'One of the greatest fighting formations Britain ever put into the field': Cyril Falls.

The 7th Division was formed during September and very early October 1914, by the bringing together of regular army units from various points around the British Empire. They were initially moved to Belgium, landing at Zeebrugge on 6 October 1914, to assist in the defence of Antwerp. However, by the time they arrived the city was already falling, and the 7th were instead ordered to hold certain important bridges and other places that would help the westward evacuation of the Belgian army. Once the Belgians were through, the Division were moved westwards, where they entrenched in front of Ypres, the first British troops to occupy that fateful place.

First Battle of Ypres

The Division fought the advancing German army to a standstill at Wipers. All units suffered grievous losses, and it was not until the following January/February that it was once more in a complete enough condition to be considered at full fighting strength. After First Ypres, it was often known as the Immortal Seventh.

Battle of Neuve Chapelle

The Battle of Aubers, and the Battle of Festubert

Second Action of Givenchy

The Battle of Loos

The Division took part in the initial assault north of the Vermelles-Hulluch road, facing the Quarries and a series of strongpoints. Suffering badly from British cloud gas - which was not moved sufficiently by the gentle breeze - and badly cut up by German machine gun fire and artillery, the Division nonethless seized the Quarries and only failed to penetrate the third German line due to the relative weakness of the numbers of men that got through. The Divisional Commander, Major-General T.Capper, died of wounds received during this action.

The Battle of Albert (first phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916)

In the latter action the Division captured Mametz, a story of success on 1st July 1916, generally seen as one of unmitigated disaster.

The Battle of Bazentin (second phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916), and the Attacks on High Wood

The 7th played a successful part in the 'dawn attack', and were also the first troops into High Wood.

The Battle of Delville Wood (third phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916)

The Battle of Guillemont (fourth phase of the Battle of the Somme)

Operations on the Ancre

The German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line

Flanking Operations Round Bullecourt

The 7th were moved into a scene of incredible ferocity at Bullecourt, a strongly fortified village on the Hindenburg Line, after and alongside the Australians. The Division played a major role in penetrating the village defences.

The Battle of the Polygon Wood (fourth phase of the Third Battle of Ypres)

The Battle of Broodseinde (fifth phase of the Third Battle of Ypres)

The Battle of Poelcapelle (sixth phase of the Third Battle of Ypres)

The Second Battle of Passchendaele (eighth phase of the Third Battle of Ypres)

The 7th suffered significant losses during Third Ypres, in the fighting for Polygon Wood, the successful advance on 4th October east of the wood, and in the unsuccesful assault south of the Menin Road on 26th October. Immediately on their relief, the Division was moved to Italy, being one of the British Divisions selected to come to the support of the Italian army. The 7th remained in Italy until the Armistice, playing a particularly important role in the assault to cross the Piave River.

The Battle of Vittorio Veneto

'Few Divisions can have equalled the strong Divisional spirit which inspired the Seventh Division, making it work as a team, working together towards the same end. It has been described as a very happy Division, and therein lies no small part of the explanation of the wonderful record which these pages have sought to outline'. Divisional History, C.T.Atkinson, 1926.

A total of 14 Victoria Crosses were awarded to men of the 7th Division.

From 1914 to 1918, the Division suffered a total of approximately 68,000 of all ranks killed, wounded or missing in action.

20th Brigade

1st Bn, the Grenadier Guards (joined August 1914, left August 1915)

2nd Bn, the Scots Guards (joined August 1914, left August 1915)

8th (Service) Bn, the Devons (joined May 1915)

9th (Service) Bn, the Devons (joined August 1915, left September 1918)

1/6th Bn, the Cheshires (joined January 1916, left February 1916)

2nd Bn, the Border (joined September 1914)

2nd Bn, the Gordon Highlanders (joined October 1914)

1/6th (Banff and Donside) Bn, the Gordon Highlanders (joined December 1914, left January 1916)

20th Brigade Machine Gun Company (formed 10 February 1916, moved into 7 MG Bn 1 April 1918)

20th Trench Mortar Battery (formed 14 February 1916)

21st Brigade

19 December 1915 : Brigade transferred to 30th Division

2nd Bn, the Bedfords (joined August 1914, left December 1915)

2nd Bn, the Yorkshire (joined August 1914, left December 1915)

2nd Bn, the Royal Scots Fusiliers (joined September 1914, left December 1915)

2nd Bn, the Wiltshires (joined September 1914, left December 1915 )

1/4th Bn, the Cameron Highlanders (joined April 1915, left December 1915)

22nd Brigade

2nd Bn, the Queen's (joined September 1914, left December 1915)

1/8th Bn, the Royal Scots (joined November 1914, left August 1915)

2nd Bn, the Royal Warwicks (joined September 1914)

1/7th Bn, the King's (Liverpool) (joined November 1915, left January 1916)

2nd Bn, the Royal Irish (joined May 1916, left October 1916)

1st Bn, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (joined September 1914)

1st Bn, the South Staffordshire (joined September 1914, left December 1915)

20th (Service) Bn (5th City), the Manchesters (joined December 1915, left September 1918)

24th (Service) Bn (Oldham), the Manchesters (joined December 1915, left May 1916)

2/1st Bn, the Honourable Artillery Company (joined October 1916)

22nd Brigade Machine Gun Company (formed 24 February 1916, moved into 7 MG Bn 1 April 1918)

22nd Trench Mortar Battery (formed 14 April 1916)

91st Brigade

20 December 1915 : Brigade transferred from 30th Division

2nd Bn, the Queen's (joined December 1915)

1st Bn, the South Staffordshire (joined December 1915)

21st (Service) Bn (6th City), the Manchesters (joined December 1915, left September 1918)

22nd (Service) Bn (7th City), the Manchesters (joined December 1915)

1/4th Bn, the Cameron Highlanders (joined December 1915, left January 1916)

91st Brigade Machine Gun Company (joined 14 March 1916, moved into 7 MG Bn 1 April 1918)

91st Trench Mortar Battery (formed May 1916)

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Divisional Troops

24th (Service) Bn (Oldham)(Pioneers), the Manchesters (joined May 1916)

220th Machine Gun Company (joined 25 March 1917, joined Divisional MG Battalion 1 March 1918)

No 7 Machine Gun Battalion (created 1 April 1918)

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Divisional Mounted Troops

1/1st Northumberland Hussars (joined September 1914, B and C Squadrons left 12 April 1915, remainder left 13 May 1916)

7th Cyclist Company (joined September 1914, left 11 May 1916)

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Divisional Artillery

XXXVII (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA (joined June 1915, left May 1916)

XIV Brigade, RHA (joined September 1914, left February 1917)

XXII Brigade, RFA (joined September 1914)

XXXV Brigade, RFA (joined September 1914)

III Heavy Brigade, RFA (joined September 1914, left March 1915)

No 7 Pom-Pom Section (Anti-Aircraft), RFA (attached between 25 September 1914 and 20 December 1914)

5th Mountain Battery, RFA (attached between 26 March 1915 and 20 April 1915)

7th Divisional Ammunition Column

V.7 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA (formed June 1916, disbanded 12 November 1917)

X.7, Y.7 and Z.7 Medium Mortar Batteries RFA (joined by March 1916; by 22 February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each)

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Engineer Units

54th Field Company (joined Sep 1914)

55th Field Company (joined Sep 1914, left Sep 15)

2nd (Highland) Field Company (joined Jan 15, left Jan 16)

3rd (Durham) Field Company (joined Jan 1916, renamed 528th Field Coy)

7th Divisional Signals Company (joined Sep 1914)

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Field Ambulances

21st (joined Sep 14)

22nd (joined Sep 14)

23rd (joined Sep 14)

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Other Divisional Troops

7th Divisional Train ASC (39, 40, 42, 86 Companies)

210th Divisional Employment Company (Joined on 21 May 1917, as 12th Divisional Employment Company; redesignated in June 1917)

12th Mobile Veterinary Section

No 10 Sanitary Section ( joined 9 January 1915, transferred to Third Army 8 August 1917)

7th Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop ( joined by 20 June 1915, absorbed by Divisional Supply Column on 9 April 1916)