The Division was a formation created by the establishment of the Territorial Force in 1908. The infantry of the Division was initially entirely from the London Regiment. It moved to France 9th - 22nd March 1915, and served with distinction on the Western Front throughout the war. The new designation of the Division, its Brigades and other constitutent units changed from the 2nd London to 47th in mid May 1915.

The Battle of Aubers, and the Battle of Festubert

The Battle of Loos, and subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt

German attack on Vimy Ridge

The Battle of Flers-Courcelette (sixth phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916)

The Battle of Le Transloy (eighth) phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916)

In the above action, the Division captured Eaucourt l'Abbe, and took part in Attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt.

The Battle of Messines

The Battle of Cambrai

The Battle of St Quentin (first phase of the First Battles of the Somme 1918)

The First Battle of Bapaume (second phase of the First Battles of the Somme 1918)

The Battle of Albert (first phase of the Second Battles of the Somme 1918)

The Battle of Bapaume (second phase of the Second Battles of the Somme 1918)

The Final Advance in Artois

By June 1919, the Division had been largely demobilised and was at cadre strength. It was reformed in the United Kingdom from April 1920.

 

140th (4th London) Brigade

1/6th (City of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined November 1914, left January 1918)

1/7th (City of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined November 1914, left February 1918)

1/8th (City of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined November 1914, left February 1918)

1/13th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914, left November 1914)

1/14th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914, left September 1914)

1/15th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914)

1/16th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914, left November 1914)

1/17th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined February 1918)

1/21st (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined February 1918)

140th Brigade Machine Gun Company (formed 13 December 1915, moved into 47 MG Bn 1 March 1918)

140th Trench Mortar Battery (formed 12 June 1916)

141st (5th London) Brigade

1/17th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914, left February 1918)

1/18th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914)

1/19th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914)

1/20th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914)

141st Brigade Machine Gun Company (formed 12 December 1915, moved into 47 MG Bn 1 March 1918)

141st Trench Mortar Battery (formed 12 June 1916)

142nd (6th London) Brigade

1/3rd (City of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined November 1915, left February 1916)

1/21st (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914, left February 1918)

1/22nd (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914)

1/23rd (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914)

1/24th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914)

142nd Brigade Machine Gun Company (formed 10 December 1915, moved into 47 MG Bn 1 March 1918)

142nd Trench Mortar Battery (formed 12 June 1916)

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Divisional Troops

1/4th (Denbighshire) Bn, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (joined September 1915)

1/1st Bn, the Honourable Artillery Company (joined August 1914, left September 1914)

1/28th (County of London) Bn, the London Regiment (joined August 1914, left October 1914)

239th Machine Gun Company (joined 17 July1917, left 1/10/1917)

255th Machine Gun Company (joined 19 November 1917, joined Divisional MG Battalion 1 March 1918)

No 47 Machine Gun Battalion (created 1 March1918)

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Divisional Mounted Troops

C Squadron, 1st King Edward's Horse (joined April 1915, left June 1916)

47th Division Cyclist Company (joined August 1914, left 1 June 1916)

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Divisional Artillery

The artillery of the 50th Division was attached to the 47th between 13 and 25 August 1918, whereupon it was transferred to the 3rd Australian Division

CCXXXV (V London) Brigade, RFA

CCXXXVI (VI London) Brigade, RFA

CCXXXVII (VII London) Brigade, RFA (broken up November 1916)

CCXXXVIII (VIII London) (H) Brigade, RFA (broken up January 1917)

CCLXXX (I London) was attached to the Division between 3 and 26 January 1916

CCLXXXII (III London) was attached to the Division between 27 January and 19 February 1916

47th (2nd London) Divisional Ammunition Column

V.47 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA (formed 6 November 1916, left 16 February 1918, joining V Corps)

X.47, Y.47 and Z.47 Medium Mortar Batteries RFA (X and Y joined 17 November 1915, originally as No 7 and No 8, and Z was formed in April 1916; on 1 February 1918, X broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each, Z Batt being redesignated X Batt.)

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Engineer Units, RE

517th Field Company (joined Aug 14, left Dec 14, rejoined Apr 15, renamed from 3rd (London) Field Coy)

518th Field Company (joined Aug 14, renamed from 4th (London) Field Coy)

520th Field Company (formed Oct 14 but joined Division June 1915, renamed from 2/3rd (London) Field Coy)

47th Divisional Signal Company (renamed from 2nd London Divisional Signals Company)

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Field Ambulances, RAMC

4th (London) Field Ambulance (joined August 1914)

5th (London) Field Ambulance (joined August 1914)

6th (London) Field Ambulance (joined August 1914)

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47th Divisional Train ASC (redesignated from the 2nd London Divisional Train - itself made from the 2nd London Transport and Supply Column. Composed of 455, 456, 457 and 458 Companies ASC)

241st Divisional Employment Company (joined May 1917)

2nd London Mobile Veterinary Section

47th Sanitary Section ( left 18 April 1917, to Second Army)

47th Divisional Ambulance Workshop ( joined 1 April 1915, left 3 April 1916, absorbed by Divisional Supply Column)

The Portuguese IV Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Engineers Field Company, and the 23rd and 25th Infantry Brigades were attached from October 1918.