3rd Mounted Division

Last updated

2/2nd Mounted Division
3rd Mounted Division
1st Mounted Division
The Cyclist Division
Active6 March 1915 – June 1919
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchFlag of the British Army.svg  British Army
Type Yeomanry
Bicycle infantry
Size Division
Service World War I
Commanders
Notable
commanders
John Burn-Murdoch

The 3rd Mounted Division was a Yeomanry Division of the British Army active during World War I. It was formed on 6 March 1915 as the 2/2nd Mounted Division, a replacement/depot formation for the 2nd Mounted Division which was being sent abroad on active service. In March 1916, it was renumbered as the 3rd Mounted Division and in July 1916 as the 1st Mounted Division. In September 1917, the division was reorganized as a cyclist formation and redesignated as The Cyclist Division. It remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war and was disbanded in June 1919.

Contents

History

2/2nd Mounted Division

In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 ( 7 Edw. 7, c.9) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. [1] 2nd Line units performed the home defence role, although in fact most of these were also posted abroad in due course. [2] Likewise, existing pre-war formations (brigades and divisions) formed duplicate 2nd Lines with the same structure as their 1st Line parents. [3]

On 2 September 1914, the 2nd Mounted Division was formed in and around the Churn area of Berkshire [4] with the 1st South Midland, 2nd South Midland, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and London Mounted Brigades. In November 1914, the division moved to Norfolk on coastal defence duties and in March 1915 the division was put on warning for overseas service. [5]

Consequently, the 2/2nd Mounted Division was formed on 6 March 1915 to replace the 2nd Mounted Division and took over the home defence role of guarding the Norfolk coast against a possible invasion. [6] It comprised the 2nd Line formations of all units in the 2nd Mounted Division so 2/1st South Midland, 2/2nd South Midland, 2/1st Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and 2/1st London Mounted Brigades. [7]

Each 2nd Line unit formed at their original depots and were scattered across London and the Midlands. They had to assemble on the East Coast to form the division. Once assembled, divisional headquarters was at King's Lynn and the brigades at Narborough, Hunstanton, King's Lynn, and Aylsham. Once assembled, it was assigned to the First Army (Home Forces) and was responsible for the defence of the East Coast. In common with the other 2nd Line divisions, the division experienced considerable problems with regard to equipment. Although relatively strong in manpower (the yeomanry regiments had between 410 and 498 men, three of the Royal Horse Artillery batteries averaged over 200, one only had 91), the division was short of horses (one regiment had just 5, another 99), rifles (the most that any regiment had was 206), and other equipment. [6]

At first, rather than growing in size, the division shrunk as men were drafted off to active units overseas. The division also suffered lack of equipment; the artillery batteries were issued with the older 15 pounder Breech Loading Converted rather than the 15 pounder Quick Firing gun that was the standard weapon of first line TF RHA units. There was also a lack of Lee–Enfield rifles, and some soldiers had Japanese-made carbines instead. [6]

3rd Mounted Division

On 20 March 1916, the 2/2nd Mounted Division was renumbered as the 3rd Mounted Division [6] on the same date that the 4th Mounted Division was formed. [8] The brigades were numbered on 31 March; [3] the division now commanded the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Mounted Brigades and the other support units (signals, medical, supply) were numbered accordingly. [7]

1st Mounted Division

In July 1916 there was a major reorganization of 2nd Line yeomanry units in the United Kingdom. All but 12 regiments were converted to cyclists: [3] the rest were dismounted, handed over their horses to the remount depots and were issued with bicycles. [lower-alpha 1] The 1st Mounted Division was converted to 1st Cyclist Division [12] and the 4th Mounted Division to 2nd Cyclist Division. [13] At the same time, the 3rd Mounted Division was renumbered as the 1st Mounted Division as it was the only remaining mounted division: the other mounted division, 2nd Mounted Division, had been broken up in Egypt on 21 January 1916. [14] At this time the division was reorganized. It now consisted of three mounted brigades (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) and a cyclist brigade (9th) [15] and once again the support units were renumbered. [7]

At this time, the division was assigned to General Reserve, Home Defence Troops. The headquarters was at Brentwood, Essex along with two of the mounted brigades; the third was near Maidstone, and the cyclist brigade at Bridge, Bishopsbourne, and Bekesbourne (all in Kent). In October, the brigade at Maidstone moved to West Malling and the cyclists were concentrated at Bridge. In November, the cyclist brigade was renumbered as the 5th Cyclist Brigade. [6] [lower-alpha 2]

In May 1917, divisional headquarters moved to Sevenoaks and the brigades were at Brentwood, West Malling, Sevenoaks and Bridge (the cyclist brigade). [24]

The Cyclist Division

In mid August 1917, the division was issued with bicycles; from now on it would be the training and draft-finding formation for overseas cyclist units and the Army Cyclist Corps. All trained cavalrymen were transferred to the Reserve Cavalry Regiments. On 4 September 1917 the division was renamed again, this time as The Cyclist Division and the mounted brigades redesignated as the 11th, 12th and 13th Cyclist Brigades. [24] The 5th Cyclist brigade became independent, but rejoined the division in December when the 13th Cyclist Brigade was broken up. [18]

In March 1918, the headquarters and two of the brigades were at Canterbury and the other at Littlebourne, Ash, and Wingham as part of the Independent Force, Home Defence Troops. By the end of the war in November 1918, the division was concentrated at Canterbury. [24]

Disbandment of the division started in March 1919 and was complete by June. Throughout its existence, from March 1915, the division remained in the England on Home Defence duties. [24]

Orders of battle

Commanders

The 2/2nd Mounted Division / 3rd Mounted Division / 1st Mounted Division / The Cyclist Division had the following commanders: [36]

FromRankName
6 March 1915 Brigadier-General J.F. Burn-Murdoch [lower-alpha 4]
26 May 1916 Major-General
4 March 1918Major-General Alister Dallas

See also

Notes

  1. Nine of these regiments remained with the division  2/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry, 2/1st Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, 2/1st Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars, 2/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry, 2/1st Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry, 2/1st Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry, 2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, 2/1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, and 2/1st Essex Yeomanry. [7] Three more regiments were employed as divisional cavalry  2/1st Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry, [9] 2/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry, [10] and 2/1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry. [11]
  2. 1st 8th Cyclist Brigades of the 1st and 2nd Cyclist Divisions were reorganized as the 1st 4th Cyclist Brigades when their divisions were broken up in November 1916. [16] [17] Higher numbered cyclist brigades (9th 14th) were subsequently renumbered as the 5th 10th Cyclist Brigades. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]
  3. Although Becke shows this unit as 'Huntingdonshire', this is clearly an error for 'Hampshire'.
  4. Brigadier-General J.F. Burn-Murdoch simultaneously commanded the 2/1st Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade until 14 April 1916. [37]

Related Research Articles

The 2nd Mounted Division was a yeomanry division that served in the First World War. At the outbreak of war it was assigned to defence of the Norfolk coast. In March 1915 it formed a 2nd Line duplicate of itself, the 2/2nd Mounted Division. Leaving the 2/2nd on coastal defence, it then fought at Gallipoli from April to December 1915, under the command of Major General William Peyton, before being disbanded in January 1916.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheshire Yeomanry</span> Military unit

The Cheshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment that can trace its history back to 1797 when Sir John Leicester of Tabley raised a county regiment of light cavalry in response to the growing fears of invasion from Napoleonic France. Its lineage is maintained by C Squadron, the Queen's Own Yeomanry.

The 1st Mounted Division was a Yeomanry Division of the British Army active during World War I. It was formed in August 1914 for the home defence of the United Kingdom from four existing mounted brigades of the Territorial Force, each of three regiments of Yeomanry. The divisional order of battle changed often, as the 1st Line brigades left for service overseas and were replaced by 2nd Line formations. It was converted to the 1st Cyclist Division in July 1916, and was broken up in November 1916 without being involved in active service. It remained in East Anglia throughout its existence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincolnshire Yeomanry</span> Military unit

The Lincolnshire Yeomanry was a volunteer cavalry unit of the British Army formed in 1794. It saw action in the Second Boer War and the First World War before being disbanded in 1920.

The Royal East Kent Yeomanry was a British Army regiment formed in 1794. It saw action in the Second Boer War and the First World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry</span> Military unit

The Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry was a British Army regiment formed in 1794. It served in the Second Boer War and the First World War. It amalgamated with the Royal East Kent Yeomanry to form the Kent Yeomanry in 1920.

The 4th Mounted Division was a short-lived Yeomanry Division of the British Army active during World War I. It was formed on 20 March 1916, converted to 2nd Cyclist Division in July 1916 and broken up on 16 November 1916. It remained in England on Home Defence duties throughout its existence.

The 1st South Midland Mounted Brigade was a yeomanry brigade of the British Army, formed as part of the Territorial Force in 1908.

The 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade was a yeomanry brigade of the British Army, formed as part of the Territorial Force in 1908.

The Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army. First raised in 1794, it participated in the Second Boer War and the First World War before being amalgamated with the Royal North Devon Yeomanry in 1920 to form the Royal Devon Yeomanry.

The 21st Mounted Brigade previously known as the 2/1st Western Mounted Brigade was a 2nd Line yeomanry brigade of the British Army during the First World War. In July 1916 it was converted to a cyclist formation as 14th Cyclist Brigade and in October 1916 was redesignated as 10th Cyclist Brigade. It was still in existence, in Ireland, at the end of the war.

The 17th Mounted Brigade previously known as the 2/1st Welsh Border Mounted Brigade was a 2nd Line yeomanry brigade of the British Army during the First World War. In July 1916 it was converted to a cyclist formation as 10th Cyclist Brigade and in November 1916 was redesignated as 6th Cyclist Brigade. It was still in existence, in Ireland, at the end of the war.

The 20th Mounted Brigade previously known as the 2/1st Lowland Mounted Brigade was a 2nd Line yeomanry brigade of the British Army during the First World War. In July 1916 it was converted to a cyclist formation as 13th Cyclist Brigade and in November 1916 was redesignated as 9th Cyclist Brigade. It was still in existence, in Ireland, at the end of the war.

The West Riding Royal Horse Artillery was a Territorial Force Royal Horse Artillery battery that was formed in the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1908. It saw active service as field artillery with 52nd (Lowland) Division in Egypt during the First World War before being broken up at the end of 1916. Post-war, it was reconstituted as a Royal Field Artillery battery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampshire Royal Horse Artillery</span> Former British Army horse artillery battery

The Hampshire Royal Horse Artillery was a Territorial Force Royal Horse Artillery battery that was formed in Hampshire in 1909. It saw active service during the First World War in Egypt and Palestine from 1916 to 1918, initially as field artillery with 52nd (Lowland) Division before being converted back to horse artillery and serving with the Yeomanry Mounted Division and 1st Mounted / 4th Cavalry Division. A second line battery, 2/1st Hampshire RHA, served on the Western Front in 1917 and 1918 as part of an Army Field Artillery Brigade. Post-war, it was reconstituted as a Royal Field Artillery battery.

The Essex Royal Horse Artillery was a Territorial Force Royal Horse Artillery battery that was formed in Essex in 1908. It saw active service during the First World War in Egypt and Palestine from 1916 to 1918, initially as field artillery with 52nd (Lowland) Division before being converted back to horse artillery and serving with the 2nd Mounted / 5th Cavalry Division. A second line battery, 2/1st Essex RHA, served on the Western Front in 1917 and 1918 as part of an Army Field Artillery Brigade.

B Battery, Honourable Artillery Company was a horse artillery battery that was formed from the Field Artillery, HAC in 1899. It transferred to the Territorial Force in 1908 as artillery support for the South Eastern Mounted Brigade.

The Inverness-shire Royal Horse Artillery was a Territorial Force Royal Horse Artillery battery that was formed in Inverness-shire in 1908. It saw active service during the First World War in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign with the ANZAC Mounted Division from 1916 to 1918. A second line battery, 2/1st Inverness-shire RHA, served in the United Kingdom throughout the war. It was disembodied after the end of the war and was reconstituted as a Royal Field Artillery battery in 1920.

The Warwickshire Royal Horse Artillery was a Territorial Force Royal Horse Artillery battery that was formed in Warwickshire in 1908. It was the first Territorial Force artillery unit to go overseas on active service, spending the whole of the First World War on the Western Front, mostly with 1st Cavalry Division and 29th Division. A second line battery, 2/1st Warwickshire RHA, also served on the Western Front in 1917 and 1918 as part of an Army Field Artillery Brigade. Post-war it was reconstituted as a Royal Field Artillery battery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery</span> Former British Army horse artillery battery

The Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery was a Territorial Force Royal Horse Artillery battery that was formed in Nottinghamshire in 1908. It saw active service during the First World War in the Middle East – in the Senussi Campaign and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign – from 1915 to 1918. A second line battery, 2/1st Nottinghamshire RHA, served in the Mesopotamian Campaign in 1917 and 1918 as a Field Artillery battery. Post-war, it was reconstituted as a Royal Field Artillery battery.

References

  1. Rinaldi 2008 , p. 35
  2. Baker, Chris. "Was my soldier in the Territorial Force (TF)?". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 James 1978 , p. 36
  4. Rinaldi 2008 , p. 36
  5. Becke 1936 , p. 16
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Becke 1936 , p. 25
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Becke 1936 , p. 22
  8. Becke 1936 , p. 30
  9. 1 2 James 1978, p. 19
  10. James 1978, p. 16
  11. James 1978, p. 25
  12. 1 2 Becke 1936 , p. 3
  13. Becke 1936 , p. 27
  14. Becke 1936 , p. 17
  15. 1 2 3 4 Becke 1936 , p. 24
  16. 1 2 Becke 1936, p. 6
  17. 1 2 3 Becke 1936, p. 29
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Becke 1936, p. 23
  19. James 1978, pp. 17, 27
  20. James 1978, pp. 31, 32
  21. James 1978, p. 27
  22. James 1978, pp. 16, 21, 24
  23. James 1978, pp. 21, 22, 30
  24. 1 2 3 4 Becke 1936 , p. 26
  25. 1 2 Becke 1936 , pp. 22–23
  26. Becke 1936, p. 5
  27. James 1978, pp. 17–18
  28. James 1978, pp. 24–25
  29. Becke 1936, p. 28
  30. James 1978, p. 21
  31. James 1978, p. 26
  32. James 1978, p. 18
  33. James 1978, p. 23
  34. RE Museum list of WWI unit war diaries.
  35. Watson & Rinaldi, p. 63.
  36. Becke 1936 , p. 19
  37. Becke 1936, p. 20

Bibliography