1915.
The 117th Division was created by the 7th Army near Liart about April 7, 1915. Its three regiments were obtained from the 6th Corps and the 6th Reserve Corps—the 157th Infantry from the 12th Division, the 11th Reserve Regiment from the 11th Reserve Division, and the 22d Reserve Regiment from the 12th Reserve Division.
1. In April, 1915, the 117th Division was in Champagne (region of Châtelet).
Artois-Notre Dame de Lorette.
2. Transferred to Artois, it was engaged to the north of Souchez and at Notre Dame de Lorette (May and June). In this fighting it was hard hit, 107 officers and 5,255 men out of action, of whom 44 officers and 2,161 men belong to the 11th Infantry. (Casualty List.)
3. The division was re-formed at the end of June in the region of Lille.
Lens.
4. Toward the middle of July it went back into line to the northwest of Lens (from Vermelles to the Grenay-Lens railway). It suffered very heavy losses in the attacks occurring at the end of September and the beginning of October (Loos)—109 officers and 6,463 men out of action. (Casualty List.)
5. Taken away from the Artois front in the middle of October, it was put at rest in the vicinity of Roubaix-Tourcoing.