21st Division (United Kingdom)

21st Division
Active	September 1914–May 1919
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Engagements	World War I Battle of Loos Battle of the Somme Battle of Arras Battle of Passchendaele Battle of Cambrai

The 21st Division was an infantry division of the British Army during World War I, raised in September 1914 by men volunteering for Lord Kitchener's New Armies. The division moved to France in September 1915 and served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War.

The division's insignia was the "triple-seven".

Unit history

King George V passing down a village street lined by cheering troops of the 21st Division. Photograph was taken near to Le Quesnoy, on 2 December 1918.

The Division was the first of the six created for the Third New Army on 13 September 1914. The division suffered 55,581 killed, wounded and missing, being the highest number of casualties suffered by any New Army division.^[1] The Division ceased to exist on 19 May 1919.

Order of battle

62nd Brigade

• 12th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
• 13th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
• 8th (Service) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment (until November 1915)
• 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (from November 1915)
• 10th (Service) Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment) (disbanded February 1918)
• 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (from February 1918)
• 3/4th Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) (from August 1917)

63rd Brigade

In July 1916 the brigade moved to the 37th Division, swapping with the 110th Brigade.

• 8th (Service) Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
• 8th (Service) Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry)
• 12th (Service) Battalion, Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (until November 1915)
• 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) (from November 1915)
• 10th (Service) Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment

64th Brigade

• 9th (Service) Battalion, King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)
• 10th (Service) Battalion, King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) (disbanded February 1918)
• 14th (Service) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (until November 1915)
• 15th (Service) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
• 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment (from November 1915)

110th Brigade

In July 1916 the brigade joined from the 37th Division, swapping with the 63rd Brigade.

• 6th (Service) Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment
• 7th (Service) Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment
• 8th (Service) Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment (until June 1918)
• 9th (Service) Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment (disbanded February 1918)
• 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment) (from June 1918)

Pioneers

• 14th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers

Battles

The division took part in the Battle of Loos, Battle of the Somme, Battle of Arras, Battle of Passchendaele and Battle of Cambrai.^[1]

Commanders

During its existence, 21st Division had the following commanders:^[2]

• 16 September 1914 Lt Gen Edward Hutton
• 11 April 1915 Major-General George Forestier-Walker
• 18 November 1915 Major-General Claud Jacob (wounded, 4 March 1916)
• 4 March 1916 Brig.-General G.M. Gloster (temporary)
• 1 April 1916 Major-General Claud Jacob
• 22 May 1916 Major-General David Campbell

See also

• List of British divisions in World War I

References

Bibliography

• Becke, Major A.F. (1938). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 3A. New Army Divisions (9–26). London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-08-6.

External links

• The British Army in the Great War: The 21st Division
• 21st division 1914–18
• 21st Infantry Division on the Western Front 1914–1918: A Case Study in Tactical Evolution, Kathryn Snowden (2001)