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29th Division    The 29th Division was one of three Divisions creates as regular units from the further garrisons of Empire arrived back in England after having received recall orders soon after war was declared, many having waited until a Territorial unit had gone out to replace them. The 29th Division was formed in the Stratford-Warwick-Leamington-Rugby-Nuneaton area of Warwickshire in January-March 1915. Originally intended for France, pressure on Lord Kitchener to launch a ground attack at Gallipoli forced him to deploy the Division there. The 29th Division embarked at Avonmouth between the 16th and 22nd of March 1915 and went via Malta to Alexandria. On 7 April the first units to have arrived at Egypt Bena Ro re-embark for the move to Mudros, the deep water harbour at the island of Imbros that was going to be used as a forward base for operations at Gallipoli. The Division landed at Cape Helles on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and subsequently took part in the following actions: 1915 The Naval bombardment of the Straits Forts The Naval attempt to force the Straits The Landings at Cape Helles and ANZAC Cove The deployment of the RMLI to Gallipoli The First Battle of Krithia The Turkish night counter-attack The Second Battle of Krithia The Third Battle of Krithia The Battle of Gully Ravine The Landings at Suvla Bay and the ANZAC attack on Chunuk Bair The Battle of Scimitar Hill and attack on Hill 60 Evacuation of ANZAC bridgehead and Suvla Bay Evacuation of Cape Helles bridgehead 1916 On the nights on the 7th and 8th of January 1916, the Division was evacuated from Gallipoli and all units returned to Egypt. Orders were received there on 25th of February for a move to France. Embarking in March it arrived at Marseilles and moved to concentrate in the area east of Pont Remy between 15th and 29th of March. The Division remained on the Western Front for the remainder of the war. The Battle of Albert - Somme The Battle of the Transloy Ridges - Somme 1917 The First Battle of the Scarpe - Arras Offensive The Second Battle of the Scarpe - Arras Offensive The Third Battle of the Scarpe - Arras Offensive The Battle of Langemarck - Third Battles of Ypres The Battle of Broodseinde - Third Battles of Ypres The Battle of Poelcapelle - Third Battles of Ypres The Battle of Cambrai 1918 The Battle of Estaires - Battles of the Lys The Battle of Messines 1918 - Battles of the Lys The Battle of Hazebrouck including the defence on Nieppe Forest - Battles of the Lys The Battle of Bailleul - Battles of the Lys The Action of Outtersteene Ridge - Advance in Flanders The capture of Ploegsteert and Hill 63 - Advance in Flanders The Battle of Ypres 1918 - Final Advance in Flanders The Battle of Courtrai - Final Advance in Flanders After the Armistice the Division was among those selected to march into Germany to occupy the Rhine bridgehead. All units crossed the Belgian-German border at Malmedy on 4th of December 1918 and arrived in Cologne five days later. The Division crossed the Rhine by the Honhenzollern Bridge on 13 December. Gradually, demobilisation began and by March 1919 most units were down to cadre strength. Divisional Order of Battle of the 29th Division 86th Infantry Brigade (Fusilier Brigade) 2nd Btn, Royal Fusiliers 1st Btn, Lancashire Fusiliers 1st Btn, Royal Munster Fusiliers left April 1916 1st Btn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers left October 1917, rejoined April 1918 2/3rd Btn, London Regiment joined August 1915, left January 1916 86th Machine Gun Company formed 26 February 1916, moved to 29 Battalion MGC on 15 Feb 1918 16th Btn, Middlesex Regiment joined April 1916, disbanded February 1918 86th Trench Mortar Battery formed 21 April 1916 1st Btn, the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry joined October 1917, left April 1918 87th Infantry Brigade 2nd Btn, South Wales Borderers 1st Btn, King's Own Scottish Borderers 1st Btn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers left February 1918 1st Btn, Border Regiment 87th Machine Gun Company formed 16 February 1916, moved to 29 Battalion MGC on 15 Feb 1918 87th Trench Mortar Battery formed 28 April 1916 88th Infantry Brigade 4th Btn, Worcestershire Regiment 2nd Btn, Hampshire Regiment 1st Btn, Essex Regiment left February 1918 1st Btn, Royal Newfoundland Regiment left April 1918 1/5th Btn, Royal Scots joined March 1915, left July 1915 2/1st Btn, London Regiment joined August 1915, left January 1916 88th Machine Gun Company formed 21 February 1916, moved to 29 Battalion MGC on 15 Feb 1918 88th Trench Mortar Battery formed 16 April 1916 2nd Btn, the Leinster Regiment joined April 1918 Divisional Troops under direct command of Divisional HQ 1/2nd tBn, Monmouthshire Regiment joined as Divisional Pioneer Battalion in May 1916 29th Divisional Train 246, 247, 248 and 249 TF Companies, ASC. This was originally the Wessex Divisional Train from the Wessex Division. This transferred to 53rd (Welsh) Division in Egypt, March 1916, after seeing action in Gallipoli. A new Divisional Train was formed in England, consisting of 225, 226, 227 and 228 Companies, ASC. It moved to France and joined the Division 24 March 1916 18th Mobile Veterinary Section AVC 226th Divisional Employment Company joined on 25 May 1917 as 28th Employment Company, 1st Labour Corps; redesignated in June 1917 29th Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop remained in Egypt when Division moved to France. A fresh unit joined in France, and it was absorbed by the Divisional Supply Column in April 1916 Divisional Mounted Troops under direct command of Divisional HQ C Sqn, Surrey Yeomanry left 11 May 1916 1 Section, 10 Squadron, Royal Naval Armoured Car Detachment attached between 5 May 1915 and 20 June 1915 Divisional Artillery XV Brigade, RHA XVII Brigade, RFA CXLVII Brigade, RFA left January 1917 IV Highland Mountain Brigade, RGA left July 1915 29th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA original 29th DAC remained in Egypt when the Division moved to France (in October 1916 it was transferred to the 10th (Irish) Division. While en-route to Salonika its ship was torpedoed and more than 100 men were lost). On arrival in France the former DAC of the 53rd (Welsh) Division joined 29th Division CXXXII Brigade, RFA formerly LVII (H) joined 2 March 1916, broken up 12 September 1916 V.29 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA formed May 1916, broken up 4 February 1918 X.29, Y.29 and Z.29 Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, RFA joined April 1916; on 4 February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 2nd (Lowland) Field Company left February 1916 510th Field Company renamed from 2nd (London) Field Company 455th Field Company renamed from 1st (West Riding) Field Company 497th Field Company joined February 1916, renamed from 3rd (kent) Field Company 1st London Divisional Signal Company Royal Army Medical Corps 87th (1st West Lancashire) Field Ambulance 88th (1st East Anglian) Field Ambulance 89th (1st Highland) Field Ambulance 16th Sanitary Section left April 1917 2nd Jan 1915 On the Move 18th Jan 1915 Orders 28th Jan 1915 Preparations 2nd of February 1915  Artillery in Action 12th Feb 1915 Route March 19th Feb 1915 Route March 25th Feb 1915 Inspection Feb 1915 Training 1st March 1915 Training 3rd Mar 1915 Training Mar 1915 Training 16th Mar 1915 On the Move 10th March 1915 Training 11th Mar 1915 Training 12th Mar 1915 Inspection 12th March 1915 Inspection 13th Mar 1915 Change of Command 13th March 1915 Orders Issued 14th March 1915 Orders Received 15th March 1915 Preparations 16th March 1915 On the Move 17th Mar 1915 On the Move 17th Mar 1915 On the Move 17th March 1915 On the Move 18th Mar 1915 On the Move 18th March 1915 Training 19th Mar 1915 On the Move 19th March 1915 Training 20th Mar 1915 On the Move 20th March 1915 Training 21st Mar 1915 On the Move 21st March 1915 Church Parade 22nd Mar 1915 On the Move 22nd March 1915 Training 23rd Mar 1915 On the Move 23rd March 1915 Into Port 24th Mar 1915 On the Move 24th Mar 1915 Transport 24th March 1915 In Port 25th March 1915 On the Move 26th Mar 1915 On the Move 26th March 1915 On the Move 27th March 1915 On the Move 28th Mar 1915 On the Move 28th March 1915 On the Move 29th Mar 1915 Accomodation 29th March 1915 On the Move 30th Mar 1915 Into Billets 30th March 1915 In Camp 31st Mar 1915 Training 31st March 1915 Sanitary Work 1st Apr 1915 Orders Issued 2nd Apr 1915 Orders Issued 3rd Apr 1915 Preparations 4th Apr 1915 Preparations 6th Apr 1915 Inspection 7th Apr 1915 On the Move 8th Apr 1915 Lack of Water 8th Apr 1915 On the Move 9th Apr 1915 Embarkation 10th Apr 1915 Embarkation 10th Apr 1915 On the Move 12th Apr 1915 Arrival 13th Apr 1915 Preparations 14th Apr 1915 Preparations 15th Apr 1915 Orders 17th Apr 1915 Under Attack 18th Apr 1915 Reconnaissance 19th Apr 1915 Orders 20th Apr 1915 Orders 21st Apr 1915 Conference 22nd Apr 1915 Preparations 22nd Apr 1915 Training 23rd Apr 1915 Transports Sail 24th Apr 1915 At Sea 24th Apr 1915 On the Move 25th Apr 1915 Landing 25th Apr 1915 In Action 25th Apr 1915 Preparations 25th Apr 1915 Landings 26th Apr 1915 Attacks Made 26th Apr 1915 On the Move 26th Apr 1915 Wounded 27th Apr 1915 Reorganisation 28th Apr 1915 Attack Made 29th Apr 1915 The Wounded 29th Apr 1915 Quieter 30th Apr 1915 Enemy Advance 1st May 1915 Enemy Attacks 2nd May 1915 Counter Attack 3rd May 1915 Counter Attack 4th May 1915 Under Fire 27th May 1915 Attachments 29th May 1915 On the Move 1st Jun 1915 Coys Rejoin 1st June 1915 Orders 2nd June 1915 Medical Evacuation Arrangements 3rd June 1915 Orders 4th June 1915 Hard Fighting 5th June 1915 Clearing Casualties 6th Jun 1915 Ready to Move 7th Jun 1915 Casualties 8th Jun 1915 New CO 9th Jun 1915 Move 9th June 1915 Reorganisation 11th Jun 1915 Move 12th Jun 1915 Reliefs 15th Jun 1915 Gallant Actions Reported 15th Jun 1915 Enemy Attacks 16th Jun 1915 In Action 17th Jun 1915 Relief Completed 18th Jun 1915 Inspection 19th Jun 1915 Enemy Attacks 23rd Jun 1915 Reliefs 25th Jun 1915 Trench Work 26th Jun 1915 Reliefs Completed 27th Jun 1915 Quiet 28th Jun 1915 In Action 29th Jun 1915 In Action 30th Jun 1915 In Reserve 1st Jul 1915 In Reserve 2nd Jul 1915 Heavy Shelling 3rd Jul 1915 Reliefs 4th Jul 1915 Bombing 5th Jul 1915 Enemy Attacks 6th Jul 1915 Bombardment 7th Jul 1915 Quiet 8th Jul 1915 Quiet 9th Jul 1915 Visit 10th Jul 1915 Rifle Fire 11th Jul 1915 Under Fire 12th Jul 1915 Attack Made 13th Jul 1915 Heavy Fire 14th Jul 1915 Quiet 15th Jul 1915 Preparations 16th Jul 1915 On the Move 22nd Jul 1915 On the Move 23rd Jul 1915 On the Move 24th Jul 1915 Intelligence 25th Jul 1915 New CO 26th Jul 1915 Fatigues 27th Jul 1915 Orders 28th Jul 1915 Reliefs Completed 29th Jul 1915 Quiet 30th Jul 1915 News 31st Jul 1915 Quiet 1st Aug 1915 Shelling 2nd Aug 1915 Trenches Stengthened 3rd Aug 1915 Drafts 4th Aug 1915 Quiet 5th Aug 1915 Preparations 6th Aug 1915 Attack Made 7th Aug 1915 Withdrawal 7th August 1915 In Action 8th Aug 1915 In the Trenches 9th Aug 1915 Heavy Fire 10th Aug 1915 Occasional Fire 11th Aug 1915 Demonstration 12th Aug 1915 Patrols 13th Aug 1915 Shelling 14th Aug 1915 Under Shellfire 15th Aug 1915 Quieter 16th Aug 1915 Into Reserve 17th Aug 1915 In Reserve 18th Aug 1915 Brigade Reserve 19th Aug 1915 On the Move 20th Aug 1915 Reliefs Completed 21st Aug 1915 Assault Made 21st Aug 1915 Advance 22nd Aug 1915 Reliefs 23rd Aug 1915 Trench Work 23rd Aug 1915 Relief 24th Aug 1915 Trench Work 25th Aug 1915 Artillery Active 26th Aug 1915 Trench Work 27th Aug 1915 Orders 28th Aug 1915 Diversion 29th Aug 1915 Trench Work 30th Aug 1915 Trench Work 31st Aug 1915 Reliefs Complete 1st Sep 1915 Shelling 2nd Sep 1915 Trench Work 3rd Sep 1915 Trench Work 4th Sep 1915 Trench Work 5th Sep 1915 Trench Work 6th Sep 1915 Wounded and Sick 7th Sep 1915 Working Parties 8th Sep 1915 On the Move 27th Sep 1915 Trench Work 28th Sep 1915 Trench Work 29th Sep 1915 Trench Work 2nd Oct 1915 Hard Work 3rd Oct 1915 Trench Work 4th Oct 1915 Snipers 5th Oct 1915 Trench Work 6th Oct 1915 Trench Work 7th Oct 1915 Bombardment 8th Oct 1915 In the Trenches 9th Oct 1915 Trench Work 10th Oct 1915 Enemy Aircraft 11th Oct 1915 Trench Motars 12th Oct 1915 Visit 13th Oct 1915 New Sap 14th Oct 1915 Trench Work 15th Oct 1915 Trench Work 16th Oct 1915 Trench Work 17th Oct 1915 Trench Work 18th Nov 1915 Heavy Rain 19th Nov 1915 Dugouts Improved 20th Nov 1915 Dugouts Improved 21st Nov 1915 Dugouts Improved 22nd Nov 1915 Dugouts Improved 23rd Nov 1915 Support Line 24th Nov 1915 Construction Work 25th Nov 1915 Move 26th Nov 1915 Thunder Storm 27th Nov 1915 Nasty Conditions 28th Nov 1915 Snow 29th Nov 1915 Cleaning up 30th Nov 1915 Cleaning up 1st Dec 1915 Outposts 15th Dec 1915 On the Move 16th Dec 1915 Improvements 17th Dec 1915 Reliefs 18th Dec 1915 Move 3rd Jan 1916 Arrivals 26th Feb 1916 Orders 2nd Mar 1916 On the Move 3rd Mar 1916 On the Move 11th Mar 1916 On the Move 12th Mar 1916 On the Move 13th Mar 1916 On the Move 18th March 1916 On the Move 19th March 1916 Arrival 20th March 1915 Route March 20th March 1916 Route March 24th March 1916 Training 29th March 1916 Training 30th March 1916 On the March 31st March 1916 Supply Difficulies 1st Apr 1916 Orders Received 2nd of April 1916 Front Expanded 2nd Apr 1916 On the March   3rd of April 1916 Some Casualties at Mesnil 3rd Apr 1916 Relief Completed 4th Apr 1916 Under Fire   6th of April 1916 14th RIR Hold Their Front   29th of April 1916 Supporting a Raid 23rd of May 1916 Assistance Refused 16th of June 1916 A Drying Day and a Plan   24th Jun 1916 Seething with Troops 24th Jun 1916 Men Addressed 24th of June 1916 Our Artillery Cuts Wire 27th of June 1916 Intense Bombardment   30th Jun 1916 Preparations   Soldiers of the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment of the 29th Division parading at 'White City' opposite Hawthorn Ridge for the attack on Beaumont Hamel. Behind them is a group from the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders of the 4th Division. © IWM (Q 796) The officer in the middle left (with his back to camera, removing his cap) is Second Lieutenant Norman Frank Currall of the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. IWM 1st Jul 1916 Assault Made 1st of July 1916 Somme Battle Begins   1st July 1916 Terrible Losses   2nd Jul 1916 In Action  At 0100. B Coy. 18th DLI moved up to the front line. (D Coy. attached to A) 0330. 66 reinforcements reported at HQ and joined their Coys. 0830. 2 Platoons C Coy. in Monk with 4 MG of MG Co. and 2 MG in Dunmow. 1330. Brigade instructions to occupy front line from K.35.a.3.7 to K.29.c.80.95 with 1 Co. 4 L.G. by day, with 2 Coys 8 L.G. by night, remainder & HQ to hold north & south Monk. This completed by 2.40 pm and Brigade informed. 1500 - 1530. Special bombardment by our artillery during which 2 off. 9 OR C Coy. were wounded 1 OR C Co. killed. 1830 - 1900. Special bombardment by our artillery. 2020. Brigade informed that enemy was at ----- ----- shells ---- in North Monk. 40 wounded chiefly of 16th West Yorks were collected by C Coy. in front line. 2300. Kings Own on right of 18th DLI and wiring in front. 2306. Germans reported to be seen carrying up Gas Cylinders to front line. 2330. GOC 93 I.B. instructs 18 Btn DLI to send remainder of D Coy. back to Bus. Late. Brigade warn 18th Btn DLI of possible gas attack, front line to hold on. 18th West Yorks to send 2 Coy’s one to North Monk, one to South Monk and 2 remaining Coy’s to move up later. 16th West Yorks to remain in Dunmow, 15th West Yorks in Maitland. Information also received that 2 Brigades of 48th Division with 3 Battalions of 29 Division will attack hostile line from River Ancre to Pt 29 at 3.30am. Artillery to bombard enemy’s line. The National Archives 18th DLI War Diary Appx.1 WO95/2361/1 2nd Jul 1916 Attack and Counter Attack 2nd of July 1916 A Gallant Plan   25th Jan 1917 Boundary   26th Jan 1917 Orders   27th Jan 1917 Attack Made   27th Jan 1917 In Action 9th Feb 1917 Reliefs   12th Apr 1917 Reliefs 12th Apr 1917 Into the Line 12th Apr 1917 On the Move 13th Apr 1917 Assault Made 13th Apr 1917 Into the Trenches 13th of April 1917    13th April 1917 Attack Fails 14th Apr 1917 Objective Gained 14th Apr 1917 In Support 14th of April 1917  15th Apr 1917 Relieved 16th of April 1917  17th Apr 1917 Preparation for Move 17th of April 1917  18th Apr 1917 Under Shellfire 19th of April 1917  21st Apr 1917 Reliefs 23rd Apr 1917 Assault Made 23rd Apr 1917 Orders to Attack 23rd of April 1917    24th Apr 1917 Relief Completed 24th April 1917 Reliefs 2nd May 1917 On the Move 3rd May 1917 Not Required 14th May 1917 Reliefs 17th May 1917 Report 16th July 1917 Amendments   3rd of December 1917 Move at Short Notice   24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 21st Jan 1918 Course 27th Jan 1918 Orders Received 28th of January 1918    29th Jan 1918 Front Extended 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 8th of February 1918 Orders 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 27th Mar 1918 Reliefs 9th of April 1918 A Busy Day   10th Apr 1918 Enemy Attack 10th of April 1918 Under Attack   10th Apr 1918 Enemy Advance 11th Apr 1918 Attacks Repulsed   11th of April 1918 Quiet...and then...   11th Apr 1918 In Action   12th of April 1918 Enemy Advances   12th of April 1918 Orders 13th of April 1918 Under Heavy Attack   13th of April 1918 Freyberg's Decision   13th of April 1918 Report   17th of April 1918 HQs Move   24th of April 1918 Rest and Reorganisation   30th of April 1918 Reports   18th of May 1918  EAs Active   8th of June 1918  Gas Projected   15th of June 1918  Operation Proposed   22nd of June 1918  Slight Activity   1st of September 1918 Operations Begin   4th September 1918 Daily Activity  9th Btn. (North Irish Horse) the Royal Irish Fusiliers. Wulverghem. At 0800 Battle Headquarters was formed at T.10.d.05.80 and under an artillery barrage the Battalion, in conjunction with other Battalions on flanks, attacked. Good progress was made. D Company lost direction and got as far as Stinking Farm (U.7.a). Not being protected on flanks the enemy attempted to cut them off and the Company had to retire. Our line was established from road (T.6.d.35.80) where touch was made with the 30th Division, along hedge running south through T.6.d.4.0 to rise in T.12.b then along breastwork trench from T.12.c.50.35, T.18.a.80.90. With the gap between B and A Companies, D Company was put in support along road running south through T.6.c and T.12.a. The enemy were not very numerous but their machine gun fire was heavy. The shelling was fairly heavy but was confined to vicinity of St Quentin Cabaret. During the operation Battle Headquarters was moved to T.5.d.80.40. Six prisoners were taken, four of whom were sent through 29th Division on the right. Some of our men on the right were cut off and are thought to be made prisoners. The 29th Division took Hill 63 but did not come up far enough to cover our right flank. During the day there was an amount of sniping and machine gun fire and the enemy shelled St Quentin Cabaret and T.12.a with 5.9. In the afternoon he attempted a counter-attack by coming up along railway between B and A Companies, but was driven back by machine gun and rifle fire. At dusk our patrols were pushed forward to get the line behind Bristol Castle but were unable to do so owing to machine gun fire. War Diaries 4th of September 1918 Hill 63 Attacked    5th of September 1918  Situation Unchanged   28th of September 1918 Moves by Rail and Road   29th Sep 1918 Attack Made 29th Sep 1918 On the Move   30th Sep 1918 Advance Guard  At Becelaere at 5.30am 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, covered by an advance guard, moved forward through J.18.b, K.13 central to K.16.c. Information was received from Brigade to the effect that the 109th Brigade held Terhand and Dadizeele. 9th North Irish Horse Battalion was to pass through 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at 0700. 12th Royal Irish Rifles to advance on our left, Terhand, Vijfwegen Road the inter-Battalion boundary, the first objective to be a line roughly north and south through Vijfwegen (K.24.a); second objective to be railway running north and south (K.20 and K.26 central); third objective to be Mooreseele. The 29th Division was on our right. At 0700 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were on a line running south-west through K.21.a and c. The 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were facing south with posts along Terhand, Vinwegen Road. The 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were held up by machine gun fire and had lost touch with the 29th Division. A patrol from 9th North Irish Horse Battalion discovered the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers holding line running south from K.19.a.9.6 through K.19 central, i.e. 2000 yards in rear. B Company 9NIH were sent to move along line of enemy wire through K.21.b, K.22.c and K.29.c to occupy high ground in K.30.a. C Company to move to right rear of B Company to protect flank, to get and keep in touch with 29th Division. A Company to move through K.22 central, K.23 central to K.24.c and to keep touch with 12th Royal Irish Rifles and D Company to move in support along Terhand, Vijfwegen Road. B and C Companies 9th North Irish Horse came under machine gun fire almost at once after moving through the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, but A Company met with no opposition until they reached the east side of Methuen Wood, when they came under machine gun fire from houses in K.23.d about 9.30am. About this time the reserve Company came under machine gun fire from a pill box on K.24.b.0.3 and Leadenhall Copse which were cleared in spite of stiff resistance by 1230. Twelve prisoners and two machine guns were captured in this operation, and an Officer with twenty Other Ranks of the enemy being killed. All further attempts to advance our line beyond the general line of this pill box and Leadenhall Copse were prevented by very heavy machine gun fire from fortified farms on our right flank which was still hanging back. At about 1800 when the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles passed through the line to attack, the general line ran K.24.b.0.3, Leadenhall Copse, K.23.d.2.5, K.29.b.2.8. 9th North Irish Horse Battalion casualties during the day were six Officers and 130 Other Ranks. War Diarie North Irish Horse 30th Sep 1918 In Action   1st of October 1918  Allies Attack   2nd of October 1918 Co-operating with 29th Div   3rd of October 1918 A Quiet Night   4th October 1918 Reports   14th Oct 1918 British advance towards Lys.  On the 14th of October 1918, the 29th Division including the 1st Dublins & 2nd Leinsters, 40th division & 36th, began an advance towards Lys. They achieved considerable success on the first day. There was little resistance and it is said that the Germans were standing with their kit, ready to march away as prisoners. However their resistance increased in the afternoon. 14th of October 1918  A Busy Day   15th of October 1918 Attack Continues   16th Oct 1918 In Action   18th of October 1918 Belgian Advance Planned   20th of October 1918  Pushing On   20th October 1918 Relieved at 0400 hours by 4 M.G's from 29th Division.   21st of October 1918 Orders to Advance   24th of October 1918  Advance Continues   If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 29th Division? There are:346 items tagged 29th 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 29th Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Cooper James. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.9th May 1915) Drake Denis Timothy. Sgt. 90th Heavy Battery (d.11th Jun 1917) Errington Joseph. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.20th Oct 1916) Gaffing David. Gnr. 26th Bty. 17th Bde. (d.14th Oct 1917) Hargreaves William. Pte. 4th Btn. (d.23rd Apr 1917) Hicks Albert. Sgt. Housham Thomas Henry. Cpl. 1st Btn. McMullen John. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.1st Jul 1916) Peckover Ernest Edwin. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.14th Dec 1915) Randall Arthur John. Pte. 4th Btn. (d.8th May 1915) Rolfe Thomas. Pte. 1st Btn. Shepherd John. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.21st Nov 1917) Smith John Edward. Pte. 1st Btn. (d.23rd Apr 1917) Wood John Norris. Pte. 2nd Btn. (d.21st Aug 1916) 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? 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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. 1206325 Pte. Ernest Edwin Peckover 1st Btn. Kings Own Scottish Borderers (d.14th Dec 1915) Ernest Peckover served with the 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers during WW1 and died on the 14th December 1915. He is buried in Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Helles, Turkey. Gordon Clark Add to this record. 1206083 Pte. John Shepherd 2nd Btn. South Wales Borderers (d.21st Nov 1917) John Shepherd my Great Grandfather was a Coal Miner before enlisting. He was married with 7 children, 1 being my Grandmother. He was shot by a sniper 2 days after his 41st birthday, his body was not recovered. He is remembered on Panel 5 of the Cambrai Memorial Louverval. He served with the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers and was killed by a sniper on the 21st November 1917. Alison Stewart Add to this record. 263027 Cpl. Thomas Henry Housham 1st Btn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers At the age of 17, Thomas Housham enlisted into the regular Army with the Wiltshire Regiment at Devises on 8th of September 1914. He was transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 17th of September 1914, joining the 6th (Service) Battalion at Naas, Southern Ireland. On 11th of July 1915, the Battalion sailed to Mitillini on the island of Levos, Greece off the west coast of Turkey. He was wounded in action and was posted on 23rd of August 1915 to Depot in Cork, Southern Ireland. On 23ed of March 1916, Thomas was posted to the 1st Battalion, which was placed within the 86th Brigade, 29th Division and deployed to the Picardie, Flanders, and Normandy regions of France. On 28th of August, he was promoted to unpaid Lance Corporal during the battle of the Somme (he always stated this was because of his tea-making excellence). He was promoted to Corporal on 6th of March 1917. Wounded on the Somme, he was sent to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion to convalesce in Cork, Southern Ireland. Afterwards, in July 1917, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion in France and then to the 9th (Service) Battalion, which later become 8/9th Battalion. He also served with the 2nd Battalion. In April 1918, he was assigned back to the 1st Battalion due to the 2nd Battalion being reduced to cadre. On 5th of October 1918, he was posted to Depot, which by all accounts was in the Grimsby area of England. On 5th of December 1918, he was posted to Command Depot in Tipperary, Southern Ireland. On 10 January 1919, he was sent to the dispersal area in Purfleet, Essex. One month later, on 9th Feb 1919, Thomas was demobbed at the age of 21. Ian Housham Add to this record. 256323 Pte. Thomas Rolfe 1st Btn. Border Regiment Thomas Rolfe was born in Wigan, near Leigh, Lancashire. He was living in Oldham when World War I broke out, and he was 18 years old when he enlisted. He was in the 1st Battalion of the Border Regiment which was part of the 29th Division which fought at Gallipoli, and then on the Western Front. He survived the war and then married Alice Ann Shaw in the St. Marks church in Heyside outside of Oldham. He and Alice immigrated to Canada in 1920 and homesteaded near Waseca, Saskatchewan. The family later moved to Creston, BC and finally to Vancouver, BC. In WWII, Thomas joined the Canadian Army and did a variety of things including escorting German prisoners to Camp Seebe in Kananaskis, Alberta. After the war, Thomas continued his career in the Canadian Military until his retirement. He died in 1991 at the age of 94. Dan Ashman Add to this record. 227499 Sgt. Albert Hicks MM. 39th Battery My Grandad Albert Hicks got to France just in time for the battle of Le Cateau with 39th Battery, XIV Brigade and the retreat to the Marne. He then fought his way back up to the Aisne. Later he transferred to Howitzers in 460th Heavy Battery and joined the 29th Division to fight in the Dardanelles. Then returned to finish his time on the Western Front. At the end of the war, he seems to have spent some time in Eastern command (the MOD will not release this part of his records yet), and it was during this time that he won the Military Medal. Gary Hicks Add to this record. 221406 Pte. John Norris Wood 2nd Btn. South Wales Borderers (d.21st Aug 1916) John Norris Wood is my great great uncle (my mother's gran's brother). He died in Ypres aged 30 and is buried in White House Cemetery, St. Jean-Les-Ypres. That's all we know. Clare Whi Add to this record. 220494 Pte. James Cooper 1st Btn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers (d.9th May 1915) James Cooper served in the 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers and died on the 9th May 1915. He is remembered on the Helles Memorial. Add to this record. 220361 Pte. Joseph Errington 1st Btn. Border Regiment (d.20th Oct 1916) Joseph Errington served with the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment during WW1 and died on the 20th October 1916. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Add to this record. 220315 Pte. William Hargreaves 4th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment (d.23rd Apr 1917) William Hargreaves was my great granddad, would like to know more about him and how he died. I found out that his battalion on the date he died was at the second Battle of the Scarpe and it seems he was killed on the first day of the battle. 23079 Private William Hargreaves served with the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment and died age 29 on the 23rd April 1917. He is remembered in Bay 6, Arras Memorial. William was the husband of Lilian Hargreaves of 20 Queen Victoria Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn. Andrew Jolley Add to this record. 218653 Pte. Arthur John Randall 4th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment (d.8th May 1915) Arthur Randall served with the 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment during WW1. He died on the 8th May 1915 and is buried in the Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Turkey (Gallipoli). He was the brother of Abigail Randall, of 4, Spencer Avenue, Bowes Park, Wood Green, London. Add to this record. 218071 Pte. John Edward Smith MM. 1st Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (d.23rd Apr 1917) John Edward Smith was born in Ballymacarrett, Belfast, County Down, he was a Sergeant in the 7th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and got injured on the Somme Guillemont - Ginchy. Rumor has it that he didn't want to leave his mates and was determined to keep fighting and ended up as a Private in the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. (I'd like to know if this is true). He was killed in action at Monchy-le-Preux and the Commonwealth War grave record shows him as Private in 1st Btn at time of death. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial, husband of Esther Smith, of 115, Mersey St., Warrington. His Medal Card records him as a Sergeant in Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers but no mention of Military Medal or Battalion in which serving. He was entitled to the War and Victory Medals, which places him in France from 1916 onwards as ther is no 1914 or 1915 Star. That could still be either Battalion as 1st Bn was in France (29th Division) from 18th March 1916 and 7th Bn was in France (16th (Irish)Division from February 1916. If he was wounded at Guilemont/Givinchy then that was with the 16th Division and would indeed be the 7th Battalion. So the story could be true but needs further investigation. Chris Murphy Add to this record. 216457 Pte. John McMullen 1st Btn. Border Regiment (d.1st Jul 1916) John McMullen enlisted at Workington, Cumberland and served in the 1st Battalion, the Border Regiment. He was killed in action on the 1st July 1916 along with 194 men and 7 officers on that first day in the Battle of the Somme. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. His medal card records the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals. John was born in Jarrow 1889. In the 1911 census he is living at 29 Glasgow Street, Barrow in Furness with his Uncle's family and is 21, working as a General Labourer in the Brass Foundry at the shipyard. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 214033 Gnr. David Gaffing 26th Bty. 17th Bde. Royal Field Artillery (d.14th Oct 1917) David Gaffing, aged 20, who died on 14th October 1917, had served with the 26th Battery, 17th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner (770370), He also had earlier service with the RFA Territorials as Gunner (1023). He is buried in Canada Farm Cemetery. His medal card shows award of 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals. His older brother, Daniel, was also one of the fallen. David was born in Hebburn 1887 and lived there, son of John and Alice (nee Spellman)of 2 Frederick Street, Heppburn Colliery. In the 1911 England & Wales BMD census, David's parents were: John Gaffney, Head, aged 50, married and occupation listed as Coal Labourer. He was born in Felling, Durham. Alice Gaffney, Wife, aged 48, was born in Ruhope, Durham. Vin Mullien Add to this record. 213331 Sgt. Denis Timothy Drake 90th Heavy Battery Royal Garrsion Artillery (d.11th Jun 1917) My Great Grand Uncle Denis Drake enlisted in Waterford on the 7th December 1903 aged 18 years. He was then sent to the Royal Garrison Artillery's No. 3 Depot at the Citadel in Plymouth, England in order to undertake his basic training. From the 1911 census I know that Denis was serving with the RGA 90th Heavy Battery at Multan in India and had the rank of Gunner. On the 1st June 1915 Denis and the 90th Heavy Battery landed at Cape Helles in Gallipoli having departed from Nowgong in Central India. The 90th Heavy Battery served throughout the rest of the Gallipoli campaign and was under the command of the 29th Artillery Division. In January 1916 the 90th was evacuated along with the rest of the British force at Cape Helles and moved to Egypt where it was reorganised and resumed training. In April 1916, the 90th was sent to the Western Front and came under the command of the 22nd Heavy Artillery Group. The 90th spent the rest of 1916 on the battlefield of the Somme and was heavily engaged at times during that battle. In early 1917, Denis and the 90th were moved to Flanders and came under the orders of the 2nd New Zealand and Australian Army Corps. In June 1917 the British Army launched the "Battle of Messines" at Ypres. The intention of this battle was to capture a ridge of high ground running southwards from Ypres. This was required before a larger offensive could be undertaken aimed at breaking out of the Ypres area and recapturing the Belgian coast. The British attack involved a heavy artillery bombardment of enemy positions and the detonation of 19 enormous mines below key German strong points. This attack was a success and the Ridge was gained. However once the German's recovered from the initial shock they launched Heavy Artillery down on the newly won ground and on the British Artillery behind it. It was in one of these artillery attacks on the 11th June 1917 that Sergeant Denis Drake was killed aged 32 years. According to the war diary for the 90th Heavy Battery, during the initial British attack at Messines the 90th Battery's job was "Counter Battery work" - that is firing to destroy or neutralise enemy artillery. During this work the Germans responded by "the battery and vicinity was shelled by asphyxiating gas shell from dusk to dawn", but the gunners toiled away throughout this wearing gas masks. The entry in the War Diary for the 11th June 1917 states that an enemy gun fired several high explosive shells into the battery's position at about 1600 hrs and "Sgt Drake was severely wounded and died in a few minutes". Three other men were also badly wounded, one dying in Hospital later in the day. Sergeant Denis Drake is buried at Saint Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery in Belgium. Alan Roche Add to this record.

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