30th Division (United Kingdom)

30th Division
Active	1915 - September 1919
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Engagements	First World War Battle of the Somme (1916) Battle of Albert (1916)

The British 30th Division was a New Army division that was originally made up of battalions raised by public subscription or private patronage. The division was taken over by the British War Office in August 1915 and moved to France in December. It served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War.

Unit history

to be completed

Formation

21st Brigade 

The brigade joined from the 7th Division in December 1915, swapping with the 91st Brigade.

Until May/June 1918 the brigade comprised the following battalions:

• 18th (Service) Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) (to 89 Bde February 1918)
• 19th (Service) Battalion (4th City), The Manchester Regiment (disbanded February 1918)
• 2nd Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment)
• 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment)
• 17th (Service) Battalion (2nd City), The Manchester Regiment (from February 1918)

From July 1918 the brigade comprised the following battalions:

• 7th (South Irish Horse) Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment
• 1/6th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment
• 2/23rd (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment

89th Brigade 

Until June 1918 the brigade comprised the following battalions:

• 17th (Service) Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
• 18th (Service) Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) (to 21 Bde December 1915, from 21 Bde February 1918)
• 19th (Service) Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
• 20th (Service) Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) (disbanded February 1918)
• 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment (from December 1915, to 90 Bde February 1918)

From June/July 1918 the brigade comprised the following battalions:

• 2nd Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment)
• 7/8th (Service) Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
• 2/17th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment

90th Brigade 

Until June 1918, the brigade comprised the following battalions:

• 16th (Service) Battalion (1st City), The Manchester Regiment
• 17th (Service) Battalion (2nd City), The Manchester Regiment (until February 1918)
• 18th (Service) Battalion (3rd City), The Manchester Regiment (disbanded February 1918)
• 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers (until April 1918)
• 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment (from 89 Bde February 1918 until May 1918)
• 14th (Service) Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (from April 1918)

From June 1918, the brigade comprised the following battalions:

• 2/14th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment
• 2/15th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment
• 2/16th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment

91st Brigade 

The brigade formed in April 1915 and moved to the 7th Division in December of that year, swapping with the 21st Brigade.

• 20th (Service) Battalion (5th City), The Manchester Regiment
• 21st (Service) Battalion (6th City), The Manchester Regiment
• 22nd (Service) Battalion (7th City), The Manchester Regiment
• 24th (Service) Battalion (Oldham), The Manchester Regiment

Pioneers 

• 11th (Service) Battalion (St.Helens Pioneers), The Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) (until June 1918)
• 6th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers), South Wales Borderers (from July 1918)

Battles

• Battle of the Somme (1916)
  • Battle of Albert

General officer commanding

• Major-General Sir John Stuart Mackenzie Shea 1916
• Major-General W.I. Williams 1917-1918
• Major-General Neill Malcolm December 1918-February 1919

See also

• List of British divisions in World War I

External links

• The British Army in the Great War: The 30th Division