55th (West Lancashire) Division

The West Lancashire Division was a Territorial Force Division already in existence at the outbreak of the war. The Division was broken up early in 1915 and the Battalions went to serve in various other Divisions. The Division was reformed (see below) in France in January 1916 and this was when the Division and Brigades were numbered. Served in France and Flanders until the Armistice.

Battles and Engagements
France and Flanders

Battle of Guillemont. 3-6 Sep 1916.
Battle of Ginchy. 9 Sep 1916.
Battle of Flers-Courcelette. 15-22 Sep 1916, including the capture of Martinpuich.
Battle of Morval. 25-28 Sep 1916, including the capture of Combles, Lesboeufs and Gueudecourt.

 

  
Battle of Pilkem. 31 Jul-2 Aug 1917.
Battle of the Menin Road. 20-25 Sep 1917.
The tank attack. 20-21 Nov 1917.
Capture of Bourlon Wood. 23-28 Nov 1917.
German counter attacks. 30 Nov-3 Dec 1917.

Battle of Estaires. 9-11 Apr 1918, including the first defence of Givenchy.
Battle of Hazebrouck. 12-15 Apr 1918, including the defence of the Hinges Ridge and the Nieppe Forest.
The pursuit to the Selle. 9-12 Oct 1918.

 

    

 

Infantry Units

Before being broken up

 

North Lancashire Brigade. (Joined the 51st Division on 18 Apr 1915).

1/4th Bn King’s Own. 04 Aug 1914 - 18 Apr 1915. To the 51st Division.
1/5th Bn King’s Own. 04 Aug 1914 - Feb 1915. To the 28th Division.
2/5th Bn King’s Own. Feb 1915 - Apr 1915. To the 57th Division.
1/8th Bn King’s. Feb 1915 - 18 Apr 1915. To the 51st Division.
1/4th Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - 18 Apr 1915. To the 51st Division.
1/5th Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Feb 1915. To the 6th Division.

 

  

Liverpool Brigade.

1/5th Bn King’s. 04 Aug 1914 - Feb 1915. To the 2nd Division.
1/6th Bn King’s. 04 Aug 1914 - Feb 1915. To the 5th Division.
1/7th Bn King’s. 04 Aug 1914 - Mar 1915. To the 2nd Division.
1/8th Bn King’s. 04 Aug 1914 - Feb 1915. To the North Lancashire Brigade.

 

South Lancashire Brigade.

1/9th Bn King’s. 04 Aug 1914 - Mar 1915. To the 1st Division.
1/10th Bn King’s. 04 Aug 1914 - Oct 1914. To the 3rd Division.
1/4th Bn South Lancashire Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Feb 1915. To the 3rd Division.
1/5th Bn South Lancashire Regt. 04 Aug 1914 - Feb 1915. To the 4th Division.

 

    

 

Infantry Units

After being reformed

 

164th Brigade.

1/4th Bn King’s Own. 07 Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/8th Bn King’s. 07 Jan 1916 - 31 Jan 1918. To the 57th Division.
2/5th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers. 07 Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/4th Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regt. 07 Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

  

165th Brigade.

1/5th Bn King’s. 07 Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/6th Bn King’s. 26 Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/7th Bn King’s. 07 Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/9th Bn King’s. 07 Jan 1916 - 01 Feb 1918. To the 57th Division.

 

166th Brigade.

1/5th Bn King’s Own. 08 Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/10th Bn King’s. 08 Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/5th Bn South Lancashire Regt. 06 Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
1/5th Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regt. 08 Jan 1916 - 04 Feb 1918. To the 57th Division.

 

  

Pioneers.

1/4th Bn South Lancashire Regt. 09 Jan 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

Attached Troops.

2/10th Bn King’s. 20 Apr 1918 - 30 Apr 1918. Absorbed by the 1/10th Bn.

 

    

 

Artillery Units
Royal Field Artillery

1st West Lancashire Brigade. The Brigade was attached to the 2nd Canadian Division late 1914/early 1915.

1st Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.
2nd Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.
3rd Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.

1st West Lancashire Brigade. Numbered CCLXXV May 1916.

1st Bty Lancashire Bty. 03 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became A Bty.
2nd Bty Lancashire Bty. 03 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became B Bty.
3rd Bty Lancashire Bty. 03 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became C Bty.
D Bty. (Newly formed). 07 May 1916 - 15 May 1916. Remained with the Brigade.

CCLXXV Brigade.

A Bty. 15 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
B Bty. 15 May 1916 - 05 Oct 1916. Broken up and divided between A and C Bty.
B Bty. (From CCLXXVIII Bde). 06 Oct 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
C Bty. 15 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
D Bty. 15 May 1916 - 23 May 1916. To the CCLXXVIII Brigade where it became A Bty.
D (Howitzer) Bty. (From CCLXXVIIII Bde). 23 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

  

2nd West Lancashire Brigade. The Brigade was attached to the 2nd Canadian Division late 1914/early 1915.

9th Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.
10th Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.
11th Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.

2nd West Lancashire Brigade. Numbered CCLXXVI May 1916.

9th Bty Lancashire Bty. 02 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became A Bty.
10th Bty Lancashire Bty. 02 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became B Bty.
11th Bty Lancashire Bty. 02 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became C Bty.
D Bty. (Newly formed). May 1916 - 15 May 1916. Remained with the Brigade.

CCLXXVI Brigade.

A Bty. 15 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
B Bty. 15 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.
C Bty. 15 May 1916 - 04 Oct 1916. Broken up and divided between A and B Btys.
530th (Howitzer) Bty. Oct 1916 - 08 Oct 1916. Became C (Howitzer) Bty.
C (Howitzer) Bty. 08 Oct 1916 - 18 Jan 1917. Broken up and divided between D (Howitzer) Bty, CCLXXVI Brigade and D (Howitzer) Bty, CCLXXV Brigade.
C Bty. (From CCLXXVII Bde). 18 Jan 1917 - 11 Nov 1918.
D Bty. 15 May 1916 - 23 May 1916. To the CCLXXVIII Brigade where it became B Bty.
D (Howitzer) Bty. (From CCLXXVIII Bde). 23 May 1916 - 11 Nov 1918.

 

3rd West Lancashire Brigade. The Brigade was attached to the 2nd Canadian Division late 1914/early 1915.

12th Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.
13th Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.
14th Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.

3rd West Lancashire Brigade. Numbered CCLXXVII May 1916.

12th Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became A Bty.
13th Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became B Bty.
14th Bty Lancashire Bty. 04 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became C Bty.
D Bty. (Newly formed). 05 May 1916 - 15 May 1916. Remained with the Brigade.

CCLXXVII Brigade. Became an Army Field Artillery Brigade 18 Jan 1917.

A Bty. 15 May 1916 - 04 Oct 1916. Broken up and divided between B and C Btys.
A Bty. (From CCLXXVIII Bde). 07 Oct 1916 - 18 Jan 1917. To the CCLXXVI Brigade where it became C Bty .
B Bty. 15 May 1916 - 18 Jan 1917. To the Army Field Artillery.
C Bty. 15 May 1916 - 18 Jan 1917. To the Army Field Artillery.
D Bty. 15 May 1916 - 23 May 1916. To the CCLXXVIII Brigade where it became C Bty.
D (Howitzer) Bty. (From CCLXXVIII Bde). 23 May 1916 - 18 Jan 1917. To the Army Field Artillery.

 

  

4th West Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade. The Brigade was attached to the 2nd Canadian Division late 1914/early 1915.

7th Lancashire (Howitzer) Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.
8th Lancashire (Howitzer) Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - late 1914/early 1915. To the 2nd Canadian Division.

4th West Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade. Numbered CCLXXVIII May 1916.

7th Lancashire (Howitzer) Bty. 03 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became A (Howitzer) Bty.
8th Lancashire (Howitzer) Bty. 03 Jan 1916 - 15 May 1916. Became B (Howitzer) Bty.
C (Howitzer) Bty. (From LXXXV Bde, 18th Div). 09 Feb 1916 - 15 May 1916. Remained with the Brigade.

CCLXXVIII (Howitzer) Brigade. The Brigade was reorganised 23 May 1916.

A (Howitzer) Bty. 15 May 1916 - 23 May 1916. To the CCLXXVI Brigade where it became D (Howitzer) Bty.
B (Howitzer) Bty. 15 May 1916 - 23 May 1916. to the CCLXXV Brigade where it became D (Howitzer) Bty.
C (Howitzer) Bty. 15 May 1916 - 23 May 1916. to the CCLXXVII Brigade where it became D (Howitzer) Bty.

CCLXXVIII Brigade. After Reorganisation. In Oct the Btys were broken up or dispersed between the Brigades in the Division, the brigade was broken up on 19 Oct 1916.

A Bty. (From CCLXXV Bde). 23 May 1916 - 06 Oct 1916. To the CCLXXV Brigade where it became B Bty.
B Bty. (From CCLXXVI Bde). 23 May 1916 - 07 Oct 1916. To the CCLXXVII Brigade where it became A Bty.
C Bty. (From the CCLXXVII Bde). 23 May 1916 - 04 Oct 1916. Broken up and divided between A and B Btys.

 
Royal Garrison Artillery

1st Lancashire Heavy Bty. 04 Aug 1914 - Late 1914/early 1915. to the 57th Division.

 

    

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