November 2005

 

THE 14th (Light)

We all know that Kitchener's New Army was originally to consist of six divisions. It is less certain whether this was because there were six divisions in the BEF or because there were that number of Home Commands, but in fact each of those Commands was ordered to form a division. Five did so with battalions of regiments recruiting in their areas. The civilian population of Aldershot Command, however, was nowhere near large enough to find a division so it was decided that its division would consist of battalions of the English rifle and light infantry regiments.

These regiments considered themselves a cut above the rest but whilst it is true that they had been formed as elite troops in the distant past, by 1914 the only differences between them and the other regiments were dress distinctions and different drill. The rifle regiments had black buttons, for example, and they and the light infantry marched at a faster pace (but not when going towards the front according to old soldiers!).

As the 7th Division was being formed from regulars brought home from overseas, the Light Division was numbered the 8th. Almost at once it was found possible to form another regular division and it was decreed that it would be the 8th and that the Light Division would be given the next available number which was fourteen. Thus instead of being the senior New Army division, it became the junior of the First New Army.

The 14th (Light) Division moved into billets in the Guildford area where its training was accompanied amid the chaos associated with the raising of the New Armies. In February 1915 it returned to Aldershot to complete its training after which it joined the BEF. It completed its concentration there by 25 May.

After the usual familiarisation with trench warfare, the division took over the Hooge sector. At the end of July (1915) the enemy launched a heavy attack on it during which flamethrowers were used against British troops for the first time. It was a harsh introduction to modem war. The division took part in many of the big attacks on the Western Front, including the historic first tank attack at Flers.

The 14th suffered such heavy casualties during the German Spring Offensive that, apart from the artillery, it was withdrawn from the line and became non-operational, It returned to the UK where it was reconstituted with different battalions of men in medical category B1 -fit for garrison duties overseas, until then in the back areas.  The 14th Division -no longer (Ught)-returned to France in July 1918. Reconstituted or 'B' divisions were intended for trench holding only but the 14th in fact took part in the final British advance in Flanders.

ORBAT1914:

KRRC= King's Royal Rifle Corps; RB= Rifle Brigade; 0&BLI=Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry; KSLI= King's Shropshire Light Infantry; Som Ll= Somerset Light Infantry; DCLI= Duke of Comwalls Light Infantry; KOYLI= King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry; DLI= Durham Light Infantry, Sco Rif= The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). Those marked * until March 1918. 41 st Bde - 7 *and 8 KRRC, 7 and 8 RB 42nd Bde -5 O&BLI, 5 KSLI* 9 KRRC, 9 RB 43rd Bde - 6 Som LI, 6 DCLI* 6 KOYLI* 0 DLI* from March 1918 6 Som LI, 9 Sco Rif, 7KRRC.

ORBATJune-1918: 41st Bde - 18 York & Lancaster, 29 Durham Light Infantry 33 London (RB) 42nd Bde- 6 (Wilts Yeo) Wiltshire, 16 Manchester, 14 Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders. 43rd Bde -12 Suffolk, 20 Middlesex, 10 Highland Light Infantry.

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE THE MORE THEY STAY-THE SAME

By J.Lethbridge

A recent speaker talking about First World War military executions said that there had been massive social changes since that war. This is true but some things remain much the same. The following letter appeared in the Birmingham Post on 13 July 1917.

Sir,

The majority of the rising generation appears to consider itself beyond law and order. This unruly spirit has been growing for years but since the war began it has increased to an extent that should alarm those truly interested in the training of children.

The stone throwing nuisance has become a positive danger, the average boy cannot take a walk without hurling stones - at windows, at people to whom he takes a dislike, at animals grazing in the fields-and he will climb walls in search of prey. It is the age of the bully. He or she roams with a following of younger children who applaud him or her for prowess in fence breaking, devastation of garden and torment. The feminine bully has not yet taken to stone throwing but for the rest she can rival the masculine type.

The idea of a holiday ramble seems to be to annoy as many creatures as possible. A great diversion is to run against people on their scooters and if they succeed in knocking them down this is indeed a feat. When expostulated with their answer and their sauce is acclaimed by a paean from their companions...

The custom of fence breaking to rob gardens which is the bane of our suburbs has led to the more serious evil of house breaking. Many cases of juvenile housebreaking are reported but many more occur. Now that service is so restricted doors are often left unlocked that members of the family can enter without ringing. Twice this year boys have been found in the hall of this house once with the excuse of collecting for a mission (they did not stay to explain which); the second time the reason given for the intrusion was that they were 'looking for Mrs Battle who lives on the road". No further search was made for her and the boys fled as rapidly as the 'collectors' on the previous occasion...

The children's court has no power over young offenders. When it is mentioned they cry 'Who cares for those old softies?" and 'they dursn't (dare not) touch us'. Their contempt of court is no vain boast for they may be seen putting their thumbs to their noses and their tongues out when dismissed by the magistrates, and heard deriding the police when leaving the precincts. The evil of this leniency is that the children are losing respect for the police. A bully has no appreciation of kindness. He regards it as a confession of weakness and when he is let off lightly by the magistrates he counts it as a triumph over the policeman who charged him.

 

Yes this letter dates from 1917 not from 2005. Similar complaints have been made since history began and probably since prehistoric man first evolved. There are times when juvenile crime rises and legal measures need to be taken against the more blatant examples. But please remember the old saying: "Do not worry about what the younger generation will do when they grow up. They will spend their time worrying about the younger generation'.

BOOK OF THE MONTH: A History of the Great War 1914-18 (List number 9) one of the best general histories of the war, by CR Crutwell, a former Royal Warwickshire officer. It has never been seriously faulted. May I draw your attention to two excellent books in Sutton Library -Ypres, The First Battle 1914 by lan Beckett and Diary of an Old Contemptible - From Mons to Baghdad by Edward Roe, edited by Peter Downham: Bob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bulletin of the Birmingham Branch of the WFA

Compiled by Bob Butcher