18th (Eastern) Division
The 18th Division was an infantry division of the British Army formed in September 1914 during the First World War as part of the K2 Army Group, part of Lord Kitchener's New Armies. From its creation the division trained in England until 25 May 1915 when it landed in France and spent the duration of the First World War in action on the Western Front, becoming one of the elite divisions of the British Army. During the Battle of the Somme in the latter half of 1916, the 18th Division was commanded by Major General Ivor Maxse.
History
Formation
The division was formed in September 1914 during the First World War as part of the K2 Army Group, part of Lord Kitchener's New Armies. It was formed in the Colchester area but relocated to the Salisbury Plain Training Area in May 1915. Major-General Ivor Maxse took command in October 1914, leading it until January 1917.Order of battle
The following units served in the division.; 53rd Brigade :
- 10th Battalion, Essex Regiment
- 8th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment
- 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
- 6th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)
- 8th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's
- 7th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
- 53rd Machine Gun Company
- 53rd Trench Mortar Battery
- 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
- 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
- 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
- 12th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 8th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
- 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
- 54th Machine Gun Company
- 54th Trench Mortar Battery
- 7th Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
- 7th Battalion, Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
- 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
- 7th Battalion, Queen's Own
- 55th Machine Gun Company
- 55th Trench Mortar Battery
- 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
- 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
- 8th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
- 15th Motor Machine Gun Battery
- 18th Battalion Machine Gun Corps
- Divisional Mounted Troops
- *C Sqn, Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry
- *18th Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps
- 18th Divisional Train Army Service Corps
- *150th, 151st, 152nd and 153rd Companies
- 30th Mobile Veterinary Section Army Veterinary Corps
- 219th Divisional Employment Company
- LXXXII Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
- LXXXIII Brigade, R.F.A.
- LXXXIV Brigade, R.F.A.
- LXXXV Brigade, R.F.A.
- 18th Divisional Ammunition Column R.F.A.
- 18th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
- V.18 and W. 18 Heavy Trench Mortar Batteries R.F.A.
- X.18, Y.18 and Z.18 Medium Mortar Batteries R.F.A.
- 79th Field Company
- 80th Field Company
- 92nd Field Company
- 18th Divisional Signals Company
- 54th Field Ambulance
- 55th Field Ambulance
- 56th Field Ambulance
- 35th Sanitary Section
Battles
1916- First Battle of the Somme
- *Second Battle of Albert
- **Capture of Montauban
- *Battle of Bazentin Ridge
- **First Capture of Trônes Wood: 14–15 July 1916.
- *Battle of Delville Wood
- *Battle of Thiepval Ridge
- *Battle of the Ancre Heights
- **Capture of Schwaben Redoubt
- **Capture of Regina Trench
- *Battle of the Ancre
- Operations on the Ancre
- *Actions of Miraumont
- *Capture of Irles
- Operation Alberich
- Second Battle of Arras
- *Third Battle of the Scarpe
- **Capture of Chérisy
- Third Battle of Ypres
- *Battle of Pilkem Ridge
- *Battle of Langemarck
- *First Battle of Passchendaele
- *Second Battle of Passchendaele
- Operation Michael
- *Battle of St Quentin
- *First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux
- *Battle of the Avre
- *Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux
- Hundred Days Offensive
- *Battle of Amiens
- *Second Battle of the Somme
- **Third Battle of Albert
- ***Capture of Tara-Usna Hills
- ***Second Capture of Trônes Wood
- **Second Battle of Bapaume
- *Battles of the Hindenburg Line
- **Battle of Épehy
- **Battle of St Quentin Canal
- *Final Advance on Artois
- **Battle of the Selle
- **Battle of the Sambre