24th Division (United Kingdom)
The 24th Division was an infantry division of the British Army, raised in September 1914 from men volunteering for Lord Kitchener's New Armies during the First World War. After almost a year spent training in England the division was sent to the Western Front between August and September 1915. It served in Belgium and France in the trenches of the Western Front for the duration of the war.Unit History
The Division was one of the six created for the Third New Army on 13 September 1914. It moved to France in August 1915 and it saw action at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 and the Final Advance in Picardy in 1918. From its arrival in France to May 1917, it was commanded by Major-General John Capper. It was disbanded by March 1919.Order of Battle
The 24th Division was constituted as follows during the war:
, Battersea Park, by Eric Kennington.
71st Brigade
The brigade moved to the 6th Division in 11 October 1915, swapping with the 17th Brigade.
72nd Brigade
- 8th Battalion, Queen's '
- 8th Battalion, Buffs '
- 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
- 8th Battalion, Queen's Own
- 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales's '
- 72nd Machine Gun Company M.G.C. '
- 72nd Trench Mortar Battery '
73rd Brigade
' 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment 13th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment ' 73rd Machine Gun Company M.G.C. ' 73rd Trench Mortar Battery '17th Brigade
- 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales's
' 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment ' 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade 12th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers ' 8th Battalion, Buffs ' 8th Battalion, Queen's ' 1/2nd Battalion, London Regiment ' 17th Machine Gun Company ' 17th Trench Mortar Battery 'The brigade transferred from the division from the 6th Division on 18 October 1915, swapping with the 71st Brigade.
Divisional Troops
' 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers ' 12th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters ' No 3 Motor Machine Gun Battery ' 191st Machine Gun Company ' 24th Machine Gun Battalion ' Divisional Mounted Troops* A Sqn, 1st Royal Glasgow Yeomanry '* 24th Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps ' 24th Divisional Train A.S.C.* 194th, 195th, 196th and 197th Companies A.S.C. 36th Mobile Veterinary Section A.V.C. ' 223rd Divisional Employment Company 'Royal Artillery
- CVI Brigade, R.F.A.
- CVII Brigade, R.F.A.
- CVIII Brigade, R.F.A.
' CIX Brigade, R.F.A. 24th Heavy Battery, R.G.A. 24th Divisional Ammunition Column 13th Divisional Ammunition Column V.24 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery R.F.A. X.24, Y.24 and Z,24 Medium Trench Mortar Batteries R.F.A. Royal Engineers
- 91st Field Company
- 92nd Field Company
- 103rd Field Company
- 104th Field Company
- 129th Field Company
- 24th Divisional Signals Company
Royal Army Medical Corps
- 72nd Field Ambulance
- 73rd Field Ambulance
- 74th Field Ambulance
- 41st Sanitary Section
The following commanded the division:
- Maj-Gen. J. E. Capper: 3 October 1915 – 12 May 1917
- Brig-Gen. H. C. Sheppard: 12 May 1917 – 18 May 1917
- Maj-Gen. L. J. Bols: 18 May 1917 – 12 September 1917
- Brig-Gen. E. S. Hoare Nairne: 12 September 1917 – 15 September 1917
- Maj-Gen. A. C. Daly: 15 September 1917 – 31 December 1918
