Chapter I: Preface

This short history has been compiled mainly from the War Diaries.

My reason for undertaking the task is that there was no one else to do it, the units composing the Division being scattered far and wide, and there being no Divisional habitat with local historians as in the case of Territorial and New Army Divisions. My object is that all who served with the Division for any period between 1914-1919 may have a record to show that they belonged to a Division which played no inconspicuous part in the Great War.

I regret that it has been impossible to tabulate the honours (except V.C.s) won by officers and men of the Division, and it is also inevitable that the names of many individuals to whom the success of the Division in many operations was largely due should go unrecorded. The Infantry naturally bulk large in the picture, but they would be the first to admit that their success could not have been obtained without the splendid co-operation of the Artillery, who are sometimes not even mentioned in the narrative; and this theme might be elaborated considerably.

My particular thanks are due to Lt.-Col. T. T. Grove, C.M.G., D.S.O., R.E., to whom the credit belongs for the form taken by the history and the more personal portions of the history itself. I also wish to thank Lt.-Gen. Sir J. Keir, K.C.B., D.S.O., and Major-Gen. C. Ross, C.B., D.S.O., as well as several Brigadiers and C.O.s, for so kindly reviewing the periods of which they had personal knowledge.

In conclusion, I wish to add that every copy sold helps towards the erection of Battlefield Memorials to be placed in France and Flanders.

T. O. MARDEN,
_Major-General._
_April 1920._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. MOBILIZATION AND MOVE TO FRANCE 1

II. BATTLE OF THE AISNE 3

III. MOVE TO THE NORTH AND FIRST BATTLE
OF YPRES 6

IV. ARMENTIERES 10

V. YPRES SALIENT 13

VI. THE SOMME 20

VII. LOOS SALIENT 28

VIII. CAMBRAI 35

IX. GERMAN OFFENSIVE OF MARCH 1918 44

X. YPRES SALIENT AGAIN 53

XI. THE ALLIED OFFENSIVE IN THE SOUTH 58

XII. THE MARCH TO THE RHINE AND OCCUPATION
OF GERMANY 76

APPENDIX

I. BATTLE CASUALTIES 81

II. V.C.s WON BY THE DIVISION 82

III. DIARY 85

IV. ORDERS OF BATTLE ON MOBILIZATION AND ON
11th NOVEMBER 1918 102

V. CHANGES IN COMMANDS AND STAFFS 109

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE 6th DIVISION