{{Use British English|date=February 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name=2nd Welsh Division<br />68th (2nd Welsh) Division<br />68th Division |image= |caption= |dates=23 January 1915–17 March 1919 |country={{flagcountry|UKGBI}} |allegiance= |branch={{army|United Kingdom|23px}} |type=[[Infantry]] |role= |size=[[Division (military)|Division]] |command_structure= |garrison= |garrison_label= |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles=[[World War I|First World War]] |battles_label=Service |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= |battle_honours_label= |disbanded= |flying_hours= |website= <!-- Commanders --> |commander1= |commander1_label= |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |commander4= |commander4_label= |notable_commanders=[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Arthur Sandbach|A.E. Sandbach]]<br />Major-General [[Raymond Reade|R.N.R. Reade]] <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= |identification_symbol_3= |identification_symbol_3_label= |identification_symbol_4= |identification_symbol_4_label= }} The '''2nd Welsh Division''' was a 2nd Line [[Territorial Force]] [[Division (military)|division]] of the [[British Army]] in the [[World War I|First World War]]. The division was formed as a duplicate of the [[53rd (Welsh) Division]] in January 1915. As the name suggests, the division recruited in [[Wales]], but also included units from [[Cheshire]] and [[Herefordshire]] in [[England]]. In August 1915, in common with all Territorial Force divisions, it was numbered as '''68th (2nd Welsh) Division'''. During the winter of 1917–18, the division was extensively reorganized and lost its territorial identity; henceforth it was known as '''68th Division'''.
It served on home defence duties throughout the war, whilst recruiting, training and supplying drafts to overseas units and formations. It was stationed for most of the war in [[East Anglia]], particularly in [[Norfolk]] and [[Suffolk]] and never left the UK. It was eventually disbanded in March 1919.
==History== In accordance with the [[Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907]] (7 Edw.7, c.9) which brought the [[Territorial Force]] into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for [[Territorial Force Imperial Service Badge|Imperial Service]]. Therefore, TF units were split into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. 2nd Line units performed the home defence role, although in fact most of these were also posted abroad in due course.<ref name=LLT_TF>{{cite web | url=http://www.1914-1918.net/tf.htm | title=Was my soldier in the Territorial Force (TF)? | publisher=The Long, Long Trail | first=Chris | last=Baker | access-date=19 February 2015 }}</ref>
On 15 August 1915, TF units were instructed to separate home service men from those who had volunteered for overseas service (1st Line), with the home service personnel to be formed into reserve units (2nd Line). On 31 August, 2nd Line units were authorized for each 1st Line unit where more than 60% of men had volunteered for overseas service. After being organized, armed and clothed, the 2nd Line units were gradually grouped into large formations thereby forming the 2nd Line divisions. These 2nd Line units and formations had the same name and structure as their 1st Line parents. On 24 November, it was decided to replace imperial service (1st Line) formations as they proceeded overseas with their reserve (2nd Line) formations. A second reserve (3rd Line) unit was then formed at the peace [[Headquarters#Military|headquarters]] of the 1st Line.<ref name=Becke6>{{harvnb|Becke|1937|p=6}}</ref>
As a result, the '''2nd Welsh Division''' was formed in January 1915 with the [[203rd (2nd North Wales) Brigade|2nd North Wales]], [[204th (2nd Cheshire) Brigade|2nd Cheshire]] and [[205th (2nd Welsh Border) Brigade|2nd Welsh Border Brigades]] as a 2nd Line duplicate of the [[Welsh Division]].<ref>{{harvnb|Rinaldi|2008|p=40}}</ref>
==Order of battle== {| |- |colspan="3" |
===Organisation, November 1915=== Organisation in November 1915 after reorganization when all 2nd Line formations became liable for overseas service.<ref name=Becke86>{{harvnb|Becke|1937|p=86}}</ref> |- valign="top" |'''[[203rd (2nd North Wales) Brigade]]''' : [[1st Denbighshire Rifle Volunteers#2/4th (Denbighshire) Battalion|2/4th (Denbighshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers]] : [[1st Flintshire Rifle Volunteers#2/5th (Flintshire) Battalion|2/5th (Flintshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers]] : [[6th (Caernarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers#2/6th (Carnarvonshire & Anglesey) Battalion|2/6th (Carnarvonshire & Anglesey) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers]] : [[7th (Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers#2/7th (Merionethshire & Montgomeryshire) Battalion|2/7th (Merionethshire & Montgomeryshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers]] |rowspan=3| '''[[Royal Field Artillery]]''' : [[1st Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers|2/I Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade]] ::2/1st Glamorganshire (H) Battery ::2/2nd Glamorganshire (H) Battery ::2/I Welsh (H) Brigade [[Ammunition Column]] : [[2nd Welsh Brigade, Royal Field Artillery|2/II Welsh Brigade]] ::2/3rd Glamorganshire Battery ::2/4th Glamorganshire Battery ::2/1st Cardigan Battery ::2/II Welsh Brigade Ammunition Column : [[Cheshire Artillery Volunteers|2/I Cheshire Brigade]] ::2/1st Cheshire Battery ::2/2nd Cheshire Battery ::2/3rd Cheshire Battery ::2/I Cheshire Brigade Ammunition Column : [[1st Monmouthshire Artillery Volunteers|1/IV Welsh Brigade]] ::2/1st Monmouth Battery ::2/2nd Monmouth Battery ::2/3rd Monmouth Battery ::1/IV Welsh Brigade Ammunition Column : 2/1st Welsh Divisional Ammunition Column
'''[[Royal Garrison Artillery]]''' : [[1st Carnarvonshire Artillery Volunteers|1/1st Welsh (Carnarvonshire) Heavy Battery]] and Ammunition Column : [[1st Carnarvonshire Artillery Volunteers|2/1st Welsh (Carnarvonshire) Heavy Battery]] and Ammunition Column
|rowspan=3| '''Divisional troops''' : 68th (2/1st Welsh) Divisional Cyclist Company
'''[[Royal Engineers]]''' : 3/1st Cheshire Field Company : [[Glamorgan Fortress Royal Engineers#Service|1/1st Glamorgan Field Company]] : [[Glamorgan Fortress Royal Engineers#Service|2/1st Glamorgan Field Company]] : 68th (2/1st Welsh) Divisional Signal Company
'''[[Royal Army Medical Corps]]''' : 2/1st Welsh Field Ambulance : 2/2nd Welsh Field Ambulance : 2/3rd Welsh Field Ambulance
'''68th (2/1st Welsh) Divisional Train, [[Royal Army Service Corps|ASC]]''' : 549th Company : 550th Company : 551st Company : 552nd Company |- valign="top" ||'''[[204th (2nd Cheshire) Brigade]]''' : 2/4th Battalion, [[Cheshire Regiment]] : 2/5th ([[Earl of Chester]]'s) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment : [[6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment|2/6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment]] : 2/7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment |- valign="top" ||'''[[205th (2nd Welsh Border) Brigade]]''' : 2/1st Battalion, [[Monmouthshire Regiment]] : 2/2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment : 2/3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment : 2/1st Battalion, [[Herefordshire Light Infantry|Herefordshire Regiment]] |- |}
==Commanders== The 68th (2nd Welsh) Division had the following commanders:<ref name=Becke83>{{harvnb|Becke|1937|p=83}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" ! From !! Rank !! Name |- | 23 January 1915 || [[Brigadier-General]] || [[Rowland Mainwaring|R.B. Mainwaring]] |- | 15 November 1915 || [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] || [[Arthur Sandbach|A.E. Sandbach]] |- | 14 February 1916 || Major-General || [[Raymond Reade|R.N.R. Reade]] |- | 1 December 1917 || Major-General || [[Edward Perceval|E.M. Perceval]]{{efn|[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] E.M. Perceval was commander until 15 April 1919.<ref name=Becke83/>}} |}
==See also== {{Portal|United Kingdom}} * [[53rd (Welsh) Division]] for the 1st Line formation * [[List of British divisions in World War I]]
==Notes== {{notelist|2}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==Bibliography== * {{cite book | last = Becke | first = Major A.F. | year = 1937 | title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2B. The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th) with The Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions | publisher = His Majesty's Stationery Office | location = London | isbn = 1-871167-00-0 }} * {{cite book | last = Farndale | first = General Sir Martin | author-link = Martin Farndale | year = 1988 | series = History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery | title = The Forgotten Fronts and the Home Base, 1914–18 | publisher = The Royal Artillery Institution | location = Woolwich | isbn = 1-870114-05-1 }} * {{cite book | last = James | first = Brigadier E.A. | year = 1978 | title = British Regiments 1914–18 | publisher = Samson Books Limited | location = London | isbn = 0-906304-03-2 }} * {{cite book | last = Rinaldi | first = Richard A | year = 2008 | title = Order of Battle of the British Army 1914 | publisher = Ravi Rikhye | isbn = 978-0-97760728-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hzUZ-26KYQ4C }}
==External links== *{{cite web |url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/divs/68_div.htm |title=68th (2nd Welsh) Division on ''The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918'' by PB Chappell |access-date=2015-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204231817/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/divs/68_div.htm |archive-date=4 December 2014 |df=dmy }}
{{British Army Divisions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:68 Infantry Division}} [[Category:Infantry divisions of the British Army in World War I]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1915]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1919]] [[Category:1915 establishments in the United Kingdom]]