The Long, Long Trail

The Division was a formation created by the establishment of the Territorial Force in 1908. On 24 September 1914 it accepted overseas service in India in order to relieve regular units required for active service. Divisional and Brigade HQs, both artillery and infantry, did not embark for India. The other units of the Division sailed on 9 October 1914 and moved to India where they remained throughout the Great War. The original strength of the Division was reduced during the war as the demand at the fighting fronts for good units increased. It was reformed in the United Kingdom from April 1920.

128th Brigade (Hampshire Brigade)

1/4th Bn, the Hampshire Regiment (joined August 1914, left March 1915)

1/5th Bn, the Hampshire Regiment (joined August 1914)

1/6th Bn, the Hampshire Regiment (joined August 1914, left September 1917)

1/7th Bn, the Hampshire Regiment (joined August 1914, left January 1918)

129th Brigade (South Western Brigade)

1/4th Bn, the Somerset Light Infantry (joined August 1914, left February 1916)

1/5th Bn, the Somerset Light Infantry (joined August 1914, left May 1917)

1/4th Bn, the Dorsets (joined August 1914, left February 1916)

1/4th Bn, the Wiltshires (joined August 1914, left September 1917)

130th Brigade (Devon & Cornwall Brigade)

1/4th Bn, the Devons (joined August 1914, left February 1916)

1/5th Bn, the Devons (joined August 1914, left April 1917)

1/6th Bn, the Devons (joined August 1914, left January 1916)

1/4th Bn, the DCLI (joined August 1914, left January 1916)

Divisional Artillery

CCXV Brigade, RFA (left October 1916)

CCXVI (H) Brigade, RFA

CCXVII Brigade, RFA

CCXVIII Brigade, RFA

Engineer Units

1st (Wessex ) Field Coy RE (joined Aug 1914, left October 1914)

2nd (Wessex ) Field Coy RE (joined Aug 1914, left October 1914)

Wessex Divisional Signal Company RE (left October 1914)

Field Ambulances

1st (Wessex) Field Ambulance RAMC (joined August 1914, left October 1914)

2nd (Wessex) Field Ambulance RAMC (joined August 1914, left October 1914)

3rd (Wessex) Field Ambulance RAMC (joined August 1914, left October 1914)

Other units

Wessex Divisional Transport and Supply Column (did not embark for India. Transport became 29th Divisional Train; and Supply Column became 27th Divisional Reserve Park.)

239th Divisional Employment Company (joined 1 June 1917)

19th Mobile Veterinary Section

22nd Sanitary Section ( joined 9 February 1916, left 8 April 1917, to XIX Corps)