The history of 28th Division
As regular units from the further garrisons of Empire arrived back in England, many having waited until a Territorial unit had gone out to replace them, they were formed up into three divisions, numbered 27th to 29th. The 28th was formed at Hursley, Pitt Hill and Magdalen Hill Camps near Winchester in the period December 1914 – January 1915 and was rushed to France as a much-needed reinforcement. Shortage of some types of units were filled by Territorial units taken from other divisions. The units of the division embarked at Southampton and landed at Le Havre on 16-19 January 1915 and then moved to concentrate in the area between Bailleul and Hazebrouck.
Under command of Major-General E. S. Bulfin
The 28th Division subsequently took part in the following named battles and engagements:
1915
The Second Battles of Ypres, in phases the Battle of Gravenstafel (22-23 April), The Battle of St. Julien (24 April – 4 May), the Battle of Frezenberg (8-13 May) and the Battle of Bellewaarde (24-25 May) (all under V Corps)
The Battle of Loos (I Corps, 25 September- 8 October).
Under command of Major-General J. C. Briggs from 12 October 1915 (his predecessor having left, sick)
The 28th Division was ordered on 19 October 1915 to to prepare to sail. The first units left Marseilles for Alexandria (Egypt) five days later and all units (except XXXI and CXLVI Brigades RFA) were there by 22 November. The division was then ordered on to Salonika and completed its disembarkation on 4 January 1916. It soon came under orders XVI Corps and remained so until the final weeks of the war.
1916
Under temporary command of Brigadier-General H. S. L. Ravenshaw from 83rd Infantry Brigade, 18-21 May 1916 (his predecessor having been promoted to command XVI Corps)
Under command of Major-General H. L. Croker from 21 May 1916
2 October 1916: 84th Infantry Brigade carried out the occupation of Mazirko
31 October 1916: the capture of Barakli Jum’a
1917
Under temporary command of Brigadier-General E. M. Morris from 83rd Infantry Brigade, (27 January – 8 March 1917, replaced by Major-General H. L. Croker on his return
15 May 1917: the capture of Ferdie and Essex Trenches (near Barakli Jum’a)
16 October 1917: the capture of Barakli and Kumli
1918
The division lost a number of units in mid 1918, when they were transferred to France.
18-19 September 1918: the Battle of Doiran
22-28 September 1918: the pursuit to the Strumica valley (under XII Corps)
Hostilities with Bulgaria ceased on 30 September, with the 28th Division by then in the area of Trnovo. The division was ordered in early November to move to Gallipoli to occupy the Dardanelles Forts. 84th Infantry Brigade landed to occupy the area between Kilid Bahir and Maidos (now Ec
eabat) and later moved towards Bulair; on 14 November 85th Brigade arrived at Constantinople (Istanbul) and Divisional HQ was established at Chanak (Çanakkale).
Command passed to Major-General T. O. Marden on 8 November 1920.
The order of battle of the 28th Division
| Units and sub-formations | Dates |
|---|---|
| Divisional headquarters | Throughout |
| 83rd Infantry Brigade | This brigade was temporarily under the command of 5th Division between 3 March and 7 April 1915, when it was replaced in 28th Division by 15th Brigade from that division. |
| 2nd Bn, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) | Throughout |
| 2nd Bn, East Yorkshire Regiment | Throughout |
| 1st Bn, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry | Left for France 20 June 1918 and eventually joined 50th (Northumbrian) Division |
| 1st Bn, York & Lancaster Regiment | |
| 1/5th Bn, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) | Joined 3 March 1915, left for 1st Division 21 October 1915 |
| 1/3rd Bn, Monmouthshire Regiment | Joined 3 March 1915, left for 49th (West Riding) Division 2 September 1915. During May to August 1915 was merged into it 1/1st Bn (in 84th Infantry Brigade) following serious casualties at Ypres. |
| 83rd SAA Section Ammunition Column | Joined early May 1916 |
| 83rd Machine Gun Company | Formed 21 May 1916 |
| 83rd Trench Mortar Battery | Formed 12 September 1916, original title No 4 TMB, joined brigade 1 October 1916 |
| 84th Infantry Brigade | This brigade was temporarily under the command of 5th Division between 23 February and 7 April 1915, when it was replaced in 28th Division by 13th Brigade from that division. |
| 2nd Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers | Left for France 20 June 1918 and eventually joined 50th (Northumbrian) Division |
| 1st Bn, Suffolk Regiment | Throughout |
| 2nd Bn, Cheshire Regiment | Throughout |
| 1st Bn, Welsh Regiment | Throughout |
| 1/6th Bn, Welsh Regiment | Joined 5 July 1915, left for 1st Division 23 October 1915 |
| 1/1st Bn, Monmouthshire Regiment | Joined 27 February 1915, left for 46th (North Midland) Division 3 September 1915 |
| 1/12th Bn, London Regiment | Joined 8 February 1915, left for GHQ Troops 20 May 1915 |
| 84th SAA Section Ammunition Column | Joined early May 1916 |
| 84th Machine Gun Company | Formed 18 May 1916 |
| 84th Trench Mortar Battery | Joined 7 November 1916 |
| 2/5th Bn, Durham Light Infantry | Joined from 228th Infantry Brigade 14 October 1917 and returned to it 10 March 1918 |
| 85th Infantry Brigade | Brigade transferred temporarily to 3rd Division between 19 February 1915 and 6 April 1915. It was replaced in 28th Division by the 9th Infantry Brigade from that division. |
| 2nd Bn, Buffs (East Kent Regiment) | Throughout |
| 3rd Bn, Royal Fusiliers | Left for France 26 June 1918 and eventually joined 50th (Northumbrian) Division |
| 2nd Bn, East Surrey Regiment | Throughout |
| 3rd Bn, Middlesex Regiment | Throughout |
| 1/8th Bn, Middlesex Regiment | Joined 11 March 1915, left for 8th Division 20 June 1915 |
| 85th SAA Section Ammunition Column | Joined early May 1916 |
| 85th Machine Gun Company | Formed 18 May 1916 |
| 85th Trench Mortar Battery | Formed September 1916, original title No 5 TMB, joined brigade 1 October 1916 |
| Composite Infantry Brigade | Following serious casualties at Ypres in April 1915, a Composite Infantry Brigade was formed, composed of the 2nd Buffs, 2nd Cheshire Regiment, 1st Welsh Regiment and 1st Bn York & Lancaster Regiment. It was dissolved on 19 May 1915 and the divisional infantry then re-assumed its normal configuration. |
| 228th Infantry Brigade | This brigade was formed as Army Troops on 26 February 1917, although it was always associated with the 28th Division. It came under the command of the Greek Crete Division from 30 September 1918 and was broken up on 4 October 1918. |
| 2/5th Bn, Durham Light Infantry | Joined 1 March 1917. Went to 84th Infantry Brigade in period 14 October 1917 to 10 March 1918 and then returned |
| 1st Garrison Bn, Seaforth Highlanders | Joined 1 March 1917 |
| 2nd Garrison Bn, Royal Irish Fusiliers | Joined 1 March 1917, left 6 August 1917 |
| 22nd Bn, Rifle Brigade | Joined 1 March 1917 |
| 228th Brigade Signal Section, Royal Engineers | Joined 15 March 1917 |
| 143rd Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps | Joined 19 March 1917 |
| 2nd (Garrison) Bn, King’s (Liverpool Regiment) | Joined 28 August 1917 |
| 277th Machine Gun Company | Formed 11 September 1917, known originally as 228th Company until 20 November 1917 |
| 228th Trench Mortar Battery | Formed 17 September 1917 |
| Divisional Troops | Units under direct command of divisional HQ |
| 28th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps | Numbers 120, 21, 122 and 123 (Horse Transport) Companies ASC joined 21 December 1914 but left for 33rd Division 13 November 1915. Numbers 120, 21, 122 and 123 (Horse Transport) Companies ASC joined from 13th (Western) Division ro replace them on 16 November 1915. Reorganised as pack and wheel echelons 9 October 1916. Numbers 856, 857, 858 and 859 Companies joined to be added on 15 November 1916 |
| 17th Mobile Veterinary Section, Army Veterainary Corps | Throughout |
| 28th Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop | Joined 27 January 1915 but remained in France when Division moved to Salonika |
| 23rd Bn, Welsh Regiment | Joined as Divisional Pioneer Battalion 31 August 1916 |
| 819th Divisional Employment Company, Labour Corps | Formed 14 September 1917 |
| Divisional Mounted Troops | Units under direct command of divisional HQ |
| B Squadron, the Surrey Yeomanry | Joined 22 December 1914, left for XVI Corps Cavalry Regiment 27 December 1916 |
| 28th Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps | Formed 29 December 1914, left for XVI Corps Cyclist Battalion 8 December 1916 |
| Divisional Artillery | Under Divisional Commander Royal Artillery |
| III Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA) | Throughout |
| XXXI Brigade, RFA | Throughout |
| CXLVI Brigade, RFA | Left August 1917 |
| 28th Divisional Ammunition Column, RFA | Left 17 January 1917 to become a section of XVI Corps Ammunition Column |
| VIII (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA | Attached from 5th Division between 21 February and 23 June 1915 |
| 71 and 121 Heavy Batteries, Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) | Joined as a brigade 17-18 January 1915, left 6 April 1915 |
| CXXX (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA | Formed 8 September 1915 |
| 13 Heavy Battery, RGA | Originally raised for 13th (Western) Division, the battery was ordered to France on 30 May 1915 as part of XVII Heavy Brigade. On 23 October 1915, it joined 28th Division and moved to Salonika. On 26 February, left division and joined XXXVII Heavy Brigade |
| 7th Mountain Battery, RGA | Joined 30 December 1915, left for III Miuntain Artillery Brigade 18 June 1916 |
| IV Highland Mountain Brigade, RGA | Joined December 1916, left for XVI Corps 10 September 1918 (although its Bute Mountain Battery had already left for 27th Division on 22 July 1918) |
| LIV Brigade, RFA | Joined from 10th (Irish) Division 20 August 1917 |
| III Mountain Brigade, RGA | Joined 16 September 1918 |
| Divisional Royal Engineers | Under Divisional Commander Royal Engineers |
| 1/1st (North Midland) Field Company | Joined 26 December 1914, left for 46th (North Midland) Division 6 April 1915 |
| 1/1st (Northumbrian) Field Company | Joined 26 December 1914, left for 50th (Northumbrian) Division 2 June 1915 |
| 1/3rd (London) Field Company | Joined 26 December 1914, left for 47th (London) Division 6 April 1915 |
| Home Counties Divisional Signals Company | Joined 5 January 1915 |
| 38th Field Company | Joined from 6th Division 8 April 1915 |
| 2/1st (North Midland) Field Company | Joined from 5th Division 19 June 1915, left for 46th (North Midland) Division 10 July 1915 |
| 2/1st (Northumbrian) Field Company | Joined 10 July 1915, later renamed 449th Field Coy |
| 1/7th (Hampshire) Field Company | Joined 25 October 1915, later renamed 506th Field Coy |
| Divisional Royal Army Medical Corps | Under command of divisional Assistant Director of Medical Services |
| 84th (2nd London) Field Ambulance | Throughout |
| 85th (3rd London) Field Ambulance | Throughout |
| 86th (2nd Northumbrian) Field Ambulance | Throughout |
| 15th (London) Sanitary Section | Throughout |
Divisional histories
There appears to be no published history of the 28th Division.
Divisional memorials
There appears to be no memorial to this division.