1916.
Somme.
1. The 2d Reserve Guard Division was relieved about April 7 of the Cuinchy-Canal sector of La Bassee. After a rest in Belgium in the vicinity of Tournai, the division was placed in the Gommecourt sector (Somme), end of May.
2. The Franco-British offensive found it in this sector July 1. It was severely engaged from July to November, 1916, sometimes in the vicinity of Pozieres, Thiepval, Bazentin-le-Petit (from July to September), sometimes farther north, and suffered serious losses (51 per cent of its personnel).
3. The 2d Reserve Guard Division was maintained in the Gommecourt-Hebuterne sector during the entire winter of 1916–17. At the end of 1916 it ceded the 55th Reserve Infantry to the 220th Division (organization).
1917.
Hindenburg Line.
1. The middle of March, 1917, the 2d Reserve Guard Division participated in the retreat of the German Army; it went back through Bucquoy, Lagnicourt, Beaumetz-les-Cambrai toward the Hindenburg line. It established itself on this line between Queant and Boursies until the end of May.
Flanders.
2. At the beginning of June the division remained at rest several days in the vicinity of Cambrai, and was then transported to the Thielt, (Pitthem-Eeghem) district (end of June). At the beginning of July it approached the front toward Staden.