9th Division at Havrincourt Wood.
  • July 9 - August 22 1917 : Ytres sector.
Area of 42nd Division's operations near Ypres, August 23 - September 29 1917
  • August 23 - September 1 1917 : Joined 5 Corps in Fifth Army. Infantry in Poperinghe area behind Ypres for training.
    Divisional artillery entered line immediately in support of 15th Division near Potijze Chateau.
  • September 1 - 18 1917 : Ypres. Infantry relieved 15th Division in the line to the right of Potijze Road near Frezenberg Ridge. On September 6 125 Brigade made an unsuccessful attempt to capture the fortified Iberian, Borry and Beck Farms. (Third Battle of Ypres)
  • September 18 1917 : Infantry relieved by 9th Division and retired to Poperinghe area.
    Divisional artillery remained in the Line until September 29, participated in heavy fighting from September 20 and advanced to exposed positions on Frezenberg Ridge on September 25. (Third Battle of Ypres)
  • September 26 - November 1917 : Relieved 66th Division. Divisional artillery rejoined. Held line at Nieuport (present-day Nieuwpoort)
Trench message dog of 10th Manchesters waits while message is written, Cuinchy, January 26 1918
Men of the 4th East Lancs at a sap-head, Givenchy, January 28 1918
  • November 29 1917 - February 15 1918 : Relieved 25th Division. Held line at Givenchy on La Bassée sector. Constructed fortifications according to the new British defensive doctrine of "defended localities" in anticipation of major German attack.
    Private Walter Mills of C Company, the 1/10th Manchesters, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for actions at Red Dragon Crater, Givenchy on the night of December 10 1917.
Bucquoy Crossroads, held by 125 Brigade in heavy fighting on April 5 1918
  • August 21 - 25 1918 : With 4 Corps in Third Army. Attacked and advanced Miraumont, across the River Ancre, Pys, Warlencourt. (Second Battle of the Somme (1918) including Battle of Albert (1918))
    Lance-Sergeant Edward Smith of the 1/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions in the capture of The Lozenge (Hill 140, a German machine-gun nest) on August 21 and enemy counterattacks on August 22.
  • August 25 - 27 1918 : Infantry withdrew for 2 days rest in Miraumont-Pys area.
    Divisional artillery went into action under heavy fire in support of 63rd Division on outskirts of Loupart Wood.
  • September 6 1918 : Infantry relieved by New Zealand Division and moved to rest in Pys-Tholloy area. Divisional artillery remained in the line in support of New Zealand Division.
  • September 21/2 1918 : Relieved 37th Division east of Havrincourt Wood.
Graves of 42nd Division's fallen in the breaking of the Hindenburg Line, near Bilhem Farm, Trescault - Ribecourt Road, photographed in 1919 (Today known as Ribecourt Road Cemetery)
42nd Division's attack through the Hindenburg Line 27/28 September 1918
Trench in the Hindenburg Line near Havrincourt taken by 42nd Division
  • September 27 - 28 1918 : Attacked and advanced Havrincourt Wood through the Siegfried Stellung section of the Hindenburg Line via successive planned objectives denoted Black, Red, Brown, Yellow, Blue Lines, to Welsh Ridge. The Hindenburg Line was attacked in enfilade, or diagonally, as can be seen from the map. Many casualties were sustained from machine guns situated in Beaucamp to the right of the Division's front. (Battle of the Canal du Nord)
  • September 29 - October 8 1918 : Infantry relieved by New Zealand Division and withdrew to Havrincourt Wood for rest.
    Divisional artillery remained in action in support of the New Zealand Division in the Pursuit to the Selle
  • October 9 - 12 1918 : Infantry marched up to the front through Lesdain, Esnes, Beauvois and relieved New Zealand Division, who had established a bridgehead across the River Selle at Briastre.
  • October 12 - 23 1918 : Defended Briastre against heavy German counterattacks and shelling. Advanced across River Selle to Marou, Virtigneul and Belle Vue Farm (Battle of the Selle).
    Private Alfred Robert Wilkinson of the 1/5th Manchesters was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions on October 20th at Marou. The Division's opponent in these actions was the German 25th Division[1].
  • October 24 - November 3 1918 : Relieved by New Zealand Division. Withdrew to Beauvois for rest.
  • November 3 - 6 1918 : Moved up though Le Quesnoy and Forest of Mormal in support of the advance of 37th and New Zealand Divisions.

World War II

In 1940 the division was deployed as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France. After the evacuation of Dunkirk the Division was regrouped but then reorganised as 42nd Armoured Division on 1 November 1941. It was later disbanded on 17 October 1943 without seeing action as an armoured formation.

Post 1945

The Division was reformed in the post-war Territorial Army but disbanded by 1968.

In the modern British Army the division survives as the 42 North West Brigade.

Composition in World War I

Infantry

The infantry were equipped with the obsolescent long Magazine Lee-Enfield (MLE) rifle from embarkation in 1914 until arrival in France in March 1917, when they were re-equipped with the standard modern Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE).[1]

The division comprised three infantry brigades:

125th Brigade (Lancashire Fusiliers Brigade) :
See : Fusiliers' Museum, Lancashire (external link)

  • 1/5th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
    from Bury
  • 1/6th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
    from Rochdale
    disbanded February 1918. Men transferred within 42nd Division and to 66th Division.
  • 1/7th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
    from Salford
  • 1/8th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers
    from Salford

126th Brigade (East Lancashire Brigade) :

  • 1/4th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment
    from Blackburn
    disbanded February 1918. Men transferred within 42nd Division and to 66th Division.
  • 1/5th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment
    from Burnley
  • 1/8th (Ardwick) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
    from Ardwick and East Manchester
    transferred from 127th Brigade February 1918.
  • 1/9th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
    from Ashton-under-Lyne
    disbanded February 1918. Men transferred within 42nd Division and to 66th Division.
  • 1/10th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
    from Oldham

127th Brigade (Manchester Brigade) :
See : Museum of The Manchester Regiment. History Territorial Force 1914 - 1919 (external link)

  • 1/5th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
    from Wigan
  • 1/6th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
    from Manchester and suburbs including Cheshire
  • 1/7th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
    from Manchester and suburbs including Cheshire
  • 1/8th (Ardwick) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
    from Ardwick and East Manchester
    transferred to 126th Brigade February 1918.

Pioneer Battalion

See : Captain Francis Buckley, Extract from "War History of The Seventh Northumberland Fusiliers" (external link)

Cavalry

  • A Squadron, 1/1st Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry
    from Oldham
    did not proceed to Gallipoli; remained in Egypt and fought in the Western Desert expedition against the Senussi. Rejoined 42nd Division after it returned to Egypt from Gallipoli.
    Transferred to 53rd Division January 1917 and fought at Gaza, then served with 60th and 52nd Divisions in Palestine and Syria.

Divisional Artillery

  • 1st East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Blackburn Artillery)
    Renamed 210 Brigade May 1916
    • 4th Lancashire Battery from Blackburn. Renamed A Battery May 1916.
    • 5th Lancashire Battery from Church. Renamed B Battery May 1916.
    • 6th Lancashire Battery from Burnley. Renamed C Battery May 1916.
  • 2nd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Manchester Artillery)
    Arrived Egypt May 1915, did not go to Gallipoli.
    Renamed 211 Brigade May 1916.
    • 15th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed A Battery May 1916.
    • 16th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed B Battery May 1916.
    • 17th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed C Battery May 1916.
  • 3rd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Bolton Artillery)
    Renamed 212 Brigade May 1916.
    • 18th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed A Battery May 1916.
    • 19th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed B Battery May 1916.
    • 20th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed C Battery May 1916.

Originally each of the above 3 Brigades was equipped with 3 4-gun batteries of obsolescent BLC 15 pounder field guns ("relics of South Africa"[2]). They were replaced in March 1916 with modern QF 18 pounder guns handed over by 29th Division in Egypt.[1]

  • 4th East Lancs (Howitzer) Brigade R.F.A. (Cumberland Artillery)
    Originally equipped with obsolescent BL 5 inch Howitzers ("some of them Omdurman veterans"[2]).
    Joined Division on Gallipoli in July 1915 from Egypt. However, only limited supplies of the new 40 pound 5-inch shells were sent from Mudros (older shells were 50 pounds). No range tables for the lighter and hence longer-range shell were available, and they had a new pattern fuse for which no fuse keys were available. Hence use of these howitzers on Gallipoli became very limited.[3]
    Renamed 213 Brigade in May 1916.
    Re-equipped in June 1916 with modern QF 4.5 inch Howitzers.[1]
    • 1st Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery from Carlisle. Renamed A Battery May 1916.
    • 2nd Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery from Workington. Renamed B Battery May 1916.

In February 1917 the Cumberland Artillery / 213 Brigade was disbanded and its 2 Howitzer batteries merged into the 18-pounder Brigades in accordance with the new artillery brigade philosophy. Existing 4-gun 18-pounder batteries in each of 210, 211 and 212 Brigades were merged into 6-gun batteries, and the 4 Brigades replaced by new 210 and 211 Brigades each with 3 6-gun 18-pounder batteries and 1 Howitzer battery.

Gibbon's divisional history states that the above occurred on paper on Christmas day 1916, when the division was on manouevres at Al Mazar, and the reorganization actually occurred in February 1917 on return to the canal zone.[1] Hence from February 1917 to November 11 1918 the divisional artillery consisted of 210 and 211 Brigades, each with 3x6-gun batteries of 18-pounders (A,B,C) and 1 battery of 4.5 inch howitzers (D).

Trench Mortar Batteries

  • V/42 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery. Formed in France March 1917
    Equipped with 4 9.45 inch Heavy Mortars
    Part of Divisional Artillery until February 15 1918 when it remained in La Bassée sector under Corps command when the Division departed.
  • Medium Trench Mortar Batteries. Formed in France March 1917
    Initially 3 batteries, each equipped with 4 Newton 6 inch Mortars, and 2 batteries of 6 from February 1918, following the disbanding of Z Battery.
    Part of Divisional Artillery
    • X/42 Battery
    • Y/42 Battery
    • Z/42 Battery. Broken up February 1918. Redistributed to X and Y Batteries.
  • Light Trench Mortar Batteries. Formed in France March 1917
    Equipped with the 3 inch Stokes Mortar
    Attached to the 3 infantry brigades and named after them.

42 Battalion Machine Gun Corps

Formed February 23 1918 from the previous 4 separate companies. 1 Company was attached to each of the 3 infantry brigades and 1 company in Divisional Reserve.

Royal Engineers

  • 1st East Lancashire Field Company
    renamed 427 Field Company February 1917
  • 2nd East Lancashire Field Company
    renamed 428 Field Company February 1917
  • 3rd East Lancashire Field Company
    joined Division June 1916 in Egypt
    renamed 429 Field Company February 1917
  • 42nd Division Signal Company
    See : Major I G Kelly, 42 Squadron History World War One (external link)

Army Service Corps

  • 3 Companies
  • Transport and Supply Column
    Left and joined joined 53d Division in March 1917 and served in the operations against Gaza, then joined 74th Division.
    A new Divisional Train was formed in England and joined the 42nd Division in France after previously serving in France with the 3rd (Lahore) Division.

Royal Army Medical Corps

A surgery of one of the division's field ambulances. A surgeon removes a bullet from a soldier wounded during fighting at Cape Helles
  • 1/1st East Lancashire Field Ambulance
    attached to 127 Brigade
  • 1/2nd East Lancashire Field Ambulance
    did not proceed to Gallipoli
    attached to 126 Brigade
  • 1/3rd East Lancashire Field Ambulance
    attached to 125 Brigade

19th Mobile Veterinary Section

239th Divisional Employment Company

Battles

Memorials and Monuments

Trescault, France

The 42nd Division Memorial stands on the north edge of Trescault village (Multimap external link) on the left of the road to Havrincourt. It was unveiled by Major-General Solly-Flood on Easter Sunday, 1922.

The inscription reads : "In memory of all ranks of the 42nd East Lancashire Territorial Division who gave their lives for King and Country during the Great War and in commemoration of the attack and capture of the Hindenburg line at Trescault by the Division on September 28th 1918"

On the north-east side of Trescault, 274 metres to the east of the monument, is Ribecourt Road Cemetery, which the 42nd Division called the Divisional Cemetery, Trescault.

Further details and photographs can be found on the World War One Battlefields : Cambrai page (external link).

Bucquoy, France

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Frederick P. Gibbon. The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division 1914-1918. London: Country Life, 1920.
  2. ^ a b General Sir Ian Hamilton, G.C.B. Gallipoli Diary Vol. I. New York: George H. Doran Company, 1920
  3. ^ General Sir Hugh Simpson Baikie, Ex-Commander of the British artillery at Cape Helles. Appendix I STATEMENT ON ARTILLERY in General Sir Ian Hamilton, G.C.B. Gallipoli Diary Vol. II. New York: George H. Doran Company, 1920

See also

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