31st Division (United Kingdom)
| 31st Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | April 1915 – March 1919 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Robert Wanless O'Gowan (1915-1918) |
The 31st Division was an infantry division of the British Army. It was raised in the Great War by volunteers from Kitchener's Army formed in April 1915 as part of the K4 Army Group and taken over by the War Office on 10 August 1915. Comprising mainly infantry battalions from Yorkshire and Lancashire, the division was sent to Egypt in December 1915 before moving to France in March 1916 and spent the remainder of the First World War in action on the Western Front. The 31st Division was the quintessential New Army division, being made up entirely of Pals battalions.
The 31st Division's first major action was on the first day of the Somme Campaign (1 July 1916), part of the Somme offensive. The division suffered 3,600 casualties and failed to reach any of its objectives.
Unit history
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Formation
- 10th (Service) Battalion (1st Hull), East Yorkshire Regiment
- 11th (Service) Battalion (2nd Hull), East Yorkshire Regiment
- 12th (Service) Battalion (3rd Hull), East Yorkshire Regiment (until February 1918)
- 13th (Service) Battalion (4th Hull), East Yorkshire Regiment (until February 1918)
- 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington), East Lancashire Regiment (from 94th Brigade February 1918)
- 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Leeds), Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
- 16th (Service) Battalion (1st Bradford), Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (until February 1918)
- 18th (Service) Battalion (2nd Bradford), Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (until February 1918)
- 18th (Service) Battalion (1st County), Durham Light Infantry
- 13th (Service) Battalion (1st Barnsley), York and Lancaster Regiment (from 94th Brigade February 1918)
- 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington), East Lancashire Regiment (to 92nd Brigade February 1918)
- 12th (Service) Battalion (Sheffield), York and Lancaster Regiment (disbanded February 1918)
- 13th (Service) Battalion (1st Barnsley), York and Lancaster Regiment (to 93rd Brigade February 1918)
- 14th (Service) Battalion (2nd Barnsley), York and Lancaster Regiment (disbanded February 1918)
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers (from May 1918 to June 1918)
The brigade was disbanded in February 1918 then began reforming in May. In June it was brought up to strength with the addition of Yeomanry battalions from the 74th (Yeomanry) Division and renamed the 94th (Yeomanry) Brigade.
- 12th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment
- 12th (Ayrshire and Lanarkshire Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
- 24th (Denbighshire Hussars) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
The brigade was attached to the division during February 1918 following the breakup of the 94th Brigade. It left when the 94th Brigade began reforming in May.
- 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards
- 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards
- 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards
In April 1918 heavy casualties led to the brief amalgamation of the 92nd and 93rd brigades into the 92nd Composite Brigade.
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