42nd (East Lancashire) Division

The East Lancashire Division was a Territorial Force Division already in existence at the outbreak of the war. The Division and Brigades were not numbered until April 1915 previously just named. The Division served in Egypt then Gallipoli then back to Egypt and finally in France, arriving in France in March 1917. Served in France and Flanders until the Armistice.

Battles and Engagements
Egypt

Western Frontier - Senussi Operations.

Wadi Senab. 11-13 Dec.

 

    
Gallipoli

Second Battle of Krithia. 6-8 May 1915.
Third Battle of Krithia. 4 Jun 1915.
Krithia Vineyard. 6-13 Aug 1915.

 

    
France and Flanders

Operations on the Flanders Coast. 20 Jun-11 Nov 1917.

 

  

First Battle of Bapaume. 24-25 Mar 1918.
First Battle of Arras. 28 Mar 1918.
Battle of the Ancre. 5 Apr 1918.
Battle of Albert. 21-23 Aug 1918, including the capture of Chuignes.
Second Battle of Bapaume. 31 Aug-3 Sep 1918.
Battle of the Canal du Nord. 27 Sep-1 Oct 1918, including the capture of Bourlon Wood.
The pursuit to the Selle. 9-12 Oct 1918.
Battle of the Selle. 17-25 Oct 1918.

 

 

Infantry Units

 

125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade.

1/5th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers. 04 Aug 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/6th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers. 04 Aug 1914 - 19 Feb 1918. To the 66th Division.
1/7th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers. 04 Aug 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/8th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers. 04 Aug 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

  

126th (East Lancashire) Brigade.

1/4th Bn East Lancashire Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 14 Feb 1918. To the 66th Division.
1/5th Bn East Lancashire Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/8th Bn Manchester Regt. 19 Feb 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/9th Bn Manchester Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 19 Feb 1918. To the 66th Division.
1/10th Bn Manchester Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

127th (Manchester) Brigade.

1/5th Bn Manchester Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/6th Bn Manchester Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/7th Bn Manchester Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/8th Bn Manchester Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 19 Feb 1918. To the 126th Brigade.

 

  

Pioneers.

1/7th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. 12 Feb 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

Attached Troops.

1/4th Bn Border Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1914. To the 44th Division.
1/5th Bn Border Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Oct 1914. To the L of C Troops.

 

    

 

Artillery Units
Royal Field Artillery

1st East Lancashire Brigade. Numbered CCX in May 1916.

1/4th Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 06 May 1916. Became A Bty.
1/5th Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 06 May 1916. Became B Bty.
1/6th Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 06 May 1916. Became C Bty.

CCX Brigade.

A Bty. 06 May 1916 - 26 Dec 1916. Broken up and divided between A and B Bty.
B Bty. 06 May 1916 - 26 Dec 1916. Became A Bty.
C Bty. 06 May 1916 - 26 Dec 1916. Became B Bty.

A Bty. 26 Dec 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
B Bty. 26 Dec 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
C (Howitzer) Bty. (From CCXIII Bde). 26 Dec 1916 - 11 Feb 1917. Became D (Howitzer) Bty.
C Bty. (From CCXII Brigade). 21 Feb 1917 - 11 Nov 1918.
D (Howitzer) Bty. 11 Feb 1917 - 11 NOv 1918.

 

  

2nd East Lancashire Brigade. Numbered CCXI May 1916. on 26 Dec 1916 the Brigade became the CCXII Brigade.

1/15th Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 29 May 1916. Became A Bty.
1/16th Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 29 May 1916. Became B Bty.
1/17th Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 29 May 1916. Became C Bty.

CCXI Brigade.

A Bty. 29 May 1916 - 26 Dec 1916. Remained with the Brigade after it had been renumbered to CCXII Brigade.
B Bty. 29 May 1916 - 26 Dec 1916. Broken up and divided between the Btys in the Brigade.
C Bty. 29 May 1916 - 26 Dec 1916. Remained with the Brigade after it had been renumbered to CCXII Brigade but became B Bty.

CCXII Brigade. (Former CCXI Brigade). Broken up 21 Feb 1917.

A Bty. 26 Dec 1916 - 21 Feb 1917. To the CCX Brigade where it became C Bty.
B Bty. 26 Dec 1916 - 21 Feb 1917. To the CCXI Brigade where it became C Bty.

 

3rd East Lancashire Brigade. Numbered CCXII in May 1916. On 25 Dec 1916 the Brigade became the CCXI Brigade.

1/18th Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 31 May 1916. Became A Bty.
1/19th Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 31 May 1916. Became B Bty.
1/20th Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 31 May 1916. Became C Bty.

CCXII Brigade.

A Bty. 31 May 1916 - 25 Dec 1916. Remained with the Brigade after it had been renumbered to CCXXI Brigade.
B Bty. 31 May 1916 - 25 Dec 1916. Remained with the Brigade after it had been renumbered to CCXXI Brigade.
C Bty. 31 May 1916 - 25 Dec 1916. Broken up and divided between A and B Btys.

CCXI Brigade. (Former CCXII Brigade).

A Bty. 25 Dec 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
B Bty. 25 Dec 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
C (Howitzer) Bty. (From CCXIII Brigade). 25 Dec 1916 - 10 Feb 1917. Became D (Howitzer) Bty.
C Bty. (From CCXII Brigade). 21 Feb 1917 - 11 Nov 1918.
D (Howitzer) Bty. 10 Feb 1917 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

  

4th East Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade. Numbered CCXIII in May 1916.

1/1st Cumberland (Howitzer) Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 31 May 1916. Became A (Howitzer) Bty.
1/2nd Cumberland (Howitzer) Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - 31 May 1916. Became B (Howitzer) Bty.

CCXIII Brigade. Broken up 26 Dec 1916.

A (Howitzer) Bty. 31 May 1916 - 25 Dec 1916. To the CCXI Brigade where it became C (Howitzer) Bty.
B (Howitzer) Bty. 31 May 1916 - 26 Dec 1916. To the CCX Brigade where it became C (Howitzer) Bty.

 
Royal Garrison Artillery

1/2nd Lancashire Heavy Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - ?? Left the Division (before it went to Gallipoli), landed in France 09 Feb 1916 and joined the XI Heavy Brigade, RGA on 15 Feb 1916.

 

    

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