The 56th Division (1st London Territorial Division)

by C. H. Dudley Ward

GENERAL OFFICERS COMMANDING

Rank.	Name.	Remarks.
Major-Gen.	C. P. A. Hull, C.B.	Joined Royal Scots Fusilier Regt. 16/11/87. Middlesex Regt. 24/2/12.
		Brigade Major 11th Brigade 10/11/03 to 9/11/07.
		General Staff Officer, 2nd Grade, Staff College, 10/3/15 to 4/2/16.
		Commanded the 4th Bn. Middlesex Regt. at the battle of Mons. Brigadier commanding 10th Brigade 17/11/14.
		After his illness he commanded the 16th Division from the 23/2/18 until he resumed command of the 56th.
Major-Gen.	W. Douglas Smith, C.B.	Royal Scots Fusilier Regt. Commanded 56th Division 24/7/17 to 9/8/17.
T/Major-Gen.	F. A. Dudgeon, C.B.	The South Lancashire Regt.
G.S.O.s1
Lieut-Col.	J. E. S. Brind, C.M.G., D.S.O.	From Royal Artillery. Joined the 56th Division 6/2/16 and left 31/10/16.
Lieut.-Col.	A. Bryant, D.S.O.	The Gloucestershire Regt. With the 56th Division 30/10/16 to 23/12/16.
Lieut.-Col.	G. de la P. B. Pakenham, C.M.G., D.S.O.	The Border Regt.

G.S.O.s2
Rank.	Name.	From.	To.	Regt.
Major	A. E. G. Bayley, D.S.O.	5/2/16	1/10/16	Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.
Major	E. A. Beck, D.S.O.	28/9/16	17/2/17	The Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Major	W. T. Brooks,	15/2/17	3/9/17	The D.C.L.I.
Major	F. B. Hurndall, M.C.	4/9/17	9/7/18	The 20th Hussars.
Captain, T/Major	T. O. M. Buchan, M.C.	9/7/18	Demob.	The Queen’s R.W. Surrey Regt.
G.S.O.s3
Captain	T. W. Bullock	5/2/16	20/4/16	The Dorsetshire Regt.
Captain	M. G. N. Stopford, M.C.	10/6/16	5/12/16	The Rifle Brigade.
Captain	J. D. Crosthwaite, M.C.	7/12/16	7/7/17	The 1st London Regt.
Captain	E. L. Rabone, M.C.	11/7/17	11/11/17	The Worcestershire Regt.
Captain	C. W. Haydon, M.C.	11/11/17	11/5/18	The Middlesex Regt.
Captain	T. L. C. Heald	14/5/18	4/2/19	The 5th Cheshire Regt.
A.A. & Q.M.G.s
Bt. Lieut.-Col.	H. W. Grubb, D.S.O.	5/2/16	4/12/17	The Border Regt.
Bt. Major T/Lieut.-Col.	W. M. Sutton, D.S.O., M.C.	4/12/17	Demob.	Somerset Light Infantry.
D.A.A.G.s
Captain.	W. M. Sutton, D.S.O., M.C.	5/2/16	4/12/17	Somerset Light Infantry.
Major	A. C. Dundas	4/12/17	10/12/18	The Middlesex Regt.
Major	A. Scott, D.S.O., M.C.	0/12/18	Demob.	A. & S. Highlanders.
D.A.Q.M.G.sa
Major	F. J. Lemon, D.S.O.	5/2/16	22/4/18	The West Yorkshire Regt.
Captain T/Major	T. F. Chipp, M.C.	23/4/18	2/2/19	The Middlesex Regt.
A.D.C.s
[6]Lieut.	H. C. B. Way	10/2/16	Demob.	The 2nd London Regt.
2/Lieut.	C. Burn-Callender	4/3/16	2/2/17	The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry.
Lieut.	H. M. Woodhouse	10/4/17	30/4/17	The Notts Yeomanry.
2/Lieut.	C. Y. Jones	26/5/17	23/7/17	The 13th London Regt.
Captain	G. A. Greig	24/7/17	9/8/17	The Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Lieut.	R. W. Broatch	10/8/17	Demob.	The 14th London Regt.
	[6]Note.—Lieut. H. C. B. Way was away from 4/2/18 to 4/4/18 as A.D.C. to G.O.C. 16th (Irish) Division.
56TH DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS C.R.A.
Col., T/Brig.-Gen.	R. J. G. Elkington, C.M.G., D.S.O.	6/2/16	Demob.
Brigade Majors
Major	W. J. McLay	6/2/16	4/6/16
Major	J. A. Don	28/6/16	27/9/16
Major	D. Thomson	27/7/16	21/1/18
Major	H. D. Gale, M.C.	21/1/18	Demob.
Staff Captains
Captain	B. Macmin	6/2/16	22/1/17
Captain	N. C. Lockhart	22/1/17	12/2/19
Captain	J. D. Hendley Smith	12/2/19	Demob.

ARTILLERY
1/1st London Brigade R.F.A. (280th Brigade R.F.A.)
Commanded by:
Lieut.-Col. L. A. C. Southam until March 1918.
Lieut.-Col. Batt.
1916
April 16th.	93rd Battery joined and designated D/280th Brigade R.F.A.
May 6th.	Designated 280th Brigade R.F.A.
“  17th.	B.A.C. posted to 56th D.A.C.
“  28th.	93rd Battery ceased to be D/280th Bde. R.F.A., and was transferred to 283rd Bde. R.F.A., and the original 1/11th London Howitzer Battery became D/280.
Nov. 5th.	Reorganised into four 6-gun batteries; “A,” 93rd, and “C,” 18-pounders; “D,” howitzers. 93rd Battery and one section “R” Battery transferred from 283rd Bde. R.F.A. The original “B” Battery split up: one section to “A,” and one section to “C.” “D” Battery only had 4 howitzers until 25/1/17, when one section 500th Howitzer Battery joined from 282nd Bde. R.F.A.
1/2nd London Brigade R.F.A. (281st Brigade R.F.A.)
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. C. C. Macdowell.
1916.
April 15th.	109th Battery joined.
May 12th.	Designated 281st Bde. R.F.A.
“  16th.	B.A.C. posted to 56th D.A.C.
“  28th.	10th (Howitzer) Battery transferred from 283rd Bde. R.F.A. and designated D/281st Battery R.F.A. 109th Battery transferred to 283rd Bde. R.F.A.
Nov. 5th.	Reorganised into four 6-gun batteries. “A,” 109th, and “C” 18-pounders; “D” howitzers. 109th Battery and one section “R” Battery transferred from 283rd Bde. R.F.A. The original “C” Battery split up. One section to “A” Battery. One section to “B” Battery. “D” Battery only had 4 howitzers till 23/1/17, when one section 500th Howitzer Battery joined from 282nd Bde. R.F.A.
1/3rd London Brigade R.F.A. (282nd Army Brigade R.F.A.)
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. A. F. Prechtel.
1916
April 16th.	109th Battery R.F.A. joined and designated “R” Battery. (Duplicate--see 281st Bde.)
May 6th.	Designated 282nd London Bde. R.F.A.
“	7th, 8th, and 9th Batteries designated “A,” “B,” and “C” Batteries.
May 17th.	B.A.C. posted to 56th D.A.C.
“  28th.	“R” Battery posted to 283rd Bde. R.F.A. B/167th (Howitzer) Battery joined and designated D/282nd Battery R.F.A. Reorganised into four 6-gun batteries. “A,” “B,” and “C,” 18-pounders; “D” howitzers.
Nov. 5th. to 1917	500th How. Bty. R.F.A. joined 4/12/16. One Section to D/280th Bde. R.F.A. One section to D/281st Bde. R.F.A.
Jan. 25th.	B/126th Battery R.F.A. joined and designated A/282nd Battery. The original “A” Battery having been split up, one section each to “B” and “C.” One section D/126th Battery R.F.A. joined 25/1/17.
Jan. 20th.	Designated 282nd Army Bde. R.F.A.
“   25th.	One Section 56th D.A.C. joined and designated 282nd B.A.C.
1/4th (London) Howitzer Brigade R.F.A. (283rd Brigade R.F.A.)
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. Wainwright.
1915
Nov. 19th,	Half of the B.A.C. left for Salonica to join 10th Division.
1916
May 6th.	Designated 283rd (Howitzer) Bde. R.F.A.
“  17th.	B.A.C. transferred to 56th D.A.C.
“   28th.	“R” Battery joined from 282nd Bde. R.F.A. 109th Battery joined from 281st Bde. R.F.A. 93rd Battery joined from 280th Bde. R.F.A. (all 18-pounders). 10th (Howitzer) Battery transferred to 281st Bde. R.F.A. 11th (Howitzer) Battery transferred to 280th Bde. R.F.A.
Nov. 5th.	93rd Battery and one section “R” Battery transferred to 280th Bde. R.F.A. 109th Battery and one section “R” Battery transferred to 281st Bde. R.F.A. Brigade ceased to exist, but the new organisation was not completed until January 1917.
56th Divisional Ammunition Column
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. E. W. Griffith.
1916
May 17th.	The B.A.C.s of 280th, 281st, 282nd, and 283rd Bdes. R.F.A. absorbed, Then consisted of “A” Echelon (H.Q., Nos. 1, 2, and 3 sections) and “B” Echelon.
1917
Jan. 25th.	One Section (No. 2) became the 282nd Army Bde. Ammunition Column.
Sept.	“B” Echelon reorganised as S.A.A. Section. Reorganised as H.Q., No. 1, 2, and S.A.A. Sections.
Trench Mortars
1916
March 8th.	“X” “Y,” and “Z” 2-inch Medium Batteries formed. Four mortars each.
May.	“V” Heavy Battery formed.
1917
Sept./Oct	Medium Batteries handed in 2-inch mortars and were armed with four 6-inch mortars each.
1918
Feb. 13th.	Medium batteries reorganised into two batteries (“X” and “Y”) of 6-inch mortars each. Heavy battery taken over by Corps.
1919
Feb. 6th.	Reduced to Cadre. Surplus personnel to Brigades and D.A.C.

ROYAL ENGINEERS

(See C.R.E.)

416th (Edinburgh) Field Coy. R.E.

512th (London) Field Coy. R.E.

513th (London) Field Coy. R.E.

56th Divisional Signal Coy.

PIONEER BATTALION

1/5th Bn. Cheshire Regt. (Earl of Chester’s).

Commanded by:

Lieut.-Col. J. E. C. Groves, C.M.G., T.D., 14/2/15 to 21/2/18.

Major (T/Lieut.-Col.) W. A. V. Churton, D.S.O., T.D., 21/2/18 to end.

MACHINE GUN CORPS

56th Bn. Machine Gun Corps formed on 1/3/18.
(See Divisional M.G. Officers.)

R.A.S.C. UNITS

213th Coy. R.A.S.C.

214th   “    “

215th   “    “

216th   “    “

Divisional Train commanded by:

Lieut.-Col. A. G. Galloway, D.S.O., to Sept. 1917.

Lieut.-Col. E. P. Blencowe, D.S.O., to May 1918.

R.A.M.C.

2/1st London Field Ambulance.

2/2nd  “     “     “

2/3rd   “     “     “

1/1st London Mobile Vet. Section.

247th Divisional Employment Coy. formed in May 1917.

A.D.sM.S.
Rank.	Name.	From.	To.	Regt.
Colonel	E. G. Browne, C.B., A.M.S.	Feb. ’16	Feb, ’17	R.A.M.C.
Colonel	G. A. Moore, C.M.G., D.S.O.	Feb. ’17	Feb. ’18	R.A.M.C.
Colonel	E. C. Montgomery-Smith, D.S.O., A.M.S. (T.F.)	Feb. ’18	Demob.	R.A.M.C.
D.A.D.sM.S.
Major	L. M. Purser, D.S.O.	Feb. ’16	Sept. ’16	R.A.M.C.
Captain	D. Jobson Scott, M.C.	Sept. ’16	Feb. ’18	R.A.M.C. (T.F.)
Major	W. T. Hare, M.C.	Feb. ’18	Demob.	R.A.M.C.
D.A.D.sV.S.
Major	F. Hibbard	5/2/16	30/9/16
Major	W. Ascott, O.B.E.	1/10/16	Demob.
D.A.D.sO.S.
Major	J. Bishop	6/2/16	10/3/16
Captain	P. S. Tibbs	11/3/16	23/7/16
Lieut.	V. C. Ward	24/7/16	22/11/16
Captain	W. D. Harbinson	23/11/16	27/5/17
Major	J. W. Burbidge	28/5/17	Demob.
C.sR.E.
Lieut.-Col.	H. W. Gordon, D.S.O.	6/2/16	Oct. ’17	Royal Engineers.
Lieut.-Col.	E. N. Mozeley, D.S.O.	Oct. ’17	Demob.	Royal Engineers.
Divisional Machine Gun Officers
Major	E. C. S. Jervis	Jan. ’17	May ’17	R. of O. 6th D.G.s.
Major	Roberts	May ’17	Aug. ’17	M.G.C.
Lieut.-Col.	E. C. S. Jervis	Aug. ’17	Mar. ’18	R. of O. 6th D.G.s.
167th INFANTRY BRIGADE
Brigade Commanders
Major (T/Brig.-Gen.)	F. H. Burnell-Nugent, D.S.O.	6/2/16	26/7/16	The Rifle Brigade.
Bt. Col. (T/Brig.-Gen.)	G. Freeth, C.M.G., D.S.O.	7/7/16	Demob.	Lancashire Fusiliers.
Brigade Majors
Bt. Major	G. Blewitt, D.S.O., M.C.	6/2/16	5/12/16	The Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.
Captain	M. Stopford, M.C.	5/12/16	25/3/18	The Rifle Brigade.
Captain	C. E. Clouting	25/3/18	8/4/18	General List.
Captain	C. W. Haydon, M.C.	25/4/18	Demob.	Middlesex Regt.
Staff Captains
Captain	O. H. Tidbury, M.C.	6/2/16	27/12/16	Middlesex Regt.
Captain	T. F. Chipp, M.C.	27/12/16	23/4/18	Middlesex Regt.
Captain	H. F. Prynn, M.C.	23/4/18	Demob.	13th London Regt. (Kensingtons).
168th INFANTRY BRIGADE
Brigade Commanders
Bt. Col. (T/Brig.-Gen.)	G. G. Loch, C.M.G., D.S.O.	5/2/16	Demob.	The Royal Scots.
Brigade Majors
Major	P. Neame, V.C., D.S.O.	5/2/16	28/11/16	Royal Engineers.
Captain	J. L. Willcocks, M.C.	28/11/16	3/7/18	The Black Watch.
Captain	A. R. Abercrombie, D.S.O., M.C.	3/7/18	11/8/18	The Queen’s Regt.
Captain	R. C. Boyle	11/8/18	Demob.	West Somerset Yeomanry.
Staff Captains
Major	L. L. Wheatley, D.S.O.	5/2/16	7/3/16	A. & S. Highlanders.
Captain	R. E. Otter, M.C.	7/4/16	20/4/17	London Rifle Brigade.
Captain	J. C. Andrews, M.C.	26/4/17	7/3/18	Q.V.R.
Captain	E. F. Coke, M.C.	7/3/18	Demob.	8th Canadian Inantry Battn.
169th INFANTRY BRIGADE
Brigade Commander
Brig.-Gen. (Bt. Col.)	E. S. D. E. Coke, C.M.G., D.S.O.	5/2/16	Demob.	K.O.S.B.
Brigade Majors
Captain	L. A. Newnham	5/2/16	27/5/17	Middlesex Regt.
Captain	W. Carden Roe, M.C.	27/5/17	24/3/18	Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Captain	Chute	28/3/18	9/4/18
Captain	T. G. McCarthy	1/4/18	Demob.	2nd London Regt.
Staff Captains
Captain	E. R. Broadbent, M.C.	5/2/16	5/11/17	8th Hussars.
Captain	F. Bishop	5/11/17	Demob.	1/5th Bn. Cheshire Regt.

INFANTRY BATTALIONS, 167th BRIGADE
Battalion.	Commanding Officers.	Remarks.
1/7th Middlesex Regt.	Lieut.-Col. E. J. King, C.M.G., to 2/11/16, and from 4/2/17 to 14/5/17 Lieut-.Col. E. D. Jackson, D.S.O., from 2/11/16 to 4/2/17 A/Lieut.-Col. F. W. D. Bendall, from 15/5/17 to 17/8/17 A/Lieut.-Col. P. C. Kay, D.S.O., M.C., from 31/8/17 to 16/2/18. A/Lieut.-Col. M. Beevor, from 16/2/18.	The Battalion went to Gibraltar Sept. 1914. France to the 23rd Brigade, 8th Division, in Feb. 1915.
1/8th Middlesex Regt.	T/Lieut.-Col. E. D. W. Gregory, from 31/5/15 to Sept. 1915. Lieut.-Col. P. L. Inkpen, D.S.O., from Sept. 1915 to Oct. 1916, and Mar. 1917 to Aug. 1917. Lieut.-Col. F. D. W. Bendall, from Oct. 1916 to Mar. 1917. Lieut.-Col. C. H. Pank, C.M.G., D.S.O., Sept. 1917 to Mar. 1919. Lieut.-Col. M. B. Beevor, from Mar. 1918.	This Battalion went to Gibraltar in Sept. 1914. To the 88th Brigade, 3rd Division, in France during March 1915, and in April joined the 23rd Brigade, when it was amalgamated with the 1/7th Middlesex. Resumed independence on joining 56th Division.
1/1st London Regt. (Royal Fusiliers)	Lieut.-Col. E. G. Mercer, C.M.G., T.D., from Jan. 1916 to June 1916. Lieut.-Col. D. V. Smith, D.S.O., V.D., from June 1916 to Oct. 1916; from Feb. 1917 to April 1917. Lieut.-Col. Kennard, from Oct. 1916 to Nov. 1916. Lieut.-Col. W. R. Glover, C.M.G., D.S.O., T.D., from Nov. 1916 to Mar. 1917; from April 1917.	Went to Malta in Sept. 1914. France Jan. 1915, joining the 25th Brigade, 8th Division, in March. To the 56th Division April 1916.
1/3rd London Regt. (Royal Fusiliers)	A/Lieut.-Col. A. E. Maitland, D.S.O., M.C., until Mar. 1917. Lieut.-Col. F. D. Samuel, D.S.O., T.D.	To Malta in Sept. 1914. France Jan. 1915 with G.H.Q. troops. Garhwal Brigade, Meerut Division, on 1/3/15. To 142nd Brigade, 47th Division, 1/1/16. Left 56th Division and joined 173rd Brigade, 58th Division, 2/2/18.
INFANTRY BATTALIONS, 168th BRIGADE
Battalion.	Commanding Officers.	Remarks.
1/4th London Regt. (Royal Fusiliers)	Major W. J, Clark, until 23/3/16. Lieut.-Col. L. L. Wheatley, 8/4/16 to 11/10/16. Lieut.-Col. H. J. Duncan Teape, until 17/3/17. Lieut.-Col. A. E. Maitland, 17/3/17 to 20/4/17. Lieut.-Col. H. Campbell, 20/4/17 to 14/8/17. Lieut.-Col. A. F. Marchment, 14/8/17 to the end.	To Malta Sept. 1914. France Jan. 1915 as G.H.Q. troops. Joined Ferozepore Brigade, Lahore Division, on 1/3/15. To 140th Brigade, 47th Division, 1/1/16.
1/12th London Regt. (Rangers)	Colonel A. D. Bayliffe, C.M.G., T.D.	To France 4/1/15 as G.H.Q. troops. Joined 84th Brigade, 28th Division, on 4/2/15. Brigade moved to 5th Division 19/2/15 and rejoined 28th Division 6/4/15. To G.H.Q. on 19/5/15. Left56th Division 2/2/18, and joined 58th Division.
1/13th London Regt. (Kensingtons)	Lieut.-Col. H. Stafford until 28/6/16. A/Lieut.-Col. W. W. Young until 27/10/16. A/Lieut.-Col. J. C. R. King, until 13/6/17. A/Lieut.-Col. J. E. J. Higgins, M.C., until 5/8/17. A/Lieut.-Col. V. Flower, D.S.O., until 16/8/17. A/Lieut.-Col. R. E. F. Shaw, M.C., until 23/8/18. A/Lieut.-Col. M. A. Prismall, M.C., until 28/9/18. A/Lieut.-Col. J. Forbes Robertson, V.C., D.S.O., M.C., until 13/10/18. A/Lieut.-Col. F. S. B. Johnson, D.S.O.	To France on 13/11/14, and joined the 24th Brigade, 8th Division. To G.H.Q. on 19/5/15.
1/14th London Regt. (London Scottish)	Lieut-.Col. B. C. Green, C.M.G., T.D., until 2/8/16. Lieut.-Col. J. H. Lindsay, D.S.O., until 6/10/16. Lieut.-Col. James Paterson, M.C., until 6/3/17. Lieut.-Col. E. D. Jackson, D.S.O.	To France on lines of communication Sept. 1914. Joined 1st Brigade, 1st Division, on 7/11/14.
INFANTRY BATTALIONS, 169th BRIGADE
Battalion.	Commanding Officers.	Remarks.
1/2nd London Regt. (Royal Fusiliers)	Lieut.-Col. James Attenborough, C.M.G., T.D., until Nov. 1916, and Feb. 1917 to April 1917. A/Lieut.-Col. J. P. Kellett, D.S.O., M.C., Nov. 1916 to Feb. 1917; May 1917 to Aug. 1917; Jan. 1918 to Oct. 1918; Jan. 1919. A/Lieut.-Col. R. E. F. Sneath, M.C., Aug. 1917 to Dec. 1917. A/Lieut.-Col. S. H. Stevens, M.C., Nov. 1918 to Jan. 1919.	To Malta Sept. 1914. France Jan. 1915 as G.H.Q. troops. Joined 17th Brigade, 6th Division, 1/3/15. The Brigade was transferred to 24th Division 1/1/16.
1/5th London Regt. (London Rifle Brigade)	Lieut.-Col. Bates, D.S.O., until 13/8/16. Lieut.-Col. R. H. Husey, D.S.O., 13/8/16 to 4/5/18. Lieut.-Col. C. D. Burnell, D.S.O., 4/5/18 to end. Also for one month, 22/4/17 to 20/5/17, during Lieut.-Col. Husey’s absence. The latter C.O. was also absent from 26/3/17 to 22/4/17, and 12/8/17 to 3/12/17, when Major F. H. Wallis took command.	To France and joined 11th Brigade, 4th Division, 24/11/14. To G.H.Q. 19/5/15. To 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, 1/1/16.
1/9th London Regt. (Queen Victoria’s Rifles)	Colonel J. W. F. Dickens, D.S.O., V.D. Lieut.-Col. F. B. Follett, D.S.O., M.C. Lieut.-Col. M. Beevor, D.S.O. Lieut.-Col. E. G. H. Towell	To France 24/11/14 and joined 13th Brigade, 5th Division. Brigade moved to 28th Division on 19/2/15, and back to 5th Division on 6/4/15. Left 56th Division and joined 58th 2/2/18.
1/16th London Regt. (Queen’s Westminster Rifles)	Lieut.-Col. R. Shoolbred, C.M.G., T.D. Lieut.-Col. E. P. Harding, O.B.E., M.C. Lieut.-Col. P. M. Glazier, D.S.O. Lieut.-Col. S. R. Savill, D.S.O., M.C.	To France and joined 18th Brigade, 6th Division, 11/11/14.