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7th Division
The The division's insignia in the First World War.
Active1914–1919
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
EngagementsFirst World War
First Battle of Ypres
Battle of Neuve Chapelle
Battle of Aubers Ridge
Battle of Festubert
Battle of Loos
Battle of the Somme
Battle of Passchendaele
Battle of Vittorio Veneto

The 7th Division was an infantry division of the British Army, that was active in the First World War. Disbanded after service in the Second Boer War in 1902, the division was reformed in September 1914, consisting of soldiers of the Regular Army drawn from the remains of the army in Britain and troops returned from overseas garrisons of the Empire. The division served on the Western Front until October 1917, then moving to the Italian Front, before being disbanded in 1919. The men of the division would win 14 Victoria Crosses.

History

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1914

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After the departure of the six regular divisions of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), there were just five regular army infantry battalions left in Britain, three regiments of cavalry,[a] seven batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery (R.H.A.) and five brigades of the Royal Field Artillery (R.F.A.). It was obvious that troops policing the Empire would be required to create formations that could adequately reinforce the BEF. The 7th Division came into existence with the appointment of Major-general Thompson Capper as commander on 27 August 1914.[1]

Formation

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During September the division was brought together with troops from the empire, and a large part of those remaining in Britain. The 20th Brigade was formed, with the 1st battalion Grenadier Guards, 2nd Scots Guards, 2nd Border Regiment who remained in Britain, and the 2nd Gordon Highlanders from Egypt, and was commended by Brigadier-general Harold Ruggles-Brise. The 21st Brigade comprised the 2nd Yorkshire Regiment which had remained in Britain, the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers and 2nd Wiltshire Regiment returned from Gibraltar and the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment returned from South Africa, and was commanded by Brigadier-general Herbert Watts. The 22nd Brigade comprised of the 2nd Royal Warwickshire Regiment and 1st Royal Welch Fusiliers returned from Malta and the 2nd Queen's Regiment and 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment from South Africa, commanded by Brigadier-general Sydney Turing Barlow Lawford. The division's artillery comprised the XXII Brigade R.F.A. from South Africa, the XXXV Brigade R.F.A. from Woolwich and as a third brigade made up of the un-brigaded 'C' and 'F' batteries R.H.A., designated as XIV Brigade, R.H.A.. For heavy artillery, only two batteries of old 4.7 inch guns could be found, they were formed into III Heavy Brigade R.G.A.. Only two companies of engineers could be found for the division, designated the 54th Field Coy. from Chatham and the 55th Field Coy. from South Africa. The division reconnaissance was provided by the Yeomanry of the Northumberland Hussars. The divisional ammunition column, signal company, division train (A.S.C.) and field ambulances were improvised from any remaining regular troops.[2]

The infantry units that had stayed in Britain required drafts of reservists to bring them up to full complement, the 1st G.G. being two-thirds reservist and the 2nd S.G. ~75% reservist, the battalions returning from the Empire requiring only around 10% to make up their numbers. Training was undertaken while equipment was sourced for the division, with some carts being bought from local businesses. On 4 October, the day the XXII Brigade R.F.A. and the heavy batteries completed their mobilisation, the division was given embarkation orders, which began before midnight in Southampton.[3]

France and Flanders

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After a delay, caused by the Navy's concern about German submarines in the Channel, the first part of the division was landed at Zeebrugge in Belgium on 6 October in the morning, the later part in the early morning of 7 October, and by evening of that day the whole division was concentrated around Bruges.[4]

Antwerp
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Originally, as part of the detached IV Corps, it was intended that the division would become part of the Antwerp garrison, however the worsening situation and the lack of French reinforcements, and the lateness of British ones (the remainder of the Royal Navy Division and the 3rd Cavalry Division) meant that the goal was now to extract as much of the Belgian Army as possible. The first move of the division, on 8 October, was to a position covering Ostend, where the 3rd Cavalry Division were disembarking, and where news arrived of the defences of Antwerp being breached. On 9 October the 20th and 22nd Brigades of the division and some artillery were moved by rail some 40 miles (64 km) where, together with French Marines, they formed a line south and east of Ghent, to cover the retreat of the Belgian Army. The 21st Brigade covered Bruges in a line to the south. The marines reported skirmishing with the Germans approaching Ghent, but the division's front was quiet. Remaining in place throughout 10 October, the division sent out patrols in the morning of 11 October and had their first encounters with the Germans. That evening the division withdrew from Ghent and moved to Thielt, via Aeltre a (direct) journey of some 20 miles (32 km) north west, then west on roads crowded with refugees. At midnight on 12 October the rear-guards reached Thielt, and the extraction of the Belgian Army was considered complete.[5]

Meanwhile II Corps had completed its concentration in Flanders at the northern end of the French line at Bethune and III Corps on its left around Hazebrouck. On 13 October the division marched, in the rain, for Roeselare some 12.75 miles (20.52 km) north east of Ypres, where the three brigades of the division met up once more. The next day the division marched for Ypres, again in the rain, where billeting parties had to fight some Germans who had arrived just before the division.[6]

First Battle of Ypres
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Main article: First Battle of Ypres

The division arrived in Ypres tired, wet and dis-spirited after, to the soldiery, an apparently aimless series of marches around Belgium, with little contact with the Germans. An outpost line was immediately pushed out to the south east between Zillebeke and Voormezeele approximately 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from Ypres, 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long. After extending the line further north to Wieltje, over the next few days, the division moved east: a line Zanvoorde-Reutel-Zonnebeke on 16 October, encountering some German cavalry, and rumour of larger formations further east, and then by 18 October, reached a line centred on Terhand. In this latter move, the German shelling and sniping increased. An attack towards Menin was ordered for 19 October, after GHQ had expected a faster advance, even though the division was still to the east of the more southerly British corps, but this was due to confusion in the wording used in the orders.[b].

In the morning of 19 October, the 22nd Brigade, with the Northumberland Hussars covering its left flank and maintaining contact with the 3rd Cavalry Division, attacked over the undulating and, at the time, forested terrain on the far side of the ridge east of Ypres. Both the cavalry and infantry encountered Germans during the advance, and by 13:00 the brigade had advanced to within 4,000 yards (3,700 m) of Menin. At this time the brigade received orders to withdraw at once under cover of the 21st Brigade, as the 3rd Cavalry Division to the north had found the Germans advancing in great numbers and were driven back to Moorslede. Disengaging from the Germans in front of them and encountering Germans in their path of withdrawal, the brigade managed to return behind the screen of the 21st Brigade on a line running north east of Terhand for 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Further advances by the Germans to the north against the French compelled the division to resume the most of the positions it had occupied on 16-17 October, with 20th Brigade in the south around Kruiseik, 21st Brigade in the centre and 22nd Brigade in the north around Broodsiende. This line spread over 8 miles (13 km) consisted of no more than outposts and was not a connected trench line.[8]

The division was ordered to hold the line it held as Sir John French intended to use the arriving I Corps to turn the right flank of the Germans, as the allies had been trying to do for some time. The attempted British advances would run in to the German's own advance.[9] On 20 October a reconnaissance force of the Northumberland Hussars, division cyclists, F Bty R.H.A., Scots Guards and Gordons moved toward Gheluwe, while another made up of 25th Bty R.F.A., Scots Fusiliers and Wiltshires made for Terhand, encountering some Germans and taking artillery fire from Werviq. By midday the Germans had attacked the 3rd Cavalry division to the north and the German artillery was impacting on the 22nd Brigade's lines, and the force was ordered back. By mid afternoon both 21st and 22nd Brigades were engaged with German infantry, the 20th Brigade keeping them back beyond 800 yards (730 m). The cavalry to the south of the division had been forced to fall back, leaving the division's right flank as the point in a salient east and south of Kruiseik.[10] That evening and night the 1st and the 2nd Divisions, arrived north of the division, behind the 3rd Cavalry Division.[11]

On 21 October, the German artillery bombardment began at daybreak and steadily became more accurate, inflicting casualties on the Welch Fusiliers, who were unable to dig adequate trenches in the sandy soil with the few tools they had. Part of the northern line of 22nd Brigade was pushed back, and counter attacks failed to retake the ground. In the afternoon the Germans secured the Broodseinde cross-roads, and later in the evening the Germans managed to get behind the Welsh Fusiliers, and by the end of the day they had lost 11 officers and 300 casualties in the other ranks. The 21st Brigade was heavily attacked by infantry during the day but prevented the Germans from reaching their lines, except for a small penetration between the Yorkshires and the R.S.F., which could not be exploited. After midnight General Lawford arranged for the 22nd Brigade to withdraw to a line running north-west to south-east from a rail crossing west of Zonnebeke to the northern edge of Polygon Wood, some 1,000 yards (910 m) to 2,000 yards (1,800 m) to the south west. The defence had cost the 22nd Brigade some 650 casualties, the other brigades had caused "tremendous" casualties on the Germans of the two infantry divisions and one cavalry division which attacked the line that day. The intended British advance by the 1st and 2nd Divisions to the north, had run into the same German attack and had made no progress.[12]

On 22 October the division was tested more by the German artillery, with fire directed not only on the front line, but the rear areas and the roads from Ypres, the supply of food and ammunition becoming dangerous and difficult. Only the 21st Brigade was heavily attacked by infantry, this was repulsed with heavy losses. The next day the German artillery bombardment began at 09:00, after a mist had lifted, with increasing accuracy against the front lines of the 20th and 21st Brigades, with constant German infantry pressure on the line, and slow advance toward it. That day, drummer Kenny of the Gordon Highlanders won the Victoria Cross in the salient around Kruiseik. The men of the division were becoming increasingly tired due to the constant action along their 8 miles (13 km) front, and the uncertain supply situation.[c][14]

The Lys Valley
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1915

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Officers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment Eating Lunch While Resting by the Roadside, Ypres Salient Q56925

Neuve Chappelle

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Aubers Ridge

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Loos

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At the battle of Loos in late 1915, the division’s General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major-General Thompson Capper, was killed in action at the height of the fighting.

1916

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The Somme

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First Day of the Somme
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Bezentin
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Ginchy
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Column of the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders marching to the trenches along the Becordel–Fricourt road, France, October 1916.
Beaumont Hamel
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1917

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Advance to the Hindenburg Line

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Third Battle of Ypres

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Italy

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The 7th Division fought in most of the major battles on the Western Front through to 1917 before being sent to the Italian Front for the remainder of the war.

1918

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The Asiago Plateau

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Piave

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Vittorio Veneto

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1919

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Disbanding

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Order of battle

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The composition of the 7th Division during the First World War was as follows:[15][16]

20th Brigade

  • 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards (left 8 August 1915)
  • 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards (left 8 August 1915)
  • 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment
  • 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
  • 1/6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders (joined 5 December 1914, left 5 January 1916)
  • 8th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (joined 4 August 1915)
  • 9th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (joined 8 August 1915, left 13 September 1918)
  • 1/6th (T.F.) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (joined 9 January 1916, left 25 February 1916)
  • 20th machine Gun Company Machine Gun Corps (M.G.C.) (joined 10 February 1916, left for division MG battalion 1 April 1918)
  • 20th Trench Mortar Battery (joined 14 February 1916)

21st Brigade

The brigade transferred to the 30th Division on 19 December 1915, swapping with the 91st Brigade.

22nd Brigade

91st Brigade

The brigade joined from the 30th Division in December 1915, swapping with the 21st Brigade. A number of battalions swapped to the brigade from other 7th Division brigades during the transition.

  • 2nd Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) (joined from 22nd Brigade 20 December 1915)
  • 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment (joined from 22nd Brigade 20 December 1915)
  • 20th (Service) Battalion (5th City), Manchester Regiment (transferred to 22nd Brigade 20 December 1915)
  • 21st (Service) Battalion (6th City), Manchester Regiment
  • 22nd (Service) Battalion (7th City), Manchester Regiment
  • 24th (Service) Battalion (Oldham), Manchester Regiment (transferred to 22nd Brigade 20 December 1915)
  • 1/4th Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (from December 1915 until January 1916)
  • 91st machine Gun Company (M.G.C.) (joined 14 March 1916, left for division MG battalion 1 April 1918)
  • 91st Trench Mortar Battery (joined May 1916)

Division Troops

  • Pioneers
    • 24th (Service) Battalion, Manchester Regiment (from 22nd Brigade 22 May 1916)
    • 220th Machine Gun Company (M.G.C.) (joined 25 March 1917, joined 7th Battalion M.G.C. 1 April 1918)
    • 7th Battalion M.G.C. (formed 1 April 1918 from brigade and division M.G. companies)
  • Engineers[17]
    • 54th Field Company, Royal Engineers (R.E.)
    • 55th Field Company, R.E. (left 1 September 1915)
    • 95th Field Company, R.E. (joined 30 August 1915)
    • 2nd Highland Field Company, R.E. (joined 17 January 1915, left 24 January 1916)
    • 3rd Durham Field Company, RE (joined 30 January 1916; renumbered 528th (Durham) Field Company 3 February 1917)
  • Medical
    • 21st, 22nd, 23rd Field Ambulances R.A.M.C.
    • 10th Sanitary Section R.A.M.C. (joined 9 January 1915, left 8 August 1917)
  • 7th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps
    • 39th, 40th, 42nd Companies A.S.C.
    • 86 (Horse Transport) Company A.S.C.
  • 12th Mobile Veterinary Section, Army Veterinary Corps
  • 210th Divisional Employment Company, Labour Corps (joined 21 May 1917, as the 12th Divisional Employment Company; renamed in June 1917)
  • 7th Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop (joined 20 June 1915, transferred to Divisional Train 9 April 1916)

General officers commanding

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Commanders of the division were:[18]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Atkinson pp. 1, 3
  2. ^ Atkinson pp. 2-4
  3. ^ Atkinson pp. 4, 8
  4. ^ Atkinson p. 8-9
  5. ^ Atkinson pp. 10-13
  6. ^ Atkinson pp. 13-16
  7. ^ Atkinson p. 22 (footnote)
  8. ^ Atkinson pp. 22-27
  9. ^ Atkinson p. 29
  10. ^ Atkinson pp. 29-33
  11. ^ Atkinson p. 34
  12. ^ Atkinson pp. 34-41
  13. ^ Atkinson p. 48
  14. ^ Atkinson pp.42-48
  15. ^ Baker, Chris. "7th Division". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  16. ^ Atkinson pp. 492-498
  17. ^ Richard A. Rinaldi, Royal Engineers, World War I, at Orbat.com Archived 24 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Atkinson pp. 490, 499

References

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Atkinson, C T (1926). The Seventh Division, 1914-1918 (2021 ed.). Milton Keynes: Naval & Military. ISBN 9781843421191.

External sources

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Category:Infantry divisions of the British Army in World War I Category:Infantry divisions of the British Army in World War II Category:Military units and formations established in 1914 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1939 Category:1914 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Military units and formations of the British Empire in World War II
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