42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division

The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division was a Territorial Force division of the British Army. Originally called the East Lancashire Division, it was redesignated as the 42nd Division on 25 May 1915. 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. In World War II it served as the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division with the British Expeditionary Force in France, was then reformed in Britain in November 1941 as the 42nd Armoured Division which was disbanded in October 1943 without serving overseas.

The division was reformed in the Territorial Army after the Second World War. Beckett 2008 says that TA units that were in suspended animation were formally reactivated on 1 January 1947, though no personnel were assigned until commanding officers and permanent staff had been appointed in March and April 1947. From December 1955, the division was placed on a lower establishment, for home defence purposes only. On 1 May 1961 the division was merged with North West District to become 42nd Lancashire Division/North West District.

First World War
The division was embodied upon the outbreak of war. The war station was intended to be Ireland, but due to its pacific state, the intended move did not materialise. After a brief period at their drill halls, the various units proceeded to large tented camps at Turton Bottoms (near Bolton), Chesham (near Bury) and Holingworth Lake, Littleborough (near Rochdale). The personnel were asked to volunteer for overseas service, and the overwhelming majority did so, the deficiences made up of men from the National Reserve and other re-enlistments. The 'home service' men formed the cadre of duplicate units, intended to train the rush of volunteers at the drill halls. These would form the divisional reserve.

In 1914 the East Lancashire Division was one of fourteen infantry divisions and fifty–three mounted regiments called the Yeomanry which made up the Territorial Force. Lord Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War, described these divisions and regiments of mainly white–collar workers as "a town clerk's army." Their junior officers were trained at the Officer Training Corps set up at the universities and large public schools such as Eton and Harrow and Kitchener sent these forces to the peripheral campaigns; to the Sudan, Mesopotamia, Egypt, to the Caucasus to release Regular British Army soldiers for duty on the Western Front because he thought these amateur soldiers 'might not be able to hold their own with the German Army.'

Egypt
The East Lancashire Division arrived in Egypt on 25 September 1914 and served in the interior, around Cairo with some Yeomanry units, and the Australian and New Zealand contingents before going to Gallipoli.

The division was sent to Egypt to defend the Suez Canal against anticipated Turkish attacks. The 15 pounder gun batteries were deployed at key points on the west bank in support of Indian Army and New Zealand troops manning guardposts. The 20th Battery (Bolton Artillery) fired the Division's first artillery rounds of the Great War, and the first of the Territorial Force of the campaign, near El Ferdan on 2 February 1915. The 19th Battery (Bolton Artillery) was in action in support of Indian and New Zealand troops between Tussum and Serapeum on the night and morning of 3–4 February 1915, against the attempted crossing of the canal by the 74th Regiment, Turkish 25th Division.

Gallipoli
Beginning 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 4th (Blackburn) battery, 1 section of the 6th (Burnley) battery, and 19th and 20th (Bolton) batteries did not join the division on Gallipoli until 23/24 September, and the 1st/2nd East Lancs Brigade RFA (Manchester Artillery) arrived in Egypt in May from Britain and remained in Egypt.

The 125th Brigade landed in time to participate in the Second Battle of Krithia on 6 May. The 126th Brigade arrived on 11 May. The entire division was involved in the Third Battle of Krithia on 4 June.

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 7 to 9 August.

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 23 December.

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 were 395 officers and 8152 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.

Egypt and the Sinai Campaign
After the evacuation of Gallipoli, the division returned to Egypt, and was renamed the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. As such the participated in the Battle of Romani and the advance from Romani to Katia.

The 42nd Division served at Kantara on the Suez Canal in No. 3 Section of the Suez Canal Defences under General Lawrence until they were entrained for railhead at Pelusium on the first day of the Battle of Romani 4 August 1916.

On arrival late in the day, the 127th Brigade of the 42nd Division took over outpost duties at 1930 hours while the New Zealand Mounted Rifle and 5th Mounted Yeomanry Brigades, which had been heavily involved in fighting during the day, withdrew to water and rest at Pelusium.

On the second day of battle, 5 August 1916, the 42nd Division along with the 52nd (Lowland) Division which had fought the previous day from their entrenched position, were ordered to move out to support the Australian Light Horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigades in a pursuit of the enemy. The 42nd Division was not prepared for the conditions they found in the Sinai desert. They had not been trained to operate in heavy sand in mid summer heat, and with insufficient water, extreme distress and tragedy followed. The mounted troops alone, were unable to stop the enemy making a disciplined withdrawal to water at Katia and to fall back in good order, the following day.

The 127th Brigade, 42nd Division eventually reached Katia the next day, 6 August; 800 men had died in the two–day march from Pelusium Station. The 125th Brigade of the 42nd Division and the 155th, and 157th Brigades of the 52nd Division also had many men fall victim to thirst and the blazing sun; the infantry pursuit could not go on.

Robert Bethel, Army Service Corps, and McPherson, an officer in the Egyptian Camel Transport Corps, worked to transport provisions and water to the 125th and 127th Brigades. They recorded what they saw of these terrible days. Nearly fifty years after serving with the 42nd Division in the Sinai, one veteran, gunner J. Thompson, confessed that the "sight of a leaking tap" made him "squirm."

By December 1916, the 42nd Division was furnishing units to protect the lines of communication at Salmana, Abu Tilul and the railway station Maadan and took part in a practice attack on 13 December. On 21 December 42nd and 52nd Divisions marched from Kilo 128 to Bardawil and continued to move eastwards towards Masaid.

On 17 January 1917, the 42nd Division was no longer in the Sinai Campaign having been among the first of the Territorial Force to receive orders for the Western Front. The division was replaced in Desert Column by another Territorial Division, the 53rd (Welsh) Division commanded by Dallas. The two other Territorial infantry divisions; the 52nd at Rafa and the 54th (East Anglian) Division ordered out to Romani from the Suez Canal, were put directly under General Dobell commander of Eastern Force. The 42nd Division departed Egypt early in February 1917.

Western Front
In March 1917 the division moved to France and joined 3 Corps in Fourth Army. Divisional artillery remained in the line in support of 58th and then 9th (Scottish)Division at Havrincourt Wood.
 * 8 April – 23 May 1917 : Relieved 48th Division. Held line at Épehy
 * 23 May – 8 July 1917 : Relieved 20th Division. Held line at Havrincourt, north of Epéhy.
 * 8 July : Infantry relieved by 58th Division.
 * 9 July – 22 August 1917 : Ytres sector.

Divisional artillery entered line immediately in support of 15th Division near Potijze Chateau. Divisional artillery remained in the Line until 29 September, participated in heavy fighting from 20 September and advanced to exposed positions on Frezenberg Ridge on 25 September. (Battle of the Menin Road Ridge)
 * 23 August – 1 September 1917 : Joined 5 Corps in Fifth Army. Infantry in Poperinghe area behind Ypres for training.
 * 1–18 September 1917 : Ypres. Infantry relieved 15th Division in the line to the right of Potijze Road near Frezenberg Ridge. On 6 September 125 Brigade made an unsuccessful attempt to capture the fortified Iberian, Borry and Beck Farms. (Third Battle of Ypres)
 * 18 September 1917 : Infantry relieved by 9th Division and retired to Poperinghe area.
 * 26 September – November 1917 : Relieved 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division. Divisional artillery rejoined. Held line at Nieuport

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 10 December 1917.
 * 29 November 1917 – 15 February 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.
 * 15 February 1918 – 22 March 1918 : Relieved by 55th Division. In reserve and training at Busnes – Burbure – Fouquieres area. 1 Corps reserve and then GHQ reserve from 1 March.
 * 23 March/24 : Joined 6 Corps (Lt-General Sir Aylmer Haldane) in Third Army, initially in reserve, then at Ervillers, to defend the line against the German Seventeenth Army (General Otto von Below) on the right (i.e. north) wing of the "Michael 1" German Spring Offensive (Kaiserschlacht) in the First Battle of the Somme (1918). First Battle of Bapaume.
 * 25 March 1918 : Counterattacked in the afternoon with 7 tanks and 300 infantry from Logeast Wood to delay the German VI Reserve Corps. 10th Manchesters repelled 8 attacks by the German 2nd Guards Reserve Division, at Ervillers.


 * 26 March 1918 : Retired Ervillers – Bucquoy. Together the 42nd and 62nd Division held the Rossignol Wood – Bucquoy sector under heavy shelling against 6 attacks by the German 3rd Guards Infantry Division, the last with assistance of 11 Mk. IV tanks.
 * 27 March – 5 April 1918 : Held line until end of final German assault on 5 April at Bucquoy.

Their opponent was the German 183rd Division. 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 21 August and enemy counterattacks on 22 August. Divisional artillery went into action under heavy fire in support of 63rd Division on outskirts of Loupart Wood.
 * 6 April – July 1918 : Held line at Bucquoy, Gommecourt, Hébuterne.
 * 21–25 August 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))
 * 25–27 August 1918 : Infantry withdrew for 2 days rest in Miraumont-Pys area.
 * 28 August – 5 September 1918 : Relieved 63rd Division in the line and resumed advance. Attacked and advanced Thilloy, Riencourt-lès-Bapaume, Villers-au-Flos, Ytres, across the Canal du Nord to Metz-en-Couture (Second Battle of the Somme (1918) including the Second Battle of Bapaume)
 * 6 September 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.
 * 21 September/22 September 1918 : Relieved 37th Division east of Havrincourt Wood.

Divisional artillery remained in action in support of the New Zealand Division in the Pursuit to the Selle Private Alfred Robert Wilkinson of the 1/5th Manchesters was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions on 20 October at Marou. The Division's opponent in these actions was the German 25th Division.
 * 27–28 September 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 Beaucamps to the right of the Division's front. (Battle of the Canal du Nord)
 * 29 September – 8 October 1918 : Infantry relieved by New Zealand Division and withdrew to Havrincourt Wood for rest.
 * 9–12 October 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.
 * 12–23 October 1918 : Defended Briastre against heavy German counterattacks and shelling. Advanced across River Selle to Marou, Virtigneul and Belle Vue Farm (Battle of the Selle).
 * 24 October – 3 November 1918 : Relieved by New Zealand Division. Withdrew to Beauvois for rest.
 * 3–6 November 1918 : Moved up though Le Quesnoy and Forest of Mormal in support of the advance of 37th and New Zealand Divisions.
 * 6–9 November 1918 : Relieved New Zealand Division in line of attack on eastern edge of Forest of Mormal. Attacked and advanced to Hautmont in the Arrondissement of Avesnes-sur-Helpe.
 * 11 November 1918 : Stood fast on line Maubeuge – Avesnes-sur-Helpe Road

First World War battles

 * Battle 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

First World War composition
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).

Infantry
The division comprised three infantry brigades:

125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade


 * 1/5th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers from Bury, outlying detachments at Radcliffe and Heywood.
 * 1/6th Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers from Rochdale, outlying detachments at Middleton and Todmorden.
 * 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 (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
 * 1/9th 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
 * 1/8th (Ardwick) Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
 * Transferred from 127th Brigade February 1918.

127th (Manchester) Brigade


 * 1/5th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment from Wigan, outlying detachments at Haydock, Atherton, Patricroft, and Swinton.
 * 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.

Pioneers and Cavalry

 * 1/7th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
 * Joined the 42nd Division from 50th Division on 12 February 1918 near Bethune after being converted from an infantry battalion. 3 companies


 * 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
Originally each of the field gun batteries was equipped with four obsolescent BLC 15 pounder field guns (referred to somewhat inaccurately by Ian Hamilton as "relics of South Africa" ). They were replaced on 29 February 1916 with modern QF 18 pounder guns handed over by 29th Division in Egypt. Renamed 210 Brigade 6 May 1916 Arrived Egypt May 1915, did not go to Gallipoli. Renamed 211 Brigade 29 May 1916 Renamed 212 Brigade 29 May 1916 Originally each of the 2 batteries was equipped with 4 obsolescent BL 5 inch Howitzers ("some of them Omdurman veterans" ). 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. Renamed 213 Brigade in May 1916. Re-equipped in June 1916 with modern QF 4.5 inch Howitzers.
 * 1st East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Blackburn Artillery)
 * 4th Lancashire Battery from Blackburn. Renamed A Battery 6 May 1916.
 * 5th Lancashire Battery from Church. Renamed B Battery 6 May 1916.
 * 6th Lancashire Battery from Burnley. Renamed C Battery 6 May 1916.
 * 2nd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Manchester Artillery)
 * 15th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed A Battery 29 May 1916.
 * 16th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed B Battery 29 May 1916.
 * 17th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed C Battery 29 May 1916.
 * 3rd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Bolton Artillery)
 * 18th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed A Battery 29 May 1916.
 * 19th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed B Battery 29 May 1916.
 * 20th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed C Battery 29 May 1916.
 * 4th East Lancs (Howitzer) Brigade R.F.A. (Cumberland Artillery)
 * 1st Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery from Carlisle. Renamed A Battery May 1916.
 * 2nd Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery from Workington. Renamed B Battery May 1916.

1917 field artillery reorganization
In February 1917 the Cumberland Artillery / 213 Brigade was disbanded and its two howitzer batteries merged into the 18-pounder brigades in accordance with the new artillery brigade philosophy. Existing four-gun, 18-pounder batteries in each of 210, 211 and 212 Brigades were merged into six-gun batteries, and the four brigades replaced by new 210 and 211 Brigades each with 3 six-gun, 18-pounder batteries and one howitzer battery.

Gibbon's divisional history states that the above occurred on paper on Christmas Day 1916, when the division was on manoeuvres at Al Mazar, and the reorganization actually occurred in February 1917 on return to the canal zone.

Hence from February 1917 to 11 November 1918 the divisional artillery consisted of 210 and 211 Brigades, each with 3 six-gun batteries of 18-pounders (A,B,C) and one battery of four 4.5-inch howitzers (D).

Trench mortar batteries
Equipped with 4 9.45 inch Heavy Mortars. Part of Divisional Artillery until 15 February 1918 when it remained in La Bassée sector under Corps command when the Division departed. 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
 * V/42 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery. Formed in France March 1917
 * Medium Trench Mortar Batteries. Formed in France March 1917
 * 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 23 February 1918 from the previous four separate companies. One company was attached to each of the three infantry brigades and one 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)

Combat Service Support

 * Army Service Corps: 3 Companies
 * Transport and Supply Column ASC. Left and 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.
 * 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

Second World War
The division was deployed as part of the British Expeditionary Force during the Battle of 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. The name of the division was later used for the purpose of military deception.

Post 1945
In 1947, the 42nd and 55th Divisions were amalgamated to form the 42nd (Lancashire) Division as part of the post-war Territorial Army but this was disbanded by 1968 with changes to the Territorial Army structure.

In the modern British Army the 42 North West Brigade has adopted the former 42nd (Lancashire) Division badge.

Memorials and Monuments
The 42nd Division Memorial stands on the north edge of Trescault village (|12|4&loc=GB:53.4558256715609:-2.32524413835376:12#t=l&map=50.09161,3.09023|16|4&loc=FR:50.09161:3.09023:14|Trescault|Trescault,%20Pas-de-Calais 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 28 September 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).

There is also a memorial at Bucquoy, France.