The 111th Division, which was considered a good unit, was sorely tried in Flanders by the Franco-British attack of July 31, 1917. Many men left their formations either when going into line or under bombardment. The division stayed but four days in line and had to be relieved without having been able to counterattack. The 111th Division was composed of young men, part of whom had experience in very active sectors.
1918.
Battle of Picardy.
1. The division was relieved by the 234th Division at Arleux about the 1st of March. It remained in rear of the front until March 21 when it returned to its former sector to attack east of St. Leger. It had been resting at Auberchicourt, which place it left on the 17th and marched via Palluel to Villers lez Cagnicourt, arriving there on March 20.
The division was in the first wave of the attack and advanced via Ecoust, then south to Vaulx-Vraucourt on the 22d, Mory (24th). It passed into second line about this time and reentered line north of Hamelincourt on April 1 to relieve the 26th Division. After a week it side-slipped south and relieved the 239th Division northeast of Ayette, which sector it held until April 20. It was relieved by the 234th Division.
2. On May 6 the division relieved the 5th Bavarian Division north of Bucquoy. It continued to hold this sector until August 17, when it was relieved by the 4th Bavarian Division.
Third Battle of the Somme.
3. The division taken from the comparatively quiet Bucquoy sector was used to reenforce the battle front at Favreuil on August 25. It was only engaged four days in this sector. Withdrawn on the 29th, it moved northward and on September 2 reenforced the front east of Hendecourt. It fought then for three days before it was withdrawn. In these two brief periods in line the division suffered very heavy casualties besides losing 500 prisoners.
Lens.
4. The division rested in the Tourcoing area until it reentered line south of Acheville on the night of September 24–25 in relief of the 207th Division. It was engaged here until October 11, when the 49th Reserve Division relieved it east of Lens.