23rd Division

Formed at Frensham near Aldershot in September 1914 as part of the Third New Army. Arrived in France in August 1915. Served in France and Flanders until November 1917 when the Division moved to Italy. Served in Italy until the Armistice (04 November 1918).

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 Bazentin. 14-17 Jul 1916, including the capture of Longueval, Trones Wood and Ovillers.
Battle of Pozieres. 23 Jul 1916, including the fighting for Mouquet Farm.
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 1918, including the capture of Eaucourt l’Abbaye, Le Sars and the attacks on Butte de Warlencourt.

 

  
Battle of Messines. 7-14 Jun 1917, including the capture of Wytschaete.
Battle of the Menin Road. 20-25 Sep 1917.
Battle of Polygon Wood. 26 Sep-3 Oct 1917.
First Battle of Passchendaele. 12 Oct 1917.
Second Battle of Passchendaele. 26 Oct-10 Nov 1917.
Italy
The fighting on the Asiago Plateau. 15-16 Jun 1918.
Passage of the Piave. 23 Oct-4 Nov 1918.
Passage of the Monticano. 29 Oct 1918.
    

 

Infantry Units

 

24th Brigade. (Served with the Division 18 Oct 1915 - 15 Jul 1916).

1st Bn Worcestershire Regt. 18 Oct 1915 - 15 Jul 1916. To the 8th Division.
2nd Bn East Lancashire Regt. 18 Oct 1915 - 15 Jul 1916. To the 8th Division.
1st Bn Sherwood Foresters. 18 Oct 1915 - 15 Jul 1916. To the 8th Division.
2nd Bn Northamptonshire Regt. 18 Oct 1915 - 15 Jul 1916. To the 8th Division.

 

  

68th Brigade.

10th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. Sep 1914 - 04 Nov 1918.
11th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. Sep 1914 - 04 Nov 1918.
12th Bn Durham Light Infantry. Sep 1914 - 04 Nov 1918.
13th Bn Durham Light Infantry. Sep 1914 - 14 Sep 1918. To the 25th Division.

 

69th Brigade.

11th Bn West Yorkshire Regt. 10 Sep 1914 - 04 Nov 1918.
8th Bn Yorkshire Regt. 22 Sep 1914 - 04 Nov 1918.
9th Bn Yorkshire Regt. 26 Sep 1914 - 13 Sep 1918. To the 25th Division.
10th Bn Duke of Wellington’s Regt. Sep 1914 - 04 Nov 1918.

 

  

70th Brigade. (Exchanged with the 24th Brigade, 8th Division from 18 Oct 1915 until 17 Jul 1916).

11th Bn Sherwood Foresters. 31 Oct 1914 - 13 Sep 1918. To the 25th Division.
8th Bn King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Sep 1914 - 04 Nov 1918.
8th Bn York and Lancaster Regt. Sep 1914 - 04 Nov 1918.
9th Bn York and Lancaster Regt. Sep 1914 - 04 Nov 1918.

 

Pioneers.

9th Bn South Staffordshire Regt. 21 Apr 1915 - 04 Nov 1918.

 

  

Attached Troops.

8th Bn Leicestershire Regt. 03 Oct 1914 - 08 Apr 1915. To the 37th Division.
9th Bn Leicestershire Regt. 03 Oct 1914 - 08 Apr 1915. To the 37th Division.
9th Bn South Staffordshire Regt. 03 Oct 1914 - 21 Apr 1915. Became the Pioneer Bn.

 

 

Artillery Units

 

CII Brigade.

A Bty. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
B Bty. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
C Bty. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
D Bty Sep 1914 - 19 May 1916. Went to CV Bde where it beacme A Bty.
D (Howitzer) Bty. 19 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

 

CIII Brigade.

A Bty Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
B Bty. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
C Bty. Sep 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
D Bty. Sep 1914 - 20 May 1916. Went to CV Bde where it became B Bty.
D (Howitzer) Bty. 20 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

CIV Brigade. On 18 Jan 1917 the Brigade left the Division and became an Army Field Artillery Brigade.

A Bty. Sep 1914 - 18 Jan 1917. With the Brigade to the Army Field Artillery.
B Bty. Sep 1914 - 18 Jan 1917. With the Brigade to the Army Field Artillery.
C Bty. Sep 1914 - 03 Sep 1916. Broken up and divided between A and B Btys.
C (Howitzer) Bty. 03 Sep 1916 - 18 Jan 1917. Broken up and divided between D (Howitzer) Bty, CII Bde and D (Howitzer) Bty, CIII Bde.
D Bty. Sep 1914 - 19 May 1916. Went to CV Bde where it became C Bty.
D (Howitzer) Bty. 19 May 1916 - 18 Jan 1917. With the Brigade to the Army Field Artillery.

 

  

CV (Howitzer) Brigade. Reorganisation took place in May 1916 when the Brigade lost its Howitzer designation.

A (Howitzer) Bty. Sep 1914 - 19 May 1916. Went to CII Bde where it became D (Howitzer) Bty.
B (Howitzer) Bty. Sep 1914 - 20 May 1916. Went to CIII Bde where it became D (Howitzer) Bty.
C (Howitzer) Bty. Sep 1914 - 19 May 1916. Went to CIV Bde where it became D (Howitzer) Bty.
D (Howitzer) Bty. Sep 1914 - 20 May 1916. Remained with the Bde.

 

CV Brigade. Broken up Sep 1916.

A Bty. 19 May 1916 - 03 Sep 1916. Broken up and divided between A and B Btys, CII Bde.
B Bty. 20 May 1916 - 03 Sep 1916. Broken up and divided between B and C Btys CIII Bde.
C Bty. 19 May 1916 - 03 Sep 1916. Broken up and divided between C Bty, CII Bde and A Bty, CIII Bde.
D (Howitzer) Bty. 20 May 1916 - 03 Sep 1916. Went to CIV Bde where it became C (Howitzer) Bty.

 

    

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