Order of battle for the Battle of the Somme

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Main article: Battle of the Somme
Battle of the Somme
Part of the Western Front of the First World War

Battle of the Somme 1 July – 18 November 1916.
Date1 July – 18 November 1916
Location
Somme river, north-central Somme and south-eastern Pas-de-Calais départements, France
50°1′N 2°41′E / 50.017°N 2.683°E / 50.017; 2.683
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents

 British Empire

 France

 German Empire

Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Douglas Haig
French Third Republic Ferdinand Foch
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Henry Rawlinson
French Third Republic Émile Fayolle
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Hubert Gough
French Third Republic Joseph Alfred Micheler		 German Empire Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria
German Empire Max von Gallwitz
German Empire Fritz von Below
Strength
13 British, 11 French divisions 1 July
51 British, 48 French divisions July–November		 10+1⁄2 divisions 1 July
50 divisions July–November
Casualties and losses
623,907 c. 237,000–500,000

This is the order of battle for the Battle of the Somme. The Battle of the Somme was an offensive fought on the Western Front during World War I from 1 July to 18 November 1916 as one of the greatest engagements of the war. It was fought between French, British and Dominion forces and the German Empire in the Somme River valley and vicinity in northern France.

Background[edit]

British and Dominion forces[edit]

In typical British county regiments, the 1st and 2nd Battalions were regular army, the 3rd was the special reserve battalion which did not normally serve overseas but remained at home as the regimental depot and training unit, from which replacements were sent to the regular battalions. The 4th, 5th and 6th Battalions were normally Territorial Force battalions. Amongst the terms of service in the Territorial Force, service outside the United Kingdom was voluntary. Territorial battalions raised second line battalions which would be numbered 2/4th, 2/5th and 2/6th, initially from men who declined to volunteer for overseas service. The number of battalions depended on the recruitment potential of the area from which the battalions were raised (the Dorsetshire Regiment raised eleven battalions, whilst the London Regiment managed to raise eighty-eight battalions).[1] Regular army divisions were numbered 1st to 8th. "New Army" divisions of Kitchener's Army raised after the outbreak of war were numbered 9th to 26th. The 27th to 29th Divisions were Regular army divisions made up from units recalled from garrisons around the empire. The 30th to 41st were New Army and the 42nd to 74th were Territorial. The 63rd Division (Royal Naval Division) was made up from Naval Reserves and did not follow this numbering pattern.[2]

Army and Corps organisation[edit]

Army[edit]

Corps[edit]

French Sixth Army, which contained British or Dominion forces:

Formations per battle[edit]

Refer following section titled "Divisions" for brigades, regiments and battalions associated with each division participating in the listed battles. Battle nomenclature and participating units information taken from source British Army Council Command Notice 1138 unless stated.[17]

Colour coding for division type
Regular Army and Naval divisions New Army divisions recruited under Kitchener Recruitment Plan Territorial divisions Dominion divisions

Battle of Albert: 1–13 July[edit]

Organization of the Fourth Army on the First day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916
Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army III Corps 1st Division
8th Division
12th Division
19th Division
34th Division
VIII Corps 4th Division
29th Division
31st Division
48th Division
X Corps 23rd Division
25th Division
32nd Division
36th Division
49th Division
XIII Corps 3rd Division
9th Division
18th Division
30th Division
35th Division
XV Corps 7th Division
17th Division
21st Division
33rd Division
38th Division
Reserve Army The Reserve Army took over the VIII and X Corps
from the Fourth Army on 4 July 1916[5]
Subsidiary Attack on the Gommecourt Salient: 1 July[edit]
Army Corps Divisions
Third Army VII Corps 37th Division
46th Division
56th Division

Battle of Bazentin Ridge: 14–17 July[edit]

Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army Army Troops 2nd Indian Cavalry Division
II Corps 1st Division
23rd Division
34th Division[Note 1]
XIII Corps 3rd Division
9th Division
18th Division
XV Corps 7th Division
21st Division
33rd Division
Reserve Army X Corps 25th Division
32nd Division
48th Division
49th Division
Subsidiary Attack at Fromelles: 19 July[edit]
Army Corps Divisions
First Army XI Corps 61st Division
5th Australian Division
Subsidiary Attacks on High Wood: 20–25 July[edit]
Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army III Corps 19th Division
XV Corps 5th Division
7th Division
33rd Division
51st Division

Battle of Delville Wood: 15 July – 3 September[edit]

Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army XIII Corps 2nd Division
3rd Division
9th Division
18th (Eastern) Division
24th Division
53rd Bde, 18th Division
XIV Corps 20th Division
24th Division
XV Corps 7th Division
14th Division

Battle of Pozières: 23 July – 3 September[edit]

Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army III Corps 1st Division
15th Division
19th Division
23rd Division
34th Division
Reserve Army II Corps 12th Division
25th Division
48th Division
49th Division
1 ANZAC Corps 1st Australian Division
2nd Australian Division
4th Australian Division

Battle of Guillemont: 3–6 September[edit]

Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army XIV Corps 5th Division
16th Division
20th Division
XV Corps 7th Division
24th Division
55th Division

Battle of Ginchy: 9 September[edit]

Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army XIV Corps 16th Division
56th Division
XV Corps 55th Division

Battle of Flers-Courcelette: 15–22 September[edit]

Canadian soldiers going over the top
Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army Army Troops 1st Cavalry Division
2nd Indian Cavalry Division
III Corps 1st Division
15th Division
23rd Division
47th Division
50th Division
103rd Bde, 34th Division
XIV Corps Guards Division
5th Division
6th Division
20th Division
56th Division
XV Corps 14th Division
21st Division
41st Division
55th Division
New Zealand Division
Reserve Army II Corps 11th Division
49th Division
Canadian Corps 1st Canadian Division
2nd Canadian Division
3rd Canadian Division

Battle of Morval: 25–28 September[edit]

Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army III Corps 1st Division
23rd Division
50th Division
XIV Corps Guards Division
5th Division
6th Division
20th Division
56th Division
XV Corps 21st Division
55th Division
New Zealand Division

Battle of Thiepval: 26–28 September[edit]

Army Corps Divisions
Reserve Army II Corps 11th Division
18th Division
V Corps 39th Division
Canadian Corps 1st Canadian Division
2nd Canadian Division
3rd Canadian Division

Battle of Le Transloy: 1–18 October[edit]

Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army III Corps 9th Division
15th Division
23rd Division
47th Division
50th Division
XIV Corps 4th Division
6th Division
20th Division
56th Division
XV Corps 12th Division
21st Division
30th Division
41st Division
New Zealand Division
88th Bde of 29th Division
Reserve Army Canadian Corps 1st Canadian Division
2nd Canadian Division
3rd Canadian Division
4th Canadian Division

Battle of the Ancre Heights: 1–18 October[edit]

Army Corps Divisions
Reserve Army II Corps 18th Division
19th Division
25th Division
39th Division
4th Canadian Division
V Corps 39th Division

Battle of the Ancre: 13–16 November[edit]

Army Corps Divisions
Fourth Army III Corps 48th Division
Fifth Army II Corps 18th Division
19th Division
39th Division
4th Canadian Division
V Corps 2nd Division
3rd Division
32nd Division
37th Division
51st Division
63rd Naval Division
XIII Corps 31st Division
120th Bde, 40th Division

Divisions[edit]

Regular Army and Naval divisions[edit]

Guards Division Major-General Geoffrey Feilding[3]
1st Guards Brigade 2nd Guards Brigade 3rd Guards Brigade
2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards
3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards 1st Battalion, Scots Guards 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards
1st Battalion, Irish Guards 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
Pioneers 4th Battalion, Coldstream Guards
1st Division Major-General Peter Strickland[3]
1st Brigade 2nd Brigade 3rd Brigade
10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers
1st Battalion, Black Watch 1 Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
8th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment
1st Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers
Pioneers 1/6th Battalion, Welch Regiment
2nd Division Major General Cecil Pereira
5th Brigade 6th Brigade 99th Brigade
17th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 1st Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment 22nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
24th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment 23rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 13th Battalion, Essex Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment
2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry 17th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps
Pioneers 10th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
3rd Division Major-General Aylmer Haldane then Major-General Cyril Deverell[3]
8th Brigade 9th Brigade 76th Brigade
2nd Battalion, Royal Scots 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 8th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Regiment
8th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers 13th Battalion, King’s Regiment 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
7th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry 12th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
Pioneers 20th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
4th Division Major-General The Honourable William Lambton[3]
10th Brigade 11th Brigade 12th Brigade
1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Regiment
2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders 1st Battalion, East Lancashires 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment
2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment
Pioneers 21st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
5th Division Major-General Reginald Stephens[3]
13th Brigade 15th Brigade 95th Brigade
14th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1st Battalion, Devon Regiment
15th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers 1st Battalion, Bedford Regiment 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
Pioneers 1/6th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
6th Division Major-General Charles Ross[3]
16th Brigade 18th Brigade 71st Brigade
1st Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment
8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment 11th Battalion, Essex Regiment 9th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment
2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment 14th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
Pioneers 11th Royal Leicester Regiment
7th Division Major General Herbert Watts[3]
20th Brigade 22nd Brigade 91st Brigade
8th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Queen's
9th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
2nd Battalion, Border Regiment 2nd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers 21st Battalion, Manchester Regiment
2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders 20th Battalion, Manchester Regiment 22nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment
Pioneers 24th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
8th Division Major-General Havelock Hudson
23rd Brigade 24th Brigade 25th Brigade
2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment
2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Battalion, Scottish Rifles 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade
Pioneers 22nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
29th Division Major-General Henry de Lisle
86th Brigade 87th Brigade 88th Brigade
2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment
16th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Border Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment Dominion of Newfoundland
Pioneers 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
63rd (Royal Naval) Division [18] Major General George Forestier-Walker
188th (Royal Naval) Brigade 189th (Royal Naval) Brigade 190th Brigade
Anson Battalion Drake Battalion 1/1st Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company
Howe Battalion Hood Battalion 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
1st Royal Marine Battalion Nelson Battalion 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Royal Marine Battalion Hawke Battalion 10th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

New Army divisions[edit]

9th (Scottish) Division[19] Major-General William Furse[3]
26th Brigade United Kingdom 27th Brigade United Kingdom South African Brigade South Africa
8th Battalion, Black Watch 11th Battalion, Royal Scots 1st South African Battalion (Cape)
9th Battalion, Seaforth 12th Battalion, Royal Scots 2nd South African Battalion (Natal & OFS)
5th Battalion, Camerons 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers 3rd South African Battalion (Transvaal & Rhodesia)
10th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 9th Battalion, Scottish Rifles 4th South African Battalion (Scottish)
Pioneers 9th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
11th (Northern) Division United Kingdom Major-General Charles Woollcombe
32nd Brigade 33rd Brigade 34th Brigade
9th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment 8th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
6th Battalion, Green Howards 6th Battalion, Border Regiment 9th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
8th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment 5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
6th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment 9th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters 11th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
Pioneers 6th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
12th (Eastern) Division United Kingdom Major-General Arthur Scott
35th Brigade 36th Brigade 37th Brigade
7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 6th Battalion, Queen's Regiment
7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 6th Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
9th Battalion, Essex Regiment 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 7th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment 11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment
Pioneers 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
14th (Light) Division United Kingdom Major-General Victor Couper
41st Brigade 42nd Brigade 43rd Brigade
7th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Regt 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
8th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 5th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry 6th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Lt.Inf.
7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 9th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 6th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Lt.Inf.
8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 10th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
Pioneers 11th Battalion, King's Regiment
15th (Scottish) Division United Kingdom Major-General Frederick McCracken[3]
44th Brigade 45th Brigade 46th Brigade
9th Battalion, Black Watch 13th Battalion, Royal Scots 10th Battalion, Scottish Rifles
8th Battalion, Seaforth 6/7th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers 7/8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
10th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders 6th Battalion, Camerons 10/11th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
7th Battalion, Camerons 11th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 12/11th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Pioneers 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
16th (Irish) Division United Kingdom Major-General William Hickie
47th Brigade 48th Brigade 49th Brigade
6th Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles 7th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
6th Battalion, Connaught Rangers 1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers 8th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
7th Battalion, Leinster Regiment 8th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
8th Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers 9th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 8th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Pioneers 11th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
17th (Northern) Division United Kingdom Major-General Thomas Pilcher, since 13 July Major-General Philip Rynd Robertson
50th Brigade 51st Brigade 52nd Brigade
10th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment 9th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
7th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment 7th Battalion, Border Regiment 10th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
7th Battalion, Green Howards 8th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment
6th Battalion, Dorset Regiment 10th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters 12th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
Pioneers 7th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
18th (Eastern) Division United Kingdom Major General Ivor Maxse[20]
53rd Brigade 54th Brigade 55th Brigade
8th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 7th Battalion, Queen's Regiment
8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 7th Battalion, Bedford Regiment 7th Battalion, Buffs
10th Battalion, Essex Regiment 8th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
6th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment
Pioneers 8th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
19th (Western) Division United Kingdom Major-General Tom Bridges[3]
56th Brigade 57th Brigade 58th Brigade
7th Battalion, Kings Own 10th Battalion, Royal Warwick Regiment 9th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
7th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment 9th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
7th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 10th Battalion, Worcesters 9th Battalion, Welch Regiment
7th Battalion, North Lancashire Regiment 8th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment 6th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
Pioneers 5th Battalion, South Wales Border Regiment
20th (Light) Division United Kingdom Major-General William Douglas-Smith
59th Brigade 60th Brigade 61st Brigade
10th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 6th Battalion, Oxford & Buckinghamshire Lt. Regt 7th Battalion, Somerset Lt.Inf.
11th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 6th Battalion, King's Stropshire Lt. Inf. 7th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Lt.Inf.
10th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 12th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 7th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Lt.Inf.
11th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 12th Battalion, King's Regiment
Pioneers 11th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
21st Division United Kingdom Major-General David Campbell
62nd Brigade 63rd Brigade 64th Brigade
12th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment 9th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Lt.Inf.
13th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 8th Battalion, Somerset Lt. Inf. 10th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Lt.Inf.
1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment 12th Bn, Prince of Wales' Own West Yorkshires 14th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
10th Bn, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regt 10th Bn, York and Lancaster Regiment 15th Bn, Durham Light Infantry
Pioneers 14th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
110th Brigade The 110th Brigade replaced the 63rd Brigade in July 1916[21]
6th Bn, Leicestershire Regiment 7th Bn, Leicestershire Regiment 8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment
9th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment
23rd Division United Kingdom Major-General James Babington[3]
68th Brigade 69th Brigade 70th Brigade
10th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 11th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 11th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
11th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 8th Battalion, Green Howards 8th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
12th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry 9th Battalion, Green Howards 8th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry 10th Battalion, Duke of Wellington Regiment 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
Pioneers 9th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
24th Division United Kingdom Major-General John Capper
17th Brigade 72nd Brigade 73rd Brigade
8th Battalion, Buffs 8th Battalion, Queen's Regiment 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 9th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment 7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
12th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regt. 13th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regt. 2nd Battalion, Leinster Regiment
Pioneers 12th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
25th Division United Kingdom Major-General Guy Bainbridge[22]
7th Brigade 74th Brigade 75th Brigade
10th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 11th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
3rd Battalion, Worcester Regiment 13th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment 8th Battalion, Border Regiment
8th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 9th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment
1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles Regiment 8th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment
Pioneers 6th Battalion, South Wales Border Regiment
30th Division United Kingdom Brigadier-General Ferdinand Stanley[23]
21st Brigade 89th Brigade 90th Brigade
18th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment 17th Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment 16th Battalion (1st City) Manchester Regiment
19th Battalion (4th City) Manchester Regiment 19th Battalion, King's (Liverpool)Regiment 17th Battalion (2nd City) Manchester Regiment
2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales' Own Yorkshire Regt 20th Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment 18th Battalion (3rd City) Manchester Regiment
2nd Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's Wiltshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
Pioneers 11th Battalion (St.Helens Pioneers) Prince of Wales's Volunteers
31st Division United Kingdom Major-General Wanless O'Gowan
92nd Brigade 93rd Brigade 94th Brigade
10th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment 15th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 11th Battalion, East Lancaster Regiment
11th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment 16th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 12th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment
12th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment 18th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 13th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment
13th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment 18th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry 14th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment
Pioneers 12th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regiment
32nd Division United Kingdom Major-General Reginald Barnes
14th Brigade 96th Brigade 97th Brigade
19th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 16th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 11th Battalion, Border Regiment
1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment 15th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Inf.
2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment 16th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 16th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
15th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 17th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Pioneers 17th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
33rd Division United Kingdom Major-General Reginald Pinney
98th Brigade 100th Brigade 19th Brigade
4th Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment 1st Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 20th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
1/4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 16th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 1st Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
2nd Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 1/9th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry 1/5th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Pioneers 18th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
34th Division United Kingdom Major-General Edward Ingouville-Williams (killed) then Major-General Lothian Nicholson[3]
101st Brigade 102nd Tyneside Scottish Brigade 103rd Tyneside Irish Brigade
15th Battalion, Royal Scots 20th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 24th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
16th Battalion, Royal Scots 21st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 25th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
10th Battalion, Lincoln Regiment 22nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 26th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment[Note 2] 23rd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 27th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
Pioneers 18th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
35th Division United Kingdom Major-General Herman Landon
104th Brigade 105th Brigade 106th Brigade
17th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 15th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment 17th Battalion, Royal Scots Regiment
18th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 16th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment 17th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
20th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 14th Battalion, Gloster Regiment 19th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
23rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment 15th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters 18th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Pioneers 19th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
36th (Ulster) Division United Kingdom Major-General Oliver Nugent
107th Brigade 108th Brigade 109th Brigade
8th Bn, (East Belfast), Royal Irish Rifles 9th Bn, (Armagh, Cavan & Monaghan), Royal Irish Fusiliers 9th Bn, (County Tyrone), Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
9th Bn, (West Belfast), Royal Irish Rifles 11th Bn, (South Antrim), Royal Irish Rifles 10th Bn, (Derry), Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
10th Bn, (South Belfast), Royal Irish Rifles 12th Bn, (Central Antrim), Royal Irish Rifles 11th Bn, (Donegal and Fermanagh), Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
15th Bn, (North Belfast), Royal Irish Rifles 13th Bn, (1st Co. Down), Royal Irish Rifles 14th Bn, (Young Citizens Volunteers), Royal Irish Rifles
Pioneers 16th Bn, (2nd Co. Down), Royal Irish Rifles
37th Division United Kingdom Major General Lord Edward Gleichen
110th Brigade 111th Brigade 112th Brigade
6th Battalion, Leicester Regiment 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 11th Battalion, Royal Warwick Regiment
7th Battalion, Leicester Regiment 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 6th Battalion, Bedford Regiment
8th Battalion, Leicester Regiment 13th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 8th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
9th Battalion, Leicester Regiment 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 10th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Pioneers 9th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
38th (Welsh) Division United Kingdom Major-General Charles Blackader
113th Brigade 114th Brigade 115th Brigade
13th Bn, (1st North Wales), Royal Welch Fusiliers 10th Battalion (1st Rhondda), Welch Regiment 17th Bn, (2nd North Wales), Royal Welch Fusiliers
14th Bn, Royal Welch Fusiliers 13th Battalion (2nd Rhondda), Welch Regiment 10th Bn, (1st Gwent), South Wales Borderers
15th Bn, (1st London Welsh), Royal Welch Fusiliers 14th Battalion (Swansea), Welch Regiment 11th Bn, (2nd Gwent), South Wales Borderers
16th Bn, Royal Welch Fusiliers 15th Battalion (Carmarthenshire), Welch Regiment 16th Bn, (Cardiff City), Welch Regiment
Pioneers 19th Battalion (Glamorgan Pioneers), Welsh Regiment
39th Division United Kingdom Major General Gerald Cuthbert
116th Brigade 117th Brigade 118th Brigade
11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 16th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters 1/6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 17th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment
13th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 17th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment
14th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment 16th Battalion, Rifle Brigade 4/5th Battalion, Black Watch
Pioneers 13th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
41st Division United Kingdom Major-General Sydney Barlow-Lawford
122nd Brigade 123rd Brigade 124th Brigade
12th Bn, East Surrey Regiment[Note 3] 11th Bn, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt 10th Bn, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt
15th Bn, Hampshire Regiment[Note 4] 10th Bn, Royal West Kent Regiment[Note 5] 26th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
11th Bn, Royal West Kent Regiment[Note 6] 23rd Bn, Middlesex Regiment[Note 7] 32nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
18th Bn, King's Royal Rifle Corps[Note 8] 20th Bn, Durham Light Infantry[Note 9] 21st Bn, King's Royal Rifle Corps[Note 10]
Pioneers 19th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment[Note 11]

Territorial divisions[edit]

46th (North Midland) Division United Kingdom Major-General The Honourable Edward Montagu-Stuart-Wortley[3]
137th Brigade 138th Brigade 139th Brigade
1/5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment 1/4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment 1/5th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
1/6th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment 1/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment 1/6th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
1/5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment 1/4th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment 1/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
1/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment 1/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment 1/8th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
Pioneers 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
47th (1/2nd London) Division United Kingdom Major-General Sir Charles Barter (relieved) then Major-General George Gorringe[3]
140th Brigade 141st Brigade 142nd Brigade
1/6th Battalion, London Regiment[Note 12] 1/17th Battalion, London Regiment[Note 13] 1/21st Battalion, London Regiment[Note 14]
1/7th Battalion, London Regiment[Note 12] 1/18th Battalion, London Regiment[Note 15] 1/22nd Battalion, London Regiment[Note 16]
1/8th Battalion, London Regiment[Note 17] 1/19th Battalion, London Regiment[Note 18] 1/23rd Battalion, London Regiment
1/15th Battalion, London Regiment[Note 19] 1/20th Battalion, London Regiment[Note 20] 1/24th Battalion, London Regiment[Note 16]
Pioneers 1st Battalion, 4th Royal Welch Fusiliers
48th (South Midland) Division United Kingdom Major-General Robert Fanshawe
143rd Brigade (Warwickshire) 144th Brigade (Gloucester and Worcester) 145th Brigade (South Midland)
1/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1/4th (City of Bristol) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regt. 1/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regt
1/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1/6th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment 1/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Lt. Inf.
1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1/7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment 1/1st Battalionn, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Lt. Inf.
1/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1/8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment 1/4th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment
Pioneers 1/5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
49th (West Riding) Division United Kingdom Major-General Edward Perceval
146th Brigade 147th Brigade 148th Brigade
1/5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 1/4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1/4th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
1/6th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 1/5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1/5th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
1/7th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1/4th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regt.
1/8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 1/7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1/5th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regt.
Pioneers 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (replaced by 19th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers 6 August 1916)
50th (Northumbrian) Division United Kingdom Major-General Sir Percival Wilkinson
149th Brigade 150th Brigade 151st Brigade
1/4th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 1/4th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment 1/6th Battalion, Durham Lt Inf
1/5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 1/4th Bn, Green Howards 1/8th Battalion, Durham Lt Inf
1/6th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 1/5th Bn, Green Howards 1/9th Battalion, Durham Lt Inf
1/7th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 1/5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry 1/5th Battalion, Border Regiment
Pioneers 1/7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
51st (Highland) Division United Kingdom Major-General George Harper
152nd (1st Highland) Brigade 153rd (2nd Highland) Brigade 154th (3rd Highland) Brigade
1/5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders[Note 21] 1/6th Battalion, Black Watch 1/4th Bn, Seaforth Highlanders[Note 22]
1/6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders[Note 23] 1/7th Battalion, Black Watch[Note 24] 1/4th Bn, Gordon Highlanders
1/8th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders[Note 25] 1/5th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders[Note 26] 1/9th Bn, Royal Scots [Note 27]
1/6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders[Note 28] 1/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders[Note 29] 1/7th Bn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Pioneers
55th (West Lancashire) Division United Kingdom Major-General Hugh Jeudwine
164th (North Lancashire) Brigade 165th (Liverpool) Brigade 166th (South Lancashire) Brigade
1/4th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment 1/5th Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment 1/5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regt.
1/4th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 1/6th Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment 1/10th Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regt.
1/8th (Irish) Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment 1/7th Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment 1/5th Battalion, Prince of Wales's Volunteers
2/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 1/9th Battalion, King's (Liverpool) Regiment 1/5th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Pioneers 1/4th Battalion, Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment)
56th (1st London) Division United Kingdom Major-General Charles Hull
167th Brigade 168th Brigade 169th Brigade
1/1st Battalion, London Regiment 1/4th Battalion, London Regiment 1/2nd Battalion, London Regiment
1/3rd Battalion, London Regiment 1/12th (London Rangers) Battalion, London Regiment 1/5th (London Rifle Brigade) Battalion, London Regiment
1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 1/13th (Kensington) Battalion, London Regiment 1/9th (Queen's Victoria Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment
1/8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 1/14th (London Scottish) Battalion, London Regiment 1/16th (Queen's Westminster Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment
Pioneers 1/5th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment

Dominion divisions[edit]

2nd Indian Cavalry Division India Major-General Henry Macandrew
5th (Mhow) Cavalry Brigade 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade 9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade
6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons 13th Hussars 7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards
2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) 3rd Skinner's Horse 20th Deccan Horse
38th King George's Own Central India Horse 18th King George's Own Lancers 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse
Canadian Cavalry Brigade Canada (attached to 2nd Indian Cavalry Division)
Royal Canadian Dragoons Lord Strathcona's Horse Fort Garry Horse
Canadian Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron
New Zealand Division[Note 30]New Zealand Major-General Andrew Russell[3]
1st New Zealand Brigade 2nd New Zealand Brigade 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment 1st Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade
1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment 2nd Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade
1st Battalion, Otago Regiment 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment 3rd Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade
1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment 4th Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade
Pioneers New Zealand Pioneer Battalion
1st Canadian Division Canada Major General Arthur Currie[3]
1st Brigade 2nd Brigade 3rd Brigade
1st Battalion (Ontario) 5th Battalion (Western Cavalry) 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders)
2nd Battalion (East Ontario) 7th Battalion (1st British Columbia) 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal)
3rd Battalion (Toronto) 8th Battalion (90th Rifles) 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders)
4th Battalion 10th Battalion 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish)
Pioneers 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion
2nd Canadian Division Canada Major General Richard Turner[3]
4th Brigade 5th Brigade 6th Brigade
18th (West Ontario) Battalion 22nd (Canadien-Français) Battalion 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion
19th (Central Ontario) Battalion 24th (Victoria Rifles) Battalion 28th (North West) Battalion
20th (Central Ontario) Battalion 25th (Nova Scotia Rifles) Battalion 29th (Vancouver) Battalion
21st (Eastern Ontario) Battalion 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion 31st (Alberta) Battalion
Pioneers 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion
3rd Canadian Division Canada Major General Louis Lipsett
7th Brigade 8th Brigade 9th Brigade
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles 43rd (Cameron Highlanders) Battalion
Royal Canadian Regiment 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles 52nd (North Ontario) Battalion
42nd (Royal Highlanders) Battalion 4th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles 58th (Central Ontario) Battalion
49th (Edmonton) Battalion 5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles 60th (Victoria Rifles) Battalion
Pioneers 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion
4th Canadian Division Canada Major General Sir David Watson
10th Brigade 11th Brigade 12th Brigade
44th Battalion 54th (Kootenay) Battalion 38th (Ottawa) Battalion
46th (South Saskatchewan) Battalion 75th (Mississauga) Battalion 72nd (Seaforth Highlanders) Battalion
47th (British Columbia) Battalion 87th (Canadian Grenadier Guards) Battalion 73rd (Royal Highlanders) Battalion
50th (Calgary) Battalion 102nd Battalion 78th (Winnipeg Grenadiers) Battalion
Pioneers 67th Canadian Pioneer Battalion
1st Australian Division Australia Major General Harold Walker
1st (New South Wales) Brigade 2nd (Victoria) Brigade 3rd Brigade
1st Battalion 5th Battalion 9th (Queensland) Battalion
2nd Battalion 6th Battalion 10th (South Australia) Battalion
3rd Battalion 7th Battalion 11th (West Australia) Battalion
4th Battalion 8th Battalion 12th (Tasmania, S and W Australia) Battalion
Pioneers 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion
2nd Australian Division Australia Major General James Legge[3]
5th (New South Wales) Brigade 6th (Victoria) Brigade 7th Brigade
17th Battalion 21st Battalion 25th (Queensland) Battalion
18th Battalion 22nd Battalion 26th (Queensland & Tasmania) Battalion
19th Battalion 23rd Battalion 27th (South Australia) Battalion
20th Battalion 24th Battalion 28th (West Australia) Battalion
Pioneers 2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion
4th Australian Division Australia Major General Sir Herbert Cox[3]
4th Brigade 12th Brigade 13th Brigade
13th (New South Wales) Battalion 45th (New South Wales) Battalion 49th (Queensland) Battalion
14th (Victoria) Battalion 46th (Victoria) Battalion 50th (South Australia & Tasmania) Battalion
15th (Queensland & Tasmania) Battalion 47th (Queensland & Tasmania) Battalion 51st (West Australia) Battalion
16th (South & West Australia) Battalion 48th (South & West Australia) Battalion 52nd (West & South Australia, Tasmania) Battalion
Pioneers 4th Australian Pioneer Battalion
5th Australian Division Australia Major-General The Honourable James McCay[3]
8th Brigade 14th (New South Wales) Brigade 15th (Victoria) Brigade
29th (Victoria) Battalion 53rd Battalion 57th Battalion
30th (New South Wales) Battalion 54th Battalion 58th Battalion
31st (Queensland & Victoria) Battalion 55th Battalion 59th Battalion
32nd (South & West Australia) Battalion 56th Battalion 60th Battalion
Pioneers 5th Australian Pioneer Battalion

Royal Flying Corps[edit]

French forces[edit]

A majority of the French Divisions were triangular divisions – comprising three regiments, with each regiment containing three battalions. During the Battle of Verdun, General Pétain had rotated the French Divisions through the battle – resulting in a large number of divisions entering the Battle of the Somme with experience.

Army and corps organisation[edit]

List of Army/Corps/Divisions involved taken from Organigramme des Grandes Batailles.[24]

Army[edit]

Corps[edit]

(Note: A majority of the corps and divisions were transferred from other armies during the battle.)

Infantry divisions[edit]

  • 1st Infantry Division
  • 2nd Infantry Division
  • 3rd Infantry Division
  • 4th Infantry Division
  • 10th Infantry Division
  • 11th Infantry Division
  • 12th Infantry Division
  • 13th Infantry Division
  • 14th Infantry Division
  • 17th Infantry Division
  • 18th Infantry Division
  • 20th Infantry Division
  • 25th Infantry Division
  • 26th Infantry Division
  • 39th Infantry Division
  • 41st Infantry Division
  • 42nd Infantry Division
  • 43rd Infantry Division
  • 45th Infantry Division
  • 46th Infantry Division
  • 47th Infantry Division
  • 48th Infantry Division
  • 51st Infantry Division
  • 53rd Infantry Division
  • 56th Infantry Division
  • 61st Infantry Division
  • 62nd Infantry Division
  • 66th Infantry Division
  • 70th Infantry Division
  • 72nd Infantry Division
  • 77th Infantry Division
  • 120th Infantry Division
  • 121st Infantry Division
  • 125th Infantry Division
  • 127th Infantry Division
  • 132nd Infantry Division
  • 152nd Infantry Division
  • 153rd Infantry Division
  • Moroccan Infantry Division
  • 2nd Colonial Infantry Division
  • 3rd Colonial Infantry Division
  • 10th Colonial Infantry Division
  • 15th Colonial Infantry Division
  • 16th Colonial Infantry Division

Cavalry divisions[edit]

  • 1st Cavalry Division
  • 2nd Cavalry Division
  • 3rd Cavalry Division
  • 4th Cavalry Division

German: 2nd Army[edit]

German order of battle derived from Hart, Appendix C unless stated.
Commander: General der Infanterie Fritz von Below On 19 July, split into the 1st Army (opposite the British) and the 2nd Army, Commander: General der Artillerie Max von Gallwitz (opposite the French) with authority over the 1st Army as Armeegruppe Gallwitz-Somme, this was not an army group, the term for which was Heeresgruppe
Chief of the German General Staff: General der Infanterie Erich Falkenhayn (until 28 August 1916), Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg. German divisions were being converted from square to triangular, hence some had four infantry regiments, others had three.

Guards divisions[edit]

Guards Divisions
3rd Guards Infantry Division Guards Fusiliers Lehr Infantry Regiment Grenadier Regiment No. 9
4th Guards Infantry Division 5th Foot Guards 5th Guards Grenadiers 93rd Reserve Infantry Regiment

Line divisions[edit]

Line divisions
5th Division Grenadier Regiment 8 Grenadier Regiment No. 12 Regiment 52
6th Division Regiment 20 Regiment 24 Regiment 64
7th Division Regiment 26 Regiment 27 Regiment 165
8th Division Regiment 72 Regiment 93 Regiment 153
12th Division Regiment 23 (2nd Upper Silesian) Regiment 62 (3rd Upper Silesian) Regiment 63 (4th Upper Silesian)
16th Division Regiment 28 Regiment 29 Regiment 68 Regiment 69
24th Division Regiment 133 Regiment 139 Regiment 179
26th Division (Württemberg) Grenadier Regiment 119 Regiment 121 Regiment 125
27th Division Regiment 120 Grenadier Regiment 123 Regiment 124 Regiment 127
35th Division Regiment 141 Regiment 61 Regiment 176
38th Division Regiment 94 Regiment 95 Regiment 96
40th Division Regiment 104 Regiment 134 Regiment 181
52nd Division Regiment 66 (3rd Magdeburg) Regiment 169 (8th Baden) Regiment 170 (9th Baden)
56th Division Fusilier Regiment 35 Regiment 88 Regiment 118
58th Division Regiment 106 Regiment 107 Reserve Regiment 120
111th Division Fusilier Regiment 20 Regiment 76 Regiment 164
117th Division Regiment 157 Reserve Regiment 11 Reserve Regiment 22
121st Division Regiment 60 Reserve Regiment 7 Reserve Regiment 35
183rd Division Regiment 183 Regiment 184 Reserve Regiment 122
185th Division Regiment 185 Regiment 186 Regiment 190
208th Division Regiment 25 Regiment 185 Reserve Regiment 65
222nd Division Regiment 193 Regiment 397 Reserve Regiment 81
223rd Division Regiment 144 Regiment 173 Ersatz Regiment 29
2nd Bavarian Division Bavarian Regiment 12 Bavarian Regiment 15 Bavarian Regiment 20
3rd Bavarian Division Bavarian Regiment 17 Bavarian Regiment 18 Bavarian Regiment 23
4th Bavarian Division Bavarian Regiment 5 Bavarian Regiment 9 Bavarian Reserve Regiment 5
5th Bavarian Division Bavarian Regiment 7 Bavarian Regiment 14 Bavarian Regiment 19 Bavarian Regiment 21
6th Bavarian Division Bavarian Regiment 6 Bavarian Regiment 10 Bavarian Regiment 11 Bavarian Regiment 13
10th Bavarian Division[25] Bavarian Regiment 16 Bavarian Reserve Regiment 6 Bavarian Reserve Regiment 8
Marine Brigade Marine Regiment 1 Marine Regiment 2 Marine Regiment 3

Guards Reserve divisions[edit]

Guards Reserve divisions[26]
1st Guards Reserve Division Guards Reserve Regiment 1 Guards Reserve Regiment 2 Reserve Regiment 64
2nd Guards Reserve Division[25] Reserve Regiment 15 Reserve Regiment 55 Reserve Regiment 77 Reserve Regiment 91

Reserve Infantry divisions[edit]

Reserve Infantry Divisions[26]
7th Reserve Infantry Division Reserve Regiment 36 Reserve Regiment 66 Reserve Regiment 72
12th Reserve Infantry Division Reserve Regiment 23 Reserve Regiment 38 Reserve Regiment 51
17th Reserve Infantry Division Regiment 162 Regiment 163 Reserve Regiment 75 Reserve Regiment 76
18th Reserve Infantry Division Reserve Regiment 31 Reserve Regiment 84 Reserve Regiment 86
19th Reserve Infantry Division Reserve Regiment 73 Reserve Regiment 78 Reserve Regiment 79 Reserve Regiment 92
23rd Reserve Infantry Division Reserve Grenadier Regiment 101 Reserve Regiment 101 Reserve Regiment 102
24th Reserve Infantry Division Reserve Regiment 101 Reserve Regiment 107 Reserve Regiment 133
26th Reserve Infantry Division[25] Regiment 180 (10th Württemberg) Reserve Regiment 99 Reserve Regiment 119 (1st Württemberg) Reserve Regiment 121 (3rd Württemberg)
28th Reserve Infantry Division[25] Reserve Regiment 109 Reserve Regiment 110 Reserve Regiment 111
45th Reserve Infantry Division Reserve Regiment 210 Reserve Regiment 211 Reserve Regiment 212
50th Reserve Infantry Division Reserve Regiment 229 Reserve Regiment 230 Reserve Regiment 231
51st Reserve Infantry Division Reserve Regiment 233 Reserve Regiment 234 Reserve Regiment 235 Reserve Regiment 236
52nd Reserve Infantry Division Reserve Regiment 238 Reserve Regiment 239 Reserve Regiment 240
6th Bavarian Reserve Division Bavarian Reserve Regiment 16 Bavarian Reserve Regiment 17 Bavarian Reserve Regiment 20 Bavarian Reserve Regiment 21
89th Reserve Brigade Reserve Regiment 209 Reserve Regiment 213

Ersatz divisions[edit]

Ersatz Divisions[26]
4th Ersatz Division Regiment 359 Regiment 360 Regiment 361 Regiment 362
5th Ersatz Division Landwehr Regiment 73 Landwehr Regiment 74 Reserve Ersatz Regiment 3
Bavarian Ersatz Division Bavarian Reserve Regiment 14 Bavarian Reserve Regiment 15 Ersatz Regiment 28

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The 102nd and 103rd Infantry Brigades of the 34th Division had suffered many losses in the Battle of Albert, 1916, changed places with the 111th and 112th Infantry Brigades of the 37th Division and went into line with the 37th Division, IV Corps, First Army on Vimy Ridge, while the two 37th Division brigades, fought in the battles of Bazentin and Pozières under the 34th Division. (Liddle p. 176)
  2. ^ The Cambridgeshire Battalion
  3. ^ The Bermondsey Battalion
  4. ^ The 2nd Portsmouth Battalion
  5. ^ The Kent County Battalion
  6. ^ The Lewisham Battalion
  7. ^ The 2nd Football Battalion
  8. ^ The Arts and Crafts Battalion
  9. ^ The Wearside Battalion
  10. ^ The Yeomen Rifles Battalion
  11. ^ The 2nd Public Works Battalion
  12. ^ a b City of London Regiment
  13. ^ Poplar and Stepney Rifles Regiment
  14. ^ 1st Surrey Rifles Regiment
  15. ^ London Irish Rifles Regiment
  16. ^ a b The Queen's Regiment
  17. ^ Post Office Rifles Regiment
  18. ^ St. Pancras Regiment
  19. ^ Civil Service Rifles Regiment
  20. ^ Blackheath and Woolwich Regiment
  21. ^ The Sutherland and Caithness Battalion
  22. ^ The Ross Highland Battalion
  23. ^ The Morayshire Battalion
  24. ^ The Fife Battalion
  25. ^ The Argyllshire Battalion
  26. ^ The Buchan and Formartine Battalion
  27. ^ The Highlanders Battalion
  28. ^ The Banff and Donside Battalion
  29. ^ The Deeside Highland Battalion
  30. ^ The New Zealand Division later joined II ANZAC Corps together with the 3rd and 5th Australian Divisions

Citations and references[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Hart p. 42
  2. ^ Hart p.43
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Western Front Association website
  4. ^ Liddle p. 175
  5. ^ a b Liddle p.174
  6. ^ Liddle p.175
  7. ^ Hart p.164
  8. ^ Hart p.385
  9. ^ Hart p.132
  10. ^ Hart p.184
  11. ^ Liddell-Hart p.322
  12. ^ Hart p.308
  13. ^ Keegan p.320
  14. ^ a b Doughty p. 291
  15. ^ Hart p.209
  16. ^ Hart Appendix B
  17. ^ Army Council, Cmnd 1138
  18. ^ National Archives: Naval Division (1914–1919)
  19. ^ Buchan p.58
  20. ^ Buchan p. 56
  21. ^ Long Long Trail
  22. ^ Kincaid Smith 1920, pp. 11–12
  23. ^ Hart p.54
  24. ^ [1] Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine french: Organigramme des Grandes Batailles. Accessed 2010-07-01.
  25. ^ a b c d Imperial War Museum (The Somme) website
  26. ^ a b c Hart Appendix C

References[edit]

Books

  • Buchan, John (1992) [1920]. The History of the South African forces in France (litho repr. ed.). London: Imperial War Museum & Battery Press. ISBN 978-0-901627-89-6.
  • Digby, Peter. K. (1993). Pyramids and Poppies: The 1st SA Infantry Brigade in Libya, France and Flanders: 1915–1919. Rivonia: Ashanti. ISBN 978-1-874800-53-8.
  • Doughty, Robert A. (2005). Pyrrhic victory: French Strategy and Operation in the Great War. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London: Belknap Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01880-8.
  • Hart, Peter (2006). The Somme. London: Cassell. ISBN 978-0-304-36735-1.
  • Keegan, John (1998). The First World War (1st ed.). London: Random House. ISBN 978-0-09-180178-6.
  • Kincaid-Smith, M. (2001) [1920]. The 25th Division in France and Flanders (pbk. repr. Naval & Military Press ed.). London: Harrison & Sons. ISBN 978-1-84342-123-8. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  • Liddle, P. H. (2001). The 1916 Battle of the Somme: A Reappraisal. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth. ISBN 978-1-84022-240-1 – via Archive foundation.
  • Liddell-Hart, B. H. (1973) [1970]. History of the First World War (3rd ed.). London: Pan Books. ISBN 978-0-304-93653-3.
  • Robertshaw, Andrew; Dennis, Peter (2006). Somme: 1 July 1916. Campaign 169. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84603-038-3.
  • The Official Names of the Battles and Other Engagements Fought by the Military Forces of the British Empire during the Great War, 1914–1919, and the Third Afghan War, 1919: Report of the Battles Nomenclature Committee as Approved by The Army Council Presented to Parliament by Command of His Majesty. London: HMSO. 1921. OCLC 29078007.

Websites

Further reading[edit]

  • Edmonds, J. E.; Wynne, G. C. (2010) [1932]. Military Operations France and Belgium 1916: Appendices. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. I (Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press ed.). London: Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-84574-730-5.
  • James, E. A. (1990) [1924]. A Record of the Battles and Engagements of the British Armies in France and Flanders 1914–1918 (repr. London Stamp Exchange ed.). Aldershot: Gale & Polden. ISBN 978-0-948130-18-2.

External links[edit]

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