The 2/4th West Riding Regiment and 2/4th Yorkshire Light Infantry were chosen for the Army of Occupation, as was also the 1/9th Durham Light Infantry, originally belonging to the 50th, but which served as pioneers to the 62nd in 1918.[9]
FOOTNOTES:
[9] Much interesting matter regarding the achievements of the 49th and 62nd Divisions will be found in The West Riding Territorials in the Great War, by Major L. Magnus. Kegan Paul and Co. Price 15s.
66TH (EAST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION
Second Line
The Division landed in France in the last week of February 1917, and was employed for some months with the First and Second Armies about the Bethune-Ypres-Nieuport area.
In the last week of September 1917 the 66th was relieved in the Coast Sector by the 42nd, the senior East Lancashire Division. The 66th then moved into the battle area and joined the Fifth Army, east of Ypres. It came suddenly into prominence in October, when the closing stages of the Third Battle of Ypres were being fought.
In his telegraphic despatch of 9th October, Sir Douglas Haig said: “On the right centre a third-line Territorial Division, comprising Manchester, East Lancashire and Lancashire Fusilier Regiments, advanced one mile northwards along the ridge in the direction of Passchendaele, capturing all its objectives under the most trying and difficult circumstances with great determination and gallantry.”
It was not a “third-line” division in the ordinary acceptance of the words, but it did contain a third-line battalion, the 3/5th Lancashire Fusiliers, who were said to have done exceptionally well.
A quotation from paragraph 56 of the written despatch of 25th December, 1917, as to this attack, now designated the “Battle of Poelcappelle,” has been given under the 48th Division.
During the German offensive and British retreat of March 1918 the 66th formed part of the XIX. Corps, Fifth Army, the other division of the Corps in the line on 21st March being the 24th.