60th (2/2nd London) Division | |
---|---|
Active | 31 August 1914 – 31 May 1919 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Engagements | First World War |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Edward Bulfin |
The 60th (2/2nd London) Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised during World War I. It was the second line-formation of the 47th (1/2nd London) Division, and was the second of two such Territorial Force divisions formed from the surplus of London recruits in 1914.
The divisional insignia was a bee.
At first the division, headquartered at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, [1] merely supplied the first-line Territorial divisions with drafts to replace losses through casualties. In late 1915 the division began to be equipped for field operations although it was not sent to France until July 1916, after 88 trains had conveyed the men to Southampton from camps around Warminster, Heytesbury, and Codford stations. [2]
Its engagements included the Third Battle of Gaza, the Battle of Beersheba (1917), the Battle of Jerusalem (1917), the Second Transjordan attack on Shunet Nimrin and Es Salt (1918), the Battle of Megiddo (1918), the Battle of Sharon, and the Battle of Nahr el Faliq. [3] [4]
As a "lesser" division it was sent to the minor fronts of Salonika and finally Palestine. In mid-1918, most of its British battalions were replaced with Indian battalions and sent to the Western Front, the division effectively becoming a British Indian Army division. [4]
The division had the following composition: [3] [4] [5]
In Britain and France
Before leaving for Macedonia the 18-pounder batteries reverted to four-gun establishment: A/CCC Bty was reformed from its original two sections and one from B/CCC; B/CCC Bty was reformed from the other section and those of C/CCC. A/CCC Battery then joined 5th Division and B/CCC Bty became an instructional battery at First Army School.
In Macedonia, Egypt and Palestine
On arrival in Macedonia the HT companies became the Wheeled Echelon and a Pack Echelon was formed on 27 October 1916; merged back into the wheeled echelon June 1917 in Egypt):
The division was engaged in the following actions: [3] [4]
Macedonian Campaign 1917
Sinai and Palestine Campaign 1917
1918
The following officers commanded the division: [3]
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