The history of the Twentieth (Light) Division

by Valentine Erskine Inglefield

There was little activity on this front on the 11th, and the situation remained substantially the same. The 91st Field Artillery Brigade remained north-east of Feignies; the 92nd advanced to Goegnies-Chaussée, north-east of the Bois de Lanière. When hostilities ceased at 11 A.M. the most forward troops of the Division were holding a line about thirty-five miles east of Cambrai.

The Division took no part in the advance to the Rhine. Major-General Carey took over command of the XVIIth Corps sector during the 11th. The 61st Brigade moved to Feignies that day and the 59th Brigade to the Malplaquet area on the 12th. Three days later the 60th Brigade moved back to La Flamengrie, south-east of Roisin.

On the 23rd of November the Division began to withdraw through Cambrai to the district round Marieux, where all units had arrived by the 2nd of December.

With the beginning of demobilisation in January 1919 the 20th Division ceased to exist as a fighting force. It had fulfilled its rôle; its record is one of which it may well be proud.

INDEX

• Abbeville, [255], [272].
• Acheville, [288], [293], [297], [298].
• —— Sector, [285], [286].
• Adam, Captain G., [164].
• Aeroplanes—
• activities of German, [117], [150], [163], [167], [194], [198], [228].
• artillery assisted by, [146].
• troops assisted by, [229].
• Aisne River, [144].
• Aldershot, [4].
• Allan, 2nd Lieut., [171].
• —— Private J., [295].
• Allcard, Lieut.-Col., [301].
• American Forces, [279], [288], [300].
• Amesbury, [7].
• Amiens, [110], [111], [252], [254], [257], [259], [261], [263], [266], [270], [271], [284].
• Ammunition—
• dump exploded, [117], [303].
• exhaustion of, [257].
• restriction in use of, [23].
• transport of, [99], [147], [150], [175], [269], [301], [302], [303].
• Ancre River, [61], [62], [118], [119].
• —— Valley, [119].
• Andechy, [256].
• Anderson, Lieut.-Col. A. T., [13].
• Annoux, [189].
• Annois, [240], [241].
• Ardagh, Lieut., [206].
• Argonne, [288].
• Armentières, [7], [8], [270], [285], [288].
• Army—
• First, [7], [15], [35], [272], [284], [288], [302].
• Second, [8], [288].
• Third, [8], [178], [219], [220], [288], [300], [302], [305].
• Fourth, [63], [67], [86], [90], [102], [133], [138], [139], [210], [211], [302].
• Fifth, [120], [122], [139], [217], [218], [219], [220].
• —— Corps—
• I., [10].
• III., [7], [8], [10], [15], [25], [90], [178], [190], [205], [219], [265].
• IV., [139].
• V., [15], [60], [139].
• VI., [36], [305].
• VII., [219].
• VIII., [62], [63], [88], [125].
• IX., [141], [210], [211], [215].
• XI., [29].
• XIV., [35], [37], [53], [56], [62], [67], [78], [86], [88], [89], [90], [94], [101], [110], [111], [113], [114], [116], [120], [122], [125], [126], [128], [143], [145], [147], [151], [157], [174], [176].
• XV., [90], [91], [94], [98], [101], [110], [111], [125], [138].
• XVII., [300], [306].
• XVIII., [168], [218], [219], [220], [251], [252], [272].
• XIX., [219], [220], [257].
• XXII., [215], [216], [217].
• Arnold, 2nd Lieut., [242].
• Arras, [8], [118], [119], [122], [143], [144], [272], [280], [282], [284], [285], [286], [294].
• Arrow Head Copse, [71], [75], [77], [80], [114].
• Arscott, Corporal, [287].
• Artemps, [239].
• —
• bombardments by, [43], [57], [58], [63], [67], [76], [88], [109], [136], [146], [168], [171], [260].
• camouflage screens for, [145], [180].
• co-operation between infantry and, [33], [163], [260], [261], [274], [290], [294].
• divisional, see [Divisional].
• French, withdrawal of, [263].
• German, [27], [51], [102].
• horses of, [46].
• reorganisation of, [47], [89].
• Arvillers, [252], [253], [254].
• Ash, Major R. V. C., [204], [255].
• Ashwell, Captain T. G. L., [171], [189].
• Attacks—
• bombing, [38], [39], [40], [48], [97], [114], [127], [162], [171], [208].
• feint, [17], [25], [26], [27].
• gas, [29], [33], [48], [49], [54], [89], [193], [220], [266], [275], [278], [289].
• night, [55], [56], [57], [58], [115], [127], [141], [155], [190], [214], [280], [283], [284], [289], [291], [295].
• surprise, [133], [134], [179], [180], [181], [281], [282].
• Aubers, [12].
• Aubers-Radinghem Ridge, [16].
• Aubigny, [268].
• Au Bon Gite, [151], [153], [154], [155], [157], [158], [159], [168].
• Austin, 2nd Lieut. C. E., [287].
• Australian Forces, [59], [63], [110], [120], [122], [124], [133], [139], [214], [260], [265], [268].
• Avesne, [237], [304].
• Avion, [272], [273], [276], [282], [292].
• —— Sector, [272], [273], [278], [279], [280], [285], [287], [292].
• Avricourt, [247].

• “B” post, [117], [118].
• Bailleul, [7], [59], [271].
• Balfour, Major, [176].
• Balston, Lieut.-Col., [220], [265], [267].
• Banbury, Brig.-Gen. W. E., [61], [74], [91], [93], [105], [126], [182], [192], [219].
• Banks, 2nd. Lieut., [245].
• Banteux, [181], [185], [186].
• Bapaume, [123], [139], [173], [178], [284].
• Barastre, [124].
• Bareilly Brigade, [16], [18], [19], [20].
• Barker, Private, [197].
• Barrages, [76], [102], [104], [148], [157], [168], [170], [171], [214], [254], [261], [277], [280], [284], [287], [290], [291], [303].
• Barrow, Private C., [92].
• Bas Maisnil, [16], [18].
• Bavai, [303], [304].
• Baylay, Brig.-Gen. A. C., [276], [285].
• Bazentin-le-Grand, [66].
• —— —— Petit, [66].
• Beaucamp, [134], [136], [138], [178], [205], [206], [208].
• Beaucourt, [118].
• Beaufort, [251], [252], [253].
• Beaulencourt, [99], [101], [123].
• Beaulieu, [218], [264].
• Beaumont, [243], [244].
• —— Hamel, [61], [63], [65], [118].
• Beaurevoir, [189], [190].
• Beauval, [64].
• Beauvraignes, [256].
• Beddington, Captain, [50].
• —— Lieut.-Col. C., [34].
• Bee, Sergeant W., [134].
• Beines, [243], [244], [246].
• Belcher, Major P., [278].
• Belgian Forces, [288].
• Bellewarde Farm, [15].
• Belloy-sur-Somme, [110].
• Bell-Smythe, Brig.-Gen., [261].
• Berlancourt, [264].
• Bernafay Wood, [65], [73], [74], [77], [80], [83], [85], [94], [98].
• Bernaville, [142].
• Bertie, Major the Hon. A. M., [131], [229].
• Bertincourt, [124], [125], [129], [133].
• Béthencourt, [222], [225], [227], [228], [231].
• Bettrechies, [303].
• Bidwell, Lieut., [155].
• Bilhem, [135], [136], [137], [139], [178].
• Billancourt, [234], [248].
• Bilton, Lieut.-Col., [227].
• Bixschoete, [143].
• Blackdown, [3], [4].
• Blacklock, Lieut.-Col. C. A., [55], [73], [76].
• Blangy Tronville, [267].
• Blaringhem, [210].
• Blarnighem Château, [35].
• Blockhouses, concrete, [151], [159].
• Boesinghe, [144], [147].
• Bois do Lanière, [306].
• —— de l’Hôpital, [236].
• —— des Tailles, [90], [91].
• —— Favière, [90].
• —— l’Abbé, [266], [267].
• —— St Martin, [125].
• Bonavis, [181], [185], [188], [200], [205].
• —— Ridge, [192], [196], [197], [198], [209].
• Bouchoire, [246], [252], [253].
• Boulogne, [7].
• Bourjonval, [126].
• Bourlon Wood, [191].
• Boyd, Major C. A., [226], [231].
• Boyle, Lieut.-Col., [182], [216].
• Brace, Major A. G., [141].
• Brandhoek, [50].
• Bray, [222], [224].
• Breaugies, [303].
• Breckon, Lieut., [96].
• Brigade—
• 47th, [73], [74], [75], [76], [79], [80], [82], [83], [84].
• 48th, [83].
• 49th, [84].
• 59th, [1], [2], [4], [9], [10], [11], [14], [15], [17], [24], [25], [29], [30], [33], [40], [43], [46], [47], [48], [49], [51], [58], [62], [64], [67], [69], [70], [73], [74], [75], [76], [77], [78], [80], [81], [83], [84], [85], [91], [95], [97], [98], [101], [106], [110], [116], [120], [124], [125], [126], [128], [129], [130], [133], [134], [135], [136], [138], [139], [140], [148], [150], [152], [155], [167], [168], [169], [170], [172], [178], [180], [182], [183], [185], [186], [188], [189], [190], [192], [193], [198], [199], [205], [208], [212], [218], [221], [222], [226], [232], [233], [234], [250], [251], [252], [253], [254], [257], [258], [260], [261], [262], [273], [276], [283], [285], [286], [289], [293], [306].
• 60th, [1], [2], [4], [10], [11], [15], [18], [22], [23], [25], [26], [27], [29], [33], [38], [40], [43], [46], [48], [49], [50], [51], [52], [53], [59], [60], [64], [65], [68], [69], [70], [74], [75], [81], [82], [83], [84], [85], [91], [94], [98], [100], [101], [103], [106], [120], [125], [129], [130], [134], [136], [137], [138], [139], [155], [156], [157], [158], [162], [163], [165], [167], [168], [169], [170], [171], [172], [178], [180], [181], [184], [188], [192], [193], [199], [200], [205], [206], [208], [212], [218], [221], [222], [223], [224], [225], [226], [227], [230], [231], [232], [234], [235], [238], [248], [250], [251], [252], [253], [254], [257], [258], [259], [261], [273], [276], [285], [286], [287], [289], [293], [295], [305], [306].
• 61st, [1], [2], [3], [4], [10], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [33], [40], [43], [44], [46], [48], [49], [50], [53], [59], [62], [63], [64], [68], [74], [75], [77], [79], [81], [85], [91], [92], [94], [98], [100], [101], [103], [104], [106], [111], [112], [114], [116], [120], [124], [126], [127], [128], [129], [133], [134], [136], [137], [141], [150], [155], [156], [157], [158], [159], [162], [163], [165], [166], [167], [168], [172], [178], [179], [180], [181], [182], [188], [192], [193], [196], [198], [206], [208], [212], [213], [218], [219], [220], [221], [223], [224], [226], [237], [238], [239], [242], [244], [245], [246], [247], [249], [250], [251], [254], [257], [256], [260], [262], [273], [280], [285], [286], [288], [292], [297].
• Briqueterie, The, [64], [73], [85], [112].
• Bristow, Sergeant J., [45].
• Bronfay Farm, [85].
• Brouchy, [238], [240], [241], [242], [243], [244].
• Browell, Brig.-Gen. W. B., [110], [112], [113], [143], [150].
• Browne-Clayton, Brig.-Gen. R. C., [110], [128], [129].
• Bry, [301], [303], [304].
• Buckley, Captain, [44], [52].
• Bullecourt, [140], [284].
• Bull Ring, [272], [273], [274], [276], [277], [282], [293], [294].
• Burges-Short, Lieut.-Col., [182], [237], [241], [244].
• Burman, Company-Sgt.-Major W., [46].
• Bus, [124], [125], [126].
• Bushell, Lieut., [202], [224].
• Bussy, [263].
• Butcher, Major F., [275].
• Butler, Brig.-Gen. Hon. L., [46], [53], [70], [74], [94], [158], [178].
• —— Lieut-Gen. Sir R. H. K., [265].
• Buverchy, [231], [232], [233], [264].
• Byng, General the Hon. Sir Julian, [219], [300].

• Cachy, [266].
• Calais, [46].
• Cambrai, [119], [178], [288], [300], [301], [303], [304], [306].
• —— Battle of, [178]et seq.
• Campbell, Captain D. F., [277], [294].
• Canadian Cavalry Brigade, [187].
• —— Forces, [48], [49], [51], [52], [53], [54], [272], [274].
• —— Motor Machine Gun Battalion, [227].
• Canizy, [222], [225], [229], [230].
• Carey, Major-Gen. G. S., [271], [306].
• Carey’s Force, [257], [271].
• Carnoy, [64], [74], [82], [85], [94], [98], [116], [120].
• —— Coliseum, [120].
• Carnoy-Montauban road, [65], [68].
• Cassel, [36].
• Cavalry Divisions, [260], [261], [262].
• —— Wood, [257], [259], [260], [261], [262].
• Cavan, Earl of, [35], [106].
• Cavillon, [110], [111].
• Chapman, Lieut. E., [153], [154].
• Château de la Haie, [273].
• —— Thierry, [279].
• Chatham, [4].
• Chaulnes, [122], [226], [284].
• Cheapside, [164].
• Chegwin, Lieut., [297].
• Chemin des Dames, [144], [279].
• Chérisy, [300].
• Chevincourt, [263].
• Chitty, Corporal, [97].
• Christie, Brig.-Gen. H. W. A., [150], [218], [305].
• —— Major H. S., [14].
• Citadel, The, [110], [111], [112].
• Civilians, relief of, [304], [305].
• Clapham Junction, [211].
• Clarke, Lieut.-Col. M. O., [283], [287].
• Cleeves, 2nd Lieut. F. R., [287].
• Cleminson, Captain C. D. R., [81], [82].
• Cloudy Trench, [102], [104].
• Coates, Rifleman E., [56].
• Cochrane, Brig.-Gen. J. K., [219], [220], [244].
• Cockburn, Major R. S., [55], [169].
• Coigneux, [63].
• Colville, Colonel A. E. W., C.B., [4].
• Combe, Captain E. C., [250], [251].
• Combles, [65], [71], [84], [90], [96], [98], [110], [114].
• Connaught Rangers, [73], [76], [77], [79], [80], [81].
• Contalmaison, [65].
• Cooper, Sergeant E., V.C. awarded to, [160], [161].
• Cope, 2nd Lieut. M. L., [28].
• Corbie, [109], [111], [112], [113].
• Cork Cottages, [53].
• Corps Reinforcement Camp, [216].
• Cotton, Lieut.-Col. A. E., [73], [130], [151], [187], [225], [228].
• Couin, [62].
• Courcelette, [90].
• Craggs, C. S. M., [224].
• Craters, The, [83].
• Crawford, 2nd Lieut., [109].
• Cromery, [249].
• Cressy, [234], [248].
• Crèvecœur, [189], [190].
• Crisolles, [247], [263].
• Crump Farm, [48].
• Cugny, [238], [239], [241], [243], [244].
• Currie, Major A., [149], [267].
• Curtis, Captain, [34].
• Cuy, [263], [264].

• Damery, [250], [251].
• Dann, Brig.-Gen. W. R. H., [276].
• Daours, [110].
• Dashwood, Major R., [50].
• Davies, Major-Gen. R. H., C.B., [3], [22], [38], [40], [42], [44].
• Davis, Captain, [297].
• Decauville, [146], [164], [172], [203].
• Deepcut, [4].
• Delamain, Lieut. E. C., [157].
• Delangre Farm, [59].
• Delville Wood, [64], [66], [99].
• Demuin, [254], [257], [259], [260], [262].
• Denison, Lieut. H. A., [54].
• Dessart Wood, [128], [129], [130].
• Dickebusch, [212].
• Division—
• 4th, [88], [89], [109], [110], [174].
• 5th, [72], [75], [78], [79], [80], [83], [84], [94].
• 6th, [28], [37], [43], [46], [48], [59], [62], [74], [88], [90], [91], [94], [98], [99], [106], [109], [180], [181], [182], [204], [205].
• 7th, [72], [78], [80], [81], [82], [83], [304].
• 8th, [8], [9], [10], [14], [15], [16], [18], [33], [35], [110], [126], [128], [129], [131], [133], [138], [217], [228], [230], [232], [233], [257], [260], [261], [265], [268], [285], [289], [290], [292], [293].
• 11th, [137], [151], [152], [157], [163], [174], [303].
• 12th, [109], [110], [180], [181], [182], [188], [191], [193], [194], [204], [299].
• 14th, [36], [38], [173], [219], [238], [240], [241], [244], [245].
• 16th, [84].
• 17th, [113], [116].
• 18th, [260].
• 19th, [301], [303].
• 20th,—
• formation and training of, [1] et seq.
• order of battle, [2], [3].
• Divisional Commander, see [Davies], [Douglas Smith], [Matheson], [Carey].
• lack of equipment for, [4].
• inspection by King, [5].
• journey to France, [7].
• in Laventie Sector, [9] et seq.
• losses sustained by, [14], [19], [20], [22], [27], [32], [37], [39], [50], [53], [54], [56], [69], [85], [91], [93], [97], [100], [103], [104], [106], [118], [120], [141], [146], [155], [165], [184], [194], [247].
• in the Ypres Salient, [36] et seq.
• congratulatory messages to, [39], [106], [107], [138], [139], [172], [173], [176], [192], [260], [262], [290].
• change in command of, [44], [124], [150], [271].
• artillery reorganised, [47].
• on the Somme, [61] et seq.
• exhaustion of, [69], [83], [167], [177], [208], [265], [270].
• resting, [110], [173].
• following up the German retreat, [122] et seq.
• in 3rd Battle of Ypres, [143] et seq.
• in Battle of Cambrai, [178] et seq.
• 30th Division relieved by, [210].
• in the Menin road Sector, [210] et seq.
• reorganisation of, [216], [217], [271].
• action during German offensive on the Somme, [218] et seq.
• in Avion and Lens Sectors, [272] et seq.
• improvement in efficiency of, [276].
• final advance, [284] et seq.
• in Acheville Sector, [285] et seq.
• moved to Cambrai, [300].
• withdrawal and demobilisation of, [306].
• 23rd, [23].
• 24th, [60], [64], [74], [250], [252], [253], [257], [273], [285], [286], [305].
• 25th, [62], [63].
• 26th, [6].
• 27th, [8], [9], [10].
• 29th, [116], [119], [145], [151], [157], [181], [186], [188], [189], [190], [192], [200], [204], [208].
• 30th, [220], [221], [223], [225], [226], [227], [230], [234], [235], [250], [251], [252], [253], [256].
• 36th, [60], [189], [219], [220], [238], [239], [240], [242], [244], [245], [251].
• 37th, [212], [214], [217].
• 38th, [61], [145], [147], [148], [155], [165], [166].
• 40th, [133], [135], [136], [138], [178].
• 48th, [139].
• 49th, [36].
• 50th, [60], [257], [259], [260].
• 51st, [169], [189].
• 52nd, [189], [274].
• 55th, [179], [193], [194].
• 56th, [90], [101].
• 58th, [265], [293].
• 61st, [208], [219], [221], [223], [226], [227], [232], [233], [276].
• 62nd, [142], [189].
• Divisional Ammunition Column, [3], [4], [47], [58], [113], [146], [147], [167], [264], [269], [301].
• —— Artillery, [2], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [21], [23], [20], [29], [30], [32], [33], [39], [41], [42], [43], [45], [46], [56], [57], [62], [63], [64], [76], [81], [88], [89], [90], [97], [98], [99], [109], [110], [112], [113], [115], [116], [120], [124], [125], [130], [133], [134], [135], [140], [142], [143], [144], [145], [146], [149], [150], [152], [155], [157], [158], [159], [163], [166], [167], [173], [174], [175], [176], [177], [178], [183], [185], [189], [192], [195], [198], [199], [205], [208], [209], [210], [212], [214], [218], [220], [228], [234], [235], [236], [237], [238], [239], [241], [242], [243], [246], [247], [256], [258], [259], [260], [261], [261], [262], [263], [264], [265], [266], [267], [269], [274], [276], [277], [278], [280], [282], [283], [284], [285], [286], [289], [294], [298], [300], [301], [302], [303], [305].
• —— Band, [46].
• —— Cyclist Company, [34], [48], [252].
• —— Headquarters, [7], [10], [29], [35], [36], [48], [59], [62], [64], [80], [84], [90], [98], [110], [111], [112], [114], [116], [123], [126], [129], [136], [139], [142], [150], [166], [167], [180], [189], [200], [204], [206], [208], [210], [212], [218], [221], [225], [232], [235], [248], [255], [261], [272], [273], [292], [304].
• —— and Brigade Machine Gun Companies, [126], [127], [129], [130], [132], [133], [140], [148], [155], [157], [158], [168], [195], [196], [200], [215], [219], [238], [276], [289], [292], [305].
• —— Reinforcement Battalion, [221], [233], [252], [253].
• —— Signal Company, [41], [42], [52], [63], [86], [98], [123], [137], [152], [168], [180], [185], [204], [218], [225].
• —— Sports, [46], [110].
• —— Staff, [3], [4].
• —— Stretcher Company, [164], [171].
• —— Transport, [3], [204].
• Domart, [142], [147], [255], [257], [261].
• Douilly, [221], [222].
• Doullens, [60], [61].
• Dragon Camp, [150].
• Dragoon Farm, [53].
• Drocourt, [284], [286].
• Drummond, Private, [196].
• Du Cane, Lieut.-Gen. Sir John, [125], [138].
• Duck’s Bill, [28].
• Dug-outs, [11], [37].
• Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, [2], [44], [45], [69], [71], [74], [77], [79], [81], [83], [91], [92], [93], [100], [101], [105], [114], [126], [127], [128], [133], [138], [157], [162], [163], [165], [166], [182], [183], [192], [194], [196], [215], [237], [238], [239], [240], [241], [242], [243], [244], [245], [249], [250], [280], [281], [282], [288], [291], [293], [297], [298], [299], [304].
• Dummies, use of, [26], [27].
• Duncan, Brig.-Gen. F. J., [178], [182], [193], [198], [220], [223], [226], [230], [253], [254], [258], [261], [276].
• Dundas, Lieut.-Col. F. C., [4], [111].
• Durham Light Infantry, [2], [3], [9], [10], [15], [23], [26], [41], [62], [73], [74], [80], [83], [84], [85], [97], [100], [101], [105], [111], [112], [116], [123], [148], [173], [181], [196], [202], [203], [208], [221], [223], [225], [239], [240], [244], [245], [252], [253], [254], [258], [261].
• Dury, [238], [239], [242].
• Duval, Lieut., [188].

• Eagle Trench, [166], [169], [170], [171], [172], [173].
• Earle, Major E. G., [267].
• East-Lancashire Regiment, [228].
• Eaucourt, [119], [239], [240], [241], [242].
• Ecuvilly, [264].
• Edmond, Captain, [197].
• Edwards, Captain, [153].
• —— Private W., V.C. awarded to, [160].
• Eldridge, Bandmaster, [46], [111].
• Eley, Lieut.-Col., [239].
• Elincourt, [263].
• Elverdinghe, [143], [150], [164], [167].
• Endean, Captain, [224], [225].
• English, 2nd Lieut., [224].
• Entrenching Battalion—
• 14th, [216];
• 25th, [233], [252].
• Epenancourt, [232].
• Eppeville, [227].
• Equancourt, [125], [126], [129].
• Erches, [252], [253], [256].
• Ercheu, [218], [234], [236], [237].
• Erskine, Lieut.-Col., [176], [183], [198], [220], [239], [265].
• Erquinghem, [59].
• Ervillers, [123].
• Esmery-Hallon, [218], [226], [235].
• Esquelbecque, Château, [36], [46], [60].
• Estaires, [10], [11].