61st (2nd South Midland) Division

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The 61st (2nd South Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised in 1915 during the Great War as a second-line reserve for the first-line battalions of the 48th (South Midland) Division. The division was sent to the Western Front in May 1916 and served there for the duration of the First World War.

61st (2nd South Midland) Division
Division insignia
ActiveJanuary 1915 – January 1919
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
EngagementsFirst World War
Battle of Fromelles

Unit history

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The division landed in France in May 1916.[1] On 19 July 1916, together with the 5th Australian Division, the 61st Division fought the Battle of Fromelles, designed as a feint attack as part of the Somme Offensive.[1] The attack, against well prepared German positions based on a ridge, was a disaster and responsible for the subsequent poor reputation of the Division.[2] The division later took part in the advance to the Hindenburg Line and the Third Battle of Ypres.[1]

Order of Battle

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The order of battle was as follows:[1]

182nd (2nd Warwickshire) Brigade
183rd (2nd Gloucester and Worcester) Brigade

The brigade contained the following battalions until February 1918 when most of them were disbanded.

Between February and June 1918 the 183rd Brigade contained the following battalions.

From May 1918 the following battalions joined the Brigade.

184th (2nd South Midland) Brigade
Divisional Troops
  • 1/5th Bn, the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry joined as Divisional Pioneer Bn April 1916
  • 267th Machine Gun Company joined 18 January 1918, moved to 61st Bn MGC 1 March 1918
  • 61st Battalion MGC formed 1 March 1918
Divisional Mounted Troops
  • 2/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry joined October 1915, left February 1916
  • 2/2nd County of London Yeomanry joined 24 January 1916, left February 1916
  • C Sqn, 1/1st Hampshire Yeomanry joined 18 March 1916, left 7 June 1916
  • 2nd South Midland Divisional Cyclist Company left June 1916
61st (2nd South Midland) Divisional Artillery
(the artillery of 59th Division was also attached between 8 and 26 August 1918)
61st (2nd South Midland) Divisional Engineers
  • 477th (2/1st South Midland) Field Company moved independently to France and joined 48th Division June 1915
  • 478th (2/2nd South Midland) Field Company
  • 479th (3/1st South Midland) Field Company
  • 476th (1/3rd South Midland) Field Company joined by May 1916
  • 61st Divisional Signals Company
Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 2/1st South Midland Field Ambulance
  • 2/2nd South Midland Ambulance
  • 2/3rd South Midland Field Ambulance
  • 61st Sanitary Section left for IV Corps 12 April 1917
Other Divisional Troops
  • 61st Divisional Train ASC 521, 522, 523 and 524 Companies ASC
  • 2/1st South Midland Mobile Veterinary Section AVC
  • 251st Divisional Employment Company joined 7 June 1917

Battles

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General Officer Commanding

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Commanding officers were:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "61st (2nd South Midland) Division". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b The 61st Division had the Reputation of Being a poorly Performing Formation. How did it Acquire this Reputation and was it a Justified Description? (PDF) (MA) (online ed.). Birmingham: University of Birmingham. 984318. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  3. ^ Becke, Archibald Frank (1935). Order of Battle of Divisions. H. M. Stationery Office. p. 33.
  4. ^ "Richard Bannatine-Allason". Centre for First World War Studies, University of Birmingham. Archived from the original on 16 February 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  5. ^ "British Divisional Commanders During the Great War – First Thoughts: Note 19". Western Front Association. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
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