5. On December 19 it was brought back to the Somme.
1917.
Somme.
1. In January, 1917, elements of the division were sent as reenforcements north of Courcelette and southwest of Serre.
2. On January 17 the entire 38th Division went into line in the vicinity of Puisieux-Hébuterne, where it was relieved about March 8 without any serious losses.
3. On March 17 the division replaced the 4th Guard Division near Beugny Bertincourt, which had lost heavily at the beginning of its retirement to the Hindenburg Line, and the 38th Division itself continued to withdraw by way of Beaumetz and Doignies. It took up its position between Demicourt and Boursies, west of Cambrai, and remained there until the end of April.
Artois.
4. After a period of rest in the Cambrai-Douai area during the first half of May, the 38th Division took over the sector east of Arras (north of the Scarpe), on May 16. It left this front on May 31, after having been greatly weakened on the 16th, during the counterattacks on the village of Rouex (800 men were sent to make up these losses from the dissolved 624th Infantry Regiment).
Flanders.
5. The division remained at rest at Douai, until June 8; at this time, it was transferred to the vicinity of Gheluwe and sent into reserve to reenforce finally the Messines front.