British 31st Division
Encyclopedia
The British 31st Division was a New Army division
formed in April 1915 as part of the K4 Army Group and taken over by the War Office on 10 August 1915. Comprising mainly battalion
s from Yorkshire
and Lancashire
, the division was sent to Egypt
in December 1915 before moving to France
in March 1916 and spent the remainder of the First World War
in action on the Western Front
. The 31st Division was the quintessential New Army division, being made up entirely of Pals battalion
s.
The 31st Division's first major action was on the first day of the Somme Campaign
(1 July 1916). The division suffered 3,600 casualties and failed to reach any of its objectives.
93rd Brigade :
94th Brigade :
The brigade was disbanded in February 1918 then began reforming in May. In June it was brought up to strength with the addition of Yeomanry
battalions from the 74th (Yeomanry) Division
and renamed the 94th (Yeomanry) Brigade.
4th Guards Brigade :
The brigade was attached to the division during February 1918 following the breakup of the 94th Brigade. It left when the 94th Brigade began reforming in May.
In April 1918 heavy casualties led to the brief amalgamation of the 92nd and 93rd Brigades into the 92nd Composite Brigade.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
formed in April 1915 as part of the K4 Army Group and taken over by the War Office on 10 August 1915. Comprising mainly battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s from Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, the division was sent to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in December 1915 before moving to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in March 1916 and spent the remainder of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in action on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. The 31st Division was the quintessential New Army division, being made up entirely of Pals battalion
Pals battalion
The Pals battalions of World War I were specially constituted units of the British Army comprising men who had enlisted together in local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and work colleagues , rather than being arbitrarily...
s.
The 31st Division's first major action was on the first day of the Somme Campaign
First day on the Somme
The first day on the Somme, 1 July 1916, was the opening day of the Battle of Albert, which was the first phase of the British and French offensive that became known as the Battle of the Somme...
(1 July 1916). The division suffered 3,600 casualties and failed to reach any of its objectives.
Formation
92nd Brigade :- 10th (Service) Battalion (1st Hull, Hull Commercials), The East Yorkshire Regiment
- 11th (Service) Battalion (2nd Hull, Hull Tradesmens), The East Yorkshire Regiment
- 12th (Service) Battalion (3rd Hull, Hull Sportsmens), The East Yorkshire Regiment (until February 1918)
- 13th (Service) Battalion (4th Hull, T'Others), The East Yorkshire Regiment (until February 1918)
- 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington PalsAccrington PalsThe Accrington Pals was a British First World War Pals battalion of Kitchener's Army raised in and around the town of Accrington in Lancashire. When the battalion was taken over by the British Army it was officially named the 11th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment.Recruiting was initiated by...
), The East Lancashire Regiment (from 94th Bde February 1918)
93rd Brigade :
- 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Leeds, Leeds PalsLeeds PalsThe Leeds Pals were a First World War Pals battalion of Kitchener's Army raised in the West Yorkshire city of Leeds. When the battalion was taken over by the British Army it was officially named the 15th Battalion , The Prince of Wales's Own .The battalion was formed in September 1914 and...
), The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) - 16th (Service) Battalion (1st Bradford, Bradford Pals), The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (until February 1918)
- 18th (Service) Battalion (2nd Bradford, Bradford Pals), The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (until February 1918)
- 18th (Service) Battalion (1st County, Durham Pals), Durham Light InfantryDurham Light InfantryThe Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
94th Brigade :
- 12th (Service) Battalion (Sheffield CitySheffield City BattalionThe Sheffield City Battalion was a Pals battalion during the First World War .Raised in 1914, it was designated as the 12th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment.- Recruits :...
), The York and Lancaster Regiment (disbanded February 1918) - 13th (Service) Battalion (1st BarnsleyBarnsley PalsThe Barnsley Pals were two Pals battalions during the First World War.They were formed as the 13th and 14th Battalions of the York and Lancaster Regiment...
), The York and Lancaster Regiment - 14th (Service) Battalion (2nd BarnsleyBarnsley PalsThe Barnsley Pals were two Pals battalions during the First World War.They were formed as the 13th and 14th Battalions of the York and Lancaster Regiment...
), The York and Lancaster Regiment (disbanded February 1918) - 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington Pals), The East Lancashire Regiment (to 92nd Bde February 1918)
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster FusiliersRoyal Munster FusiliersThe Royal Munster Fusiliers was a regular infantry regiment of the British Army. One of eight Irish regiments raised largely in Ireland, it had its home depot in Tralee. It was originally formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of two regiments of the former East India Company. It served in India and...
(from May 1918 to June 1918)
The brigade was disbanded in February 1918 then began reforming in May. In June it was brought up to strength with the addition of Yeomanry
Yeomanry
Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...
battalions from the 74th (Yeomanry) Division
British 74th (Yeomanry) Division
The British 74th Division was a First World War infantry division formed in Egypt in early 1917 from brigades of dismounted yeomanry...
and renamed the 94th (Yeomanry) Brigade.
- 12th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment
- 12th (Ayr & Lanark Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Scots FusiliersRoyal Scots Fusiliers-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...
- 24th (Denbighshire Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
4th Guards Brigade :
The brigade was attached to the division during February 1918 following the breakup of the 94th Brigade. It left when the 94th Brigade began reforming in May.
- 4th Battalion, Grenadier GuardsGrenadier GuardsThe Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
- 3rd Battalion, Coldstream GuardsColdstream GuardsHer Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
- 2nd Battalion, Irish GuardsIrish GuardsThe Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
In April 1918 heavy casualties led to the brief amalgamation of the 92nd and 93rd Brigades into the 92nd Composite Brigade.