Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
Adjutant’s Notebook: What Is A Division?
In a new Podcast Series we use the Adjutant’s Notebook to look at different aspects of First World War history. In this episode we examine the cornerstone of the British Army in the Great War – the Division. These self-contained units of nearly 20,000 men fought the battles and held in the line, and by 1918 there were more than seventy of them.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Chris Baker’s Long, Long Trail website: British Divisions in WW1.
SELECTED DIVISIONAL MEMORIALS:
15 Comments on “Adjutant’s Notebook: What Is A Division?”
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Really enjoyed this one, Paul. Very interesting. Thanks very much.
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Thank you, Wayne.
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Paul, really good episode (as ever!). One comment you made pricked my imagination. For a long time I’ve been trying to track down a Croix de Guerre citation for an RFC pilot. I’ve been to Kew to check and I know it isn’t mentioned in the unit war diary and I know it isn’t mentioned in RFC Pt 1 orders. You mentioned citations showing up in DAQMG’s war diaries? Do you think I could get something from there?
Thanks
Niall
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It’s possible but the AQMG diaries are largely at Division level and as such wouldn’t have RFC recommendations in them unfortunately.
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OK thanks, it’s just I’m amazed that a CdG avec palme citation can’t be found anywhere, it seems like a big deal to me. I’ve been looking for years on and off!
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One area which shows how soldiers had a “Divisional Identity” are the Divisional Christmas cards. I have no idea whether every Division had them but they seem to have been quite common, especially later in the war, and are an interesting and varied (and relatively cheap) area of Great War memorabilia to collect.
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Yes, that’s a very good point Graham – and perhaps worthy of its own podcast!
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Thanks Paul.
Filled in a couple of gaps!
One question…what was the structure of a Brigade LTMB ? 4 sections with 4 mortars? How many men in each?
Or is there a reference book?
Sorry for – pardon the pun – bombarding you !
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There’s going to be one on Trench Mortars soon!
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I’m going to need to relisten to this podcast a few times I think.. So much information to absorb, but definitely something I want to take in.
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Thank you, David!
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An excellent account of divisional organisation in the Great War. A good reading list too. For the early period I would also recommend Bruce Gudmundsson’s The British Expeditionary Force 1914-15 in the Osprey Battle Orders series.
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Thanks, Stephen. Good call on that book, too!
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Great episode Paul, perhaps an Adjutant’s Notebook episode on the various entities comprising the British Army–territorials, pals, regular Army, etc. The many different regiment names and what they mean is daunting to this American. Thanks as always!
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Good idea, Andrew – and yes that’s the plan!
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