72nd Division (United Kingdom)

72nd Division was a short-lived infantry division of the British Army during World War I. It served in the Home Defence forces and never went overseas.

72nd Division
ActiveNovember 1916 - April 1918
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
RoleHome Defence and training

Home defence

On the outbreak of World War I the Territorial Force (TF) immediately mobilised for home defence, but shortly afterwards (31 August 1914), its units were authorised to raise 2nd battalions formed from those men who had not volunteered for, or were not fit for, overseas service, together with new volunteers, while the 1st Line went overseas to supplement the Regulars.[1] Early in 1915 the 2nd Line TF battalions were also raised to full strength to form new divisions, and began to form Reserve (3rd Line) units to supply drafts.[2] The remaining Home Service men were separated out in May 1915 to form brigades of Coast Defence Battalions (termed Provisional Battalions from June 1915).[3]

8th Provisional Brigade

8th Provisional Brigade was formed mainly from details of regiments from the English Midlands. Brigadier-General Willoughby Thuillier assumed command on 8 September 1915 and established his headquarters at Westcliff-on-Sea, later moving to Southminster.[4] By July 1916 the brigade was under the control of Northern Army of Home Forces, with the following units billeted across Essex:[3][4][5][6]

The following were also attached to 8th Provisional Bde:[4]

72nd Division formed

Late in 1916 the War Office decided to form three new home-service divisions and 72nd was the second of these, assembling in Somerset in November. The division was based on 8th Provisional Bde, which moved from Essex and provided four infantry battalions and many of the support units. (On 1 January 1917 these all received new designations and numbers.) In addition, 188th (2/1st Northumberland) Brigade, left over after the earlier disbandment of 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division, provided three battalions which joined 72nd Division. 65th (2nd Lowland) Division, 67th (2nd Home Counties) Division and 68th (2nd Welsh) Division provided the personnel for five artillery batteries, while Northern Command and Northern and Southern Armies each loaned a section of guns each until equipment could be issued to the new units. The division had the following composition:[6][10][11]

Staff
  • General Officer Commanding: Major-General F.S. Inglefield (3 November 1916 – 6 September 1917)
    Maj-Gen G.J. Cuthbert (6 September 1917 – 31 January 1918)
  • General Staff Officer Grade 1: Lieutenant-Colonel T.E.L. Hill-Whitson
  • Assistant-Adjutant and Quartermaster-General: Lt-Col A.W.B. Wallace
  • HQ: Bath

215th Brigade
Main article: 215th Brigade (United Kingdom)

215 Brigade was drawn from 8th Provisional Bde:

216th Brigade
Main article: 216th Brigade (United Kingdom)

216 Brigade was newly formed:

217th Brigade
Main article: 217th Brigade (United Kingdom)

217th Brigade was formed from battalions of the disbanding 188th (2/1st Northumberland) Brigade:[6][47][48]

Divisional mounted troops
  • 8th Provisional Cyclist Company: became 72nd Divisional Cyclist Company Army Cyclist Corps (Home Service)[6]

Royal Artillery
  • Brigadier-General Royal Artillery: F.B. Johnstone
  • HQ: Bridgwater[52]
  • CCCLII Field Brigade RFA:
  • CCCLIII Field Brigade RFA:
    • A Battery: 6 x 18-pdr
    • B Battery: 6 x 18-pdr
    • C (Howitzer) Battery: 4 x 4.5 Howitzer
  • 72nd Divisional Ammunition Column: formerly 8th Provisional Brigade Ammunition Column [6]

Royal Engineers

Medical services
  • 8th Provisional Field Ambulance RAMC:[6]
    • A Section: became 304th (South Midland) Field Ambulance
    • B Section: became 305th (South Midland) Field Ambulance
    • C Section: became 306th (South Midland) Field Ambulance
  • 105th Sanitary Section
  • 57th Mobile Veterinary Section Army Veterinary Corps

Transport
  • 72nd Divisional Train:[53]
    • 8th Provisional Brigade Company ASC: became 825th Horse Transport Company ASC[6]
    • 826th, 827th and 828th HT Companies ASC: newly formed[6]

Service

After assembling in Somerset, the new division moved in January 1917 to Bedford, Wellingborough and Northampton to replace 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division, which had gone to the Western Front. In May 1917 the 72nd moved again, to East Anglia With its HQ at Ipswich, the division formed part of Southern Army of Home Forces, and was responsible for the coastal defences from the River Deben to Orford Ness. The division remained here for the remainder of its service.[6]

The Military Service Act 1916 swept away the Home/Foreign service distinction, and all TF soldiers became liable for overseas service, if medically fit. Henceforth part of the role of the Home Service divisions was physical conditioning to render men fit for drafting overseas, alongside units of the Training Reserve. 'Graduated Battalions' of the Training Reserve were organised in four companies according to age, from 18 to 19 years. Recruits progressed from one to another company every three months, so that every three months there was a company of trained 19-year-old men available for drafting overseas. In July 1917 it was decided that the Graduated Battalions could serve in a Home Defence role while completing their training.[54] Between July and September 1917, six Graduated Battalions replaced other units in 72nd Division, and in October these were affiliated to line regiments and adopted territorial designations.[6]

Disbandment

During October 1917 the War Office decided to break up the three home service divisions. A number of battalions of 72nd Division were disbanded, and on 21 December the War Office ordered the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, to break up the remainder of the division without delay. The Graduated Battalions transferred to other divisions and between January and April 1918 the remainder of the headquarters and supporting units were broken up.

The 72nd Division title has never been reactivated.

See also

References
  1. Becke, Pt 2b, p. 6.
  2. Becke, Pt 2b, pp. 6, 65.
  3. "Porter". Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  4. 8th Provisional Brigade War Diary, The National Archives, Kew file WO 95/5458.
  5. Distribution of Northern and Southern Armies (Home Defence), The National Archives file WO 33/765.
  6. Becke pp. 107–10.
  7. Army Council Instructions, January 1916, Appendix 18.
  8. James, p. 86.
  9. Essex Regiment at Long, Long Trail.
  10. "72nd Division at Long, Long Trail". 1914-1918.net. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  11. "72nd Division at Warpath". Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  12. Frederick, pp. 184–5.
  13. Frederick, p. 226.
  14. James, p. 54.
  15. Lincolnshire Regiment at Long, Long Trail.
  16. "Lincolnshire Regiment at Warpath". Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  17. Frederick, p. 211.
  18. James, p. 78.
  19. Royal Sussex Regiment at Long, Long, Trail.
  20. "Royal Sussex Regiment at Warpath". Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  21. Frederick, p. 282.
  22. James, p. 49.
  23. Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Long, Long Trail.
  24. "Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Warpath". Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  25. Frederick, p. 147.
  26. James, p. 102.
  27. Durham LI at Long, Long Trail.
  28. "Durham Light Infantry at Warpath". Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  29. Frederick, p. 288.
  30. James, p. 50.
  31. Royal Fusiliers at Long, Long Trail.
  32. "Royal Fusilers at Warpath". Archived from the original on 18 July 2003. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  33. Frederick, p. 241.
  34. Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire LI at Long, Long Trail.
  35. "Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Warpat". Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  36. Frederick, p. 136.
  37. James, p. 57.
  38. Somerset LI at Long, Long Trail.
  39. "Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry) at Warpath". Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  40. Frederick, p. 140.
  41. James, p. 91.
  42. KOYLI at Long, Long, Trail.
  43. "KOYLI at Warpath". Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  44. Frederick, p. 237.
  45. James, p. 61.
  46. "Leicestershire Regimnet at Warpath". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  47. "63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division". Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  48. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  49. Frederick, p. 277.
  50. James, p. 46.
  51. Northumberland Fusiliers at Long, Long Trail.
  52. 72nd Divisional Artillery at Long, Long Trail.
  53. HT Companies, ASC, at Long, Long, Trail.
  54. Becke, Pt 2b, Appendix 2.

Bibliography
  • Maj A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (72nd–74th) and 74th and 75th Divisions, London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-39-8.
  • J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
  • Brig E.A. James, British Regiments 1914–18, London: Samson Books, 1978, ISBN 0-906304-03-2/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2001, ISBN 978-1-84342-197-9.
  • War Office, Army Council Instructions Issued During January 1916, London: HM Stationery Office, 1916.
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