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55th Division    The 55th (West Lancashire) Division was a formation of the Territorial Force. It was formed as the West Lancashire 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. In August 1909, the West Lancashire became the first TF Division to take the field when it assembled for annual camp at Caerwys in North Wales. 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. All of the infantry units left the Division during the period November 1914 - March 1915, most being sent independently to France as reinforcements for the BEF. The remainder of the Division temporarily joined with its second line, the 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division. 1915 The Divisional artillery moved to France in October 1915 and joined 2nd Canadian Division. In November the War Office authorised the re-formation of the West Lancashire Division, now to be known as the 55th, in France. 1916 The Division began to concentrate in the Hallencourt area on 3rd of January and was completed by 27th of January. The Division relieved the French 88th Division south of Arras - in the area Wailly - Bretencourt - by 16 February. Trench warfare commenced, with many raids and minor operations. On 17 April 1916, a large scale raid was undertaken by the 1/8th (Irish) Battalion, the King's (Liverpool), in which 2/Lt E. F. Baxter became the Division's first winner of the Victoria Cross. In this relatively "quiet" period before the Division moved into the Battle of the Somme, it nonetheless suffered casualties of 63 officers and 1047 men killed, wounded or missing. Relieved by 11th (Northern) Division on 25 July 1916, the 55th now moved south and took up a place in the front line opposite the village of Guillemont. It then remained in France and Flanders and took part in the following engagements: The Battle of Guillemont - Somme The Battle of Ginchy - Somme The Battle of Flers-Courcelette - Somme The Battle of Morval - Somme Relieved by 41st Division on 28 September, the Division withdrew to the area of Buire and Ribemont. Here, orders were received to move to Flanders. 55th relieved 29th Division in the Ypres salient in October 1916. It was destined to remain in this area for almost a year. The first section of line that was occupied by the Division was Wieltje to Railway Wood. 1917 The first half of the year was spent in the salient, which had a comparatively quiet time, if being surrounded by enemy on three sides and under constant artillery fire could be described as quiet. The Battle of Pilkem Ridge - Third Battles of Ypres The Battle of Menin Road Ridge - Third Battles of the Ypres The tank attack and the German counter attacks - Cambrai Operations 1918 The Division relieved 42nd (East Lancashire) Division in the front line at Givenchy and Festubert on 15 February. Here, it faced numerous strong enemy raids in March. Early April was at first much quieter: it was a lull before a storm. The Battle of Estaires including the Defence of Givenchy (9-17 April) - Battles of the Lys The Battle of Hazebrouck - Battles of the Lys The capture of Givenchy craters The capture of Canteleux trench The pursuit to Mons - Final Advance in Artois On 15th of November 1918 55th Division received orders to join the British force that would advance across Belgium and move into Germany to occupy the Rhine bridgeheads. These orders were cancelled on 21 November, at which time the Division was employed on road and railway repair work in the area of Leuze. King George V visited the Division on 7th of December. On 15th of December the Division began to move to the Brussels area. King Albert of the Belgians reviewed the Division, which had begun to demobilise, on 3 January 1919. The service of the Division came to an end by April 1919 when the final cadres left for England. The Division reformed as part of the Territorial Army in April 1920. Order of Battle of the 55th (West Lancashire) Division 164th (North Lancashire) Brigade This Brigade joined the Highland Division on 18 April 1915, being redesignated 154th Brigade. It returned to this Division in January 1916. 1/4th Battalion, King's Own 1/5th Battalion, King's Own left 15 February 1915 1/4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regt 1/5th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regt left 13 February 1915 2/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers joined February 1915 1/8th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) joined January 1916, left January 1918 164th Machine Gun Company formed 19 February 1916, moved to 55th Battalion, MGC 7 Mar 1918 164th Trench Mortar Battery joined March 1916 165th (Liverpool) Brigade 1/5th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) left 22 February 1915, rejoined January 1916 1/6th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) left 25 February 1915, rejoined January 1916 1/7th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) left 8 March 1915, rejoined January 1916 1/8th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) left February 1915 1/9th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) joined January 1916, left February 1918 165th Machine Gun Company formed 26 February 1916, moved to 55th Battalion, MGC 7 Mar 1918 165th Trench Mortar Battery joined March 1916 166th (South Lancashire) Brigade 1/9th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) left March 1915 1/10th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) left November 1914, rejoined January 1916 1/4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment left 13 February 1915 1/5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment left 13 February 1915, rejoined January 1916 2/5th Battalion, King's Own joined February 1915, left April 1915 1/5th Battalion, King's Own joined 7 January 1916 1/5th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Rgt joined January 1916 166th Machine Gun Company joined 1 March 1916, moved to 55th Battalion, MGC 7 Mar 1918 166th Trench Mortar Battery joined March 1916 2/10th Battalion, the King's (Liverpool Regiment) joined April 1918 but absorbed into 1/10th in same month Divisional Troops 1/4th Battalion,, the South Lancashire Regiment joined as Divisional Pioneer Bn January 1916 196th Machine Gun Company joined 22 December 1916, moved to 55th Battalion, MGC 17 Mar 1918 55th Battalion MGC formed 7 March 1918 Divisional Mounted Troops 1/1st Lancashire Hussars left 29 October 1915 A Sqn, North Irish Horse joined January 1916, left May 1916 West Lancashire Divisional Cyclist Company joined 16 January 1916, left 11 May 1916 Divisional Artillery rejoined from 2nd Canadian Division in January 1916 CCLXXV (I West Lancs) Brigade, RFA CCLXXVI (II West Lancs) Brigade, RFA CCLXXVII (III West Lancs) Brigade, RFA left January 1917 CCLXXVIII (IV West Lancs) (How) Bde, RFA broken up October 1916 1st Lancashire) Heavy Battery, RGA a battery of four 4.7-inch guns which left the Division to join 57th Division in early 1915 55th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA V.55 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA formed 25 May 1916, left 29 January 1918 X.55, Y.55 and Z.55 Medium Mortar Batteries, RFA formed by 3 June 1916, on 29 January 1918 Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have six 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 419th (1st West Lancs) Field Company 2nd West Lancs Field Company left June 1915 422nd (2/1st West Lancs) Field Company joined January 1916 423rd (2/2nd West Lancs) Field Company joined January 1916 55th Divisional Signals Company Royal Army Medical Corps 1st West Lancs Field Ambulance left January 1915 2nd West Lancs Field Ambulance left October 1915 3rd West Lancs Field Ambulance rejoined 16 January 1916 2/1st West Lancs Field Ambulance joined 17 January 1916 2/1st Wessex Field Ambulance joined 16 January 1916 55th Sanitary Section joined 16 January 1916, left for VIII Corps 12 April 1917 Other Divisional Troops 55th Divisional Train ASC The original Divisional Train, formed in September 1915 and composed of 505, 506, 507 and 508 Companies ASC, remained at home when the units of the Division moved to France. It was transferred to the 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division. A complete Train, composed of 95, 96, 97 and 98 Coys joined from 27th Division 1 January 1916 1st West Lancs Mobile Veterinary Section AVC joined 5 January 1916 55th Divisional Ambulance Workshop joined 6 January 1916, absorbed into Divisional Supply Column 3 April 1916 246th Divisional Employment Company joined 16 June 1917 2nd December 1915 Orders 3rd Jan 1916 On the Move 6th of January 1916 Moving Around 7th Jan 1916 On the Move   8th Jan 1916 On the Move 8th Jan 1916 Brigade Office 11th Jan 1916 Company Training 12th Jan 1916 Lecture 13th Jan 1916 Visit 14th Jan 1916 Inspection 15th of January 1916 Divisional Transfers 15th Jan 1916 Concert 16th Jan 1916 Baths 17th Jan 1916 Musketry 18th Jan 1916 Route March 1st Feb 1916 On the Move 8th Feb 1916 On the March 16th Feb 1916 On the March 17th Feb 1916 On the March 24th Feb 1916 On the March 28th of February 1916 Changes to the Front   7th Mar 1916 On the March 5th May 1916 On the March 10th May 1916 Reorganisation 26th of June 1916 Taking Over the Line 2nd of July 1916 New Orders   12th Jul 1916 Course 14th July 1916 Courses 29th July 1916 Posting 4th Sep 1916 Reliefs 5th Sep 1916 Relief Complete 6th Sep 1916 Reliefs 7th Sep 1916 Reliefs Complete   28th May 1917 Night Operations 29th May 1917 Brigade Sports 28th of July 1917 Orders for an Attack   31st Jul 1917 In Action   1st August 1917 Battle of Langemark 1917-08-01 Orders to Move 2nd of August 1917 More Orders Received   2nd Aug 1917 Message of Congratulation   3rd of August 1917 Move into Support 5th Aug 1917 Address 5th of August 1917 A Line of Posts   19th Aug 1917 Sports 21st Aug 1917 Field Day 27th Aug 1917 Praise 6th Sep 1917 Horse Show 17th Sep 1917 Reliefs 30th of September 1917 Battle Narrative   20th Nov 1917 Bombardment   30th Nov 1917 Enemy Attack  The German plan was simply to cut of the neck of the salient by attacking on each side, with the strongest blow to come on the southern side. The blow fell at 7.30am on the 30th November, and was devastatingly fast and effective. By 9am, the Germans had penetrated almost 3 miles towards Havrincourt Wood. Byng's Third Army faced disaster, with the real prospect of several divisions being cut off in the trap. The first attack fell on the 55th (West Lancashire) and 12th (Eastern) Division on the south-eastern side of the salient. The Germans climbed the slope to re-take Lateau Wood, pushed up the complex of shallow ravines south of Banteux, moved through Villers Guislain and past Gouzeaucourt. Amongst the troops defending the artillery positions at Gouzeaucourt were the 11th United States Engineer Company. The direction of the assault was across British divisional boundaries, and the command structure rapidly broke down as the troops became mixed up. Three German divisions attacked to the north, supported by an intense Phosgene barrage, intending to cut the Bapaume-Cambrai road near Anneux Chapel. They were repulsed by the machine gun barrage of the 47th (London), 2nd and 56th (London) Divisions, who had relieved the 36th and 40th. No Germans reached the road. Fierce fighting continued in the southern area for Gonnelieu, Les Rues Vertes and Masnieres 30th Nov 1917 Counter Attack 30th Nov 1917 Enemy Attacks   24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 21st Jan 1918 Course 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 27th of March 1918 Sniper's Post Demolished   3rd of April 1918 Le Rutoire Shelled   7th Apr 1918 Moves   7th of April 1918 A Relief Ordered   9th of April 1918 A Busy Day   10th Apr 1918 Into Position 11th Apr 1918 In Action 11th April 1918 Operations.   12th Apr 1918 In Action 14th of April 1918 Dumps Destroyed   24th January 1919 Operational Orders No.1. If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 55th Division? There are:70 items tagged 55th 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 55th Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Bain Joseph. Pte. 1/3rd (West Lancs) Field Ambulance (d.31st Jul 1917) Mason Leonard. Sgt. 1/5th Btn. Quinn Anthony. Pte. 276 Brigade, C Bty. Slocombe Harry. L/Cpl. 55th (West Lancashire) Division Signal Coy. Youd John. Spr. 1/1st West Lancashire Field Company 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. 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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. 1206086 Sgt. Leonard Mason MM. 1/5th Btn. Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Leonard Mason was my grandfather and I remember when I was a little girl how I used to sit and polish his medals. I remember on Remembrance Sunday we would walk down to The Cenotaph in Bolton, him wearing his medals and holding my hand, for the Service of Remembrance. He was born on 27th March 1893 at Flitcroft Street, Bolton, son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Mason. He had five siblings, Florence b. 1889, John b. 1891, Samuel b.1895, Julia b. 1897 and Robert b. 1905. He enlisted on 9th November 1914 and sailed on The Tintoretto to France on 12th February 1915 and landed the following day. Whilst in France he was promoted to Sergeant. On 14th January 1918 his name was gazetted as having been awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field. This award was for his actions at The Battle of Menin Road Ridge (20 – 23 September), part of The Third Battle of Ypres 1917. At some point after being awarded the Military Medal, he was wounded and I have vivid memories of all the marks on his legs made by bullets. He was honourably discharged from the Army on 8th March 1919 and given the Silver War Badge number 450937. Leonard married Annie Shuttleworth on 29th June 1918 at St Simon & Judes Church, Bolton. They had three children 2 boys and 1 girl. Sadly the two boys died in infancy but the one girl was my mother. My granddad Leonard Mason died on 3rd February 1969 at home in Bolton but I have wonderful memories of him and still miss him to this day. Lois Patel Add to this record. 262411 Pte. Joseph Bain 1/3rd (West Lancs) Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps (d.31st Jul 1917) Prior to Joseph Bain joining up on the 5th of October 1915, he was a grocery assistant. After his death, I believe that he is named on the Menin Gate. Barbara Atkinson Add to this record. 256744 L/Cpl. Harry Slocombe MM. 55th (West Lancashire) Division Signal Coy. Royal Engineers My grandfather, Harry Slocombe served with 55th Divisional Signal Company. I have researched his war record and I have tried to find details of how and why he was awarded the MM for gallantry at Guillement on the 6th to the 15th August 1916. Despite visits to public record offices and countless hours researching I still have no details of his actions. Any help would be much appreciated. Graham Hayhurst Add to this record. 255326 Spr. John Youd 1/1st West Lancashire Field Company Royal Engineers John Youd of Widnes served as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers. We have all his WW1 diaries. It starts on the 13th of November 1914 with, arrived in Blackpool. He came home safe. Steven Evanson Add to this record. 227952 Pte. Anthony Quinn 276 Brigade, C Bty. Royal Field Artillery My Grandad enlisted in August 1915. He arrived at Bolougne on the 4th of April 1916. He was part of D Battery 3rd West Lancashire Brigade, RFA. This merged into C Battery 278 Brigade on 24th of May 1916. Then A battery on 6th of October 1916. My grandad was posted to C/276th Brigade on 13th of February 1917. He was wounded in action on 25th of June 1917. It looks like he was in the battles of Messines, but need some further evidence of this. He got transferred back to the UK on the 16th of July 1917 for treatment for a gunshot wound to the chest. His medical records show he got shot in the back with an exit wound through his chest. He was disembodied from the Army in 1919. He also served with 78th Coy. Labour Corps. Martin Quinn Add to this record.

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