1. This was a very quiet sector and the division remained here without incident until the Somme offensive was well under way. However, the division took part in the attacks of April 7 and 8, when the enemy endeavored to squeeze out the new salient of Coucy le Château, which was developed by the progress of the main advance toward Montdidier. It suffered heavily in several attacks but gained little ground.
Montdidier.
2. About the 3d of May the division was withdrawn and sent to the front southeast of Montdidier, where the main battle line had stabilized, but where infantry was still continuing, and during the night of the 9th–10th relieved the 206th Division in the Assainvillers sector. However, the sector soon grew quiet. The division remained in line and took part in the battle of the Oise on June 9, advancing via Courcelles to Mery. The division made but little headway (it will be remembered that this whole offensive failed) and suffered heavy losses in several days of hard fighting. It was relieved by the 11th Division about the 8th of July and went to rest near Coucy le Château.
Soissons.
3. During the night of the 25th–26th the division reenforced the front near Nouvron (northwest of Soissons). Here it was subjected to the full weight of the attack of the 18th of August and was driven back to Audignicourt and the Ailette. After having suffered very heavy losses (1829 prisoners), it was withdrawn about the 27th and went to rest near Laon. About the middle of September it was disbanded, the 81st Reserve Regiment going to the 21st Reserve Division, the 193d Regiment going to the 14th Division, and the 397th Regiment going to the 45th Reserve Division.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 222d was rated a second-class division. It took little part in offensive operations but was not incapable of putting up a tenacious defense. In June two of its regiments threatened to leave the trenches if they were not relieved, but the difficulty seems to have been smoothed over though there was no relief until July 8. It is interesting to note that the divisions receiving regiments when the 222d was disbanded were all second-class units.
223d Division.
COMPOSITION.
| 1916 | 1917 | 1918[[36]] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | |
| Infantry. | 67. | 144. | 67. | 144. | 67. | 144. |
| 173. | 173. | 173. | ||||
| 29 Ers. | 29 Ers. | 29 Ers. | ||||
| Cavalry. | 2 Sqn. 3 Res. Drag. Rgt. | (2 Sqn. 3 Res. Drag. Rgt.). | 2 Sqn. 3 Res. Drag. Rgt. | |||
| Artillery. | 280 F. A. Rgt. | Art. Command: | (z) Art. Command: | |||
| 280 F. A. Rgt. | 280 F. A. Rgt. | |||||
| Engineers and Liaisons. | 343 Pion. Co. | (223) Pion. Btn.: | 5 Co. 23 Pions. | |||
| 5 Co. 23 Pions. | 343 Pion. Co. | |||||
| 343 Pion. Co. | 433 T. M. Co. | |||||
| 433 T. M. Co. | 223 Tel. Detch. | |||||
| 223 Tel. Detch. | ||||||
| Medical and Veterinary. | 232 Ambulance Co. | 232 Ambulance Co. | ||||
| 164 Field Hospital. | 164 Field Hospital. | |||||
| 170 Field Hospital. | 176 Field Hospital. | |||||
| 176 Field Hospital. | Vet. Hospital. | |||||
| Vet. Hospital. | ||||||
| Transport. | M. T. Col. | M. T. Col. | ||||