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2nd Division    2nd Division was one of the first British formations to proceed to France, and remained on the Western Front throughout the war. It took part in most of the major actions. 1914 The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, the Affair of Landrecies, the Rearguard affair of Le Grand Fayt and the Rearguard actions of Villers-Cotterets The Battle of the Marne The Battle of the Aisne including participation in the Actions on the Aisne heights First Battle of Ypres 1915 Winter Operations 1914-15 The Battle of Festubert The Battle of Loos 1916 The Battle of Delville Wood The Battle of the Ancre Operations on the Ancre 1917 The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line The First Battle of the Scarpe The Battle of Arleux The Second Battle of the Scarpe The Battle of Cambrai 1918 The Battle of St Quentin The Battle of Bapaume The First Battle of Arras 1918 The Battle of Albert The Second Battle of Bapaume The Battle of Havrincourt The Battle of the Canal du Nord The Battle of Cambrai 1918 The Battle of the Selle 2nd Division was selected to advance into Germany and form part of the Occupation Force. Order of Battle of 2nd Division 4th (Guards) Brigade On the formation of the Guards Division in August 1915, the Brigade left 2nd Division and moved to Guards Division being renamed 1st Guards Brigade 2nd Btn, Grenadier Guards 2nd Btn, Coldstream Guards 3rd Btn, Coldstream Guards 1st Btn, Irish Guards 1/1st Btn, Hertfordshire Regiment from November 1914 5th Brigade 2nd Btn, Worcestershire Regiment until December 1915 2nd Btn, Ox & Bucks Light Infantry 2nd Btn, Highland Light Infantry 2nd Btn, Connaught Rangers until November 1914 1/9th Btn, the Highland Light Infantry from November 1914 until January 1916 2nd Btn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers from January 1915 until July 1915 1st Btn, Queen's from July 1915 until December 1915 1/7th Btn, King's (Liverpool Regiment) from September 1915 until November 1915 17th Btn, Royal Fusiliers from December 1915 until February 1918 24th Btn, Royal Fusiliers from December 1915 5th Machine Gun Company was formed on 1st January 1916, became part of 2nd MG Battalion on 4th of March 1918 5th Trench Mortar Battery from 11th of March 1916 6th Brigade 1st Btn, King's (Liverpool Regiment) 2nd Btn, South Staffordshire Regiment 1st Btn, Royal Berkshire Regiment until December 1915 1st Btn, King's Royal Rifle Corps until December 1915 1/5th Btn, King's (Liverpool Regiment) from February 1915 until December 1915 1/7th Btn, King's (Liverpool Regiment) from March 1915 until September 1915 17th Btn, Middlesex Regiment from 8 December 1915, disbanded February 1918 13th Btn, Essex Regiment joined December 1915, disbanded February 1918 17th Btn, Royal Fusiliers joined February 1918 6th Machine Gun Company formed on 4th of January 1916, became part of 2nd MG Battalion on 4th of March 1918 6th Trench Mortar Battery joined by 18 March 1916 19th Brigade 19th Brigade joined from 27th Division to replace the 4th (Guards) Brigade on 19th August 1915 transferred to 33rd Division on 25th November 1915 2nd Btn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers 1st Btn, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 1/5th Btn, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 1st Btn, Middlesex Regiment 2nd Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 99th Brigade 99th Brigade joined 33rd Division on 25th November 1915 17th Btn, Royal Fusiliers 22nd Btn, Royal Fusiliers 23rd Btn, Royal Fusiliers 24th Btn, Royal Fusiliers until December 1915 1/5th Btn, King's (Liverpool Regiment) from February 1915 until December 1915 1st Btn, Royal Berkshire Regiment from March 1915 1st Btn, King's Royal Rifle Corps from 8th December 1915 99th Machine Gun Company from 28 April 1916, became part of 2nd MG Battalion 4th of March 1918 99th Trench Mortar Battery joined by 18 March 1916 Divisional Troops under the direct command of Divisional HQ 10th Btn, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (Cornwall Pioneers) joined as Divisional Pioneer Battalion June 1916, left in July 1917 then returned in November 1917 242nd Company, Machine Gun Corps joined 18 July 1917, absorbed into 2nd MG Battalion 4th of March 1918 2nd Battalion, Machine Gun Corps formed 4th of March 1918 2nd Divisional Train ASC 8, 11, 28, 31, 35 Companies. 11 Coy left with 4th (Guards) Brigade in August 1915 3rd Mobile Veterinary Section AVC 205th Divisional Employment Company joined 18 May 1917 at which time it was 7th Divisional Employment Company; renamed in June 1917 2nd Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop Unit joined by 4 April 1915, transferred to Divisional Train 9 April 1916 Divisional Mounted Troops. B Squadron, 15th (King's) Hussars until April 1915 B Sqn, South Irish Horse joined May 1915 until May 1916 2nd Company, Army Cyclist Corps until June 1916 Divisional Artillery XXXIV Brigade, RFA until January 1917 XXXVI Brigade, RFA XLI Brigade, RFA XLIV (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA until May 1916 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column 1st Siege Battery RGA from February 1915 until April 1915 26th Heavy Battery RGA from February 1915 until April 1915 35th Heavy Battery RGA until April 1915 No 11 Pom-Pom Section RGA attached 22nd September 1914 to 25th January 1915 No 7 Mountain Battery RGA attached 4th February 1915 to 9th December 1915 V.2 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA formed 26 May 1917, left by 3 January 1918 X.2, Y.2 and Z.2 Medium Mortar Batteries RFA joined in April 1916; on 24 February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 5th Field Company 11th Field Company left December 1915 226th Field Company joined December 1915 1st (East Anglian) Field Company from January 1915, later renamed 483rd Field Company RE 2nd Divisional Signals Company Royal Army Medical Corps 4th Field Ambulance left for Guards Division 19 August 1915 5th Field Ambulance 6th Field Ambulance 19th Field Ambulance from August 1915 until November 1915 100th Field Ambulance from November 1915 11th Sanitary Section joined by 9 January 1915 until 27th of December 1916 24th Aug 1914 A Difficult Day 25th Aug 1914 Digging in 26th Aug 1914 Confusion 27th Aug 1914 Wooded Country 7th September 1914 Drunk German soldiers 8th September 1914 Ongoing Battles 9th September 1914 Ongoing Action 10th September 1914 Davance 15th Sep 1914 In Action 20th September 1914 Reliefs 21st September 1914 Attacks 21st Sep 1914 On the Move 22nd September 1914 Reliefs 22nd Sep 1914 Road 23rd September 1914 Patrols 23rd Sep 1914 Road 24th September 1914 Artillery Exchange 24th Sep 1914 Bridge Work 25th September 1914 Pontoon Bridge damaged 25th Sep 1914 Bridging 26th September 1914 Aircraft Assists 26th Sep 1914 Bridging 27th September 1914 Continuing action around bridges 27th Sep 1914 Road and Bridge 28th September 1914 Bridges 28th Sep 1914 Pile Driving 29th September 1914 Ongoing fighting on all fronts 29th Sep 1914 Pile Driving 30th September 1914 September Intelligence Summary 30th Sep 1914 Equipment 1st Oct 1914 Bridging 2nd Oct 1914 Bridging 3rd Oct 1914 Bridging 4th Oct 1914 Bridging 5th Oct 1914 Bridging 6th Oct 1914 Bridging 7th Oct 1914 Bridge Building 8th Oct 1914 Bridge Building 9th Oct 1914 Bridge Building 10th Oct 1914 Tales from France 10th Oct 1914 Bridge Building 11th Oct 1914 Bridge Completed 12th Oct 1914 At Rest 13th Oct 1914 On the March 15th Oct 1914 On the March 17th Oct 1914 On the Move 18th Oct 1914 Ready to Move 19th Oct 1914 On the Move 21st Oct 1914 On the March   21st Oct 1914 In Action   22nd Oct 1914 In Defence 24th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting   24th Oct 1914 Enemy Break Through 25th Oct 1914 Enemy Artillery 25th Oct 1914 Enemy Break Through 26th Oct 1914 Pressure   27th Oct 1914 In Action 28th Oct 1914 Attack Made 19th Nov 1914 Snow   20th Nov 1914 On the March   21st Nov 1914 On the March   26th Nov 1914 Working Parties   27th Nov 1914 Working Parties   19th Dec 1914 In Billets   23rd Dec 1914 In Support   24th Dec 1914 Reliefs   25th Dec 1914 In the Trenches   27th Dec 1914 In the Trenches   2nd Jan 1915 Relief Complete   8th Jan 1915 On the March   10th Jan 1915 Reliefs   10th Jan 1915 Trenches Flooded 11th Jan 1915 In Support   11th Jan 1915 Water Rising 12th Jan 1915 Reliefs   12th Jan 1915 Enemy Sighted 13th Jan 1915 Very Wet 14th Jan 1915 In the Line   14th Jan 1915 Quiet 16th Jan 1915 In the Line 18th Jan 1915 Reliefs   19th Jan 1915 Conference Held 20th Jan 1915 Into Reserve   20th Jan 1915 Water Rising 25th Jan 1915 Orders   3rd February 1915 Attachment 6th February 1915 In Action 7th February 1915 In Support 8th February 1915 Attack Made 10th February 1915 Message 12th February 1915 In the Trenches 14th February 1915 French Attempt Advance 20th February 1915 Stand To 28th February 1915 Into Corps Reserve   1st March 1915 Monthly statement. 9th March 1915 Company parades and organisation. 10th Mar 1915 Diversionary attack   10th Mar 1915 Attack Made 11th Mar 1915 Wire 14th March 1915 Brigadier Congratulates 1st Herts 16th Mar 1915 Concert 17th March 1915 Working Parties   24th Mar 1915 Instruction 25th Mar 1915 Instruction   26th March 1915 Instruction 27th March 1915 Instruction 28th March 1915 Instruction 29th March 1915 Front Line Training Rotation  6th County of London Brigade RFA report that the Return took place to War Station of officers who proceeded to Front on Thursday last. Major R R Wansbrough, Lt G Lyon Smith, Lt A F Yencken, Lt R Bruce, 2/Lt A F Blackwell, 2/Lt J A O Petro, proceeded with six NCOs and six telephonists for attachment to Regular Batteries in 1st and 2nd Divisions. War Diaries 29th Mar 1915 Orders 29th March 1915 Instruction 31st Mar 1915 Instruction 1st April 1915 Int. Report for March 1915 Intelligence Report  6th County of London Brigade RFA Intelligence Summary by Lt Colonel R J Machugh for March 1915: From March 1st to March 16th, the Brigade was chiefly occupied in completing preparations for moving from War Station at Hemel Hempstead to join the Expeditionary Force in France. The Brigade moved on 15th to 17th March to Le Havre via Southampton. No casualties occurred to personnel on the journey. Four horses were injured on the train journey and one left behind at the point of embarkation. Two of these, the Adjutant's chargers, are to be sent on to rejoin the Brigade and a Driver was left in charge of the animals for this purpose, with instructions to bring them on to France when recovered. The move to France was carried out without incident and at the end of the month the Brigade was in billets at Lapugnoy. Between March 25th and April 1st all officers, with two exceptions, had experience in the Firing Line, having been attached to RFA Brigades in the 1st and 2nd Division. Much useful information was gained by these officers. The Medical, Veterinary, Supply and Transport Services were satisfactory during the month both during the period in England and in France. Signed R J Machugh Lt Col, 6th London Bde. RFA Thursday April 1st 1915. Lapugnoy, France. War Diaries 6th Apr 1915 Instruction   8th Apr 1915 Instruction   9th Apr 1915 Reliefs 9th Apr 1915 Instruction 10th Apr 1915 Instruction   11th Apr 1915 Instruction 12th Apr 1915 Instruction 13th Apr 1915 Instruction 14th Apr 1915 Instruction 15th Apr 1915 Instruction 16th Apr 1915 Instruction 17th Apr 1915 Instruction 18th Apr 1915 Church Parade   22nd April 1915 Operational Order No.3 25th April 1915 Daily Battery Activity 6th London Brigade RFA   6th County of London Brigade RFA report 15th Battery did not fire. 16th Battery fired thirty six rounds in registering German trenches from A.3.d.2.2 to A.3.a.0.2. Range 3425-3600 yards. 17th Battery registered four points - a snipers post (3050 yds), Canal trench (3100 yds), German forward trench (3425 yds), and German Communication trench (3700 yds). The 16th and 17th Batteries, as the result of Chateau Gorre being shelled yesterday moved the Wagon Lines to La Motte Farm and the banks of the La Bassee canal respectively. Today the Brigade came under the tactical command of General Wray (Through Colonel Hall) instead of General Onslow, 2nd Division. War Diaries 27th April 1915 Reliefs 6th May 1915 Preparations 7th May 1915 Conference 8th May 1915 Preparations 9th May 1915 Orders   9th May 1915 On the March   10th May 1915 Orders 10th May 1915 Orders   11th May 1915 Recce 11th May 1915 Orders Received 12th May 1915 Orders 12th May 1915 Training 15th May 1915 Orders 16th May 1915 Attack Made   17th May 1915 Assault 18th May 1915 Orders 18th May 1915 Heavy Shelling 18th May 1915 Attacks Made 18th May 1915 Orders Received   19th May 1915 Battle of Festubert 19th May 1915 Heavy Casualties 19th May 1915 Orders 19th May 1915 Reliefs   20th May 1915 Relief Complete 22nd May 1915 Address 23rd May 1915 Church Parade 24th May 1915 GOC praises conduct of 1st Bn Herts 25th June 1915 Reliefs 28th June 1915 Message 13th July 1915 Reliefs 31st Aug 1915 Artillery 2nd Aug 1915 Relief Completed   4th Aug 1915 Reliefs   6th Aug 1915 Reliefs 8th Aug 1915 Reliefs 10th Aug 1915 Reliefs 13th Aug 1915 Reliefs 15th Aug 1915 Reliefs   19th Aug 1915 Reorganisation 19th Aug 1915 Reorganisation   1st Sep 1915 Orders 4th September 1915 On the March  E Battery, RHA marched at 1000 and moved into bivouac near Le Quesnoy, 2 miles east of Bethune on attachment with other two batteries of 2nd Cavalry Division to 2nd Infantry Division. In bivouac at 2030hrs as not allowed through Bethune until after dark, about 23 miles E Battery, RHA war diary 5th Sep 1915 Aircraft Active   13th September 1915 Preparing new positions  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA are in bivouac at Le Quesnoy. 5th to 13th September a working party of men went up each day, improving gun pits in area into which were to go. E Battery RHA war diary 14th September 1915 Back into Action  E Battery RHA are at Le Quesnoy. Four guns went into action after dark on east edge of wood just north of La Bassee canal about 1 mile east of Gorre and took the place of 4 guns of the 71st Battery RFA which took up new positions for wire cutting. Got into position about 1930hrs. Battery 3200 yards from German trenches observed from a ruin near Givenchy Village a very good observing post. E Battery RHA war diary 15th September 1915 Registering and in Action  E Battery RHA have 4 guns in action near Le Quesnoy. Registered to front from Canteleux to the canal. Fired 60 rounds in all. remaining section came into action at 1930. Remaining two guns of 71st Battery RFA withdrawn at 2030hrs. Battery was withdrawn and went into bivouac at Le Quesnoy at the Wagon Line. war diaries 15th Sep 1915 Working Parties and Training   17th September 1915 On the March  E Battery, RHA return to 5th Cavalry Brigade from attachment. Marched to Bleringhem on rejoining 5th Cavalry Brigade, 23 miles. Started at 0530hrs into bivouacs at noon. E Battery RHA war diary 17th Sep 1915 Reliefs   18th Sep 1915 Gas 19th Sep 1915 Reliefs Complete   20th Sep 1915 Reliefs   21st Sep 1915 Bombardment 21st Sep 1915 Orders   22nd Sep 1915 Bombardment 23rd Sep 1915 Patrols 24th Sep 1915 Reliefs 24th Sep 1915 Messages 24th Sep 1915 Orders   25th Sep 1915 2nd Ox & Bucks in Action 25th Sep 1915 Attack Made   26th Sep 1915 Reorganisation 27th Sep 1915 Attack 28th Sep 1915 In Action 29th Sep 1915 Reliefs Complete   1st Oct 1915 In the Line 2nd Oct 1915 Working Parties 3rd Oct 1915 Reliefs 8th Oct 1915 Attack Repulsed   19th Oct 1915 Recce   19th Oct 1915 Orders Received   20th Oct 1915 Reliefs   21st Oct 1915 Artillery Active   21st Oct 1915 Reliefs Complete   22nd Oct 1915 Misty   24th Oct 1915 Misty   25th Oct 1915 Orders   26th Oct 1915 Artillery Active   27th Oct 1915 Royal Inspection   30th Oct 1915 Recce   31st Oct 1915 Experiment   17th Nov 1915 Reliefs 25th Nov 1915 Reorganisation 26th Nov 1915 Instruction   27th Nov 1915 Visits 28th Nov 1915 Instruction   16th Dec 1915 Reorganisation 16th Dec 1915 Orders 17th Dec 1915 Trench Work 21st December 1915 Situation quiet on Support Line. 22nd December 1915 6th London Bde Batteries in Action   22nd December 1915 Gas discharged at 2000 hours under very favourable conditions   23rd Dec 1915 Orders Issued   24th Dec 1915 Trench Work 24th Dec 1915 Flooding 25th Dec 1915 Reliefs Complete   26th Dec 1915 Working Parties 27th Dec 1915 Working Parties   28th Dec 1915 Reliefs 28th Dec 1915 Reliefs   29th Dec 1915 Billets 30th Dec 1915 Reliefs   1st Jan 1916 Cleaning up   1st Jan 1916 Festivities 2nd Jan 1916 Inspections   3rd Jan 1916 Inspections   4th Jan 1916 Company Training   5th Jan 1916 Inspection   6th Jan 1916 Supplies   7th Jan 1916 On the Move   12th Jan 1916 Route March 20th Jan 1916 Enemy Active 12th Feb 1916 Shelling 23rd Feb 1916 Snow 24th Feb 1916 Ready to Move 28th Feb 1916 On the March 29th Feb 1916 Reliefs 1st Mar 1916 Artillery Active 10th Mar 1916 Trench Work 21st Mar 1916 Reliefs 28th Mar 1916 On the Move 3rd April 1916 German Aeroplane Shot Down  6th County of London Brigade RFA. Territorial Force at Carency. Capt. Causland 2nd Household Division attached to the 17th London Battery returned to England. Lt. Woollett 6th London Brigade Ammunition Column was attached to the 15th London Battery. A quiet day with a hostile minenwerfer (mortar) active at about 0900. We retaliated apparently with effect. A German aeroplane was shot down in our lines about 1000. The 15th London Battery registered by aeroplane in the afternoon. War Diaries 3rd Apr 1916 Inspection 9th Apr 1916 On the March 10th Apr 1916 Training 4th May 1916 Inspections  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA 4th May - 11 Remounts joined. 19th May - Parade for GOC 2nd Cavalry Division in the training area. 20th May - 2nd Lt R Gough (attached) left the battery on appointment as temp. ADC to General Gough (Reserve Corps). war diaries 18th May 1916 Training   20th May 1916 Training   22nd May 1916 Enemy Barrage  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery at Carency report Lt Van den Bergh C236 Battery liaison officer to the Left Battalion of the Right Brigade was reported as missing. Activity not great on front support line trenches till 2350 when the enemy sent up green flares and their artillery laid a heavy barrage on Zouave Valley. Ablain, Carency and Lorette heights were heavily shelled with 4.9 and 8 inch guns during the whole of the day. Our artillery kept up a steady fire on enemy front and support line trenches. The 34th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, 2nd Division is attached to Right Group. War Diaries 22nd May 1916 Orders   22nd May 1916 Positions handed over 26th May 1916 236 Brigade HQ Moves  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Carency: Lt Col Lowe DSO commanding Right Group handed over command to Lt Col Parry OC. 34th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, 2nd Division. 236th Brigade HQ moved to new billets at Valhuon. War Diaries 28th May 1916 Rest and Recreation 2nd Jun 1916 Reliefs Complete 16th Jun 1916 Reliefs 21st June 1916 On the Move 23rd June 1916 Standby 26th June 1916 Wire cutting  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report from Aix Noulette. Wire cutting and fire on enemy mortars continued throughout the day. Enemy trench mortars were active on our front, but were silenced by our artillery. At 2330 2nd Division opened a heavy bombardment of enemy trenches on Vimy Ridge. The enemy barrage was fairly heavy for a time but by midnight had practically ceased while our fire carried on until about 0045. At 0445 an exactly similar state of affairs was observed opposite the Loos Salient, very little gun fire was heard and infantry confined themselves chiefly to bombs and machine gun fire. War Diaries 29th June 1916 High Winds  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery at Aix Noulette. A very high wind made wire cutting very difficult especially by the Bois en Hach which, owing to the nature of the ground and undergrowth, is very difficult to see. C236 and B236 Batteries put forward a gun for wire cutting. Lt Yenken C236 Battery arrived from England, but went at once to the Field Ambulance Unit again. At 2130 2nd Division opened a short but very intense bombardment of Vimy Ridge and the enemy replied with a short barrage. War Diaries 1st July 1916 Relief of 23rd London Regt. 1st Jul 1916 In Reserve 2nd Jul 1916 Reliefs 3rd Jul 1916 Quiet 4th Jul 1916 Quiet 5th Jul 1916 Trench Mortars 6th Jul 1916 Reliefs 7th Jul 1916 Trench Raid 8th July 1916 Relief complete at 0200 hours. 8th Jul 1916 Quiet 9th Jul 1916 Mine 10th Jul 1916 Expectations 11th July 1916 Cables 23rd July 1916 Promotions and Appointments  E Battery 3rd Brigade RHA The only entries during July from images provided are for two senior appointments. 23rd July - Lt Col J Olivant DSO RHA left the 2nd Cavalry Division on promotion to Brigadier General Royal Artillery and moved to the 3rd Division. 26th July - Lt Col TM Archdale DSO RHA joined the 2nd Cavalry Division. July 1916 diary is signed by Captain AG Neville for OC E RHA war diaries 23rd Jul 1916 On the March 24th Jul 1916 Reliefs Complete 25th Jul 1916 Shelling 25th of July 1916  Enemy Advances   26th Jul 1916 Gas 26th of July 1916 A Combined Offensive   26th July 1916 Operation Order No.9.   26th Jul 1916 Reliefs 27th Jul 1916 Attack Made 27th Jul 1916 In Action   27th of July 1916 Gas Shell Attack   27th Jul 1916 Heavy Shells 28th Jul 1916 Attack Made   28th Jul 1916 Reliefs 29th Jul 1916 Preparations 30th Jul 1916 Attack Made 30th Jul 1916 In Action 31st July 1916 Owing to the very heavy poisoned gas-shell 2245 hours barrage in Valley North of Montauban the whole Battalion had to put on gas helmets.   31st Jul 1916 Reliefs 1st Aug 1916 In Action   10th Aug 1916 Address 10th Aug 1916 Reliefs 20th Sep 1916 Reliefs   6th Oct 1916 Reliefs   13th Oct 1916 Training 10th Nov 1916 Conference 11th Nov 1916 On the March 11th Nov 1916 Reliefs 12th Nov 1916 Into the Trenches 12th Nov 1916 Preparations 13th Nov 1916 Attack Made 13th Nov 1916 Harsh Conditions 13th November 1916 Attack Made 13th Nov 1916 Preparations 13th Nov 1916 Attack Made 14th Nov 1916 Attack Made 15th Nov 1916 Reliefs 15th Nov 1916 Attack Made 15th Nov 1916 Withdrawal 16th Nov 1916 Reliefs 17th Nov 1916 Into Billets 4th Dec 1916 Training 6th Jan 1917 Training 1st Feb 1917 Reliefs 12th Feb 1917 Working Parties 17th Feb 1917 Attack Made 5th Mar 1917 Reliefs 10th Mar 1917 Attack Made 11th Mar 1917 Patrols 26th Mar 1917 On the March 27th Mar 1917 On the March 28th Mar 1917 On the March 28th Apr 1917 Attack Made   29th Apr 1917 In Action   1st of May 1917  Warning of Relief 2nd of May 1917 13th Inf Bde Moves 4th of May 1917 Relief Completed   9th of May 1917 No Further Advance   14th of May 1917  Divisional Relief Planned   17th May 1917 Bullecourt Taken 21st of May 1917 Quiet Night   23rd of May 1917   Enemy Withdrawal?   24th May 1917 Reliefs 24th May 1917 The enemy's artillery fire has gradually slackened down to occasional shelling the past two days 25th of May 1917 Enemy Raid Counter-attacked   10th of June 1917 Minor Op Planned   12th Jun 1917 Horse Show 12th of June 1917 Relief   14th of June 1917 Relief   15th of June 1917   Relief Completed   17th of June 1917 Quiet Day   20th Jun 1917 Move 21st Jun 1917 Reliefs 23rd of June 1917  Quiet Day   27th of June 1917  Successful Raid   18th August 1918 Operational Order No.1    28th Aug 1917 Lecture   7th Sep 1917 Reliefs   8th Sep 1917 Instruction 9th Sep 1917 Gas Shells 18th Sep 1917 Reliefs   24th Sep 1917 Raid 4th Oct 1917 Gas 5th Oct 1917 Reliefs 6th Oct 1917 On the March 11th Oct 1917 Conference 13th Oct 1917 Competition 14th Oct 1917 Competition 15th Oct 1917 Inspection 16th Oct 1917 Gymkhana 25th Oct 1917 In the Wood 8th Nov 1917 On the March 9th Nov 1917 In Billets 13th Nov 1917 In Action   14th Nov 1917 In Action   15th Nov 1917 In Action   18th of November 1917  22nd Nov 1917 Orders 23rd Nov 1917 On the Move 24th Nov 1917 On the Move 25th Nov 1917 On the March   26th of November 1917 Artillery Reorganised 26th Nov 1917 Reliefs   27th Nov 1917 Attack Made   27th Nov 1917 Intermittent Shelling   29th Nov 1917 Attack Made   30th Nov 1917 In Action   1st of December 1917 Constant Lookout Kept   1st Dec 1917 Reliefs   2nd Dec 1917 Attack Made   3rd Dec 1917 Shelling   4th Dec 1917 Withdrawal   5th Dec 1917 At Rest 12th Dec 1917 In the Line 13th Dec 1917 Reliefs   23rd Dec 1917 Address 24th December 1917 Boundaries 24th Dec 1917 Working Parties   24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 25th Dec 1917 Orders   26th Dec 1917 Reliefs 1st Jan 1918 Quiet 2nd Jan 1918 Frosty 3rd Jan 1918 Reliefs Completed 4th Jan 1918 In Reserve 5th Jan 1918 In Reserve 6th Jan 1918 In Reserve 7th Jan 1918 Training 7th Jan 1918 Snow 8th Jan 1918 Enemy Aircraft 9th Jan 1918 Snow 10th Jan 1918 Snow 11th Jan 1918 Poor Weather 12th Jan 1918 Training 13th Jan 1918 Snow and Frost 14th Jan 1918 Training 15th Jan 1918 Training 16th Jan 1918 Bad Weather 17th Jan 1918 Poor Weather 19th Jan 1918 Orders 19th Jan 1918 Training & Football 20th Jan 1918 Orders 20th Jan 1918 Orders   21st Jan 1918 Heavy Rain 21st Jan 1918 Divisional Races 21st Jan 1918 Shelling   21st Jan 1918 Course 22nd Jan 1918 Reliefs Complete 22nd Jan 1918 Some Shelling   23rd Jan 1918 Reliefs 24th Jan 1918 In the Line 24th Jan 1918 Relief   25th Jan 1918 Artillery Active   25th Jan 1918 Inspection 26th Jan 1918 Orders   27th Jan 1918 Fog 27th Jan 1918 Orders Received 28th Jan 1918 Artillery Active   29th Jan 1918 Artillery Active 30th Jan 1918 Artillery Active 31st Jan 1918 Thick Mist 1st Feb 1918 Trenches Improved 2nd Feb 1918 Trenches Improved 2nd Feb 1918 Reorganisation 3rd Feb 1918 Orders 3rd Feb 1918 Reliefs 4th Feb 1918 Shelling 5th Feb 1918 Warmer 5th Feb 1918 Working Parties 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 6th Feb 1918 Orders 7th Feb 1918 Fraternisation 8th Feb 1918 Quiet 9th Feb 1918 Reorganisation 10th Feb 1918 Shelling 11th Feb 1918 Quiet 12th Feb 1918 Quiet 13th Feb 1918 Some Shelling 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 14th Feb 1918 Patrols   15th Feb 1918 Artillery Active 16th Feb 1918 Artillery Active 17th Feb 1918 Enemy Aircraft   18th Feb 1918 Misty   19th Feb 1918 Quiet   20th Feb 1918 Gas Shells   21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation   21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 22nd Feb 1918 Patrols 23rd Feb 1918 Shelling   24th Feb 1918 Shelling   25th Feb 1918 Shelling   26th Feb 1918 Artillery Active   27th Feb 1918 Artillery Active 28th Feb 1918 Shelling   1st Mar 1918 Raids   2nd Mar 1918 Snow 3rd Mar 1918 Patrols   4th Mar 1918 Quiet   5th Mar 1918 Patrols   6th Mar 1918 Gas   7th Mar 1918 Enemy Active   7th Mar 1918 Gas 8th Mar 1918 Enemy Active   9th Mar 1918 Mist 10th Mar 1918 Enemy Active 11th Mar 1918 Gas 11th Mar 1918 Gas Bombardment 12th Mar 1918 Gas 12th Mar 1918 Reliefs 13th Mar 1918 Raids 14th Mar 1918 Artillery Active 15th Mar 1918 Intense Fire 16th Mar 1918 Trench Raid   17th Mar 1918 Patrols   18th Mar 1918 Raids   19th Mar 1918 Patrols 19th Mar 1918 Reliefs 20th Mar 1918 Reliefs 21st Mar 1918 Arrangements   21st Mar 1918 In Action   21st of March 1918 Intense Barrage    22nd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal   22nd Mar 1918 Messages 23rd Mar 1918 Messages   23rd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal   23rd Mar 1918 Rearguard Action 24th Mar 1918 Messages   24th Mar 1918 In Defence   24th Mar 1918 Fierce Fighting   25th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal   25th Mar 1918 Fierce Attack 26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal   26th Mar 1918 Holding the Line   27th Mar 1918 In Defence   27th Mar 1918 Moves   27th Mar 1918 Into Billets 28th Mar 1918 Reorganisation   29th Mar 1918 Enemy Quieter   30th Mar 1918 Reorganisation 31st Mar 1918 Shelling 31st Mar 1918 Intermittent Shelling 1st Apr 1918 Reliefs 2nd Apr 1918 On the March 3rd Apr 1918 On the Move 15th Apr 1918 Reliefs Completed   16th May 1918 Inspection 17th May 1918 Training 18th May 1918 Training 27th May 1918 Sports 3rd July 1918 Training 19th Jul 1918 Training 20th Jul 1918 Reliefs 16th Aug 1918 Reliefs 18th Aug 1918 Orders 19th Aug 1918 Training 20th Aug 1918 On the Move 21st Aug 1918 Attack Made   21st of August 1918  Division Advances   24th Aug 1918 In Action   24th August 1918 The second phase of the attack commenced at 1100 hours. 2nd Sep 1918 Orders   2nd of September 1918 Strongly Defended 3rd Sep 1918 Attack Made   4th Sep 1918 Advance   16th September 1918 Battalion marched to trenches North of Havrincourt 27th Sep 1918 Orders   28th Sep 1918 Attack Made   29th Sep 1918 Attack Made   30th Sep 1918 Reliefs   7th October 1918 Orders received from Brigade H.Q. giving details of attack and ordering the withdrawal of the Support Companies 2nd Royal Scots. 8th Oct 1918 Attack Made   8th October 1918 0430 hours 2nd Division & 63rd Division attacked. 19th Oct 1918 Training & Football 22nd October 1918 Battalion billeted in Quievy and moved in the late afternoon to Solesmes. 28th Oct 1918 Orders If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 2nd Division? There are:961 items tagged 2nd Division available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 2nd Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Balderstone Henry. Gdmn. 3rd Btn. (d.17th Aug 1915) Ball William Ormsby Wyndham. Lt. 2nd Btn. (d.26th Sep 1914) Cunliffe Thomas. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.23rd Oct 1915) Owens James. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.16th May 1915) Pithers Herbert. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.28th Feb 1917) Randall Charles Frank. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.1st Nov 1914) Randall Henry John. L/Cpl. 1st Btn. (d.3rd Jan 1916) Shepherd Henry. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.7th Jul 1916) Stanley William Charles. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.16th May 1915) All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2023 marks 24 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 22nd April 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263973 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates, add a comment or ask a question. If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. 1205947 Pte. Thomas Cunliffe 2nd Btn. Grenadier Guards (d.23rd Oct 1915) Thomas Cunliffe was my great uncle. He enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in June 1914 and then went to Caterham to undergo training. He joined with his best friend William Calderbank and sailed for France in January 1915 blissfully unaware that neither of them would see their home town again. They fought side by side at some notable and well documented engagements such as Hill 70 and the Battle of Loos and must have thought their luck would see them through. However this was not to be as after 9 months William was killed by a sniper and Thomas had the unenviable task of writing to William’s parents back in Wigan. Dear Friends, I am sorry to inform you that your son got killed on the 7th. Poor lad he got hit in the head and his death was instantaneous. He has been in my mind ever since his death. A fellow came up the trenches and said “your mate has gone under”. I could hardly believe who it was at first and then he said “Bill Calderbank”. Well I felt as if I’d been hit. I went to see him, poor fellow. He had a decent burial. The Catholic priest was there and read over his dead body. He had only just put his head up over the trench and he got hit by a sniper. Accept my deepest sympathy. All his chums hope you will accept their deepest sympathy”. The pathetic feature of this story is that the very next day after William was killed Thomas was wounded. A bomb exploded in the trench near him, blowing off one of his legs and damaging the other so severely that it later had to be amputated. He wrote to his parents, Joseph and Mary Cunliffe in Wigan, “Hope this finds you quite well as I am alive but hardly kicking” His letter goes on to describe the events that led up to his injury and his hopes and expectations to be back in Wigan for Christmas. Unfortunately the story does not have a happy ending as on 23rd October Thomas died from his wounds. The lady superintendent at the hospital in Wimereux wrote to his parents telling them, “Your poor son got weaker and weaker in spite of all we tried to do for him. He will be buried here in the cemetery in Wimereux. It is a pretty place on a hillside and there are many flowers there in spring and summer. My assistant matron takes great interest in it and sees that it is nicely kept in order” Thomas will be remembered with pride and affection by our family. Graham Parkinson Add to this record. 262050 Pte. Herbert Pithers 2nd Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.28th Feb 1917) Herbert Pithers was my maternal great-grandfather. Add to this record. 220926 Pte. William Charles Stanley 1st Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.16th May 1915) William Stanley entered into theatre on the 23rd of November 1914 . He took part in many of the first winter actions and died in action at the Battle of Festubert near Richebourg in France. The battalion's objective on the night of the 16th/17th of May 1915 was to attack german lines, by crossing over the river Loisne to get to german trenches. His body like many others has never been found and is commemorated on a panel at Le Touret Memorial. Ed Stanley Add to this record. 220727 L/Cpl. Henry John Randall 1st Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.3rd Jan 1916) Henry Randall served with the 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment during WW1 and died, age 27, on the 3rd January 1916. This soldiers headstone is at St Mary Cemetery Osney Lane Oxford. It is tended along with others by a group of soldiers (MPGS)from RAF Benson. Grave reference St. Ebbe. He was the son of Mrs. Harriet Randall, of 17, Abbey Place, St. Ebbe, Oxford. Steve Brown Add to this record. 220726 Pte. Charles Frank Randall 1st Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment (d.1st Nov 1914) Charles Randall served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment during WW1 and died on the 1st November 1914. He is remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium. He was the son of Harriet Randall, of 17, Abbey Place, St. Ebbs, Oxford. Steve Brown Add to this record. 219841 Pte. James Owens 2nd Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (d.16th May 1915) I've just discovered that my grandfather's eldest brother, James Owen, joined up at the beginning of WW1 and was killed at Mons, France in 1915. He was only 24 years old. He came from Lissan, a small hamlet in County Derry in Northern Ireland. James served with the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. His death is commemorated at Le Tournet, a Commonwealth Graves Commission cemetery in France. Strangely enough, this same cemetery is the last resting place of my husband's great uncle, Frederick Larter. Now I know why my father was named James - it was in honour of grandfather's eldest brother, who died so young. Sherryl M Stiles Add to this record. 219060 Pte. Henry Shepherd 1st Btn. The King's (Liverpool) Regiment (d.7th Jul 1916) Henry Shepherd served with the 1st Battalion, Kings Liverpool Regiment during WW1 and was killed in action on the 7th July 1916, aged 41. He is buried in the Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension in France. He was the son of the late John and Margaret Shepherd, of Liverpool Henry left a widow Alice Shepherd and eight children the youngest aged three years, residing at 62 Heyworth Street, Liverpool. S Flynn Add to this record. 218518 Gdmn. Henry Balderstone 3rd Btn. Coldstream Guards (d.17th Aug 1915) Henry Balderstone served with the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards during WW1 and died, age 26, as a Prisoner of War on the 17th August 1915. He is buried in Plot IX. A.8 in the Berlin South Western Cemetery in Berlin. He was the son of Mrs. Cecily Balderstone, of 29, Stanley St., Colne, Lancs. Report in Nelson war memoirs: Private Harry Balderstone, 3rd Coldstream Guards, son of Mrs. Balderstone, of Stanley Street, Colne, arrived in France on the 22nd August 1914, and was wounded and taken prisoner by the Germans three days later and interned at Cologne. Later he was admitted to hospital at Witenberg, suffering from typhoid fever. In May 1915 he wrote home for shirts, underclothing and money, as he was shortly to be removed from the hospital back to the internment camp. But shortly after, Mrs. Balderstone received news from the American Ambassador that her son had died. S Flynn Add to this record. 216800 Lt. William Ormsby Wyndham Ball 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.26th Sep 1914) William Ball, son of Henry Wyndham Ball and Elizabeth Ball, was born in Palmerston Park, Dublin on September 27th 1889. Before the outbreak of the war he played hockey, and represented Ireland in six International matches in 1910 and 1911. After much success as a student in the School of Physic of Trinity College, William gained a commission in the Medical Services on January 24th 1913. He was serving at Longmoor Army Camp upon the outbreak of the war. At the beginning of the war William was attached as Regimental Medical Officer to the 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. He landed at Le Havre with them on August 13th 1914. he Battalion fought as part of the 2nd Division in the Battle of Mons. During the subsequent retreat William was lucky not to have been fatally wounded on four separate occasions. Sadly, he was finally killed by a shell at La Cour de Soupir whilst attending to the wounded at one of the dressing stations. He was 24 years old. William Ball was buried in La Cour de Soupir Farm, and is commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial. S Flynn Add to this record.

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