56th (1st London) Division

The 1st London Division was a Territorial Force Division already in existence at the outbreak of the war. The Division was broken up early in 1915 and the Battalions went to serve in various other units. The Division was reformed (see below) in France in February 1916 and this was when the Division and Brigades were numbered. Served in France and Flanders until the Armistice.

Battles and Engagements
France and Flanders

Attack on the Gommecourt Salient. 1 Jul 1916.
Battle of Ginchy. 9 Sep 1916.
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 1916, including the capture of Eaucourt l’Abbaye, Le Sars and the attacks on Butte de Warlencourt.

 

 

First Battle of the Scarpe. 9-14 Apr 1917, including the capture Monchy le Preux and the Wancourt Ridge.
Third Battle of the Scarpe. 3-4 May 1917, including the capture of Fresnoy.
Battle of Langemarck. 16-18 Aug 1917.
The tank attack. 20-21 Nov 1917.
Capture of Bourlon Wood. 23-28 Nov 1917.
German counter attacks. 30 Nov-3 Dec 1917.

 

Battle of Amiens. 8-11 Aug 1918.
Battle of Albert. 21-23 Aug 1918, including the capture of Chuignes.
Battle of the Scarpe. 26-30 Aug 1918, including the capture of Monchy le Preux.
Battle of the Canal du Nord. 27 Sep-1 Oct 1918, including the capture of Bourlon Wood.
Battle of Cambrai. 8-9 Oct 1918, including the capture of Villers Outreaux and Cambrai.
The pursuit to the Selle. 9-12 Oct 1918.
Battle of the Sambre. 4 Nov 1918, including the passage of the Sambre-Oise canal and the capture of Le Quesnoy.
Passage of the Grande Honelle. 5-7 Nov 1918.

 

   

 

Infantry Units

Before being broken up

 

1st London Brigade. (Left the Division in Sep 1914 and went to Malta).

1/1st Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1914. To Malta.
1/2nd Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1914. To Malta.
1/3rd Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1914. To Malta.
1/4th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1914. To Malta.

 

 

2nd London Brigade.

1/5th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Nov 1914. To the 4th Division.
1/6th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 05 Nov 1914. To the 47th Division.
1/7th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 05 Nov 1914. To the 47th Division.
1/8th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 06 Nov 1914. To the 47th Division.

 

3rd London Brigade.

1/9th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Nov 1914. To the 5th Division.
1/10th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Apr 1915. To the 54th Division.
1/11th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Apr 1915. To the 54th Division.
1/12th Bn London Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Dec 1914. To the L of C Troops.

 

 

Attached Troops.

2/25th Bn London Regt. Nov 1914 - Apr 1915. To the coastal defences.
1/1st Bn Honourable Artillery Company. 04 Aug 1914 - 20 Sep 1914. To the L of C Troops.

 

 

Infantry Units

After being reformed

 

167th Brigade.

1/7th Bn Middlesex Regt. 09 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/8th Bn Middlesex Regt. 09 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
4th Bn North Staffordshire Regt. Oct 1917 - Nov 1917. To the 35th Division.
1/1st Bn London Regt. 08 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/3rd Bn London Regt. 09 Feb 1916 - 31 Jan 1918. To the 58th Division.

 

 

168th Brigade.

1/4th Bn London Regt. 09 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/12th Bn London Regt. 12 Feb 1916 - 31 Jan 1918. To the 58th Division.
1/13th Bn London Regt. 11 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/14th Bn London Regt. 08 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

169th Brigade.

1/2nd Bn London Regt. 09 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/5th Bn London Regt. 10 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/9th Bn London Regt. 13 Feb 1916 - 01 Feb 1918. To the 58th Division.
1/16th Bn London Regt. 10 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

 

Pioneers.

1/5th Bn Cheshire Regt. 13 Feb 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

Attached Troops.

2/25th Bn London Regt. Nov 1914 - Apr 1915. To the 1st Mounted Division.

 

   

 

Artillery Units
Royal Field Artillery

1st City of London Brigade. Left the Division Sep 1915 and joined the 36th Division.

1st City of London Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.
2nd City of London Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.
3rd City of London Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.

1st City of London Brigade. Numbered CCLXXX May 1916.

1st City of London Bty. 25 Feb 1916 - 11 May 1916. Became A Bty.
2nd City of London Bty. 25 Feb 1916 - 11 May 1916. Became B Bty.
3rd City of London Bty. 25 Feb 1916 - 11 May 1916. Became C Bty.
93rd Bty. (Part of this Bty was used to form R Bty, 3rd London Brigade). 15 Apr 1916 - 11May 1916. Became D Bty.

CCLXXX Brigade.

A Bty. 11 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
B Bty. 11 May 1916 - 05 Nov 1916. Broken up and divided between A and C Btys.
C Bty. 11 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
D (93rd) Bty. 11 May 1916 - 28 May 1916. To the CCLXXXIII Brigade where it became A Bty.
D (Howitzer) Bty. (From CCCLXXXIII Bde). 28 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
93rd Bty. 05 Nov 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

 

2nd London Brigade. Left the Division Sep 1915 and joined the 36th Division.

4th County of London Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.
5th County of London Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.
6th County of London Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.

2nd London Brigade. Numbered CCLXXXI May 1916.

4th County of London Bty. 25 Feb 1916 - 12 May 1916. Became A Bty.
5th County of London Bty. 25 Feb 1916 - 12 May 1916. Became B Bty.
6th County of London Bty. 25 Feb 1916 - 12 May 1916. Became C Bty.
109th Bty. (Part of this Bty was used to form R Bty, 3rd London Brigade). 15 Apr 1916 - 12 May 1916. Became D Bty.

CCLXXXI Brigade.

A Bty. 12 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
B Bty. 12 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
C Bty. 12 May 1916 - 05 Nov 1916. Broken up and divided between A and B Btys.
D (109th) Bty. 12 May 1916 - 26 May 1916. To the CCLXXXIII Brigade where it became B Bty.
D (Howitzer) Bty. (From CCLXXXIII Bde). 26 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
109th Bty. 05 Nov 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

3rd London Brigade. Left the Division Sep 1915 and joined the 36th Division.

7th County of London Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.
8th County of London Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.
9th County of London Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.

3rd London Brigade. Numbered CCLXXXII May 1916.

7th County of London Bty. 26 Feb 1916 - 11 May 1916. Became A Bty.
8th County of London Bty. 26 Feb 1916 - 11 May 1916. Became B Bty.
9th County of London Bty. 26 Feb 1916 - 11 May 1916. Became C Bty.
R Bty. (Newly formed from part of 93rd and 109th Btys). 16 Apr 1916 - 11 May 1916. Became D Bty.

CCLXXXII Brigade. Became and Army Field Artillery Brigade Jan 1917.

A Bty. 11 May 1916 - 05 Nov 1916. Broken up and divided between B and C Btys.
A (Howitzer) Bty. (Former 500th (Howitzer) Bty). 06 Dec 1916 - 23 Jan 1917. Broken up and divided between D (Howitzer) Bty, CCLXXX Brigade and D (Howitzer) Bty, CCLXXXI Brigade.
A Bty. (From CXXVI Bde, 37th Div). 23 Jan 1917 - 23 Jan 1917. To Army Field Artillery.
B Bty. 11 May 1916 - 23 Jan 1917. To Army Field Artillery.
C Bty. 11 May 1916 - 23 Jan 1917. To Army Field Artillery.
D (R) Bty. 11 May 1916 - 28 May 1916. To the CCLXXXIII Brigade where it became C Bty.
D (Howitzer) Bty. (From CCLXXXIII Bde). 28 May 1916 - 23 Jan 1917. To Army Field Artillery.

 

 

4th London (Howitzer) Brigade. Left the Division Sep 1915 and joined the 36th Division.

10th County of London (Howitzer) Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.
11th County of London (Howitzer) Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Sep 1915. To the 36th Division.

4th London (Howitzer) Brigade. Numbered CCLXXXIII (Howitzer) May 1916.

10th County of London (Howitzer) Bty. 26 Feb 1916 - 12 May 1916. Became A (Howitzer) Bty.
11th County of London (Howitzer) Bty. 26 Feb 1916 - 12 May 1916. Became B (Howitzer) Bty.
R (Howitzer) Bty. 26 Feb 1916 - 12 May 1916. Became C (R) (Howitzer) Bty.

CCLXXXIII (Howitzer) Brigade. Reorganised May 1916.

A (Howitzer) Bty. 12 May 1916 - 26 May 1916. To the CCLXXXI Brigade where it became D (Howitzer) Bty.
B (Howitzer) Bty. 12 May 1916 - 26 may 1916. To the CCLXXX Brigade where it became D (Howitzer) Bty.
C (R) (Howitzer) Bty. 12 May 1916 - 26 May 1916. To the CCLXXXII Brigade where it became D (Howitzer) Bty.

CCLXXXIII Brigade. After reoganisation. The Brigade was broken up Nov 1916.

A (93rd) Bty. (From CCLXXX Bde). 26 May 1916 - 05 Nov 1916. To the CCLXXX Brigade where it reverted back to its old title.
B (109th) Bty. (From CCLXXXI Bde). 26 May 1916 - 05 Nov 1916. To the CCLXXXI Brigade where it reverted back to its old title.
C (R) Bty. (From CCLXXXII Bde). 26 May 1916 - 05 Nov 1916. Broken up and divided between A and B Btys.

 

 

Royal Garrison Artillery

1st London Heavy Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - ??. To the 58th Division.

 

   

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