The 10th (Irish) Division, was one of the first of Kitchener's New Army K1 Army Group divisions (formed from Kitchener's 'first hundred thousand' new volunteers), authorized on 21 August 1914, after the outbreak of the Great War. It included battalions from the various provinces of Ireland. It was led by Irish General Bryan Mahon and fought at Gallipoli, Salonika and Palestine. It was the first of the Irish Divisions to take to the field and was the most travelled of the Irish formations. The division served as a formation of the United Kingdom's British Army during World War I.
Formed in Ireland on 21 August 1914, the 10th Division was sent to Gallipoli where, as part of General Sir Frederick Stopford's IX Corps, at Suvla Bay on 7 August it participated in the Landing at Suvla Bay and the August offensive. Some battalions of the division were landed at Anzac and fought at Chunuk Bair.
In September 1915, when the Suvla front became a stalemate, the division was moved to Salonika where it remained for two years and fought the Battle of Kosturino.
The division moved to Egypt in September 1917 where it joined General Chetwode's XX Corps. It fought in the Third Battle of Gaza which succeeded in breaking the resistance of the Turkish defenders in southern Palestine.
Heavy losses on the Western Front following Operation Michael, the great German Spring Offensive in 1918, resulted in the transfer of ten of the division's battalions from Palestine to France, their place being taken by Indian Army units. This left only one British battalion per brigade. The remainder of the division remained in Palestine until the end of the war with Turkey on 31 October 1918.
On 12 November 1918 the Division concentrated at Sarafand, ready for moving back to Egypt. By 1 December it had returned to Cairo.
The division comprised the following brigades:
29th Brigade5th Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment (August 1914 – June 1915, then became the divisional pioneer battalion)6th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (August 1914 – May 1918, then disbanded)5th Battalion, Connaught Rangers (September 1914 – April 1918, transferred to 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division)6th Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) (August 1914 – April 1918, transferred to 14th (Light) Division)10th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (March–October 1915)1st Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) (November 1916 – October 1918)1st Battalion, 54th Sikhs (April–October 1918)1st Battalion, 101st Grenadiers (April–October 1918)2nd Battalion, 151st Sikh Infantry (June–October 1918)30th Brigade 6th Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers (August 1914 – April 1918, reduced to cadre and transferred to the 39th Division)7th Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers (August 1914 – November 1916, absorbed by the 6th Battalion)6th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers (August 1914 – May 1918, transferred to the 66th Division)7th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers (August 1914 – April 1918, reduced to cadre and transferred to the 16th Division)1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment (November 1916 – October 1918)38th Dogras (April–October 1918)46th Punjabis (May–October 1918)1st Battalion, Kashmir Rifles (April–October 1918)31st Brigade 5th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (August 1914 – May 1918, transferred to the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division)6th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (August 1914 – May 1918, transferred to the 14th Division)5th Battalion, Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers) (August 1914 – April 1918, transferred to the 14th (Light) Division)6th Battalion, Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers) (August 1914 – November 1916, absorbed by the 5th Battalion)2nd Battalion, Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers) (November 1916 – October 1918)2nd Battalion, 42nd Deoli Regiment (July–October 1918)74th Punjabis (April – October 1918)2nd Battalion, 101st Grenadiers (May–October 1918)38th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (attached 11 June – 17 July 1918, then transferred to the 60th (2/2nd London) Division)Pioneers 5th Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment (June 1915 – April 1918, transferred to the 52nd Division)2nd Battalion, 155th Pioneers (from July 1918)Battles and engagements
Gallipoli Campaign
The landing at Suvla.Battle of Sari Bair.Capture of Chocolate Hill.Hill 60.Salonika Front
Battle of Kosturino.Retreat from Serbia.Capture of the Karajokois.Capture of Yenikoi.Sinai and Palestine Campaign
Third Battle of Gaza.Capture of the Sheria Position.Capture of Jersusalem.Defence of Jerusalem.Tell 'Asure.Battle of Nablus.General Officers Commanding
Commanders included:
August 1914 – November 1915 Lieutenant-General Sir Bryan MahonDecember 1915 – June 1919 Major-General Sir John LongleyJune 1919 – 1921 Major-General Sir George GorringeIrish National War Memorial Gardens Dublin.Island of Ireland Peace Park Messines, Belgium.Menin Gate Memorial Ypres, Belgium.Ulster Tower Memorial Thiepval, France.
