Argyll Fans !

[Lachlan09]

For further info, if this helps, the numbering of British divisions in WW1 seems illogical in some ways, with regular divisions, territorial divisions and New Army (Kitchener) divisions all mixed together. Also, Territorial divisions have higher numbers than wartime Kitchener divisions, despite being in existence longer. Why ?

Well, as of 1914, there were 6 numbered permanent Regular Army divisions in existence, numbered 1 - 6. These divisions, split in pairs into 3 Corps, formed the infantry element of the BEF. Further British regular units could be summoned from overseas if required and formed into further divisions. Meanwhile, the part-time volunteers had been formed into the Territorial Force, with battalions attached to the well-known country regiments where they were consecutively numbered. These TF battalions were grouped into un-numbered regional divisions (14 in all) such as Highland Division, Lowland Division, Northumbrian Division, 1st London Division, Welsh Division etc – but there was no TF organised in Ireland, due to risk of armed civil war between Republicans and Loyalists. The TF supported the regulars by being ready on mobilization to guard key locations in the UK and garrison overseas locations of the Empire as required. They were not expected to fight in Europe etc.

Meanwhile, Lord Kitchener (Sec of War), was, for a long time before the war, doubtful that Britain could hope for a short, limited war of a battle or two which would result peacefully in diplomatic negotiations. He was therefore planning an expansion of the regular army, to be brought into being in event of war. He, like most British generals, wrote off the 14 TF divisions as part-time amateurs with complex rules of engagement, suitable only for garrison work. So he by-passed them, intending to create a large wartime army of civilian volunteers directly, modeled on the Regular Army. This would be the New Army, also known as Kitchener’s Army, organised like the BEF as 6 infantry divisions of 3 brigades of 4 battalions per brigade, roughly 100,000 men. He wanted 3 such groups of 6 divisions, to be called K1, K2 and K3. Of course it would be some time before they could take the field.

When war came, Kitchener stretched out his arm on wall posters everywhere. Recruits flocked in. Meanwhile, the BEF regulars mobilized its 6 divisions and went off to France. The TF too were recruiting. They had waived their garrison only rights and wanted to fight, so they duplicated (later triplicated) their battalions into active units to go to war and those who voted to stay in the UK /garrison Empire.

As regular units were organized into divisions on return from abroad, the army’s list of infantry divisions expanded. 1st to 6th divisions were the pre-war BEF, the 7th and 8th Divs were formed from the first regulars to arrive from Empire, then K1 (New Army) took the next six divisions – 9th Scottish, 10th Irish, 11th Northern, 12th Eastern, 13th Western and 14th Light. Though Kitchener war volunteers, 9th to 13th were formed using the names of the 5 Regular regional home commands, whilst the 14th was a national division. 15th to 20th Divisions repeated the process (K2). However, K3 (21st to 26th Divs) gave up the regional idea and was organized on divisions of a mix of battalions from whatever UK regiments could fill them. Then the bulk of returning Regulars from further stations of Empire were organised as 27th, 28th and 29th Regular divisions.

Exceeding expectations , Kitchener’s initiative had resulted in a K4 formation, which was withdrawn to become a training and reserve level. A new K4 was formed (30th to 35th Divs) taking over the “Pals Battalions” which had been privately organized as patriotic civilian units throughout the main towns and cities of the UK and had been awaiting adoption by the Army. K5 was the last group, 36th to 41st Divisions, made up of regional divisions, pals battalions and other volunteer battalions.

Meanwhile, like this post, the war went on. Due to shortages of men in Autumn 1914, the Generals needed troops from India, West Indies, Canada to support the growing war. Even the much-derided Territorials were asked to contribute battalions (not divisions !) to the fighting in France/Belgium. The TF battaions would be put into the BEF’s depleted regular divisions. The first TF battalion to see action was the 14th Middlesex TF County of London (1st London Scottish) in October. Thereafter, more and more TF battalions were sucked into the BEF. As a result, divisions like the 1st London Division and the Highland Division shrank in size as their battalions were cherry-picked for the regular BEF.

Finally, in February 1915, the TF was given the go-ahead to send their own 14 divisions on active service. Those TF divisions ready to go were given numbers in the order they were ready to go. The Lancashire Div was first and received the number 42. Cherry-picked divisions like the 1st London and the Highland Div, which by February 1915 had each only six of their 12 battalions remaining, had to wait for other battalions to become available. As a result, the un-plundered 2nd London Div became the 47th Div, while the 1st London, when back to full-strength, had to plump for 56th Division. The Highland Division, which did not want a number at all, managed to get 2 Black Watch battalions from an independent brigade, plus an English independent brigade – North Lancashire Bde. Ready by end of April, it received the number 51. A second group of TF divisions was then formed for active and reserve duties. This group also included a division made up of surplus Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel – the 63rd Naval Div. A further handful of TF and Yeomanry divisions were formed as the war demanded.

At the beginning of 1916, the 51st said goodbye to the North Lancashire Bde and formed a brigade of incoming Highland battalions, included some plundered a year before. The 51st started its climb to a famous reputation that same summer on the Somme. A legend was born.

WW2 was much more complicated !