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46th (North Midland) Division  Divisional History  The 46th (North Midland) Division in 1914-1918 The history of 46th (North Midland) Division The North Midland Division was a formation of the Territorial Force. It was formed as a result of the reforms of the army carried out in 1908 under the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane and was one of 14 Divisions of the peacetime TF. All units were mobilised for full time war service on 5 August 1914. 1914 The units of the Division concentrated in the Luton area by mid August 1914. 1915 King George V inspected the Division on 19th of February 1915. Advance parties landed at Boulogne on 23 February and eight days later the units began to arrive. Concentration was completed by 8th of March. The North Midland was thus the first TF Division to arrive complete in a theatre of war. The first months were spent in the Ypres salient. On 12th of May 1915 the Division was retitled as the 46th (North Midland) Division and the brigades were also retitled. The Division then took part in the following engagements: The German liquid fire attack at Hooge (30-31 July 1915) The attack at the Hohenzollern Redoubt (13 October 1915) On 23 December 1915 the Division was ordered to proceed to Egypt, leaving the Divisional Ammunition Column (for the 55th Division), the Divisional Train (with the 56th Division) and the Mobile Veterinary Section. Most units reached Egypt via Marseilles by 13 January. 1916 After just a few days in Egypt, the move of the Division was countermanded and the units were returned to France, whereupon the DAC, Train and Vets rejoined. The Division remained in France and Flanders for the rest of the war, taking part in the following engagements: The diversionary attack at Gommecourt (1 July 1916) 1917 Operations on the Ancre (March) Occupation of the Gommecourt defences (4 March) The attack on Rettemoy Graben (12 March) The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line The attack on Lievin (1 July) The Battle of Hill 70 (15-25 August) 1918 The Battle of the St Quentin canal, including the passage of the canal at Bellenglise - Hindenburg Line 1918 The Battle of the Beaurevoir Line - Hindenburg Line 1918 The Battle of Cambrai - Hindenburg Line 1918 The Battle of the Selle - Final Advance in Picardy The Battle of Sambre - Final Advance in Picardy The forward units of the Division were at Sains-du-Nord on 11 November 1918. Not selected to join the Army of Occupation, the Division moved back to Landrecies on 14-15 November. Units moved to the Le Cateau area in early January 1919 and demobilisation began. By June it was down to cadre level. The Division reformed as part of the Territorial Army in April 1920. The units forming the divisional order of battle of the 46th (North Midland) Division 137th (Staffordshire) Brigade 1/5th Btn, the South Staffordshire Regiment 1/6th Btn, the South Staffordshire Regiment 1/5th Btn, the North Staffordshire Regiment left January 1918 1/6th Btn, the North Staffordshire Regiment 4th Btn, the King's (Liverpool Regiment) joined November 1915, left December 1915 1/4th Btn, the Seaforth Highlanders joined and left November 1915 1/4th Btn, the London Regiment joined and left November 1915 137th Machine Gun Company joined 7 March 1916, moved to 46th Btn MGC 28 February 1918 137th Trench Mortar Battery joined 2 March 1916 138th (Lincoln & Leicester) Brigade 1/4th Btn, the Lincolnshire Regiment left January 1918 1/5th Btn, the Lincolnshire Regiment 1/4th Btn, the Leicestershire Regiment 1/5th Btn, the Leicestershire Regiment 138th Machine Gun Company joined 22 February 1916, moved to 46th Btn MGC 28 Feb 1918 138th Trench Mortar Battery joined 2 March 1916 139th (Sherwood Forester) Brigade 1/5th Btn, the Sherwood Foresters 1/6th Btn, the Sherwood Foresters 1/7th Btn, the Sherwood Foresters left January 1918 1/8th Btn, the Sherwood Foresters 1/4th Btn, the Black Watch joined and left November 1915 1/3rd Btn, the London Regiment joined and left November 1915 139th Machine Gun Company joined 16 February 1916, moved to 46th Btn MGC 26 Feb 1918 139th Trench Mortar Battery joined 9 March 1916 Divisional Troops 1/1st Btn, the Monmouthshire Regiment joined as Divisional Pioneer Battalion in September 1915 178th Machine Gun Company joined 28 March 1917, moved to 46th Bn MGC 28 Feb 1918 46th Battalion MGC formed 28 February 1918 100th Battalion MGC joined 26 September 1918, left 1 October 1918 Divisional Mounted Troops B Sqn, the Yorkshire Hussars left 5 May 1916 North Midland Divisional Cyclist Company left 9 May 1916 Divisional Artillery CCXXX Brigade, RFA CCXXXI Brigade, RFA CCXXXII Brigade, RFA left January 1917 CCXXXIII (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA broken up August 1916 North Midland (Staffordshire) Heavy Battery, RGA a battery of four 4.7-inch guns which left for XIII HA Brigade, RGA on 18 April 1915 46th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA V.46 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA joined 20 June 1916; left for I Corps 3 February 1918 X.46, Y.46 and Z.46 Medium Mortar Batteries, RFA joined 9-17 March 1916; on 3 February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 465th (1st North Midland) Field Company left January 1915, rejoined April 1915 466th (2nd North Midland) Field Company 468th (2/1st North Midland) Company 57th (3rd East Lancashire) Field Company joined April 1915, left July 1915 46th Divisional Signals Company Royal Army Medical Corps 1st North Midland Field Ambulance 2nd North Midland Field Ambulance 3rd North Midland Field Ambulance 17th Sanitary Section joined 4 March 1915, left for V Corps 21 March 1917 Other Divisional Troops 46th Divisional Train ASC retitled from the North Midland Divisional Transport and Supply Column, and the units also retitled as 451, 452, 453 and 454 Companies ASC 1st North Midland Mobile Veterinary Section AVC 46th Divisional Ambulance Workshop absorbed into Divisional Supply Column 6 April 1916 240th Divisional Employment Company joined 25 June 1917 4th Aug 1914 Mobilisation 25th Aug 1914 46th Midland Division on the Move 21st Jan 1915 A Hearty Send Off 1st February 1915 Musketry 15th Feb 1915 Orders Received 16th Feb 1915 Horses 19th Feb 1915 Inspection 21st of February 1915 8th Howitzers Leave   23rd Feb 1915 Inspection 24th Feb 1915 Instructions 25th Feb 1915 First Territorial units land in France  The 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters was part of 139th (Forester) Brigade in the 46th (North Midland) Division. In February 1915, the 139th (Forester) Brigade had the distinction of being part of the first Territorial division to land in France. By the end of the year they had been engaged in heavy fighting and Captain C. G. Vickers of the 1/7th (Robin Hoods) had been awarded the VC. This Forester Brigade served in France for the remainder of the war and suffered severe casualties. In particular, it gained special recognition for its valour on the opening day of the Somme Battle on 1 July 1916, where it suffered 80 per cent casualties, and its magnificent part in the breaking of the Hindenburg Line and the final defeat of the German Army in the autumn of 1918. Lieutenant Colonel B.W. Vann MC the Commanding Officer of the 1/6th Battalion and Sergeant W.H. Johnson of the 1/5th Battalion being awarded the VC for conspicious bravery in the latter action. 25th Feb 1915 On the Move 26th Feb 1915 On the Move 27th Feb 1915 On the Move 28th Feb 1915 On the Move 28th of February 1915  1st Mar 1915 Move 2nd of March 1915  Patrols   23rd Mar 1915 In Action 31st of March 1915     31st of March 1915 Orders Issued   1st of April 1915 Situation Normal   1st of April 1915 Orders   2nd of April 1915 Quiet Day   3rd of April 1915 Quiet Day   4th of April 1915 A White Flag   5th of April 1915 Quiet Day 6th of April 1915 A Hand Over   7th of April 1915 Mostly Quiet    9th of April 1915  Quiet Day   13th of April 1915 Report   18th Apr 1915 Reorganisation 14th of May 1915 Quiet and Normal   2nd June 1915 Trench Digging Continues 12th of June 1915    17th of June 1915 Secret message 17th of June 1915  19th of June 1915    19th of June 1915    21st June 1915 Battalion movements   22nd of June 1915 Infantry relieved 22nd of June 1915 Move and relief postponed 22nd of June 1915 Orders amended 23rd of June 1915 Batteries engaged 24th of June 1915 Area control changes 24th June 1915 Normal Situation 30th of June 1915  A Reconnoitre   1st of July 1915  Considerable Shelling 4th July 1915    7th of July 1915  7th of July 1915 Normal Night 11th of July 1915  Enemy Creates Crater   12th of July 1915   Enemy Explode Mine   14th of July 1915 Aeroplane Active   15th of July 1915  Reliefs   16th of July 1915 More Reliefs   20th of July 1915 Mine Discovered 3rd September 1915 Reorganisation 28th Sep 1915 Lull in Fighting 7th Oct 1915 Planning   12th Oct 1915 Staffords on the March 13th Oct 1915 In the Attack 13th Oct 1915 5th North Staffs in Action   13th Oct 1915 Terriers Charge 13th Oct 1915 Bravery as Searchlight Draws Fire 15th Oct 1915 1st Grenadiers into the Line 16th Oct 1915 Pride 27th Oct 1915 Parade Rehearsal 29th Oct 1915 GOC Meets Officers 31st Oct 1915 Church Parade 16th of February 1916 Collapsing Trenches   28th of February 1916 Changes to the Front   1st of March 1916 Reorganisation   25th March 1916 Bad weather   7th April 1916 Artillery Fire   26th May 1916 Working Party for Railway. 1st Jun 1916 Working Parties   3rd May 1916 Orders Received 4th June 1916 Seven men buried by explosions 12th May 1916 Visit 13th May 1916 Training 17th May 1916 Training 18th June 1916 Outline of the operation orders 19th May 1916 Training 22nd May 1916 Communications   23rd May 1916 Working Parties   24th May 1916 Working Parties   25th May 1916 Working Parties   26th May 1916 Working Parties   27th May 1916 Working Parties   28th May 1916 Working Parties   29th May 1916 Preparations   30th May 1916 Working Parties   31st May 1916 Working Parties   1st July 1916 In Action 1st July 1916 Smoke discharged all along our line 2nd July 1916 Reliefs 3rd Jul 1916 Reliefs 3rd July 1916 Shelling   4th July 1916 Reliefs 19th August 1916 Location "D" Battalion.   30th Oct 1916 Reorganisation 4th of January 1917  12th of January 1917  19th of January 1917    19th of January 1917  21st of January 1917  24th of January 1917  20th of April 1917 Orders to Attack   22nd April 1917 Operational Orders   23rd of April 1917 Reliefs Complete   1st Jul 1917 Street Fighting 16th Aug 1917 Shelling 24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 10th of January 1918 Reliefs and Orders   20th of January 1918 Relief Continues 21st Jan 1918 Course 22nd of January 1918 Operations   23rd January 1918 Harassing Fire   24th of January 1918 Artillery Very Quiet   26th of January 1918 Enemy Patrol Engaged   5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 26th of February 1918 Enemy Heavies Active   28th of February 1918 Divisional Defence Scheme   1918-03-01 Sectors Defined   1st March 1918 Extracts from the Diary of Brevet-Colonel G.S.collison, D.S.O. Pt.8. 2nd Mar 1918 Alert   4th of March 1918 A Gas Shell Shoot   26th of March 1918 Seventeen Patrols Out   27th of March 1918 Sniper's Post Demolished   3rd of April 1918 Le Rutoire Shelled   9th of April 1918 Snipers vs. Snipers   11th of April 1918 Enemy Guns Quieter   24th Sep 1918 In Action 29th Sep 1918 A Complicated Position 30th Sep 1918 Bitter Fighting Sep 1918 Hard Fighting 20th October 1918 46th Infantry Brigade passes over the Brigade If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 46th (North Midland) Division? There are:140 items tagged 46th (North Midland) 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 46th (North Midland) Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Morris Thomas Charles. Pte. 230th Brigade Tranter Harry Alexander. Sgt. 1/7th Battalion (d.21st Mar 1918) Watson Edward. Pte. 1/6th Btn. (d.3rd Oct 1918) 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. 1206143 Pte. Thomas Charles Morris 230th Brigade Royal Field Artillery I believe my grandfather, Thomas Morris received a commendation in 1918 at Ridge Wood Ypres, with a young officer named Anthony Strutt who lost his life that day 28th April 1918. Can anyone please help me to confirm this? Editors Note: The action mentioned on the 28th April 1918 happened during the last great German Spring Offensive which almost succeeded and moved the allied front line back to pre Somme 1916 positions. The officer who died was Lieutenant Anthony Herbert Strutt, 16th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). A notice in local paper in Belper reported: "Lieutenant Anthony Herbert Strutt 16th (Chatsworth Rifles) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) Died of wounds at Vermoorzeele Belgium on Saturday 27th April 1918 aged 22. Extract from the Battalion History. On the 27th April Ridge Wood and Voormezeele were part of the frontline and we fought what amounted to a rearguard action all day. This was our final day in the trenches as we were to be relieved that night. It is therefore with regret to record the last casualty among our original officers. During the relief while leading the remnants of us out of the firing line Lieutenant A H Strutt was mortally wounded. Anthony is buried in the Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No 3 Belgium." At that time a lot of units were mixed in desperate rearguard fighting and Thomas probably assisted in getting the mortally wounded officer out of the combat zone. Access to war diaries might help or possibly the Regimental Museums for both units. Medal card search reveals he was awarded the British War and Victory Medals, but make no mention of any other citation, however that is not conclusive as many such incidents were not transcribed and the cards were completed manually with many names mis-spelt. Ian Spowage Add to this record. 216097 Pte. Edward Watson 1/6th Btn. North Staffordshire Regiment (d.3rd Oct 1918) Edward Watson enlisted at Jarrow and served in the 1st/6th Battalion the North Staffordshire Regiment. He was killed in action on the 3rd October 1918 and is remembered at Palmer Cenotaph and on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. His Medal Card shows that he also served in the York and Lancaster Regiment - Number 22738, was awarded the 1915 Star, war and Victory Medals and was killed in action. Also noted as formerly 9824 Durham Light Infantry. Edward was born in Hebburn 1896, son of George and Alice Watson. In the 1911 census the family is living at 34 Usway Street, Hebburn with George(42) a joiner in shipbuilding and Alice his wife of 17 years having 6 children of whom 5 survived and are at home. Edward(15) is an apprentice Blacksmith - shipbuilding, Marion(12), Joseph(8) and Robert(6) are attending school and George is 2 years old. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 213741 Sgt. Harry Alexander Tranter 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (d.21st Mar 1918) 266730 Sgt.Harry Alexander Tranter, serving with 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Robin Hoods) was reported missing presumed killed in action on the 21/03/1918. According to the Red Cross enquiry list 01/10/1918. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial. He was the son of Caroline Furner Tranter and the late Robert Luther Tranter. Royce Tranter Add to this record.

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