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33rd Division    The 33rd Division was one of six new Divisions authorised in December 1914 made up of the newly raised Pals Battalions, with units raised by the public schools, footballers and other sportsmen and the Church Lads Brigade, among others. 33rd Division troops were predominantly from the south of England. After commencing training near home, the units were moved in July 1915 to concentrate at Clipstone camp near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. It was not until August that the Division moved for final training and firing practice at Salisbury Plain. In November 1915 the Division received a warning order to prepare to sail for France, but the original artillery and Train would not accompany it; instead, it would receive the artillery that had been raised for and trained with the 54th (East Anglian) Division. The move began on 12 November and by 21 November all units had reached the concentration area near Morbecque. Soon after arrival the Division was considerably strengthened by the exchange of 98th Brigade for the experienced 19th Brigade from 2nd Division, and other changes. The Division then remained on the Western Front for the remainder of the war and took part in the following engagements: 1916 The Battle of Albert - Somme The Battle of Bazentin - Somme The attacks on High Wood - Somme The capture of Boritska and Dewdrop Trenches - Somme 1917 The First Battle of the Scarpe - Arras Offensive The Second Battle of the Scarpe - Arras Offensive The actions on the Hindenburg Line Operations on the Flanders coast (Operation Hush) The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge - Third Battles of Ypres The Battle of Polygon Wood - Third Battles of Ypres 1918 The Battle of Messines - Battles of the Lys The Battle of Hazebrouck - Battles of the Lys The Battle of Bailleul - Battles of the Lys The defence of Neuve Eglise - Battles of the Lys The First Battle for Kemmel Ridge - Battles of the Lys The fighting for and recapture of Ridge Wood - Battles of the Lys The Battle of the Epehy - Hindenburg Line The Battle of the St Quentin Canal - Hindenburg Line The Battle of the Beaurevoir Line - Hindenburg Line The Battle of Cambrai - Hindenburg Line The pursuit to the Selle - Final Advance in Picardy The Battle of the Selle - Final Advance in Picardy On 26th of October the Division captured Englefontaine and was that night relieved by the 38th (Welsh) Division. After a period of rest at Troisvilles it re-entered the line on 5th of November, advancing through the Foret de Mormal. By 7th of November it was on a line to the east of the Avesnes-Maubeuge road. It was there once again relieved by the Welsh Division and moved to the Sambre valley near Leval; it was there at the Armistice. By 4 December the Division had moved to Montigny and was there inspected by King George V; by 17th of December it was at Hornoy. Demobilisation continued throughout the first months of 1919. Divisional HQ moved to Le Havre on 28 February and on 30 June the Division ceased to exist. The Great War cost 33rd Division 37404 men killed, wounded or missing. Order of Battle of the 33rd Division 98th Brigade 18th Btn, Royal Fusiliers (1st Public Schools) to 19th Brigade 27 November 1915 19th Btn, Royal Fusiliers (2nd Public Schools) left 28 February 1916 20th Btn, Royal Fusiliers (3rd Public Schools) to 19th Brigade 27 November 1915 21st Btn, Royal Fusiliers (4th Public Schools) left 28 February 1916 1st Btn, Middlesex Regiment from 19th Brigade 27 November 1915 2nd Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders from 19th Brigade 27 November 1915 4th Btn, King's (Liverpool Regiment) joined 27 February 1916 1/4th Btn, Suffolk Regiment joined 28 February 1916, left February 1918 98th Machine Gun Company joined 28 April 1916, moved to 33rd Bn MGC 19 Feb 1918 98th Trench Mortar Battery formed by 30 June 1916 99th Brigade Brigade left to join 2nd Division on 25 November 1915 17th Btn, Royal Fusiliers (Empire) 22nd Btn, Royal Fusiliers (Kensington) 23rd Btn, Royal Fusiliers (1st Sportsmen's) 24th Btn, Royal Fusiliers (2nd Sportsmen's) 100th Brigade 13th Btn, Essex Regiment left 22 December 1915 (West Ham) 16th Btn, Middlesex Regiment left 25 February 1916 (Public Schools) 17th Btn, Middlesex Regiment left 8 December 1915 (1st Football) 16th Btn, King's Royal Rifle Corps (Church Lads Brigade) 1st Btn, Queen's joined 15 December 1915, to 19th Brigade 14 February 1918 2nd Btn, Worcestershire Regiment joined 20 December 1915 1/6th Btn, Cameronians joined and left February 1916 100th Machine Gun Company joined 28 April 1916, moved to 33rd Bn MGC 19 Feb 1918 1/9th Btn, Highland Light Infantry joined 29 May 1916 100th Trench Mortar Battery formed by 13 June 1916 19th Brigade 19th Brigade joined from 2nd Division on 25th of November 1915 1st Btn, Middlesex Regiment to 98th Brigade 27 November 1915 2nd Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders to 98th Brigade 27 November 1915 2nd Btn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers left 4 February 1918 1st Btn, Cameronians 1/5th Btn, Cameronians became 5/6th Bn May 1916 18th Btn, Royal Fusiliers from 98th Brigade 27 November 1915, left 26 February 1916 20th Btn, Royal Fusiliers from 98th Brigade 27 November 1915, disbanded February 1918 19th Machine Gun Company formed 24 February 1916, moved to 33rd Bn MGC 19 Feb 1918 19th Trench Mortar Battery formed by 24 June 1916 1st Btn, Queens joined from 100th Brigade 14 February 1918 Divisional Troops 18th (1st Public Works Pioneers) Btn, Middlesex Regiment joined as Divisional Pioneer Battalion July 1915 19th Motor Machine Gun Battery joined November 1915 but left and moved independently to France 6 February 1916 248th Machine Gun Company joined 21 July 1917, moved to 33rd Bn MGC 19 Feb 1918 33rd Battalion MGC formed 19 February 1918 Divisional Mounted Troops F Sqn, North Irish Horse joined January 1915, redesignated at B Sqn on 25 May 1916, left 19 April 1916 for 1st Cavalry Division 33rd Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps left 19 April 1916 Divisional Artillery The original Divisional artillery was designated Camberwell, as it was raised there by the Mayor and a committee between January and June 1915. Initial assembly and training took place in Dulwich. It joined the Division at Bulford between 5 and 8 August 1915. However the artillery did not proceed to France with Division. Instead, it took the artillery of the 54th (East Anglian) Division. 33rd Divisional artillery (as shown below) crossed to France and rejoined its Division in December 1915 CLVI Brigade, RFA CLXII Brigade, RFA CLXVI Brigade, RFA broken up 12 September 1916 CLXVII (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA broken up 12 September 1916 126 (Camberwell) Heavy Battery RGA left for XXII Heavy Artillery Group on 2 May 1916 33rd Divisional Ammunition Column RFA V.33 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA formed by 29 May 1916; broken up February 1918 X.33, Y.33 and Z.33 Medium Mortar Batteries, RFA formed by 4 May 1916; in February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 212th (Tottenham) Field Company 222nd (Tottenham) Field Company 226th (Tottenham) Field Company left for 2nd Division 2 December 1915 33rd (Tottenham) Divisional Signals Company 11th Field Company joined from 2nd Division 2 December 1915 Royal Army Medical Corps 99th Field Ambulance 100th Field Ambulance left for 2nd Division late November 1915 101st Field Ambulance 73rd Sanitary Section left 31 March 1917 19th Field Ambulance joined from 2nd Division late November 1915 Other Divisional Troops 33rd Divisional Train ASC originally 225,226, 227 and 228 Companies. Embarked for France 12 November 1915 but transferred in March 1916 to 29th Division. 170, 171, 172 and 173 Companies, formerly the 28th Divisional Train, joined on 13 November 1915. 172 Company switched with 8 Company from 2nd Divisional Train in late November 1915 43rd Mobile Veterinary Section AVC 230th Divisional Employment Company joined 1 June 1917 33rd Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop absorbed into Divisional Supply Column on 31 March 1916 May 1915 Parade June 1915 New HQ 1st July 1915 In Camp 3rd July 1915 Training Areas 4th July 1915 Arrivals 5th July 1915 Arrivals 7th July 1915 Arrivals 9th July 1915 New OC Jul 1915 Training Instruction Jul 1915 Billets 14th July 1915 On the Move 1st Nov 1915 Training 2nd Nov 1915 Inspection 3rd Nov 1915 Training 4th Nov 1915 Training 4th Nov 1915 Orders 4th Nov 1915 Orders 5th Nov 1915 Exercise 6th Nov 1915 Advance Party 7th Nov 1915 Advance Party 8th Nov 1915 Inspection 8th Nov 1915 Orders 9th Nov 1915 Orders 10th Nov 1915 Orders 11th Nov 1915 Orders Issued 12th Nov 1915 On the Move 13th Nov 1915 Orders 14th Nov 1915 On the Move 15th Nov 1915 On the Move 15th Nov 1915 On the Move 16th Nov 1915 On the Move 16th Nov 1915 On the Move 16th Nov 1915 On the Move 16th Nov 1915 On the Move 17th Nov 1915 In Camp 17th Nov 1915 On the Move 17th Nov 1915 On the Move 17th Nov 1915 On the Move 18th Nov 1915 On the Move 18th Nov 1915 On the Move 18th Nov 1915 Route March 18th Nov 1915 Orders 19th Nov 1915 On the Move 19th Nov 1915 On the Move 20th Nov 1915 Visits 20th Nov 1915 Training 20th Nov 1915 Difficult March 20th Nov 1915 Recce 21st Nov 1915 Training 21st Nov 1915 Route March 22nd Nov 1915 New Billets 22nd Nov 1915 Training 22nd Nov 1915 Equipment 23rd Nov 1915 On the March 23rd Nov 1915 On the March 23rd Nov 1915 On the Move 24th Nov 1915 Conference 24th Nov 1915 In Billets 24th Nov 1915 Recce 25th Nov 1915 Reorganisation 25th Nov 1915 Into Billets 25th Nov 1915 Trench Work   26th Nov 1915 Training 26th Nov 1915 Trench Work   27th Nov 1915 Trench Work   28th Nov 1915 Defences   30th Nov 1915 On the March   1st Dec 1915 Reliefs   2nd Dec 1915 Poor Conditions   3rd Dec 1915 On the March 4th Dec 1915 Instruction   4th Dec 1915 Quiet 5th Dec 1915 Instruction   5th Dec 1915 Orders 6th December 1915 Ongoing Action  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA Too windy to register, retaliated. The Argylle and Sutherland Highlanders relieved the 1st Middlesex. We have Infantry of 33rd Division in front of us and are attached to the 12th Divisional Artillery. war diaries 6th Dec 1915 Instruction   6th Dec 1915 Bombardment 7th December 1915 Ongoing Action  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA 7th Dec - Registered right and left points of our zone which consists of two German salients. Colonel Short came to Observation Point to inspect it and considered it unsuitable and not safe. The OP is a very good one consisting of a tree but hardly suitable for sitting in all day in the winter. 8th to 9th Dec - nothing to report, everything very quiet. 10th to 12th Dec - registered new points. war diaries 7th Dec 1915 Instruction   7th Dec 1915 Artillery Active 8th Dec 1915 Trench Work   9th Dec 1915 On the March 8th Dec 1915 Mine Exploded 9th Dec 1915 Wet Day 10th Dec 1915 Moves 11th Dec 1915 Reliefs 12th Dec 1915 Flooding 12th Dec 1915 Training 13th Dec 1915 Orders   14th Dec 1915 Training Facilities 14th Dec 1915 On the Move 15th Dec 1915 Reliefs   15th Dec 1915 Training 16th Dec 1915 Reorganisation 16th Dec 1915 Orders 16th Dec 1915 Into Billets 17th Dec 1915 Instructions Issued 18th December 1915 Enemy Aircraft dangers  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA Intended to do a lot of shooting but was unable to do so owing to the number of German aeroplanes that were over during the morning and could only fire 4 rounds. war diaries 18th Dec 1915 Training 19th December 1915 Ongoing Action  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA A fine day and did a good deal of shooting. The Centre Section (Innerlees ??)was shelled in the morning by 5.9 inch Howitzers. One gun pit was hit and fell in onto the wheel of the gun but the gun was not damaged. One telephone pit had a direct hit, 2 men were inside but were not touched though a good deal of kit was damaged. There were no injuries to personnel. The shelling began around 1200 and continued at intervals with single rounds until about 1500. war diaries 19th Dec 1915 Instructions 20th December 1915 Ammunition problems  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA 20th Dec - Tested the shooting of the guns up to date the fuses seem to have been very bad. 21st Dec - No shooting today. war diaries 20th Dec 1915 Reorganisation 21st Dec 1915 Storm 22nd December 1915 Ongoing Action  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA 22nd Dec - Experimented with some old fuses, result not very satisfactory. At 1700 gas attack by 12th Division not a success. 23rd - Retaliated and several more points registered war diaries 22nd Dec 1915 Conference 23rd Dec 1915 Orders Issued   24th December 1915 Ongoing Action  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA 24th Dec - Fired between 1700 and 1800, 1900 and 2000 also 2200 to 2300 on enemy's transport lines and trolley lines. 25th Dec - Fired a few rounds in the morning and repeated the firing of Dec 24th evening. war diaries 24th Dec 1915 Flooding 25th Dec 1915 Instruction 26th December 1915 Ongoing Action  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA 26th Dec - Nothing to report 27th Dec - At about 1350 the Battery was shelled by 5.9 Howitzers Shelling continued till about 1530 but no gun-pit, dugout or man was hit. One shell burst about 10 yards short of number 3 gun and another 10 yards over, the remainder were scattered everywhere. Some in the orchard where the fuses were, some outside, some on the far side of the road behind the guns. 28th Dec - Did no shooting and filled up the holes made yesterday. 29th Dec - No shooting. 30th Dec - Did a good deal of shooting. war diaries 26th Dec 1915 Flooding 27th Dec 1915 On the March 28th Dec 1915 Reliefs   29th Dec 1915 Billets 29th Dec 1915 Reliefs 30th Dec 1915 Reliefs   31st December 1915 Commence relief handover  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA Captain Walsh, Commanding Officer, 63rd Brigade RFA came up to take over position and it was arranged that 2 guns should go out of action this night and on the next morning he registered his 2 guns. The times worked out well but his ranges differed 75 yards from our registrations. His 18 pounders being new and our 13 pounders very old. Whilst we have been in this position a lot of work has been done to the gunpits and the system of telephone communication with the Battalion Headquarters and the Group HQ Royal Artillery much improved war diaries 31st Dec 1915 Shelling   1st January 1916 Sectional Relief  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA Rue des Chavaties. The right section came out of action in the evening being relieved by a section of C Battery 63rd Brigade 12th Division (Captain Walsh). war diaries 2nd January 1916 Sectional Relief  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA In the morning Captain Walsh came up to the Observation Point (a tree) to view the country which is the country opposite Canadian Orchard. He was very pleased with all the arrangements at the guns and at the OP. Consequently handing over to him as very simple. On his registration with his guns I found that they shot exactly the same for line as ours but that the 18 pounders required 50 yards less range than the 13 pounders. In the evenng theleft section came out of action being relieved by another section of C Battery 63rd Brigade RFA. Owing to the muddy state of the ground the 18 pounders found great difficulty in getting their guns into the pits and there was a vast difference between the time taken in getting the 13 pounders out and the 18 pounders in - the extra weight of the 18 pounders making an enormous difference. The detached gun of Centre Section also came out of action and the battery marched to Oblinghem, arriving there about 1900, a good deal of mud but not as bad as the wagon line we had just left. war diaries 3rd January 1916 Inspections   11th January 1916 Further Action   28th January 1916 Ongoing Action   30th January 1916 Ongoing Action   1st February 1916 Replacements 2nd February 1916 Ongoing Action  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA We exploded a mine near the Hairpin Crater. Artillery support not asked for. war diaries 3rd February 1916 Inspections 7th February 1916 Enemy bombardment 8th February 1916 Replacements 9th February 1916   E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA 9th Feb - The 15 inch Gun fired on the buildings by Fosse 8 - E Battery co-operated. 10th Feb - A quiet day. 11th February 1916 Relief action 12th February 1916 Enemy bombardment 14th February 1916 Replacements 19th February 1916 Relief action 21st February 1916 Relief action 23rd February 1916 Relief action 1st March 1916 Moves and Inspections 31st Mar 1916 Report 1st April 1916 Reserve positions 9th April 1916 Training 11th April 1916 Training 16th Apr 1916 Reliefs 19th April 1916 Return to billets  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA 19th Apr - The Battery returned to Ergny. 28th Apr - Second Lieutenant W Wright RFA joined the battery on this day vice Second Lieutenant Dewing posted to the Ammunition Column 2nd Cavalry Division war diaries 1st May 1916 Reliefs 2nd May 1916 Relocation 1st Jun 1916 Reorganisation 2nd Jun 1916 Orders 3rd Jun 1916 Training 4th Jun 1916 Reorganisation 5th Jun 1916 Training 6th Jun 1916 Baths 7th Jun 1916 Training 8th Jun 1916 Training 9th Jun 1916 Orders 10th Jun 1916 On the March 10th Jun 1916 On the March 11th Jun 1916 On the Move 1st July 1916 Fire on Airships Forbidden 17th of July 1916  On the Move   19th of July 1916 Relief Carried Out   20th of July 1916 Positions of Units   21st Jul 1916 Orders Received 21st of July 1916 Enemy Takes High Wood   22nd Jul 1916 Reliefs Completed   23rd of July 1916 Longueval Attack Report   29th of July 1916  Quiet Situation   1st Sep 1916 On the Move 2nd Sep 1916 On the March 3rd Sep 1916 At Rest 4th Sep 1916 On the March 4th Sep 1916 On the March 6th Sep 1916 On the March 7th Sep 1916 Orders 8th Sep 1916 On the March 9th Sep 1916 In Billets 10th Sep 1916 Short March 11th Sep 1916 On the March 12th Sep 1916 Improvements 13th Sep 1916 Improvements 14th Sep 1916 Change of Billets 15th Sep 1916 Onwards 15th Sep 1916 Improvements 16th Sep 1916 Improvements 17th Sep 1916 Improvements 18th Sep 1916 Improvements 19th Sep 1916 Improvements 20th Sep 1916 Prisoner of War Cage 21st Sep 1916 Recce 22nd Sep 1916 Trench Work 23rd Sep 1916 Trench Work 24th Sep 1916 Trench Work 25th Sep 1916 Trench Work 26th Sep 1916 Trench Work 27th Sep 1916 Trench Work 28th Sep 1916 Trench Work 29th Sep 1916 Trench Work 30th Sep 1916 Trench Work 5th Jan 1917 Orders 25th of March 1917  4th Apr 1917 Bombardment Commences 9th Apr 1917 Assault Made 10th Apr 1917 Artillery Advance 11th Apr 1917 Servere Fighting 12th Apr 1917 Reliefs 12th Apr 1917 HQ Moves up 13th Apr 1917 Under Shellfire 14th Apr 1917 Counter Attack 23rd of April 1917    1st of May 1917 Orders 15th of May 1917  15th of May 1917   18th of May 1917  19th of May 1917 Concentration 19th of May 1917 Orders   20th May 1917 In Reserve 21st of May 1917  23rd of May 1917 Dispositions 24th of May 1917  28th of May 1917  14th September 1917 Operational Order   23rd Nov 1917 Quiet   4th of December 1917 Training 6th of December 1917 Training 6th of December 1917  7th of December 1917  9th of December 1917 Training 24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 1st of January 1918  1st of January 1918  2nd of January 1918    3rd of January 1918  3rd of January 1918  4th of January 1918  6th of January 1918  21st Jan 1918 Course 24th of January 1918  24th of January 1918    26th of January 1918  27th of January 1918  29th of January 1918  4th Feb 1918 Reorganisation 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 15th of February 1918 Orders   16th of February 1918 Orders 17th Feb 1918 Competition 17th of February 1918  18th Feb 1918 Training 20th of February 1918 Relief Complete 21st of February 1918 Reliefs Continue 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 22nd of February 1918 On the Move 23rd of February 1918 Sector Handed Over 26th Mar 1918 Orders   10th Apr 1918 Enemy Attack 11th Apr 1918 Attacks Repulsed   11th of April 1918 Quiet...and then...   12th Apr 1918 Withdrawal  At about 7.30am messages received from A,B, & D Coy’s 18th Durhams and a telephone message from C Coy to say that enemy were massing in front of them. 2nd Lt Freer reported to OC C COY that troops of 13th York & Lancasters were retiring. OC C Coy held on for about 15 minutes after left of York & Lancasters had withdrawn. He reported patrol coming through Grand Beaumart. D Coy on the left held on for some time longer than other companies and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. B Coy also inflicted casualties before retiring. The 15th West Yorks retired on the left of D Coy 20 minutes before D Coy moved. Orders were issued to Coy’s to hold on to line of the original first objective in the previous nights attack. 3 officers were wounded (seriously & left behind in the withdrawal) 18th DLI Coy’s retiring had (approx) the following casualties: A Coy 70, B Coy 80, C Coy 60, D Coy 60. Coy’s held for a short time this first objective but again withdrew. The CO and Adjutant attempted to form a line 200yards South East of the Rau Du Leet and all Coy’s were at the same time warned to hold at all costs the road running along the Rau Du Leet. About this time our own artillery shelled us very heavily. The CO and Adjutant were only able to get a certain number of men as the front upon which the withdrawal was taking place was a large one and men had retired too far back, but with what men they could get at they formed a line. CO sent Adjt back to get into communications with Brigade HQ at the Farm (originally Battalion HQ) near Cemetery in F.12.a. Instructed all Coy’s in event of being forced to withdraw from line Rau Du Leetto form a strong point at the Cemetery. All Coy’s did not receive this order in time to do so. D Coy Commander with 15 men held on to the line Rau Du Leet to the North West of Blanche Maison. B Coy Commander with a few of his own men & some of 15th West Yorks held on near the Cemetery holding up the enemy advance after the main body had retired well back from the line Rau Du Leet. Battalion HQ also covered retirement of the main body by holding firm on line at Farm F.12.a.7.4. to F.11.a.9.9. Retirement to line of railway from F.5. central to South of Outtersteene. Whole Brigade collected along railway which was a difficult position owing to necessity of men exposing themselves while watching dead ground in front and owing also to the exact fire of enemy machine guns on the railway line. Strength of Brigade on railway about 400. On right 15th West Yorks, centre 13th York & Lancasters, left 18th DLI. This line was held for over an hour when message was received from 15th West Yorks saying that their flank had been turned and that enemy were across the railway and were enfilading us. 15th West Yorks retired. Major Lowe held right half Battalion while Adjt withdrew with the left half through very close country and thick hedges. After withdrawing about 50yards Adjt took up new position facing East in open ground. On right half Battalion withdrawing, it was seen that they were under fire from farms on high ground to the South 300yards away. Right half Battalion formed defensive flank to the right while left half took up position facing South East on North side of the Bailleul to Outtersteene Road where we held for some time until right half of Battalion joined us. After a conference of Maj Lowe MC, Maj Nutt 13th York & Lancasters and all officers it was decided that we were likely to be completely surrounded in a few minutes and decided to work round North & North West to our Brigade HQ at Merris. Putting out advanced guard, left flank guard, and rear guard we worked up behind hedges & after going about 400yards came into contact with Lt Col Tilley 15th West Yorks. CO’s conferred together & Lt Col Tilley & Maj Nutt voted reporting to 33rd Division which were occupying position defending Metern. Maj Lowe wished to work round and report to our own Brigade. Whole Brigade moved back and took up position with the 18th Middlesex Battalion on 33rd Divisional line facing South & East midway between Bailleul and Metern. Arranged with OC 18th Middlesex to take over a line of a few small rifle posts facing South East. Improved these trenches. Very little shelling. 18th Durham Light Infantry War Diary WO95/2361/1 12th Apr 1918 Hold at all Costs   12th of April 1918 Enemy Advances   13th Apr 1918 Gaps in the Line   13th of April 1918 Under Heavy Attack   14th Apr 1918 Fall Back   14th of April 1918 A Counter-Attack   14th of April 1918 Operations Orders   15th Apr 1918 Question of Withdrawal   15th of April 1918 A Quiet Day   16th Apr 1918 Enemy Attack   16th of April 1918 French Support Arrives   17th Apr 1918 Enemy Attack 17th of April 1918 HQs Move   18th Apr 1918 Plans 18th of April 1918 Relief for Some   19th Apr 1918 Reliefs 19th of April 1918 Orders   20th Apr 1918 Reorganisation 20th of April 1918 Order Alteration   21st Apr 1918 Defensive Plans 24th of April 1918 Rest and Reorganisation   28th Apr 1918 Transfer 30th of April 1918 Reports   20th August 1918 Combined Bombardment 6th of November 1918    If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 33rd Division? There are:284 items tagged 33rd 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 33rd Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Eveleigh Lawrence Horatio Goff. Gnr. C Bty. 162nd Brigade (d.13th Apr 1917) Holmes Peter. 24th (Sportsmans) Btn. Mayell James Richard. Spr. (d.20th May 1917) Maynard Cephas Alexander. Pte. 20th Battalion (d.20th July 1916) McEwan James. Pte. 2nd Btn. Savill Stanley Rust. Rfmn. 16th Btn. (d.27th Sep 1917) Ward Robert. Pte. 2nd Btn. 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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. 263562 Peter Holmes 24th (Sportsmans) Btn. Royal Fusiliers Peter Holmes was married to Florence (nee Armstrong). At the time of his enlistment in Liverpool (January 1915) he was 36 years old. Height: 5'8", weight: 12st 2lbs, good physical condition, except for defective teeth. The 24th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers spent the next 11 months training in Nottingham and then on Salisbury Plain, before moving to France in November of 1915 as part of the 99th Brigade, 33rd Division. The spring of 1916 saw Peter involved on localised operations. When the Battle of the Somme opened Peter and his Battalion were enjoying a period of rest and re-fit. However, this didn't prevent Peter from being injured in action and having to leave the line to recover. Peter subsequently returned to the regiment and took part in the Battle of Ancre, only to be wounded on the first day. This necessitated him leaving from the line for a month, before re-joining his Regiment in the area of Festubert, where he was under constant threat from artillery and sniper fire. In 1918 he joined the Labour Corps serving in an Area Employment Company. He was appointed Acting Sgt 7th of March 1919 and returned to England to be demobilised on the 12th May 1919, with no disability. Peter died in the 1945 in Chester Royal Infirmary, Chester. He was my 1st Cousin 2 x removed. Andy Holmes Add to this record. 255575 Gnr. Lawrence Horatio Goff Eveleigh C Bty. 162nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery (d.13th Apr 1917) Lawrence Eveleigh was married to my great aunt in early 1917. He fell in the Battle of Arras in April of the same year, they had been married only 3 months. His brigade was attached to the 33rd Division throughout the war. He now lies in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery at Souchez in France. My family and I are planning to visit, and pay our respects to him in Spring of 2019. This all came about from a chance conversation I had with my 82 year old mother, on Remembrance Sunday. She could only vaguely remember the name Goff, as her Aunt never spoke about him. So pleased I tracked him down and very proud. Add to this record. 247660 Pte. James McEwan MM. 2nd Btn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders James McEwan served with distinction in the Great War spending four years in the trenches with 2nd Btn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. He was part of the 33rd Division and won the Military Medal for bravery in the field in the Ypres Salient. He was also presented with a certificate of distinction by the commanding officer of the 33rd Division. James took part in the Battle of Arras, The Battle of the Somme and the Third Battle of Ypres (Easschendaele). He was seriously wounded in 1917 probably during the last named battle. During the Second World War James served in the Home Guard where his valuable experience was used training is local Home Guard unit in which he served as a Sergeant until he was accidentally wounded while on the rifle range. He died from gas gangrene in a Military Hospital in Edinburgh on 23rd of January 1943 and was buried with military honours at Cambusnethan Cemetery. James was the son of John and Janet McEwan of 89 Meadowbum Road, Wishaw, Husband of Elizabeth Miller McEwan of 15 Crindledyke Crescent, Newmains. Add to this record. 220072 Rfmn. Stanley Rust Savill 16th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.27th Sep 1917) Stanley Savill was my Great Uncle. It's believed that he was a sniper and he never returned from duty. His body was never found. His name is on the Tyne Cot Memorial and his name was read out at the Roll of Honour ceremony at the Tower of London on 30th August 2014. Both his brother and sister named their 1st born Stanley. Rifleman Stanley Rust Savill served with the 16th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps during WW1 and died, age 21, on the 27th September 1917. He is remembered at the Tyne Cot Memorial. He was the Son of William Thomas and Kate Savill, of 40, St. Awdrys Rd., Barking, Essex. Anne Skinner Add to this record. 219053 Spr. James Richard Mayell 222nd (Tottenham) Field Company (d.20th May 1917) James Richard Mayell was my grandmothers first husband. Her name, prior to her marriage was May Hurlock. They married on Christmas day in 1913 and in March 1915, their son, Bernard James Mayell was born. Sadly, the child died in a tragic accident a year later and then James Richard Mayell was killed in action on 20th of May 1917. My grandmother went on to emigrate to Canada and married and had a life in Canada. She never spoke about this time in her life. I do not have any photos of her husband or child and would love to connect with anyone in the Mayell family who may be able to provide more information. Linda Mannix Add to this record. 216065 Pte. Robert Ward 2nd Btn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (d.30th Nov 1917) Robert Ward, Private 56556, enlisted at Jarrow and served with the 2nd Battalion Welsh Fusiliers. He died on the 30th November 1917 and is remembered at St. Paul's Church and Tyne Cot Military Cemetery. His medal card shows that he was awarded the War and Victory Medals. His older brother James was also one of the fallen. Robert was born in Jarrow 1897, son of Hugh and Mary Elizabeth Ward nee Jamieson of 92 Hope Street, Jarrow. In the 1911 census the family are living at 3 Burn Street, Jarrow with Hugh(39)labourer in chemical works and his wife of 19 years Elizabeth(39) and their 6 children all single. Janet(18), James(15) catching rivets in shipyard, Robert(13), Bernard(8) and Ellen(6) are at school and John is age 4. Vin Mullen Add to this record.

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