87th Territorial Infantry Division (France)

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87th Territorial Infantry Division
87e division d’infanterie territoriale
L'Illustration No 3774 3 juillet 1915 couverture.jpg
Two Breton soldiers, from the 73rd Territorial Infantry Regiment of Guingamp, playing Binioù and bombarde
ActiveAugust 1914
5 April 1917
CountryFrance
Branch French Army
Type Infantry
Size Division
Engagements

The 87th Territorial Infantry Division was a WWI-era infantry division of the French Army. It was composed of older reservists from the 10th Military District, headquartered in Rennes. Personnel were generally recruited from Normandy and Brittany. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The alleged first gas attack of the Western Front was launched north of Ypres on 22 April 1915, against its positions (among other divisions) that were occupied by the 73rd and 74th regiments. [4] [5] Chemical weapons had already been used on the Eastern Front and there are some claims that use on the Western Front occurred prior to 22 April 1915. [6]

Commanders

Composition

Mobilised in the 10th région.

Chronology

1914

6 August – 7 October Transported by rail, from Saint-Servan, to Valognes; performed coastal guard in this region. From 26 August, transported by sea and by rail to the Le Havre region; employed on works parties and defensive duties. From 5 October, transported by sea to Dunkirk. 7 – 24 October Moved to Ypres. From 14 October, occupation and defense of the Zillebeke region, Pilkem; employed on working parties. 22 October, fighting around Bikschote. 24 October – 17 November Relieved a British division towards Langemark and Steenstrate. Engaged in the First Battle of Ypres: fighting towards Weidendreft, Mangelaare and Kortekeer Cabaret. 17 November – 6 December Withdrawal from the front; rest towards Killem, then work towards Elverdinge and Dikkebus. 6 December 1914 – 24 January 1915 Moved to the front line and occupied a sector of the Yser Canal, towards the Knocke bridge, the Drie Grachten bridge and Kortekeer Cabaret, reduced on the right, 30 December, moved up to the Maison du Passeur during the Battle of the Yser. [7]

1915

24 – 29 January Withdrew from the front line to Proven, (relieved by the Belgian Army), and rest. 29 January – 30 March Moved to the front line and occupied a sector towards Poelkapelle and Steenstrate. [a] 30 March – 13 April Withdrew from the front line towards Socx, and rest. [b] 13 April – 21 May Moved to the front line and occupied a sector towards Langemarck and Steenstrate. [c] 22 April, Second Battle of Ypres. German gas attack; violent French counter-attacks; then occupation, by elements, of a new sector on the Yser, north of Boezinge. 21 May – 30 September Withdrew from the front line towards Rexpoëde (elements in sector towards Steenstrate and Boesinghe), and rest. [d] 30 September 1915 – 26 February 1916 Moved to the front line and occupied a sector towards Steenstrate and Boesinghe, in liaison with the Belgian and British armies. [8]

1916

26 February – 18 May Withdrawal from the front; stationing near Rexpoëde: elements of the 87th TID participate in the organization of the defence of Dunkirk and the occupation of the sector of the 36th Army Corps (France). 18 May – 5 June Occupied the sector towards Steenstraate and Boesinghe. 5 – 15 June Withdrawn from the front line, and from 7 June, transported by rail to Estrées-Saint-Denis; rest. 15 June – 8 December Moved to the front line and occupied a sector towards Belval and the Oise, reduced on the left, on 2 December, up to Ecouvillon. 18 December 1916 – 26 February 1917 Withdrawal from the front; rest towards Grandfresnoy and Sacy-le-Grand. From 27 December, employed on working parties in the regions of Villers-Cotterêts, Senlis, Ressons-sur-Matz and Creil. [9]

1917

26 February – 12 March Refresher training at the Pontarmé camp. 12 – 17 March Movement towards Compiègne, then occupied the sector between the Oise and the Ecouvillon. 17 – 18 March Pursuit of the enemy (German retreat): capture of Noyon. 18 March - 1 April Employed on working parties in the Noyon region. 1 – 5 April Regrouping towards Roye and Porquericourt; transformation as the 87th Territorial Infantry Division is retitled as the 87th Infantry Division (Active). [10]

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ From 11 March 1915, a brigade of the 89th TID is at the disposal of the 87th TID. From 14 to 30 March, the two brigades of the 89th TID are under the orders of the 87th TID
  2. ↑ From 30 March to 9 April 1915, one of the brigades is made available to the 89th TID. From 9 to 13 April, the two brigades are at the disposal of the 89th TID
  3. ↑ From 17 April to 26 August 1915, the 87th TID was increased by a territorial brigade.
  4. ↑ From 25 August 1915, one of the three brigades is transported by rail to the Bruay region. On 1 September, it reconstitutes, at the 21st Army Corps, the 81st TID with one of the brigades of this division.

Citations

  1. ↑ Lodier, Didier (1 August 2007). "Régions militaire en 1914". Chimiste - mon site consacré aux parcours de régiments en 1914-18 (in French). Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "[Map of] Régions militaires et Corps d'Armée le 2 août 1914". Grande Guerre : territoriaux bretons et normands du 87 DIT (in French). 18 October 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  3. ↑ Lodier, Didier (8 December 2003). "La Première attaque au gaz: région d'Ypres le 22 avril 1915". Chtimiste - mon site consacré aux parcours de régiments en 1914-18 (in French). Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "Ypres 1915: The first gas attack". Legion Magazine. Canvet Publications Ltd. 21 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2023-09-22. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  5. ↑ "Guingampais et briochins à Ypres (1915). L'attaque des gaz". Patrimoine de Guingamp (in French). Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  6. ↑ Heller, Charles E (September 1984). "Chemical Warfare in World War I: The American Experience, 1917–1918". Leavenworth Papers (10). US Army Command and General Staff College.
  7. ↑ Pompé 1924, p. 626.
  8. ↑ Pompé 1924, pp. 626–627.
  9. ↑ Pompé 1924, pp. 627–628.
  10. ↑ Pompé 1924, p. 628.

Bibliography

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