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- 51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps during the Great War -


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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps



   The 51st Machine Gun Battalion was formed on the 19th of February 1918 from the Machine Gun Companies of 51st (Highland) Division in the Cambrai area, where they remained until the 21st of March 1918, when the enemy launched an overwhelming attack and the Division were engaged in a fighting withdrawal back to Bapaume. In April they moved north and fought in The Battles of the Lys before a quiet spell at Oppy near Arras, from May to July. They were then in action at The Battle of the Tardenois, The Battle of the Scarpe, The pursuit to the Selle and the Final Advance in Picardy. They were resting the Cambrai-Iwuy area at the Armistice and demobilisation began December. The 6th Black Watch, 4th Seaforth Highlanders and 4th Gordon Highlanders were selected to join the Army of Occupation on the Rhine and left for Germany in February 1919.

24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation

21st Jan 1918 Course

5th Feb 1918 Course Ends

13th Feb 1918 Personnel

19th Feb 1918 Formation

21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation

22nd Feb 1918 Arrival

2nd Mar 1918 HQ Established

11th Mar 1918 In Reserve

12th Mar 1918 Guns into Position

20th Mar 1918 Machine Guns into Position

21st Mar 1918 Enemy Attack  location map

21st of March 1918 Intense Barrage   location map

22nd Mar 1918 Under Pressure  location map

22nd Mar 1918 Under Attack  location map

23rd Mar 1918 In Action  location map

23rd Mar 1918 Heavy Fighting

24th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal

25th Mar 1918 Pressed Back  location map

26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal  location map

26th Mar 1918 Casualties

26th Mar 1918 HQ Moves

27th Mar 1918 On the Move  location map

28th Mar 1918 On the Move

29th Mar 1918 Inspection

30th Mar 1918 On the Move  location map

31st Mar 1918 Fierce Fighting  location map

31st Mar 1918 At Rest  location map

1st Apr 1918 At Rest  location map

2nd Apr 1918 At Rest  location map

3rd Apr 1918 Reinforcements  location map

4th Apr 1918 Reinforcements  location map

5th Apr 1918 Refitting  location map

6th Apr 1918 Refitting  location map

7th Apr 1918 Refitting  location map

8th Apr 1918 New Billets

9th Apr 1918 Enemy Attacks  location map

10th Apr 1918 Line Held  location map

11th Apr 1918 Heavy Fighting  location map

12th Apr 1918 Heavy Fighting  location map

13th Apr 1918 In Defence  location map

17th Apr 1918 Reinforcements

18th Apr 1918 Reinforcements

19th Apr 1918 Reliefs

20th Apr 1918 In Billets

21st Apr 1918 At Rest

22nd Apr 1918 Baths

23rd Apr 1918 Reliefs

24th Apr 1918 Training

25th Apr 1918 Training

26th Apr 1918 Reliefs

27th Apr 1918 Equipment

28th Apr 1918 Award

29th Apr 1918 Training

30th Apr 1918 Training

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps?


There are:5285 items tagged 51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps 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

51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Findlay David. L/Cpl. (d.18th July 1918)
  • Melrose Thomas Shaw. Pte. (d.21st March 1918)
  • Thornton Arol Edmond.

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

Records of 51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps from other sources.


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  • 19th Nov 2024

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      World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery
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260471

Arol Edmond Thornton 51st (Highland) Btn. Machine Gun Corps

Arol Thornton served with the 51st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps in WW1. This information was found in the book of poetry (among several) my grandfather had with him, probably acquired during his war. The entry is dated "4th of April 1919, Daren Germany" - guarding the Zeppelin factory. He never spoke about the war. His wife died in 1917 (while he was away) leaving my father (aged 2) with his grandmother. I do not know his war record even his service number gives no details. Arol died in 1968.

Helen Powles






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