New Zealand Division

Auckland Battalion landing at Gallipoli, 25 April 1915

The New Zealand Division was a World War I infantry division formed in Egypt in January 1916 following the evacuation of Gallipoli. At the outbreak of war the New Zealand Expeditionary Force contained a single infantry brigade which was combined with the unattached Australian 4th Infantry Brigade to form the New Zealand and Australian Division which served at Gallipoli. By the end 1915, New Zealand's contingent had expanded such that they could now field a complete division of their own. A second infantry brigade was formed from reinforcements currently in Egypt. A third infantry brigade, the "Rifle Brigade", had arrived complete from New Zealand. The New Zealand Division was originally attached to I Anzac Corps and departed for France in April, 1916. Bright Williams, who would eventually become New Zealand's oldest living veteran of that war, fought with this division.

Unit history

Formation

1st New Zealand Brigade 

• 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment (from 2nd NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment (to 2nd NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment (from 2nd NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment (to 2nd NZ Bde, Jan 1917)

2nd New Zealand Brigade 

• 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment (to 1st NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment (from 1st NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment (to 1st NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment (from 1st NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment

3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade 

• 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
• 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
• 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
• 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade

• Otago Mounted Rifle Regiment The only New Zealand mounted troops to serve in France

Battles

• Battle of Flers - Courcelette. 15 - 22 Sep 1916.
• Battle of Morval. 25 - 28 Sep 1916.
• Battle of Le Transloy. 1 - 18 Oct 1916.
• Battle of Messines. 7 - 14 Jun 1917.
• Battle of Polygon Wood. 26 Sep - 3 Oct 1917.
• Battle of Broodseinde. 4 Oct 1917.
• Battle of Passchendaele. 12 Oct 1917.
• Battle of Arras. 28 Mar 1918.
• Battle of the Ancre. 5 Apr 1918.
• Battle of Albert. 21 - 23 Aug 1918.
• Battle of Bapaume. 31 Aug - 3 Sep 1918.
• Battle of Havrincourt. 12 Sep 1918.
• Battle of the Canal du Nord. 27 Sep - 1 Oct 1918.
• Battle of Cambrai. 8 - 9 Oct 1918.
• Pursuit to the Selle. 9 - 12 Oct 1918.
• Battle of the Selle. 17 - 25 Oct 1918.
• Battle of the Sambre. 4 Nov 1918, including the Capture of Le Quesnoy.

Commanders

1915-1919: Maj. Gen. A. H. Russell