73rd Division (United Kingdom)

73rd Division was a short-lived infantry division of the British Army during World War I. It served in Home Forces and never went overseas.

73rd Division
ActiveNovember 1916 – April 1918
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
RoleHome Defence and training
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Major-General Hon. C.E. Bingham
Major-General H.G. Ruggles-Brise

Home Service

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]

9th Provisional Brigade

9th Provisional Brigade was formed in East Kent mainly from details of local units and infantry from Lancashire. It had the following composition:[4][3]

A number of men on the strength of these units were absent on civil employment such as munitions work.[14]

In the autumn of 1915 the brigade was under the command of 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division in Second Army of Central Force.[5][6] By July 1916 the brigade was under the control of Southern Army of Home Forces, with its battalions billeted as follows:[15]

73rd Division formed

Late in 1916 the War Office decided to form three new home-service divisions; 73rd was the last of these, assembling at Blackpool in November. The division was based on 9th Provisional Bde, which moved from Margate and provided four infantry battalions and many of the support units. (On 1 January 1917 these all received new designations and numbers.) In addition, 189th (2nd York and Durham) Brigade, left over after the earlier disbandment of 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division, provided other components. Personnel to help form the other five artillery batteries were transferred from other home service divisions. The rest of the division was composed of new units.[16][17]

After assembling in Lancashire, 73rd Division moved in early January 1917 to join Southern Army of Home Forces, stationed in Essex and Hertfordshire, with the following composition:[16][17][18]

Divisional Headquarters in Chelmsford.

218th Brigade
Main article: 218th Brigade (United Kingdom)

218 Brigade was drawn from 9th Provisional Bde:

The units of 218 Bde were stationed at Witham, Terling and Kelvedon.[16]

219th Brigade
Main article: 219th Brigade (United Kingdom)

219 Brigade was newly formed:

The units of 219 Bde were stationed at Danbury and Maldon, later moving to Southend.[16]

220th Brigade
Main article: 220th Brigade (United Kingdom)

220 Brigade was formed from 189th (2/1st Yorkshire and Durham) Bde:[16]

The units of 220 Bde were stationed at Chelmsford, Widford and Arbour Lane.[16]

Divisional mounted troops

The mounted troops were stationed at Wickford and Southminster.[16]

Royal Artillery
  • Brigadier-General Royal Artillery: J.J. MacMahon (8 November 1916 – 12 March 1917)
    W.A. Robinson (12 March–19 November 1917)
    L.A.C. Gordon (19 November 1917 – 4 February 1918)
  • HQ: Chelmsford
  • CCCLIV Field Brigade RFA at Danbury:
  • CCCLV Field Brigade RFA at Great Leighs:
    • A Battery – 6 × 18-pdr
    • B Battery – 6 × 18-pdr
    • C (Howitzer) Battery – 4 × 4.5 Howitzer
  • 73rd Divisional Ammunition Column; formerly 9th Provisional Brigade Ammunition Column.[16]

Royal Engineers

The field companies were stationed at Witham and Chelmsford, and the signal company at Hitchin.[16]

Medical services
  • 9th Provisional Field Ambulance RAMC:[16]
    • A Section: became 307th (Home Counties) Field Ambulance
    • B Section: became 308th (Home Counties) Field Ambulance
    • C Section: became 309th (Home Counties) Field Ambulance
  • 109th Sanitary Section[16]
  • 58th Mobile Veterinary Section Army Veterinary Corps[16]

Transport
  • 73rd Divisional Train:[16][57]
    • 9th Provisional Brigade Company ASC: became 829th Horse Transport Company ASC
    • 830th, 831st and 832nd HT Companies ASC: newly formed

Training

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 after 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.[58] Between July and September 1917, four Graduated Battalions joined 73rd Division, and in October these were affiliated to line regiments and adopted territorial designations.[16]

Disbandment

Towards the end of 1917 the War Office decided to break up the three home service divisions, and on 22 December 1917 the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, was ordered to break up the division as soon as possible. Three battalions left in January, the artillery was broken up in February, and the division ceased to exist on 8 April 1918. Only the divisional engineers remained, and on 22 June 1918 the HQ and field companies went to France for active service on the Western Front.[16]

The 73rd Division title has never been reactivated.

General Officer Commanding
  • Major-General Hon. C.E. Bingham (2 November 1916 – 4 April 1917)
  • Major-General J.C. Young (4 April–6 September 1917)
  • Major-General H.G. Ruggles-Brise (6 September 1917 – 4 March 1918)

General Staff Officer

Lieutenant-Colonel E.B.C. Boddam (1 November 1916 – 12 January 1917) Lieutenant-Colonel C.M. Davies (16 January–31 December 1917)

Assistant-Adjutant and Quartermaster-General

Colonel C.L. Macnab (1 November 1916 – 17 April 1917) Lt-Col F.C. Dundas (24 April 1917 – 1 March 1918)

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 29 May 2013.
  4. 9th Provisional Brigade War Diary, The National Archives, Kew file WO 95/5458.
  5. 9th Provisional Yeomanry Squadron War Diary, TNA file WO 95/5458.
  6. 9th Provisional Cyclist Company War Diary, TNA file WO 95/5458.
  7. 9th Provisional Battery War Diary, TNA file WO 95/5458.
  8. Becke, Appendix 3.
  9. Army Council Instructions, January 1916, Appendix 18.
  10. 42nd Provisional Battalion War Diary, TNA file WO 95/5458.
  11. 44th Provisional Battalion War Diary, TNA file WO 95/5458.
  12. "Home - The Long, Long Trail". 1914-1918.net. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  13. 9th Provisional Field Ambulance War Diary, TNA file WO 95/5458.
  14. 42nd and 44th Provisional Battalion War Diaries, TNA file WO 95/5458.
  15. Distribution of Northern and Southern Armies (Home Defence), The National Archives file WO 33/765.
  16. Becke, Pt 2b, pp. 111–6
  17. 73rd Division at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  18. "73rd Division". Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  19. Frederick, pp. 184–5.
  20. Frederick, p. 120.
  21. James, p. 46.
  22. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  23. Frederick, p. 191.
  24. James, pp. 88–9.
  25. Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  26. Frederick, p. 128.
  27. James, p. 52.
  28. King's (Liverpool Regiment) at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  29. Becke, pp. 91–8.
  30. Frederick, p. 237.
  31. James, p. 61.
  32. Leicestershire Regiment at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  33. Frederick, p. 88.
  34. James, p. 81.
  35. Dorsetshire Regiment at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  36. Frederick, p. 133.
  37. James, p. 98.
  38. Manchester Regiment at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  39. Frederick, p. 141.
  40. James, p. 92.
  41. KOYLI at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  42. Frederick, pp. 106–8.
  43. James, p. 62.
  44. Green Howards at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  45. Frederick, p. 147.
  46. James, p. 103.
  47. DLI at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  48. Becke pp. 83–90.
  49. Frederick, p. 283.
  50. James, p. 49.
  51. Royal Warwickshire Regiment at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  52. James, p. 86.
  53. Essex Regiment at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  54. James, p. 55.
  55. Devonshire Regiment at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  56. Royal Engineers at Long, Long Trail, accessed 3 May 2023.
  57. "Home - The Long, Long Trail". 1914-1918.net. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  58. 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 (73rd–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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