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56th (1st London) Division  Divisional History  The 56th (1st London) Division was a formation of the Territorial Force. It was formed as 1st London Division was a result of the reforms of the army carried out in 1908 under the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane and was one of 14 Divisions of the peacetime TF. 1914 The units of the Division had just departed for annual summer camp when emergency orders recalled them to the home base. All units were mobilised for full time war service on 5 August 1914. All of the infantry units left the Division during the period September 1914 - April 1915, most being sent independently to France as reinforcements for the BEF. 1915 1916 In January 1916 the War Office authorised the re-formation of the London Division, now to be known as the 56th, in France. The Division began to concentrate in the Hallencourt area on 5th of February and was largely completed by 21 February. It then remained in France and Flanders and took part in the following engagements: The diversionary attack at Gommecourt - Somme The Battle of Ginchy - Somme The Battle of Flers-Courcelette - Somme The Battle of Morval in which the Division captured Combles - Somme 1916 The Battle of the Transloy Ridges - Somme 1917 The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line The First Battle of the Scarpe - Arras The Third Battle of the Scarpe - Arras The Battle of Langemarck - Third Battles of the Ypres The capture of Tadpole Copse - Cambrai Operations The capture of Bourlon Wood - Cambrai Operations The German counter attacks - Cambrai Operations 1918 The First Battle of Arras - Somme The Battle of Albert - Somme The Battle of the Scarpe - Arras The Battle of the Canal du Nord - Hindenburg Line The Battle of the Cambrai - Hindenburg Line The pursuit to the Selle - Final Advance in Picardy The Battle of the Sambre - Final Advance in Picardy The passage of the Grand Honelle - Final Advance in Picardy By the end of the 10th of November 1918 the Division had been withdrawn for rest, although the artillery was still in action up to the Armistice at 1100 on 11th of November. The forward infantry was on that date at Harveng. The Division received orders to join the British force that would advance across Belgium and move into Germany to occupy the Rhine bridgeheads. These orders were cancelled on 21 November, at which time the Division was employed on road and railway repair work in the area of Harveng. In all, the Division existed as such for 1010 days during the Great War; it spent 330 days at rest, 195 in quiet sectors, 385 in active sectors and 100 days in battle. Demobilisation began and the final cadres left for home on 18 May 1919. The Division reformed as part of the Territorial Army in April 1920. Order of Battle of the 56th (1st London) Division. 167th (1st London) Brigade. Left the Division and moved to Malta in September 1914. It reformed at Hallencourt in February 1916. 1/1st Battalion, London Regiment left May 1915, rejoined February 1916 1/2nd Battalion, London Regiment left February 1915 1/3rd Battalion, London Regiment left May 1915, rejoined February 1916, left January 1918 1/4th Battalion, London Regiment left January 1915 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment joined February 1916 1/8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment joined February 1916 167th Machine Gun Company formed 22 March 1916, moved to 56th Battalion, MGC 1 March 1918 167th Trench Mortar Battery joined 14 June 1916 4th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment joined October 1917, left November 1917 168th (2nd London) Brigade. Broken up in November 1914. It reformed at Yanville in February 1916. 1/5th Battalion, London Regiment left November 1914 1/6th Battalion, London Regiment left November 1914 1/7th Battalion, London Regiment left November 1914 1/8th Battalion, London Regiment left November 1914 1/4th Battalion, London Regiment joined February 1916 1/12th Battalion, London Regiment joined February 1916, left January 1918 1/13th Battalion, London Regiment joined February 1916 1/14th Battalion, London Regiment joined February 1916 168th Machine Gun Company formed 16 March 1916, moved to 56th Battalion, MGC 1 March 1918 168th Trench Mortar Battery joined 13 June 1916 169th (3rd London) Brigade. Broken up in April 1915. It reformed at Hallencourt in February 1916. 1/9th Battalion, London Regiment left November 1914, rejoined February 1916, left February 1918 1/10th Battalion, London Regiment left April 1915 1/11th Battalion, London Regiment left April 1915 1/12th Battalion, London Regiment left December 1914 1/2nd Battalion, London Regiment joined February 1916 1/5th Battalion, London Regiment joined February 1916 1/16th Battalion, London Regiment joined February 1916 169th Machine Gun Company formed 17 March 1916, moved to 56th Battalion, MGC 1 March 1918 169th Trench Mortar Battery joined 17 June 1916 Divisional Troops 1/5th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment joined as Divisional Pioneer Battalion, February 1916 193rd Machine Gun Company joined 24 December 1916, moved to 56th Battalion, MGC 1 March 1918 56th Battalion MGC formed 1 March 1918 Divisional Mounted Troops 2nd County of London Yeomanry left April 1915 B Squadron, 2nd King Edward's Horse joined March 1915, left 30 May 1915 1st London Divisional Cyclist Company joined April 1916, left May 1916 Divisional Artillery The Divisional Artillery was attached to the 36th (Ulster) Division in September 1915, after which the Brigades were attached to various other Divisions and formations before rejoining in February 1916. CCLXXX (I London) Brigade, RFA CCLXXXI (II London) Brigade, RFA CCLXXXII (III London) Brigade, RFA left January 1917 CCLXXXIII (IV London) (How) Bde, RFA broken up November 1916 1st London Heavy Battery, RGA a battery of four 4.7-inch guns which left the Division to join 58th Division in early 1915 56th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA V.56 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, RFA formed May 1916, left February 1918 X.56, Y.56 and Z.56 Medium Mortar Batteries, RFA formed mid May 1916, in early February 1918 Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have six 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 1st London Field Company left December 1914 2nd London Field Company left January 1915 416th (1st Edinburgh) Field Company joined May 1916 512th (2/1st London) Field Company joined February 1916 513th (2/2nd London) Field Company joined February 1916 56th Divisional Signals Company original company went with 1st Brigade to Malta and remained there; replaced in February 1916 by the Signals Company from 58th Division Royal Army Medical Corps 1st London Field Ambulance left June 1916 2nd London Field Ambulance left December 1914 3rd London Field Ambulance left December 1914 2/1st London Field Ambulance joined February 1916 2/2nd London Field Ambulance joined February 1916 2/3rd London Field Ambulance joined February 1916 56th Sanitary Section joined 11 February 1916, left for VII Corps 1 April 1917 Other Divisional Troops 56th Divisional Train ASC Originally 170, 171, 172 and 173 Coys but they were detached in November 1915 and moved to Salonika with 28th Division. Replaced by 213, 214, 215 and 216 Coys ASC from 30th Division 1st London Mobile Veterinary Section AVC joined 14 March 1916 56th Divisional Ambulance Workshop joined 28 February 1916, absorbed into Divisional Supply Column 31 March 1916 247th Divisional Employment Company joined 23 June 1917 4th Aug 1914 Mobilisation 4th Aug 1914 Mobilisation 4th Aug 1914 Mobilisation 4th Aug 1914 Mobilisation 7th Apr 1915 Instruction   31st Aug 1915 Report 1st Oct 1915 Preparations 2nd Oct 1915 Preparations 4th Oct 1915 On the Move 5th Oct 1915 On the Move 6th Oct 1915 On the Move 7th Oct 1915 Inspection 8th Oct 1915 Inspection 9th Oct 1915 Inspection 10th Oct 1915 Training 19th Oct 1915 Training 20th Oct 1915 On the March 21st Oct 1915 Instruction 22nd Oct 1915 Instruction 23rd Oct 1915 Instruction 24th Oct 1915 Instruction 25th Oct 1915 Instruction 26th Oct 1915 Instruction 27th Oct 1915 Instruction 28th Oct 1915 Instruction 29th Oct 1915 Instruction 30th Oct 1915 On the March 31st Oct 1915 On the March 11th of February 1916 A New Area 25th February 1916 Battalion marched to Candas. 27th of March 1916  Quiet Night 2nd of May 1916 Reliefs 5th of September 1916 Farm Captured   6th of September 1916 Wood Cleared   7th of September 1916 Reliefs   7th Sep 1916 Line Consolidated   8th of September 1916 Prepare to Move 14th of September 1916 Training 17th of September 1916 Warning Order Received   19th of September 1916 In the Front Line   21st of September 1916 Situation Normal   23rd September 1916 Operational Order No. 50.   24th of September 1916 Foggy Night   25th of September 1916  Instructions for Tanks   26th Sep 1916 Combles Captured   26th of September 1916 Reliefs   23rd of November 1916 Division to Side Slip   24th of November 1916  Artillery and TMs Active   28th of November 1916 German Party Dispersed   1st Dec 1916 Reliefs 23rd of December 1916 Artillery Relief   28th of December 1916 Artillery Continue Shelling   31st of January 1917 Two Patrols Dispersed   2nd February 1917 Reliefs 23rd of February 1917 Relief Ordered   1st of March 1917 POWs Taken   3rd Mar 1917 On the Move 4th Mar 1917 Artillery Relieved 5th Mar 1917 Reliefs 6th Mar 1917 Change of Command 9th of April 1917  9th Apr 1917 In Action   10th Apr 1917 Unditching   10th Apr 1917 In Action   13th of April 1917  13th of April 1917    14th of April 1917  14th of April 1917  15th of April 1917  16th of April 1917  17th of April 1917  17th of April 1917    19th of April 1917  28th April 1917 Relieved by 1st London Regt. 2nd May 1917 Orders 6th May 1917 Reliefs 17th May 1917 Report 2nd of July 1917  17th August 1917 Operational Order 124   21st of November 1917 Some Advances Made   3rd of December 1917 Brigade Moves   24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 21st Jan 1918 Course 5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 25th of April 1918 Heavy Attacks 9th June 1918 Raid   29th Aug 1918 Message   5th September 1918 Division relieved by 56th Division 2nd of October 1918 Orders   2nd of October 1918 Orders   7th of October 1918    4th Nov 1918 Village taken 4th Nov 1918 In Action 4th Nov 1918 In Action 5th Nov 1918 In Action 6th Nov 1918 Attacks Made 7th Nov 1918 Reliefs 7th Nov 1918 Bombardment 8th Nov 1918 Advance 8th Nov 1918 Attack Made 9th Nov 1918 Billets 4th March 1919 Holiday If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 56th (1st London) Division? There are:104 items tagged 56th (1st London) 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 56th (1st London) Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Bateman Harold. Pte. 1st/13th Btn. (Kensington) (d.1st Sep 1918) Coleman Henry. Rfmn. 16th Btn. (d.10th Sep 1916) Eggleton Henry. Lt. 56th MG Btn. Hill Hugh Henry. L/Cpl. 14th (London Scottish) Btn. (d.3rd Jul 1917) Jones John Robert. Bmdr. 281st Brigade, A Battery Marriott Stanley. Sgt. 2nd Btn. Petts Arthur Edgar. Pte. 2/3rd London Field Ambulance Riddle Wilfred Hedley. Pte. 1/9th (QVR) Btn. (d.28th Aug 1917) Upton John William. Rfmn. 16th (Service) Battalion (d.23rd Apr 1917) 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? 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John Robert Jones 281st Brigade, A Battery Royal Field Artillery John Jones saw service throughout the War in 281 Brigade, 56th (London) Division until the 1st Battle of Arras in 1918 when his gun was hit on 28th March. He spent 2 days on the battlefield and it seems he was found on 30th March and attended 54th General Hospital at Aubengue Hospital for shell shock and then returned to England for convalescence and then posted to the 5th Reserve Brigade. The story handed down was that his artillery gun was hit and he was the only one to have survived, he then carried the attached photo of his gun crew in his breast pocket for the rest of the war. However I can find no record of 5 or 6 same day casualties from A battery around that time, but I have reason to believe A battery was posted alongside 109 battery and CWGC records show a group of fatalities from 109 battery on that day. Is it possible that as the Bombardier he was more mobile and close to 109 battery? Or, could he have been transferred to 109 battery at short notice (there are no military records of an official transfer that I can find). The attached photo is believed to have been taken just before Cambrai in Nov 1917, and I am 99% sure this is his A battery gun crew. If anybody should recognise any of these men as having survived the war, then it would add weight to my theory regarding 109 battery. John Robert Jones had 5 children after the war, including my mother, and one of whom was part of the British 1948 Olympic team. Sadly, he had a troubled life after the war, never recovered from his injuries, and died in 1936. John Robert Jones was my grandfather. Chris Reynolds Add to this record. 253337 Rfmn. Henry Coleman 16th Btn. London Regiment (d.10th Sep 1916) Harry Coleman was killed in action at the Battle of Ginchy. His name is on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, he was serving with 16th London Regiment, 56th Division, 169th Brigade. I have two photos of Harry. Walter Lodge Add to this record. 219659 Sgt. Stanley Marriott 2nd Btn. London Regiment My father Stanley Marriott joined the 2nd London Regiment at Tufton Street Westminster in 1914, above is only photo we have, taken at Epsom Race course in October 1914 whilst training. He never spoke of his wartime experiences,we knew that he fought in the Gallipoli campaign and on the Somme. However, in 1978 he was interviewed by a Radio Humberside reporter, unfortunately his recorder malfunctioned and only bits were recovered but we were able to learn of his WW1 experiences. It appears that he served in Malta,Egypt, Gallipoli and France, mostly in the front line trenches and was wounded,in the back of the head, in the final advance on Cambrai. At the time the armistice was signed, he was in a Belgian hospital. When he died and was cremated several pieces of shrapnel were found amongst his ashes. G. Marriott Add to this record. 218976 L/Cpl. Hugh Henry Hill 14th (London Scottish) Btn. London Regiment (d.3rd Jul 1917) Hugh Henry Hill was the cousin of my father, George Baker, his parents were Jacob and Susan Louisa Hill (nee Dobson). Susan was my fathers aunt. My father never told me that he had a cousin, Hugh Henry Hill, let alone that he had been killed in the first world war at the age of 26. I found out this information when I carried out family research. My sister, who passed away in 2006, gave some papers to my eldest nephew who, a couple of years ago, passed them on to me. I found mention of Susan Hill and her son. I followed this up with some serious research and found out when and where he died and where his body is buried. In June if this year, 2014, my husband Gordon Campbell, myself Pamela Campbell and our granddaughter, Kate Amey (aged 20) went to Wancourt Military Cemetery near Arras France and found the grave of dad's cousin. The grave is not at all clear and I have written to The Commonwealth War Graves Commission to try to arrange to have the grave re-engraved. I have received confirmation that they will deal with my requested as soon as possible but that as this is centenary year they are very busy and it may take a little time. They have written to their France area office who could also be able to help. I intend eventually to insert a photograph of the gravestone in these records but, at present, it is virtually unreadable. Sadly I have no photographs of Hugh himself but I hope that somewhere there may be other members of the family, maybe the Dobson's of whom I have no knowledge, who would be interested in inserting any photographs, they may have, on this site. This is probably a shot in the dark but who knows? Worth a try. Pamela Campbell Add to this record. 218754 Pte. Wilfred Hedley Riddle MM. 1/9th (QVR) Btn. London Regiment (d.28th Aug 1917) Wilfred Riddle started out in the RAMC, which is unsurprising, given the religious traditions of the family (Methodist/Baptist). He seems to have been compulsorily transferred to a combatant role. I can’t find a citation for his MM (I bet it's non-combatant). Private Wilfred Hedley Riddle, served with the RAMC and then with the 1/9th (County of London) Battalion (Queen Victoria's Rifles), the London Regiment. He died on the 28th August 1917. He is remembered at Gent City Cemetery, Belgium - Grave/Memorial Ref. B16. His medal card also has a regimental number 5960 but no mention of RAMC. It also seems his medals were returned (War and Victory Medals). Fraser Murrey Add to this record. 215895 Rfmn. John William Upton 16th (Service) Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.23rd Apr 1917) John William Upton enlisted at South Shields and served in the 16th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. He is remembered at St. Paul's Church and on the Arras Memorial. His medal card shows the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals also that he was killed in action age 30 on the 23rd April 1917. John was born in Jarrow 1886, son of Robert and Mary A Upton. He was married to Mary Upton nee McGowan. in the 1901 census the Family was living at 38 Pearson Place, Jarrow with his Father Robert(37) a shipyard labourer and his mother Mary A(38). There were 5 children at this address, John W(14), a ships rivetter heater, Mary J(16) a spinner in the ropeworks, Emma (12) at school, Stephen(3) and Joseph who was 1 year old. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 213976 Lt. Henry Eggleton 56th MG Btn. Machine Gun Corps Henry Eggleton Lieutenant served in the 56th Machine Gun Battalion, Machine Gun Corps part of the Divisional Troops in the 56th London Division (Territorial Force). He died age 23 on the 26th January 1921 and his grave is at Jarrow Cemetery. 9.352. Henry was Born in Newcastle, son of Henry James and Sarah Ellen Eggleton (nee Leonard)of Jarrow. His death is recorded on BMD Index: Deaths Quarter Jan - Mar 1921. Henry Eggleton age 22 S. Shields 10a 1084. In the 1911 Census the family is living at 86 Bede Burn Road, Jarrow with Henry J. Eggleton age 48 Secretary & Commission Agent for Building Society born St. Nicholas, Durham and Sarah E. Eggleton his wife age 46 born Seaham Harbour. Their eldest daughter is Ellen E. Eggleton, age 21 a Typist & Shorthand writer and their son Henry Eggleton, age 13 were both born in Heaton, Newcastle. Their other daughter Winifred Eggleton, age 8 was born at Forest Hall, Northumberland. VM Add to this record. 213893 Pte. Harold Bateman 1st/13th Btn. (Kensington) London Regiment (d.1st Sep 1918) My Great Uncle, Harold Bateman was only 18 years old when he was killed in action and I understand that my Great Grand Mother's hair turned white overnight when she heard the news - a younger brother was then named after him. He is commemorated at the Vis-en-Artois Memorial panel 10. Anne Kemsley Add to this record.

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