28th Division (United Kingdom)
The 28th Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised for service in World War I.
History
Formed in England in December 1914–January 1915 from Regular Army battalions returning from India, Singapore and Egypt. In January 1915 the division, commanded by Edward Bulfin, moved to France and on to the Western Front.The division took part in the Second Battle of Ypres in April, where they suffered massive casualties, and in the Battle of Loos from September to October.
In October 1915 the 28th Division embarked from Marseille for Egypt and in November 1915 travelled on to the Macedonian front where the division would remain for the rest of the war.
After the Armistice with Bulgaria came into effect on 30 September 1918, 28th Division advanced across the country towards Turkey. The Ottoman Empire also signed an Armistice on 30 October, after which the 28th Division, under Major General Henry Leycester Croker, was sent to occupy the Dardanelles Forts.
It remained in Turkey on peacekeeping duties until October 1923.
Order of battle
The division was composed of the following units during World War I:83rd Infantry Brigade">83rd Brigade (United Kingdom)">83rd Infantry Brigade
This brigade was temporarily under the command of the 5th Division between 3 March and 7 April 1915, when it was replaced by the 15th Infantry Brigade from that division.- 2nd Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
- 1/5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
- 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
- 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
- 1/3rd Territorial Force, (T.F.) Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
- 83rd Machine Gun Company
- 83rd Trench Mortar Battery
84th Infantry Brigade">84th Brigade (United Kingdom)">84th Infantry Brigade
This brigade was temporarily under the command of the 5th Division between 23 February and 7 April 1915, when it was replaced by the 13th Infantry Brigade from that division.- List of [Northumberland Fusiliers battalions in World War I#2|2nd Battalion], Northumberland Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment
- 1/6th (T.F.) (Glamorgan) Battalion, Welch Regiment
- 1/1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
- 1/12th (T.F.) (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment
- 84th Machine Gun Company
- 84th Trench Mortar Battery
85th Infantry Brigade">85th Brigade (United Kingdom)">85th Infantry Brigade
The brigade transferred temporarily to the 3rd Division between 19 February 1915 and 6 April 1915. It was replaced by the 9th Infantry Brigade from that division.- 2nd Battalion, Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
- 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
- 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
- 3rd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
- 1/8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
- 85th Machine Gun Company
- 85th Trench Mortar Battery
228th Infantry Brigade">228th Brigade (United Kingdom)">228th Infantry Brigade
This brigade was formed on 26 February 1917, as army troops, although it was always associated with this division. It came under the command of the Greek "Crete Division" from 30 September 1918, and was broken up on 4 October 1918.- 2nd Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment
- 2/5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
- 1st Garrison Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
- 2nd Garrison Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers )
- 22nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade
- 228th Machine Gun Company
- 228th Trench Mortar Company
- 228th Signal Section, Royal Engineers
- 143rd Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Division Troops
- 23rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment
- 28th Divisional Train Army Service Corps
- *120th, 121st, 122nd and 123rd Companies
- 17th Mobile Veterinary Section Army Veterinary Corps
- 819th Divisional Employment Company
- Divisional Mounted Troops
- *B Squadron, 1/1st Surrey Yeomanry
- *28th Cyclist Company Army Cyclist Corps
[Royal Artillery]
- III Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
- XXXI Brigade, R.F.A.
- CLXLVI Brigade R.F.A.
- LIV Brigade, R.F.A.
- VIII
- 71st and 121st Heavy Batteries, Royal Garrison Artillery
- 61st Howitzer Battery, R.F.A.
- CXXX Brigade, R.F.A.
- 13 Heavy Battery, R.G.A.
- 7th Mountain Battery, R.G.A.
- 1st [Argyll and Bute Artillery Volunteers#World War I|IV Highland (Mountain) Brigade], R.G.A.
- III Mountain Brigade, R.G.A.
- 28th Divisional Ammunition Column
[Royal Engineers]
- 3rd London Field Company, R.E.
- 1/1st Northumbrian Field Company, R.E.
- 1/1st North Midland Field Company, R.E.
- 38th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 2/1st Northumbrian Field Company, R.E.
- 1/7th Hampshire Field Company, R.E.
- 1st Home Counties Divisional Signals Company, R.E.
[Royal Army Medical Corps]
- 84th Field Ambulance
- 85th Field Ambulance
- 86th Field Ambulance
- 15th Sanitary Section
Commanders
- Major-General E. S. Bulfin Sick
- Major-General C. J. Briggs
- Major-General H L. Croker
- Major-General H. L. Croker
- Major-General T. O. Marden
- Colonel-Commandant A. S. Cotton