Battle of the Somme.
6. The division was struck by the British offensive in August, and before it was withdrawn near Irles on August 24 it had suffered heavy casualties, including the loss of 1,400 prisoners.
7. It marched to Cambrai, where it remained three days. On the 28th it was marched to Douai and entrained for Lille, from where it marched to Templemars. On the night of September 3–4 it relieved the 18th Reserve Division north of the La Bassee Canal.
8. The division was engaged in the La Bassee sector until September 10. Immediately after it was withdrawn from line the division was dissolved. The 440th Reserve Regiment was sent as a draft to the 11th Division. The other two regiments of the division were also disbanded and used as drafts.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as second class. It was used as an assault division in the March offensive but thereafter deteriorated. It was next seriously employed on the Somme in August, where its tremendous losses robbed it of further utility.
185th Division.
COMPOSITION.
| 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | |
| Infantry. | 185. | 185. | 185. | 185. | 229. | 65. | 29. | 65. |
| 186. | 186. | 161. | 161. | |||||
| 190. | 190. | 28. | 28 Res. | |||||
| Cavalry. | 3 Sqn. 5 Mounted Jag. Rgt. (?) | 3 Sqn. 5 Mounted Jag. Rgt. | ||||||
| Artillery. | 185 F. A. Abt. (3 Btries.). | 185 F. A. Abt. | (?) Art. Command: | 185 F. A. Rgt. | ||||
| 185 F. A. Rgt. (9. Btries.). | 2 Abt. 16 Res. Ft. A. Rgt. | |||||||
| 838 Light Am. Col. | ||||||||
| 1281 Light Am. Col. | ||||||||
| 1348 Light Am. Col. | ||||||||
| Engineers and Liaisons. | 185 Pion. Co. | 185 Pion. Co. | (185) Pion. Btn. | 185 Pion. Btn.: | ||||
| 186 Pion. Co. (dissolved in Aug.). | 10 Co. 28 Pions. | 10 Co. 28 Pions. | ||||||
| 190 T. M. Co. | 185 Pion. Co. | 185 Pion. Co. | ||||||
| 402 T. M. Co. | 89 Searchlight Section. | |||||||
| 185 Searchlight Section. | 185 Signal Command: | |||||||
| 185 Tel. Detch. | 185 Tel. Detch. | |||||||
| 134 Res. Wireless Detch. | ||||||||
| Medical and Veterinary. | 576 Ambulance Co. | 576 Ambulance Co. | ||||||
| 7 Field Hospital. | 65 Field Hospital. | |||||||
| 65 Field Hospital. | 267 Field Hospital. | |||||||
| 267 Field Hospital. | 385 Vet. Hospital. | |||||||
| Vet. Hospital. | ||||||||
| Transport. | M. T. Col. | |||||||