British 56th (1st London) Division - Definition

The British 56th (1/1st London) Division was a first-line Territorial Army division. Originally called the "1st London Division" it was designated the 56th Division in 1915 and referred to as the "1/1st London Division" after the raising of the second-line 58th (2/1st London) Division.

During the First World War, the battalions of the division were initially used for garrison duty overseas (including Malta) or as reinforcements for other divisions. In January 1916 the division was deployed as a unit to France where it served on the Western Front for the remainder of the war.

The division's insignia was the sword from the coat of arms of the City of London.

Unit history

to be completed

Formation

In February 1916, the division comprised the following battalions:

167th (1st London) Brigade 

• 1/1st (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment
• 1/3rd (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (until January 1918)
• 1/7th Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
• 1/8th Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)

168th (2nd London) Brigade 

• 1/4th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment
• 1/12th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Rangers) (until January 1918)
• 1/13th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment
• 1/14th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Scottish)

169th (3rd London) Brigade 

• 1/2nd (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment
• 1/5th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
• 1/9th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles) (until February 1918)
• 1/16th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles)

Pioneers 

1/5th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment

Battles

• Battle of the Somme (1916)
  • Battle of Albert

External links

The British Army in the Great War: The 56th (1/1st London) Division (http://www.1914-1918.net/56div.htm)