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27th Division    The 27th Division was one of three Division formed as regular units from the further garrisons of Empire arrived back in England, having been recalled soon after the declaration of war but many having waited until a Territorial unit had gone out to replace them. The 27th Division was formed at Magdalen hill Camp near Winchester in November-December 1914 and was soon rushed as a much-needed reinforcement to France. Shortage of some types of units were filled by Territorial units taken from other Divisions. It embarked at Southampton and landed at Le Havre on 20th-23rd of December 1914 and then moved to concentrate in the area between Aire and Arques. The Division subsequently took part in these actions: 1915 The Action of St Eloi The Second Battle of Ypres The Division was ordered to Salonika in November 1915 and embarkation began on 17 November, but it was not until 13 February 1916 that the last of the Division finally arrived. 1916 The capture of Karajakois The capture of Yenikoi The battles of Tumbitza Farm 1917 The capture of Homondos 1918 The Division lost a number of units in mid 1918, which were transferred to France The final offensive in Salonika The Roche Noir Salient The passage of the Vardar river and pursuit to the Strumica valley Hostilities with Bulgaria ceased on 30 September, with the Division by then in the area Kosturino - Rabrovo - Cestovo. The Division continued to advance and passed Krupnik by the end of October. 27th Division was ordered to halt and turn about on 2 November, embarking in December for operations on the Black Sea. It reached Constantinople on 19 December and opened HQ at Tiflis in January 1919. The Division was not disbanded until 24 September 1919, by which time it was at Batum. Order of Battle of the 27th Division 80th Infantry Brigade 2nd Btn, King's Shropshire Light Infantry 3rd Btn, King's Royal Rifle Corps 4th Btn, King's Royal Rifle Corps left June 1918 4th Btn, Rifle Brigade Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry left for 3rd Canadian Division, November 1915 80th Machine Gun Company joined 16 May 1916 80th Trench Mortar Battery joined 2 September 1916 80th SAA Section Ammunition Column joined 28 September 1916 81st Infantry Brigade 1st Btn, Royal Scots 1st Btn, Gloucestershire Regt left November 1916 2nd Btn, Cameron Highlanders 1st Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 1/9th Btn, Royal Scots joined February 1915, left November 1915 1/9th Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders joined February 1915, left May 1915 81st Machine Gun Company joined 16 May 1916 81st SAA Section Ammunition Column joined 28 September 1916 81st Trench Mortar Battery joined 16 October 1916 13th Bn, Black Watch joined October 1916, left June 1918 82nd Infantry Brigade 1st Btn, Royal Irish Regt left November 1916 2nd Btn, Duke of Cornwall's LI 2nd Btn, Royal Irish Fusiliers left November 1916 1st Btn, Leinster Regiment left November 1916 1/1st Btn, Cambridgeshire Regt joined February 1915, left November 1915 82nd Machine Gun Company formed 16 May 1916 82nd Trench Mortar Battery formed 31 July 1916 82nd SAA Section Ammunition Column joined 28 September 1916 10th Btn, Cameron Highlanders joined October 1916, left June 1918 2nd Btn, Gloucestershire Regt joined November 1916 10th Btn, Hampshire Regiment joined November 1916 19th Infantry Brigade This Brigade joined from 6th Division on 31 May 1915 but left to go to 2nd Division on 19 August 1915. 2nd Btn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers 1st Btn, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 1/5th Btn, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 1st Btn, the Middlesex Regt 2nd Btn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Divisional Troops 26th Btn, Middlesex Regiment joined as Divisional Pioneer Battalion in August 1916 27th Divisional Train 95, 96, 97 and 98 Companies ASC joined in November and December 1914 but remained when the Division moved to Salonika, becoming the 55th Divisional Train. A new Train, comprising 483, 484, 485 and 486 Companies sailed from Devonport on 16 January 1916. In April 1916 the Train was reorganised into "Pack and Wheel Echelons"; 852, 853, 845 and 856 Companies also later joined. 16th Mobile Veterinary Section AVC 818th Divisional Employment Company formed 14 September 1917 27th Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop joined February 1915 but remained in France when Division moved to Salonika Divisional Mounted Troops - under direct command of Divisional HQ A Sqn, Surrey Yeomanry left 27 December 1916 D Sqn, Derbyshire Yeomanry joined 26 March 1916, left June 1916 27th Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps left 7 December 1916 Divisional Artillery I Brigade, RFA XIX Brigade, RFA XX Brigade, RFA CXXIX (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA joined August 1915 27th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA formed December 1914 from the IV Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade TF RFA; disbanded 8 January 1917. 27th Division retained the Brigade Ammunition Columns 130th Howitzer Battery, RFA attached between 8 January and 21 February 1915 61st Howitzer Battery, RFA attached between 21 February 1915 and June 1915 2nd Mountain Battery, RGA briefly attached 17 to 24 July 1916 Bute Mountain Battery of IV Highland Mountain Brigade, RGA attached between 22 July and 8 September 1918, and again 23 September and 25 September 1918 Royal Engineers 1st (Wessex) Field Company later renamed 500th Field Company 2nd (Wessex) Field Company later renamed 501st Field Company 1st (South Midland) Field Company left March 1915 17th Field Company joined March 1915 Wessex Divisional Signal Company Royal Army Medical Corps 81st (1st Home Counties) Field Ambulance 82nd (2nd Home Counties) Field Ambulance 83rd (3rd Home Counties) Field Ambulance 7th Sanitary Section joined 9 January 1915, left 16 April 1917 20th November 1914 Reorganisation 20th Dec 1914 On the Move 21st Dec 1914 On the Move 22nd Dec 1914 On the Move 23rd Dec 1914 On the Move 27th Dec 1914 Trench Work 28th of December 1914 Report   29th of December 1914 Report   30th December 1914 Message 1st Jan 1915 Inspection 2nd Jan 1915 Trench Work 4th Jan 1915 Boots 4th of January 1915 Trench Work   5th Jan 1915 On the March 6th Jan 1915 On the March 6th of January 1915 German Guns Silenced 7th Jan 1915 On the March 7th January 1915 Passing by 8th Jan 1915 Reliefs 8th of January 1915 Trenches Damaged    9th Jan 1915 Shelling 10th Jan 1915 Shelling 11th Jan 1915 On the March 12th Jan 1915 Frostbite 13th Jan 1915 On the March 14th Jan 1915 Reliefs 15th Jan 1915 Shelling 16th Jan 1915 Reliefs 17th Jan 1915 Into Billets   18th Jan 1915 At Rest   18th of January 1915 Artillery Active    18th January 1915 Intermittent sniping. 22nd of January 1915 Aeroplane-Aided Shelling   23rd Jan 1915 On the March 24th Jan 1915 Reliefs 25th Jan 1915 In the Trenches 26th Jan 1915 Reliefs 27th Jan 1915 In Billets 28th Jan 1915 Reliefs 29th Jan 1915 Wounded 30th Jan 1915 Reliefs   31st of January 1915 Trench Improvements Reported   1st February 1915 Reserve position  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA With 5th Cavalry Brigade in reserve near Merville 1st to 4th February 1915 in bllets near Merville. On the 2nd February Lieutenant Lund sent to 27th Division to help train young subalterns. On the 4th February Second Lieutenant DCM Carberry joined for training from battery to which Lt Lund had been sent. war diaries 2nd of February 1915  Artillery in Action 7th of February 1915 Sectors Rearranged    9th of February 1915 German Post Located   10th of February 1915 Artillery Redistribution   10th February 1915 Reliefs 11th of February 1915 Hostile MG Shelled   13th of February 1915 Trenches Maintained   11th March 1915 Further moves  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA with 5th Cavalry Brigade near La Gorgue. Saddled up early - at 1600 moved into billet and bivouacs near La Gorgue. Second Lieutenant DHM Carberry rejoined 27th Division and Lieutenant Lund rejoined from 27th Division. war diaries 15th of March 1915  Active Artillery    16th of March 1915 No Hostile Patrols   26th of March 1915 Enemy Guns Active    27th of March 1915 German Air Activity   31st of March 1915  1st of April 1915 Situation Normal   1st of April 1915 Orders   18th of April 1915 Action Continues   19th of April 1915  20th of April 1915 Quiet   21st of April 1915 Intense Bombardment   23rd of April 1915 Quiet Night    24th of April 1915  A Quiet Night   25th of April 1915 Considerable losses 26th of April 1915  Quiet Night    27th of April 1915  Reliefs   30th of April 1915 Fairly Quiet Day    30th of April 1915 Report   1st May 1915 Working Parties 1st May 1915 Orders   1st of May 1915 Gas Casualties   4th of May 1915 Quiet Night   5th of May 1915 A Counter Attack   6th of May 1915 Another Attack Fails   8th of May 1915  Heavy Shelling   9th of May 1915  Staying Put 10th May 1915  back in the trenches 10th of May 1915 Normal Situation   11th of May 1915   No Retirement Planned   15th of May 1915 Concentration west of Ypres 15th of May 1915 Report   16th of May 1915 Report 16th May 1915 Messages   18th of May 1915 Battalion placements 18th May 1915 Instruction 19th May 1915 Instruction 21st of May 1915 Cavalry Corp take command   23rd May 1915  in trenches 24th May 1915  entrenched 1915-05-24  Trench Map 24th May 1915  Operational Report 24th May 1915  Operational Report 25th May 1915 Orders 26th May 1915 Case of Enteric Fever   Armourer Sgt. Marshall of Agyll & Sutherland Highlanders reported from Bailleul to be suffering from Enteric Fever. Investigations as to contacts and billets - no satisfactory information could be elicited; no trace of probable carriers. Information that the 6th Division leaves this area this week received, being relieved by the 27th Division 19 IB remains in present situation. Lt. Millar rejoined his Regiment this afternoon. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 31st May 1915 Field Artillery takes over  3rd Corps orders state: 19th Infantry Battalion will be attached to 27 Division from this date, 6th Division has officially left this area. 81st Field Artillery takes over Factory and billets of 16th Field Artillery and works Divisional Rest Station at Bac St Maurice. 82nd Field Artillery takes over the Institution St Jude, Armentières and 83rd Field Artillery the École Professionale, Armentières War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 31st of May 1915 "Careful Watch" Kept   1st June 1915 Arrangements with 81st Field Ambulance  The 19th Infantry Brigade occupy the same line of trenches between the Bridoux Road and Railway at Rue du Bois with in addition a section formerly occupied by the 17th Infantry Brigade, owing to one of the Brigades of the 27th Division being considerably under strength. Arrangements have been made for the 81st Field Ambulance at Erquinghem to collect the sick and wounded from the Regiment of 19 1B occupying the section north of the Railway as stated above, from Arrêt in I8a (sheet 36 1/40000) bringing them to this Field Ambulance on passing through to the 81st Field Ambulance headquarters. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 2nd June 1915 Visit by DADMS 27th Div  The DADMS* 27th Division visited this Field Ambulance and discussed working of line of the 19th Infantry Brigade by this Field Ambulance. * Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 6th June 1915 Suspicious meningitis cases are negative  Officer in charge of Mobile Laboratory visited the Field Ambulance today and saw all the suspicious cases, and also those segregated in tents of 5/Scottish Rifles, and pronounced the opinion that he considered them negative. General Snow 27th Division visited the Field Ambulance today. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 8th June 1915 More meningitis cases  Visited with Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services 27th Division, the Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS) XII Division re arrangements for attachment of officers of 12th Division Field Ambulance to this Field Ambulance. Four cases reported suspected cerebrospinal meningitis in 5/Scottish Rifles ordered to be sent to Isolation Hospital, Bailleul by ADMS 27th Division. Transferred 8 am 9th June. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 10th Jun 1915 On the March 11th Jun 1915 Instruction 12th Jun 1915 Instruction 13 June 1915 New ADMS 27th Div inspects  Assistant Director of Medical Services (Col. Browne) on taking over the 27th Division inspected the buildings and organisation of the Field Ambulance. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 13th Jun 1915 Instruction 14th Jun 1915 Instruction 3rd Jul 1915 Spies 4th Jul 1915 Signalling 5th July 1915 Demo re damping of smoke helmets.  Lt. Chapell returned from leave this morning. Lt. Grellier proceeded on eight days leave to England this evening. Visited 82nd and 83rd Field Ambulances with Assistant Director of Medical Services to see the transport of these units. Lt. Ford the attended 27th Divisional headquarters to see demonstration re damping of smoke helmets. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 10th July 1915 Selecting Field Ambulance sites  Accompanied by Capt. Browne DSO and Lt. Hampson, Transport Officer met the Assistant Director of Medical Services 27th Division north of Erquinghem Bridge to select possible sites for the unopened sections of Field Ambulance in Armentières and Erquinghem. Two farms with adjacent fields likely to be suitable were noted one at B20d4.2 and the other at B26d5.5. Sent in written report as to disposition of the section the Field Ambulance, showing strength at each place in men, horses and vehicles. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 11th July 1915 Still planning Move   Accompanied Assstant Director of Medical Services 27th Division again this afternoon. Farm at B20d4.2 now occupied by Artillery, therefore saw Farm at B26b6.8 with good fields for encampment and horse lines, and also farm at B20c2.6 with large field suitable for two sections of two Field Ambulances men, horses and vehicles. Nothing definite settled, but if Divisional Rest Station moves further back to an encampment, this Field Ambulance would possibly move into the factory at Bac St Maur at present in use as Divisional Rest Station. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 12th of July 1915  13th of July 1915  14th of July 1915  15th July 1915 Immediate move to Fort Rompu  Capt. JB Williamson RAMC assumed temporary command of 19th Field Ambulance vice Capt. CG Browne RAMC appointed Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services VII Corps. Capt. CG Browne left the unit for GHQ this day. (Signed CG Browne) Orders received at 2 pm from Assistant Director of Medical Services 27th Division, for 19th Field Ambulance to move at once to brewery at Fort Rompu, square H7d6.4. 19th Field Ambulance Paraded at 3:45 and marched complete at 4 pm. then took over brewery vacated by 26th Field Ambulance. Arranged accommodation for about 40 patients. At 11 pm visited by ADMS who considered accommodation insufficient. Prepared further accommodation allowing for total of about 120 lying down cases. All action posts in area cleared maintained as before. (signed JB Williamson) War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Ly. from 4 pm from Fort Rompu 15th of July 1915    16th July 1915 Inspection at Fort Rompu    Visited by Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General and Assistant Director of Medical Services 27th Division, who inspected the whole of the building occupied by the unit. The ADMS considered the arrangements for reception of sick and wounded satisfactory. In the afternoon visited by General Officer Commanding 27th Division. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Fort Rompu 16th of July 1915  20th July 1915 19th Infantry Brigade transfers to 8th Division  Visited by Deputy Director Medical Services 3rd Corps. This day the 19th Infantry Brigade and attached troops were transferred from 27th Division to 8th Division. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance 21st of July 1915  21st of July 1915  26th of July 1915    10th of Aug 1915    27th of Aug 1915  15th of September 1915 Reconnoitres and Plans 18th of September 1915 Relieving the French 19th of September 1915 Reliefs 22nd of September 1915  Bridges Guarded   23rd of September 1915 Divisional Front Reduced 24th of September 1915 Forward Trenches Shelled 26th of September 1915 Trench Work 1st of October 1915 A Basket of Snipers 2nd of October 1915 Training 10th of October 1915 New and Old Armies 11th of October 1915 Subalterns Adventures 11th of October 1915 Divisional Grenade School 13th of October 1915 Grenade School   13th of October 1915 Grenade School   13th of October 1915 Bread Shortage 14th of October 1915 Up to Strength 15th of October 1915 Billets and Casualties 16th of October 1915 Casualties 18th of October 1915 Rain Needed 18th Oct 1915 On the March 19th of October 1915 Bridging Train Arrives 20th of October 1915 Reliefs and Moves 20th of October 1915 An Appointment 22nd of October 1915 Reliefs 23rd of October 1915 French Take Over Front 24th of October 1915 Entraining Orders 25th of November 1915  Enemy Building Redoubts   9th Feb 1916 Transfer 26th Feb 1916 Transfer 6th April 1916 Troop movements 16th June 1916 Transfers to 82nd Field Ambulance  Assistant Director of Medical Services of 27th Division visited the Field Ambulance and made arrangements for temporary transfer of Capt. C G Browne and Staff Sgt. Clenshaw to the 82nd Field Ambulance to help with its reorganisation. War diary RAMC 19th Field Ambulance, Erquinghem-Lys 24th Aug 1916 On the Move 30th September 1916 Demonstration 24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 21st Jan 1918 Course 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 27th Division? There are:163 items tagged 27th Division available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 27th Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Auger F. Rflmn. 4th Btn. (d.20th Aug 1918) Behan Patrick. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.15th Jul 1915) Bennett James. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.21st Feb 1917) O'Brien James. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.16th Jan 1915) Todman Walter. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.17th Feb 1915) All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 19th Nov 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. 218493 Rflmn. F Auger 4th Btn. Rifle Brigade (d.20th Aug 1918) Rifleman F Auger died whilst the 80th Infantry Brigade of the 27th Division were preparing for the Final Offensive in Salonika. He is buried in Plovdiv Central Cemetery, Bulgaria, grave ref: C. 7. S Flynn Add to this record. 218363 Pte. James Bennett 2nd Btn. Shropshire Light Infantry (d.21st Feb 1917) John Bennett served with the 2nd Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry during WW1 and died at sea on the 21st February 1917, age 33. He was the son of Mrs. Alice Ann Bennett, of Shaw St., Burnley and Husband of Annie Lacy (formerly Bennett), of 47, New Hall St., Burnley. Within the cemetery is the Mikra Memorial, commemorating almost 500 nurses, officers and men of the Commonwealth forces who died when troop transports and hospital ships were lost in the Mediterranean, and who have no grave but the sea. S Flynn Add to this record. 216922 Pte. Patrick Behan 2nd Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers (d.15th Jul 1915) Patrick Behan served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers and died from his wounds on the 15th July 1915 aged 24. He is buried near the south boundary in Houtkerque Churchyard. Patrick was the son of Patrick and Lottia Behan, of Dublin. S Flynn Add to this record. 213928 Pte. Walter Todman 1st Btn. Royal Scots (d.17th Feb 1915) Walter Todman, Private 8859, enlisted in Blackdown on the 16th January 1904 as a boy soldier and served in the 1st Battalion Royal Scots. He died of wounds on the 17th February 1915. He is remembered on the Memorial at Ypres, the Menin Gate. Walter was born on the 16th January 1890. He was the son of Walter and Sarah Todman. In the 1911 census he is listed age 21 and with his regiment in India. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 213899 Pte. James O'Brien 1st Btn. Royal Scots (d.16th Jan 1915) Private James O'Brien 10589 served in the 1st Battalion Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) and died on the 16th January 1915. His place of Birth is given as County Fermanagh and he was living in Glasgow prior to enlistment. Vin Mullen Add to this record.

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