Review of 'Of No Earthly Use: 2nd Line Territorial Divisions 1914 -17' by Bill Mitchinson (May 2019)

The expression ‘Of No earthly Use’ was used by an MP in the House of Commons in May 1916 to describe the second line divisions of the Territorial Force. The apparent reason for such an expression was the belief that the second line territorial soldiers were unwilling to serve in Europe, having taken the decision for home service only, releasing the regular soldiers for fighting in Europe, taking on their duties of the defence of the UK. There was also the unstated assumption that second line territorial soldiers were not up to ‘proper soldiering’.

There was also the fact that there was a profound difference in pay for a territorial soldier serving in the UK compared to a soldier in the New Army. It also took three times as long to fill a second line territorial division compared to the time to a New Army division. Any soldiers who did volunteer to serve in Europe was immediately transferred to a first line division so there was always a continuous diminution of skilled soldiers.

The shortage of equipment did not help the problem, up to date equipment was slow in coming to a second line division, poor co-ordination of ‘kit’ resulted in second line soldiers training with old and out dated rifles and training on artillery which was well passed its best.

All this changed once conscription (Military Service Act of 1916) was introduced. The 59th (Second North Midland) Division had been sent to Ireland in April 1916 to assist in counter-insurgency arising with the Easter Rebellion in Dublin. Severe fighting took place and many casualties were taken in action against Irish Nationalist forces. The division was transferred to France in 1917 and was put into action following the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. The lack of training soon became apparent as pursuit of the enemy in such circumstances led to too many errors.

The 61st (2nd South Midland) Division took part in the battle of Fromelles (July 19/20, 1916), part of the Somme battles. Advancing on the German lines on the right flank of the 5th Australian Division, the Territorial soldiers took heavy casualties while waiting to leave their trenches as well as advancing into No Man’s Land through sally ports targeted by German machine gun fire. The German lines were not taken, the surviving soldiers were pulled back with no gains. Casualties for the 61st division were over 1,500 (including 503 killed).The casualties taken by the Australian Division were much higher as the Australian troops had to be pulled back under fire when the commander of 61st Division did not order a second attack. The 61st division was moved to the Neuville St Vaast area where trench raiding and intelligence gathering boosted the military experience of the men, eventually up to six patrols would go out each night. The division took part in shadowing German troops during the withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, going on to attack at Langemarck during the Third Battle of Ypres and again at Cambrai.

Pursuit of the German troops retreating to the Hindenburg Line was fraught with difficulty, advancing over devastated land provided too many logistic problems for all divisions, Territorial & Regular.

The 62nd (2nd West Yorkshire) Division was involved, alongside the Australian 4th Division, in the two battles of Bullecourt (April and May 1917). Having failed to take the village of Bullecourt in the first battle, the attack was resumed in May. The Yorkshire troops had mixed success as co-ordination with the Australian Division on its right was very poor.

2nd line territorial divisions were used extensively during the Third battle of Ypres – 58th (2/1 London) Division and 59th (2nd North Midland) fought at the Menin Road attack (September). The same two divisions attacked again at Polygon Wood later in September into October. The 66th (2nd East Lancashire Division), having been allocated to Operation Hush (abandoned after the German attack) entered the fighting at the battle of Poelcapelle. The 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division took part in the second battle of Passchendaele, where they went into action in support of the Canadian Corps.

The tank battle at Cambrai involved 62nd Division with its attack on the first day on Havrincourt and Graincourt, in support of the initial tank attack, and continuing on to Bourlon Ridge. During the German counter-attack, the 55th, 59th and 61st Divisions entered the fighting to prevent the loss of territory taken.

All in all, the failures at both Third Ypres & Cambrai do not distinguish 2nd line Territorial Divisions from their Regular compatriots. Experiences of fighting in 1917 were to lay the basis for a series of successful attacks in 1918.

Report by Peter Palmer