3. At the end of May it took over the sector of Roeux-Gavrelle, north of the Scarpe. It remained on this part of the front until September 27 and was not in any serious engagement. On June 6, however, the 463d Infantry Regiment suffered heavy losses in its 3d Battalion, which the two others hastily filled up (letter of June 10), and left 170 prisoners.
Flanders.
4. Sent to Flanders, the division remained at rest for a few days at Roulers, then in reserve in the vicinity of West-Roosebeke. On October 13 it went into line southwest of Passchendaele. Having suffered heavily from the British attack of October 30, it was hastily relieved on the 31st.
St. Quentin.
5. It entrained on November 6 at Ledeghem. Detraining at Geise, it went to Macquigny, and after a few days of rest occupied the sector south of St. Quentin-Itancourt (Nov. 11–12).
RECRUITING.
The 238th Division was recruited the same as the 111th Division, from Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklemburg, the Hanseatic cities, and Hanover.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 238th Division was of mediocre value, but better than the majority of the divisions of this series.
The large proportion of young recruits in the ranks of the 238th Division gave rise to the nickname “The Division of the First Communicants.”