61st (2nd South Midland) Division

For the equivalent formation in Second World War, see 61st Infantry Division (United Kingdom).

61st (2nd South Midland) Division
Active	January 1915 – January 1919
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Engagements	First World War Battle of Fromelles

The 61st (2nd South Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised in 1915 during the Great War as a second-line reserve for the first-line battalions of the 48th (South Midland) Division. However, the division was sent to the Western Front in May 1916 and served there for the duration of the First World War.

Formation

182nd (2nd Warwickshire) Brigade 

• 2/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (disbanded February 1918)
• 2/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
• 2/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
• 2/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (disbanded February 1918)
• 2/8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment (from 183rd Bde. February 1918)

183rd (2nd Gloucester and Worcester) Brigade 

The brigade contained the following battalions until February 1918 when most of them were disbanded.

• 2/4th (City of Bristol) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
• 2/6th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
• 2/7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
• 2/8th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment (to 182nd Bde. February 1918)

Between February and June 1918 the 183rd Brigade contained the following battalions.

• 1/9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
• 1/5th (Buchan and Formartin) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
• 1/8th (Argyllshire) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

From May 1918 the following battalions joined the Brigade.

• 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
• 9th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
• 11th (Service) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment

184th (2nd South Midland) Brigade 

• 2/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
• 2/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
• 2/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (disbanded February 1918)
• 2/4th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Battles

• Battle of Fromelles

General officer commanding

• Major-General Sir Colin John Mackenzie

See also

• List of British divisions in World War I

External links

• The Long, Long, Trail: The British Army in the Great War, The 61st (2nd South Midland) Division