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54th (East Anglian) Division    54th (East Anglian) Division was a formation of the Territorial Force. It was formed as the East Anglian Division 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. 1914 The units of the Division had just departed for annual summer camp when emergency orders recalled them to the home base. All units were mobilised for full time war service on 5 August 1914 and moved to their allotted positions at Brentwood by 10 August 1914. Ten days later the entire Division moved to the areas of Chelmsford, Bury St Edmunds and Norwich. Several of the Division's units left in the period November 1914 - February 1915. Some were gradually replaced by second line units. The Division was employed on coastal defence duties at this time. 1915 The Division moved to St Albans in May 1915 under orders for overseas service. On 8th of July the Division was ordered to refit for service at Gallipoli. Leaving the artillery and train behind, the rest of the Division left between 14th and 19th of July and embarked at Devonport. Sailing from Liverpool and Devonport, the first ships reached Lemnos on 6th of August. On 10 August units landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli. The Division was then involved in the following moves and engagements: The landing at Suvla Bay Operations in the Suvla Bay area On 26 November the Division was ordered to prepare to withdraw to Mudros. On 3-8 December the Division was evacuated from Gallipoli, only 240 officers and 4480 men strong. On 13 December it then went on to Alexandria, where it arrived on the 18th December. The units then concentrated at Sidi Bishr. 1916 The divisional artillery rejoined at Mena Camp (Cairo) 11-15 February 1916. The Division occupied No 1 (Southern) Section of the Suez Canal defences on 2 April 1916. 1917 Actions during Palestine Campaign 1917 The First Battle of Gaza The Second Battle of Gaza The Third Battle of Gaza including the Capture of Gaza The Battle of Jaffa 1918 Ongoing Palestine Campaign Activity 1918 The fight at Ras el'Ain (162nd Brigade only) The operations at Berukin The Battle of Sharon - Battles of Megiddo On 24th of September the Division concentrated at Hable and began an advance to Haifa three days later. This move was completed on 4th of October. The division was ordered to Beirut on 20th of October; this move began three days later and the brigades moved on successive days via Acre, Ras es Naqura, Tyre and Sidon. The units concentrated at Beirut between 31st October and 5th of November, but the Turks signed an Armistice on 31st of October. The Division moved to El Qantara, back in Egypt, from 28 November. The first parties to be demobilised left for England in January 1919.The final cadres sailed home on 30 September 1919. The Division reformed as part of the Territorial Army in April 1920. Order of Battle of the 54th (East Anglian) Division 161st (Essex) Brigade 1/4th Battalion, Essex Regiment 1/5th Battalion, Essex Regiment 1/6th Battalion, Essex Regiment 1/7th Battalion, Essex Regiment 161st Machine Gun Company formed 23 April 1916, moved to 54th Battalion, MGC 19 April 1918 161st Trench Mortar Battery formed 17 May 1917 162nd (East Midland) Brigade 1/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment 1/4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment left February 1915 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment left November 1914 2/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment joined February 1915, left April 1915 1/10th Battalion, London Regiment joined April 1915 1/11th Battalion, London Regiment joined April 1915 162nd Machine Gun Company formed 26 April 1916, moved to 54th Battalion, MGC 19 April 1918 162nd Trench Mortar Battery formed 5 May 1917 163rd (Norfolk & Suffolk) Brigade 1/4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 1/5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 1/4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment left November 1914 1/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 1/8th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment joined 19 April 1915 163rd Machine Gun Company formed 1 May 1916, moved to 54th Battalion, MGC 19 April 1918 163rd Trench Mortar Battery formed 9 May 1917 Divisional Troops 54th Battalion MGC formed 19 April 1918 Divisional Mounted Troops East Anglian Divisional Cyclist Company left February 1917 HQ and A Sqn, 1/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry joined 20 March 1917, left for XXI Corps Cavalry Regiment on 26 August 1917 Divisional Artillery The Divisional Artillery did not leave England when the Division embarked for service at Gallipoli. It remained at Brandon and Thetford and was there rearmed. It sailed for France from 17 November 1915 and concentrated near Blaringhem by four days later. Entrainment began on 11 January 1916, embarkation at Marseilles began on 30 January and between 8-15 February 1916 the artillery had concentrated at Mena Camp and came once again under command of this Division. CCLXX (I E Anglian) Brigade, RFA renumbered CCLXXII 21 December 1916 CCLXXI (II E Anglian) Brigade, RFA CCLXXII (III E Anglian) (How) Brigade, RFA broken up 21 December 1916 CCLXXIII (IV E Anglian) Brigade, RFA renumbered CCLXX 21 December 1916 East Anglian (Essex) Heavy Battery, RGA did not sail with the Division; moved independently to France 14 March 1916 and joined XXIII HA Brigade 54th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA X.54, Y.54 and Z.54 Medium Mortar Batteries RFA joined 3 October 1917, disbanded 2 March 1918 when Corps took over TM responsibilities Royal Engineers 1st East Anglian Field Company left December 1914 484th (2nd East Anglian) Field Company 486th (2/1st East Anglian) Field Company joined September 1914 495th (1st Kent) Field Company joined 1 July 1916 53rd Divisional Signals Company 54th Divisional Signals Company HQ and No 1 Section of this Company was attached at Suvla between 10-23 August 1915 Royal Army Medical Corps 1st East Anglian Field Ambulance left January 1915 2nd East Anglian Field Ambulance 3rd East Anglian Field Ambulance 2/1st East Anglian Field Ambulance joined late 1914 54th Sanitary Section Other Divisional Troops 54th Divisional Train ASC comprising 483, 484, 485 and 486 Companies ASC, the original Train did not sail with the Division. It transferred to join 27th Division for service in Salonika. A new Train joined this Division on 5-24 February 1917, comprising 428, 429, 430 and 431 Companies ASC which were renumbered on 18 April 1917 to become 921, 922, 923 and 924 Companies ASC 54th (East Anglian) Mobile Veterinary Section AVC joined 11 April 1916 Detachement Francais de Palestine et Syrie (7/1st Tirailleurs Algeriens, 1 and 2nd Armeniens and various other snmaller units) attached 12 - 28 September 1918 for Megiddo operations May 1915 Reorganisation 30th May 1915 On the Move 23rd July 1915 On the Move 24th July 1915 On the Move 25th July 1915 On the Move 1st Aug 1915 On the Move 4th Aug 1915 On the Move 5th Aug 1915 On the Move 7th Aug 1915 On the Move 8th Aug 1915 On the Move 9th Aug 1915 Landings 9th Aug 1915 On the Move 10th Aug 1915 In Harbour 11th Aug 1915 On the Move 12th Aug 1915 Working Parties 13th Aug 1915 Under Fire 14th Aug 1915 Reliefs 15th Aug 1915 Attack Made 16th Aug 1915 Support 17th Aug 1915 In Support Trenches 18th Aug 1915 In Support 19th Aug 1915 In Support 20th Aug 1915 In Support 21st Aug 1915 In Support 22nd Aug 1915 Reliefs Complete 23rd Aug 1915 Reliefs 24th Aug 1915 Emplacement 25th Aug 1915 In the Trenches 26th Aug 1915 In the Trenches 27th Aug 1915 Into Reserve 28th Aug 1915 In Reserve 29th Aug 1915 Night March 30th Aug 1915 Relief Completed 1st Sep 1915 Digging 2nd Sep 1915 Digging 3rd Sep 1915 Instructions 4th Sep 1915 Heavy Fire 6th Sep 1915 Enemy Active 17th Sep 1915 Shelling 10th Oct 1915 Working Parties 1st Dec 1915 Trench Work 8th Jan 1916 Route March 9th Jan 1916 Church Parade 10th Jan 1916 Route March 11th Jan 1916 In Camp 12th Jan 1916 In Camp 14th Jan 1916 Despatch on Sulva Bay 14th Jan 1916 Route March 15th Jan 1916 Staff Ride 16th Jan 1916 Church Parade 17th Jan 1916 In Camp 18th Jan 1916 Orders 19th Jan 1916 On the Move 20th Jan 1916 In Camp 21st Jan 1916 In Camp 22nd Jan 1916 In Camp 23rd Jan 1916 Church Parade 24th Jan 1916 Storm 25th Jan 1916 Poor Weather 26th Jan 1916 In Camp 27th Jan 1916 In Camp 28th Jan 1916 Route March 29th Jan 1916 Advance Party 30th Jan 1916 Church Parade 31st Jan 1916 Orders Received 1st Feb 1916 On the Move 2nd Feb 1916 Fatigues 3rd Feb 1916 Training 4th Feb 1916 Training 5th Feb 1916 Training 6th Feb 1916 Church Parade 7th Feb 1916 Route March 8th Feb 1916 In Camp 9th Feb 1916 In Camp 10th Feb 1916 Route March 11th Feb 1916 Field Day 12th Feb 1916 Course 13th Feb 1916 Church Parade 14th Feb 1916 Route March 15th Feb 1916 Course 16th Feb 1916 Course 17th Feb 1916 Musketry 18th Feb 1916 Musketry 19th Feb 1916 Musketry 20th Feb 1916 In Camp 21st Feb 1916 In Camp 22nd Feb 1916 Musketry 23rd Feb 1916 In Camp 24th Feb 1916 In Camp 25th Feb 1916 In Camp 26th Feb 1916 In Camp 27th Feb 1916 In Camp 28th Feb 1916 In Camp 29th Feb 1916 In Camp 1st Mar 1916 In Camp 10th Mar 1916 In Camp 16th Mar 1916 In Camp 29th Mar 1916 Orders 31st Mar 1916 In Camp 1st Apr 1916 In Camp 4th Apr 1916 Advance Party 5th Apr 1916 On the March 5th Apr 1916 On the Move 6th Apr 1916 On the Move 8th Apr 1916 In Defence 9th Apr 1916 Defence Work 11th Apr 1916 Orders 12th Apr 1916 In Camp 13th Apr 1916 In Camp 14th Apr 1916 Advance Party 15th Apr 1916 On the March 15th Apr1916 Defence Work 16th Apr 1916 Church Parade 17th Apr 1916 Training 18th Apr 1916 Defence Work 19th Apr 1916 Defence Work 20th Apr 1916 Defence Work 21st Apr 1916 Church Parade 22nd Apr 1916 Defences 23rd Apr 1916 Easter 24th Apr 1916 Sports 25th Apr 1916 Defence Work 26th Apr 1916 Defence Work 27th Apr 1916 Defence Work 29th Apr 1916 Defences 30th Apr 1916 Orders 1st May 1916 Orders 2nd May 1916 Camp Struck 3rd May 1916 On the March 23rd May 1916 Orders 24th May 1916 Reliefs 25th May 1916 Orders 26th May 1916 Reliefs 27th May 1916 Guard Duty 28th May 1916 Defence Work 29th May 1916 Defence Work 30th May 1916 Defence Work 31st May 1916 Defence Work 1st Jun 1916 Defence Work 1st Jun 1916 Defences 2nd Jun 1916 Defence Work 3rd Jun 1916 Defence Work 4th Jun 1916 Defence Work 5th Jun 1916 Defence Work 8th Jun 1916 Defence Work 9th Jun 1916 Defence Work 10th Jun 1916 Orders 11th Jun 1916 On the March 12th Jun 1916 Patrol 13th Jun 1916 Bivouac 14th Jun 1916 Defence Work 15th Jun 1916 Defence Work 16th Jun 1916 Defence Work 17th Jun 1916 Defence Work 18th Jun 1916 Church Parade 19th Jun 1916 Defence Work 20th Jun 1916 Defence Work 21st Jun 1916 Defence Work 22nd Jun 1916 Defence Work 23rd Jun 1916 Inspection 24th Jun 1916 Reinforcements 25th Jun 1916 Outposts 26th Jun 1916 Defence Work 27th Jun 1916 Defence Work 28th Jun 1916 Defence Work 29th Jun 1916 Guard Duty 30th Jun 1916 Guard Duty 1st Jul 1916 Defences Improved 1st Jul 1916 Air Raid 2nd Jul 1916 Church Parade 3rd Jul 1916 Defence Work 7th Jul 1916 Working Parties 9th Jul 1916 Church Parade 10th Jul 1916 Orders 11th Jul 1916 Defences Improved 12th Jul 1916 Advance Party 13th Jul 1916 Reliefs 14th Jul 1916 Training 15th Jul 1916 Working Party 16th Jul 1916 Defence Works 17th Jul 1916 Defences improved 18th Jul 1916 Defence Work 19th Jul 1916 Defence Work 20th Jul 1916 Defence Work 21st Jul 1916 Defence Work 22nd Jul 1916 Defence Work 23rd Jul 1916 Church Parade 24th Jul 1916 Defence Work 25th Jul 1916 Defence Work 26th Jul 1916 Defence Work 31st Jul 1916 Training 31st Aug 1916 Defences 1st Oct 1916 Visit 14th Nov 1916 Relief Complete 17th Nov 1916 Enemy Aircraft 8th Jan 1917 Move 9th Jan 1917 On the Move 28th Jan 1917 Orders Received 31st Jan 1917 On the Move 1st Feb 1917 On the March 2nd Feb 1917 On the March 3rd Feb 1917 On the March 4th Feb 1917 On the March 5th Feb 1917 Equipment 10th Feb 1917 On the Move 11th Feb 1917 On the March 12th Feb 1917 On the March 13th Feb 1917 On the March 14th Feb 1917 On the March 15th Feb 1917 On the March 22nd Feb 1917 On the March 23rd Feb 1917 On the March 24th Feb 1917 Reliefs 4th March 1917 G.A. 196 received 20th Mar 1917 On the March 21st Mar 1917 On the March 24th Mar 1917 On the March 25th Mar 1917 On the March 26th Mar 1917 In Action   29th Mar 1917 Line Held 3rd April 1917 G.B. 585 received to get troops under Arms 15th April 1917 156th Infantry Brigade Operation Order No.7 17th Apr 1917 New Positions 18th Apr 1917 Bombardment 18th April 1917 52nd Division Order No.57 received 19th April 1917 Attack Made 19th April 1917 Peceived Preliminary Orders for the Attack on Gaza 20th Apr 1917 Bombardment 25th Apr 1917 Bombardment 30th Apr 1917 Bombardment 1st May 1917 Shelling 5th May 1917 Orders   6th May 1917 For Communication 6th May 1917 Relief of the Firing Line   8th June 1917 52nd Division Order No.61.   8th June 1917 52nd Division Order No.61. 10th June 1917 Brigade Order No.9 13th Jun 1917 New Positions 20th September 1917 Musketry started on the Range. 22nd September 1917 General Leggett re-assumed Command. 7th October 1917 Operational Order No.19 by Brigadier General A.H. Leggett. D.S.O.   13th October 1917 Operational Order No.20   14th October 1917 Summary of Patrol Operations 14th October 1917 G.R. 24/1/71 dated 10th October.   26th October 1917 Scheme "M".   29th October 1917 Scheme "M" No.4 Brigade Operational Order No.1.   3rd December 1917 Brigade marched to Ramleh 24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 21st Jan 1918 Course 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 1st March 1918 Defence Scheme.   8th March 1918 B.M.893 issued   8th March 1918 The line of Defence   12th March 1918 Fortress   The British Army In The Sinai and Palestine Campaign, 1915-1918 IWM (Q 12317) The River Auja at El Mirr became part of the front line of the 6th Battalion, Essex Regiment on 12th March 1918. The foundation walls of an old fortress still remain. It was on the 54th Division front from the Battle of Jaffa till the Battle of Sharon. IWM 12th March 1918 The 54th and 75th Divisions today advanced. 10th September 1918 Patrols 19th September 1918 Smokescreens If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 54th (East Anglian) Division? There are:260 items tagged 54th (East Anglian) 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 54th (East Anglian) Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Chadwick Harry. Pte. 1/4th Btn. (d.19th Apr 1917.) Needham Samuel. Pte. 1/5th Btn. (d.4th Nov 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. 218457 Pte. Samuel Needham VC. 1/5th Btn. Bedfordshire Regiment (d.4th Nov 1918) Samuel Needham served with the 1/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and died on the 4th November 1918, Age: 33. He is buried in the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. He was the son of Septimus and Mary Needham, of Grimsby. An extract from The London Gazette, No. 30982, dated 29th Oct., 1918, records the following:- For most conspicuous bravery and initiative when with a strong patrol which was heavily attacked by the enemy and forced back in confusion. At this critical moment Pte. Needham ran back and fired rapidly at a body of the enemy at point-blank range. His action checked the enemy and enabled the patrol commander to reorganise his men. The patrol had many casualties, but successfully got back all their wounded, and it was due to the action of individuals, of which this is the most outstanding, that the entire patrol was not cut off. Pte. Needham's example was of the greatest value at a critical moment, and the bold and determined stand made by him did more than anything to inspire confidence, and undoubtedly saved a critical situation. S Flynn Add to this record. 218322 Pte. Harry Chadwick 1/4th Btn. Norfolk Regiment (d.19th Apr 1917.) Harry Chadwick served with the 1/4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment during WW1 and was killed in action on the 19th April 1917. He is buried in the Gaza war Cemetery in Gaza. S Flynn Add to this record.

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