39th Division

Formed in Great Britain in July 1915 from the Locally Raised or Pals Battalions mainly from the South of the country. Arrived in France in March 1916. Served in France and Flanders until the Armistice. The Division was reduced to Cadre in May 1918 and was never reconstituted.

Battles and Engagements
France and Flanders

Battle of Thiepval. 26-28 Sep 1916.
Battle of the Ancre Heights. 1-11 Oct 1916, including the capture of the Schwaben Redoubt, Stuff Redoubt and the Regina Trench.
Battle of the Ancre. 13-18 Nov 1916, including the capture of Beaumont Hamel.

 

  

Battle of Pilkem. 31 Jul-2 Aug 1917.
Battle of Langemarck. 16-18 Aug 1917.
Battle of the Menin Road. 20-25 Sep 1917.
Battle of Polygon Wood. 26 Sep-3 Oct 1917.
Second Battle of Passchendaele. 26 Oct-10 Nov 1917.

 

Battle of St. Quentin. 21-23 Mar 1918.
Actions of the Somme crossings. 24-25 Mar 1918.
Battle of Rosieres. 26-27 Mar 1918.
First Battle of Kemmel. 17-19 Apr.
Second Battle of Kemmel. 25-26 Apr.
Battle of the Scherpenberg. 29 Apr.

 

    

 

Infantry Units

 

116th Brigade.

Prior to being reduced to Cadre.

11th Bn Royal Sussex Regt. Oct 1915 - 30 Jun 1918. Reduced to Training Cadre on 23 May 1918. Cadre to the 25th Division.
12th Bn Royal Sussex Regt. Oct 1915 - 08 Feb 1918. Disbanded.
13th Bn Royal Sussex Regt. Oct 1915 - 17 Jun 1918. Reduced to Training Cadre on 23 May 1918. Cadre to the 118th Brigade.
14th Bn Hampshire Regt. Oct 1915 - 22 Mar 1918. Disbanded.
1/1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt. 08 Feb 1918 - 11 May 1918. To the 37th Division.

After being reduced to Cadre.

Cadre 15th Bn Royal Scots. 17 Jun 1918 - 28 Jul 1918. To the Corps Troops.
Cadre 18th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. 17 Jun 1918 - 29 Jul 1918. To the 118th Brigade.
Cadre 23rd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. 17 Jun 1918 - 16 Aug 1918. To the 66th Division.
Cadre 1/4th Bn Lincolnshire Regt. 28 Sep 1918 - 08 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 10th Bn Lincolnshire Regt. 17 Jun 1918 - 16 Aug 1918. To the 66th Division.
Cadre 7th Bn Suffolk Regt. 24 May 1918 - 16 Aug 1918. To the 66th Division.
Cadre 1/4th Bn East Yorkshire Regt. 16 Aug 1918 - 06 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 6th Bn Bedfordshire Regt. 20 May 1918 - 31 May 1918. To the 118th Brigade.
Cadre 1/4th Bn Yorkshire Regt. 16 Aug 1918 - 09 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 1/5th Bn Yorkshire Regt. 16 Aug 1918 - 06 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 4th Bn South Staffordshire Regt. 16 Aug 1918 - 06 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 1/5th Bn North Staffordshire Regt. 12 Aug 1918 - 06 Nov 1918. Demobilised.

 

  

117th Brigade.

Prior to being reduced to Cadre.

16th Bn Sherwood Foresters. 29 Sep 1915 - 16 Aug 1918. Reduced to Training Cadre on 16 May 1918. Cadre to the 66th Division.
17th Bn Sherwood Foresters. Oct 1915 - 12 Feb 1918. Disbanded.
17th Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Jul 1915 - 16 Aug 1918. Reduced to Training Cadre on 16 May 1918. Cadre to the 66th Division.
16th Bn Rifle Brigade. Aug 1915 - 16 Aug 1918. Reduced to Cadre on 16 May 1918. Cadre to the 66th Division.

After being reduced to Cadre.

Cadre 1/4th Bn Lincolnshire Regt. 27 Jun 1918 - 27 Jul 1918. To the 118th Brigade.
Cadre 11th Bn Cheshire Regt. 23 Jun 1918 - 03 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 2/5th Bn Sherwood Foresters. 28 Jun 1918 - 03 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 8th Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 27 Jun 1918 - 03 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 9th Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 27 Jun 1918 - 03 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 1/5th Bn North Staffordshire Regt. 27 Jun 1918 - 12 Aug 1918. To the 116th Brigade.
Cadre 1/5th Bn Durham Light Infantry. 16 Aug 1918 - 09 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 1/6th Bn Durham Light Infantry. 16 Aug 1918 - 06 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 1/8th Bn Durham Light Infantry. 16 Aug 1918 - 06 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 6th Bn Connaught Rangers. 27 Jun 1918 - 03 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 6th Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers. 27 Jun 1918 - 03 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 8th Bn Rifle Brigade. 27 Jun 1918 - 03 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 9th Bn Rifle Brigade. 27 Jun 1918 - 03 Aug 1918. Disbanded.

 

118th Brigade.

Prior to being reduced to Cadre.

1/6th Bn Cheshire Regt. 29 Feb 1916 - 28 May 1918. To the 25th Division.
13th Bn East Surrey Regt. Oct 1915 - 23 Feb 1916. To the 40th Division.
1/4th Bn Black Watch. 29 Feb 1916 - 15 Mar 1916. Amalgamated with the 1/5th Bn to form the 4/5th Bn.
4/5th Bn Black Watch. 15 Mar 1916 - 14 May 1918. To the 15th Division.
1/5th Bn Black Watch. 29 Feb 1916 - 15 Mar 1916. Amalgamated with the 1/4th Bn to form the 4/5th Bn.
10th Bn Queen’s Own. Jul 1915 - 16 Oct 1915. To the 41st Division.
11th Bn Queen’s Own. Jul 1915 - 16 Oct 1915. To the 41st Division.
20th Bn Middlesex Regt. Jul 1915 - 23 Feb 1916. To the 40th Division.
21st Bn Middlesex Regt. Jul 1915 - 23 Feb 1916. To the 40th Division.
14th Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Sep 1915 - 23 Feb 1916. To the 40th Division.
1/1st Bn Cambridgeshire Regt. 29 Feb 1916 - 09 May 1918. To the 12th Division.
1/1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt. 29 Feb 1916 - 08 Feb 1918. To the 116th Brigade.

After being reduced to Cadre.

Cadre 1/4th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. 16 Aug 1918 - 10 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 1/5th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. 16 Aug 1918 - 10 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 1/6th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. 16 Aug 1918 - 10 Nov 1918. Demobilised.
Cadre 18th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. 29 Jul 1918 - 15 Aug 1918. To the 66th Division.
Cadre 1/4th Bn Lincolnshire Regt. 27 Jul 1918 - 28 Sep 1918. To the 116th Brigade.
Cadre 6th Bn Bedfordshire Regt. 31 May 1918 - 04 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 1/4th Bn East Lancashire Regt. 16 Aug 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
Cadre 13th Bn Royal Sussex Regt. 17 Jun 1918 - 14 Aug 1918. Disbanded, personnel to the 1/4th Bn.
Cadre 9th Bn Black Watch. 21 May 1918 - 17 Jun 1918. To the 16th Division.
Cadre 8/10th Bn Gordon Highlanders. 09 Jun 1918 - 17 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 7th Bn Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. 11 Jun 1918 - 14 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 11th Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. 11 Jun 1918 - 30 Jul 1918. To the Corps Troops.

 

  

Pioneers.

13th Bn Gloucestershire Regt. Aug 1915 - 15 Aug 1918. Reduced to Cadre on 06 May 1918. Cadre to the 66th Division.

 

Attached Troops.

Cadre 16th Bn Royal Scots. 17 Jun 1918 - 04 Aug 1918. Disbanded.
Cadre 25th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. 17 Jun 1918 - 16 Aug 1918. To the 66th Division.
Cadre 13th Bn Yorkshire Regt. 17 Jun 1918 - 29 Jun 1918. To the 25th Division.
Cadre 13th Bn East Surrey Regt. 17 Jun 1918 - 30 Jun 1918. To the 25th Division.
Cadre 1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters. 15 Aug 1918 - 11 Nov 1918.
Cadre 21st Bn Middlesex Regt. 17 Jun 1918 - 30 Jun 1918. To the 25th Division.
Cadre 14th Bn Highland Light Infantry. 17 Jun 1918 - 16 Aug 1918. To the 66th Division.

Due to heavy casualties in March and April 1918 the 39th Division formed a Composite Brigade from 10 April until 06 May 1918, the Brigade was made up as follows.

No 1 Bn. 11th Bn Royal Sussex Regt.
1/1st Bn Hertfordshire Regt.

No 2 Bn. 13th Bn Gloucestershire Regt.
13th Bn Royal Sussex Regt.

No 3 Bn. 117th Brigade.

No 4 Bn. 118th Brigade.

No 5 Bn. 116th, and 117th and 118th Brigades. (Formed on 12 Apr 1918 disbanded on 30 Apr 1918).

 

    

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