Из Википедии, бесплатной энциклопедии
Перейти к навигации Перейти к поиску

Третья конная дивизия была Yeomanry дивизия в британской армии активной во время Первой мировой войны . Она была сформирована 6 марта 1915 года как 2/2-я конная дивизия , заменяющая / складская формация для 2-й конной дивизии, которая отправлялась за границу на действительную службу. В марте 1916 г. она была переименована в 3-ю конную дивизию, а в июле 1916 г. - в 1-ю конную дивизию . В сентябре 1917 года подразделение было реорганизовано в подразделение велосипедистов и переименовано в подразделение велосипедистов . Он оставался в Соединенном Королевстве на протяжении всей войны и был распущен в июне 1919 года.

История [ править ]

2-я конная дивизия [ править ]

В соответствии с Законом о территориальных и резервных силах 1907 года ( 7 Edw. 7 , c.9 ), на основании которого возникли территориальные силы , ФТ должна была стать силами внутренней обороны для службы в военное время, и ее нельзя было принуждать к службе. за пределами страны. Однако с началом войны 4 августа 1914 года многие члены ушли добровольцами на имперскую службу . Поэтому подразделения TF были разделены на подразделения 1-й линии (ответственные за услуги за границей) и подразделения 2-й линии (домашние услуги для тех, кто не может или не желает служить за границей). [1] Подразделения 2-й линии выполняли роль обороны дома, хотя на самом деле большинство из них со временем были отправлены за границу. [2] Точно так же существующие довоенные формирования ( бригады и дивизии ) формировали дубликаты 2-й линии с той же структурой, что и их родительская 1-я линия. [3]

2 сентября 1914 года 2-я конная дивизия была сформирована в районе Чёрн в Беркшире [4] с 1- й конной бригадой Южного Мидленда , 2-й Южно-Мидлендской , Ноттингемширской и Дербиширской и Лондонской конными бригадами . В ноябре 1914 года дивизия перебралась в Норфолк для выполнения обязанностей береговой обороны, а в марте 1915 года дивизия была предупреждена о службе за границей. [5]

Следовательно, 2/2-я конная дивизия была сформирована 6 марта 1915 года, чтобы заменить 2-ю конную дивизию, и взяла на себя роль обороны дома по охране побережья Норфолка от возможного вторжения. [6] В его состав входили соединения 2-й линии всех подразделений 2-й конной дивизии, т. Е. 2/1-й Южный Мидленд , 2/2-й Южный Мидленд , 2/1-й Ноттингемшир и Дербишир и 2/1-й лондонский конный бригад . [7]

Each 2nd Line unit formed at their original depots and were scattered across London and the Midlands. They had to assemble on the East Coast to form the division. Once assembled, divisional headquarters was at King's Lynn and the brigades at Narborough, Hunstanton, King's Lynn, and Aylsham. Once assembled, it was assigned to the First Army (Home Forces) and was responsible for the defence of the East Coast. In common with the other 2nd Line divisions, the division experienced considerable problems with regard to equipment. Although relatively strong in manpower (the yeomanry regiments had between 410 and 498 men, three of the Royal Horse Artillery batteries averaged over 200, one only had 91), the division was short of horses (one regiment had just 5, another 99), rifles (the most that any regiment had was 206), and other equipment.[6]

At first, rather than growing in size, the division shrunk as men were drafted off to active units overseas. The division also suffered lack of equipment; the artillery batteries were issued with the older 15 pounder Breech Loading Converted rather than the 15 pounder Quick Firing gun that was the standard weapon of first line TF RHA units. There was also a lack of Lee–Enfield rifles, and some soldiers had Japanese-made carbines instead.[6]

3rd Mounted Division[edit]

On 20 March 1916, the 2/2nd Mounted Division was renumbered as the 3rd Mounted Division[6] on the same date that the 4th Mounted Division was formed.[8] The brigades were numbered on 31 March;[3] the division now commanded the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Mounted Brigades and the other support units (signals, medical, supply) were numbered accordingly.[7]

1st Mounted Division[edit]

In July 1916 there was a major reorganization of 2nd Line yeomanry units in the United Kingdom. All but 12 regiments were converted to cyclists:[3] the rest were dismounted, handed over their horses to the remount depots and were issued with bicycles.[a] The 1st Mounted Division was converted to 1st Cyclist Division[12] and the 4th Mounted Division to 2nd Cyclist Division.[13] At the same time, the 3rd Mounted Division was renumbered as the 1st Mounted Division as it was the only remaining mounted division: the other mounted division, 2nd Mounted Division, had been broken up in Egypt on 21 January 1916.[14] At this time the division was reorganized. It now consisted of three mounted brigades (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) and a cyclist brigade (9th)[15] and once again the support units were renumbered.[7]

At this time, the division was assigned to General Reserve, Home Defence Troops. The headquarters was at Brentwood, Essex along with two of the mounted brigades; the third was near Maidstone, and the cyclist brigade at Bridge, Bishopsbourne, and Bekesbourne (all in Kent). In October, the brigade at Maidstone moved to West Malling and the cyclists were concentrated at Bridge. In November, the cyclist brigade was renumbered as the 5th Cyclist Brigade.[6][b]

In May 1917, divisional headquarters moved to Sevenoaks and the brigades were at Brentwood, West Malling, Sevenoaks and Bridge (the cyclist brigade).[24]

The Cyclist Division[edit]

In mid August 1917, the division was issued with bicycles; from now on it would be the training and draft-finding formation for overseas cyclist units and the Army Cyclist Corps. All trained cavalrymen were transferred to the Reserve Cavalry Regiments. On 4 September 1917 the division was renamed again, this time as The Cyclist Division and the mounted brigades redesignated as the 11th, 12th and 13th Cyclist Brigades.[24] The 5th Cyclist brigade became independent, but rejoined the division in December when the 13th Cyclist Brigade was broken up.[18]

In March 1918, the headquarters and two of the brigades were at Canterbury and the other at Littlebourne, Ash, and Wingham as part of the Independent Force, Home Defence Troops. By the end of the war in November 1918, the division was concentrated at Canterbury.[24]

Disbandment of the division started in March 1919 and was complete by June. Throughout its existence, from March 1915, the division remained in the England on Home Defence duties.[24]

Orders of battle[edit]

Commanders[edit]

The 2/2nd Mounted Division / 3rd Mounted Division / 1st Mounted Division / The Cyclist Division had the following commanders:[36]

See also[edit]

  • List of British divisions in World War I
  • British yeomanry during the First World War
  • Second line yeomanry regiments of the British Army

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Nine of these regiments remained with the division – 2/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry, 2/1st Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, 2/1st Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars, 2/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry, 2/1st Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry, 2/1st Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry, 2/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, 2/1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, and 2/1st Essex Yeomanry.[7] Three more regiments were employed as divisional cavalry – 2/1st Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry,[9] 2/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry,[10] and 2/1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry.[11]
  2. ^ 1st – 8th Cyclist Brigades of the 1st and 2nd Cyclist Divisions were reorganized as the 1st – 4th Cyclist Brigades when their divisions were broken up in November 1916.[16][17] Higher numbered cyclist brigades (9th – 14th) were subsequently renumbered as the 5th – 10th Cyclist Brigades.[18][19][20][21][22][23]
  3. ^ Although Becke shows this unit as 'Huntingdonshire', this is clearly an error for 'Hampshire'.
  4. ^ Brigadier-General J.F. Burn-Murdoch simultaneously commanded the 2/1st Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade until 14 April 1916.[37]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rinaldi 2008, p. 35
  2. ^ Baker, Chris. "Was my soldier in the Territorial Force (TF)?". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h James 1978, p. 36
  4. ^ Rinaldi 2008, p. 36
  5. ^ Becke 1936, p. 16
  6. ^ a b c d e Becke 1936, p. 25
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Becke 1936, p. 22
  8. ^ Becke 1936, p. 30
  9. ^ a b James 1978, p. 19
  10. ^ James 1978, p. 16
  11. ^ James 1978, p. 25
  12. ^ a b Becke 1936, p. 3
  13. ^ Becke 1936, p. 27
  14. ^ Becke 1936, p. 17
  15. ^ a b c d Becke 1936, p. 24
  16. ^ a b Becke 1936, p. 6
  17. ^ a b c Becke 1936, p. 29
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i Becke 1936, p. 23
  19. ^ James 1978, pp. 17,27
  20. ^ James 1978, pp. 31,32
  21. ^ James 1978, p. 27
  22. ^ James 1978, pp. 16,21,24
  23. ^ James 1978, pp. 21,22,30
  24. ^ a b c d Becke 1936, p. 26
  25. ^ a b Becke 1936, pp. 22–23
  26. ^ Becke 1936, p. 5
  27. ^ James 1978, pp. 17–18
  28. ^ James 1978, pp. 24–25
  29. ^ Becke 1936, p. 28
  30. ^ James 1978, p. 21
  31. ^ James 1978, p. 26
  32. ^ James 1978, p. 18
  33. ^ James 1978, p. 23
  34. ^ RE Museum list of WWI unit war diaries.
  35. ^ Watson & Rinaldi, p. 63.
  36. ^ Becke 1936, p. 19
  37. ^ Becke 1936, p. 20

Bibliography[edit]

  • Becke, Major A.F. (1936). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56). London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-12-4.
  • James, Brigadier E.A. (1978). British Regiments 1914–18. London: Samson Books Limited. ISBN 0-906304-03-2.
  • Rinaldi, Richard A (2008). Order of Battle of the British Army 1914. Ravi Rikhye. ISBN 978-0-97760728-0.
  • Graham E. Watson & Richard A. Rinaldi, The Corps of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889–2018, Tiger Lily Books, 2018, ISBN 978-171790180-4.