Army Organisation > 45th (2nd Wessex) Division
A Territorial Force Division
History | Units | Commanders
Summary history of the division

In September 1914, it was decided to raise an additional 14 Divisions of the Territorial Force. They would be composed of the second-line TF units, and would be liable for overseas service.

Most of the units of the 2nd Wessex Division were raised after the 1st Wessex had moved to India in October 1914. Generally, the officers and men of the first-line units left behind after embarkation formed the nucleus of the new units.

 

On 25th November 1914, it was decided to substitute the field artillery and 10 infantry battalions of the new 2nd Wessex with units of the Welsh Division, then preparing to move to India. These units embarked at Southampton on 12th December.

 

The units in India were split up and moved to many different locations. Once their basic training had been completed, many men were transferred as drafts to first-line TF Divisions in Mesopotamia. Losses of this nature reached the point where it was no longer feasible to move the Division to France, as had been considered. Gradually units were removed and a relatively small collection remained in India until the end of the war. In 1919 the remaining units returned to England and the Division ceased to exist.
Order of Battle

134th Brigade (2/1st Hampshire Brigade)

2/4th Bn, the Hampshire Regiment (left May 1917)

2/5th Bn, the Hampshire Regiment (left April 1917)

2/6th Bn, the Hampshire Regiment (did not move to India)

2/7th Bn, the Hampshire Regiment (left September 1917)

135th Brigade (2/1st South-Western Brigade)

2/4th Bn, the Somerset LI (left September 1917)

2/5th Bn, the Somerset LI

2/4th Bn, the Dorset Regiment (left August 1917)

2/4th Bn, the Wiltshire Regiment

136th Brigade (2/1st Devon & Cornwall Brigade)

2/4th Bn, the Devonshire Regiment (left October 1917)

2/5th Bn, the Devonshire Regiment (did not move to India)

2/6th Bn, the Devonshire Regiment (left September 1917)

2/4th Bn, the DCLI

Divisional Artillery

CCXXV (2nd/I Wessex) Brigade, RFA (broken up in April 1917)

2nd/II Wessex (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA (did not move to India)

CCXXVII (2nd/III Wessex) Brigade, RFA

CCXXVIII (2nd/IIV Wessex) Brigade, RFA (broken up by April 1917)

Divisional Train ASC (501, 502, 503 and 504 Companies. Remained at home.)
Divisional command
Br-Gen. R. Pinney (9/10/1914)

 

Br-Gen. G. Elliot (11/10/1914) On arrival of the units of the Division in India, he returned to England.