Country United Kingdom Type Infantry | Branch British Army | |
Active November 1916 - April 1918 Role Home Defence and training Notable
commanders Major-General Hon. C.E. Bingham
Major-General H.G. Ruggles-Brise | ||
73rd Division was a short-lived infantry division of the British Army during World War I. It served in Home Forces and never went overseas.
Contents
Home Service
On the outbreak of World War I the Territorial Force (TF) immediately mobilised for home defence, but shortly afterwards (31 August 1914), its units were authorised to raise 2nd battalions formed from those men who had not volunteered for, or were not fit for, overseas service, together with new volunteers, while the 1st Line went overseas to supplement the Regulars. Early in 1915 the 2nd Line TF battalions were also raised to full strength to form new divisions, and began to form Reserve (3rd Line) units to supply drafts. The remaining Home Service men were separated out in May 1915 to form brigades of Coast Defence Battalions (termed Provisional Battalions from June 1915).
9th Provisional Brigade
9th Provisional Brigade was formed in East Kent mainly from details of local units and infantry from Lancashire. It had the following composition:
A number of men on the strength of these units were absent on civil employment such as munitions work.
In the autumn of 1915 the brigade was under the command of 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division in Second Army of Central Force. By July 1916 the brigade was under the control of Southern Army of Home Forces, with its battalions billeted as follows:
73rd Division formed
Late in 1916 the War Office decided to form three new home-service divisions; 73rd was the last of these, assembling at Blackpool in November. The division was based on 9th Provisional Bde, which moved from Margate and provided four infantry battalions and many of the support units. (On 1 January 1917 these all received new designations and numbers.) In addition, 189th (2/1st Yorkshire and Durham) Brigade, left over after the earlier disbandment of 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division, provided other components. Personnel to help form the other five artillery batteries were transferred from other home service divisions. The rest of the division was composed of new units.
After assembling in Lancashire, 73rd Division moved in early January 1917 to join Southern Army of Home Forces, stationed in Essex and Hertfordshire, with the following composition: Divisions Headquarter in Chelmsford.
218th Brigade
218 Brigade was drawn from 9th Provisional Bde:
Brigadier-General W.M. Withycombe (17 March–10 July 1917)
Brigadier-General A. Martyn (10 July 1917–31 January 1918)
The units of 218 Bde were stationed at Witham, Terling and Kelvedon.
219th Brigade
219 Brigade was newly formed:
Brigadier-General F.L. Bandon (7 September 1917–22 February 1918)
The units of 219 Bde were stationed at Danbury and Maldon, later moving to Southend.
220th Brigade
220 Brigade was formed from 189th (2/1st Yorkshire and Durham) Bde:
The units of 220 Bde were stationed at Chelmsford, Widford and Arbour Lane.
Divisional mounted troops
The mounted troops were stationed at Wickford and Southminster.
Royal Artillery
W.A. Robinson (12 March–19 November 1917)
L.A.C. Gordon (19 November 1917–4 February 1918)
Royal Engineers
The field companies were stationed at Witham and Chelsmford, and the signal company at Hitchin..
Medical services
Transport
Training
The Military Service Act 1916 swept away the Home/Foreign service distinction, and all TF soldiers became liable for overseas service, if medically fit. Henceforth part of the role of the Home Service divisions was physical conditioning to render men fit for drafting overseas, alongside units of the Training Reserve. 'Graduated Battalions' of the Training Reserve were organised in four companies according to age, from 18 to 19 years. Recruits progressed from one to another company after three months, so that every three months there was a company of trained 19-year-old men available for drafting overseas. In July 1917 it was decided that the Graduated Battalions could serve in a Home Defence role while completing their training. Between July and September 1917, four Graduated Battalions joined 73rd Division, and in October these were affiliated to line regiments and adopted territorial designations.
Disbandment
Towards the end of 1917 the War Office decided to break up the three home service divisions, and on 22 December 1917 the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, was ordered to break up the division as soon as possible. Three battalions left in January, the artillery was broken up in February, and the division ceased to exist on 8 April 1918. Only the divisional engineers remained, and on 22 June 1918 the HQ and field companies went to France for active service on the Western Front.
The 73rd Division title has never been reactivated.
General Officer Commanding
General Staff Officer
Lieutenant-Colonel E.B.C. Boddam (1 November 1916–12 January 1917) Lieutenant-Colonel C.M. Davies (16 January–31 December 1917)
Assistant-Adjutant and Quartermaster-General
Colonel C.L. Macnab (1 November 1916–17 April 1917) Lt-Col F.C. Dundas (24 April 1917–1 March 1918)