The 21st Division was an infantry division of the British Army during World War I, raised in September 1914 by men volunteering for Lord Kitchener's New Armies. The division moved to France in September 1915 and served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War. The divisional insignia was the "triple-seven".
21st Division | |
---|---|
Active | September 1914 – May 1919 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Engagements |
The Division was the first of the six created for the Third New Army on 13 September 1914. It moved to France in September 1915. It took part in the Battle of Loos in September 1915, the Battle of the Somme in autumn 1916, the Battle of Arras in April 1917, the Battle of Passchendaele in autumn 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.[1] The division suffered 55,581 killed, wounded and missing, being the highest number of casualties suffered by any New Army division.[1] The Division ceased to exist on 19 May 1919.[2]
The following units served with the division:[2]
In July 1916 the brigade moved to the 37th Division, swapping with the 110th Brigade.
110th Brigade (the Leicester Tigers)
In July 1916 the brigade joined from the 37th Division, swapping with the 63rd Brigade. Brigadier-General (temporary) Edward Loch took command on 22 July 1917.
Divisional Troops
During its existence, 21st Division had the following commanders:[3]