2nd Cavalry Division (United Kingdom)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=2ndt Cavalry Division


caption=
dates=World War I
country=United Kingdom
allegiance=
branch=British Army
type=Cavalry
role=
size= Division
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Battle of the Aisne
Second Battle of Ypres
Battle of Arras
Battle of Cambrai
Battle of the Somme 1918
Battle of Amiens 1918
Second Battle of the Somme 1918
Hindenburg Line 1918
Advance in Picardy
notable_commanders=General Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough , GCB, GCMG, KCVO
anniversaries=

The 2nd Cavalry Division was a regular British Army Division and saw service in World War One. They were also known as Gough's Command ,after the commanding General and were a part of the initial British Expeditionary Force which landed in France in September 1914. [cite web|title=royalirishlancers|url=http://www.royalirishlancers.co.uk/WW1/3rd_cav_bde.htm] It was involved in most of the major actions where cavalry were used as a mounted mobile force, and also many where the troops were dismounted and effectively served as infantry. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/2cavdiv.htm] On November 11 , 1918 , units of the Division were east and northeast of Mons, in Belgium. Orders were received that the Division would lead the advance of Fourth Army into Germany , a move that was begin on November 17 , 1918. On December 1 , it crossed the frontier south of St Vith. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/2cavdiv.htm] The Winter was spent south of Liege , and demobilisation commenced. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/2cavdiv.htm] The Division ceased to exist on March 31 , 1919. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/2cavdiv.htm]

Order of Battle

3rd Cavalry Brigade

*4th (Queen's Own) Hussars
*5th (Royal Irish) Lancers
*16th (The Queen's) Lancers
*3rd Signal Troop Royal Engineers
*3rd Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron (formed 29 February 1916) [cite web|title=royalirishlancers|url=http://www.royalirishlancers.co.uk/WW1/3rd_cav_bde.htm]

=4th Cavalry Brigade=

*Household Cavalry Composite Regiment
*6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers)
*3rd (King's Own) Hussars
*1/1st Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars
*4th Signal Troop R.E.
*4th Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron , (formed 28 February 1916) [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/2cavdiv.htm]

=5th Cavalry Brigade=

*2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys)
*20th Hussars
*12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's)
*5th Signal Troop R.E.
*5th Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron , (formed 26 February 1916) [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/CAVALRY/2cavdiv.htm]

Divisional Artillery

All units of the Royal Horse Artillery unless shown
*III Brigade RHA (comprising D and E Batteries, D Battery was attached to 3rd Cavalry Brigade, E Battery to 5th Cavalry Brigade)
*IV Brigade RHA
*J Battery RHA
*1st Warwickshire Battery RHA
*2nd Cavalry Divisional Ammunition Park

Divisional Engineers

*2nd Field Squadron
*2nd Signal Squadron

Divisional Commanders

:General Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough, GCB, GCMG, KCVO , when a Major General from formation in October 1914 until April 1915. :Major General C.T. McM. Kavanagh from 19 April 1915 to July 1915. :Major General Sir P. Chetwode from 15 July 1915 to November 1916. :Major General W. Greenly from 16 November 1916 to April 1918. :Major General T. Pitman from 16 April 1918.

References