50th (Northumbrian) Division
| Northumbrian Division 50th (Northumbrian) Division |
|
|---|---|
Division sign as used on signboards.
|
|
| Active | 1908–19 March 1919 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 British Army Territorial Force
|
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| HQ (peacetime) | Richmond, North Yorkshire |
| Engagements | |
| Insignia | |
| Battle patches of the 50th Division. | The patches were devised to a divisional scheme and were worn in 1917, all were worn at the top of both sleeves. |
| 149th Brigade. |
 Top (l-r) 1/4th, 1/5th, 1/6th, 1/7th Northumberland Fusiliers. Lower (l-r) 149th machine gun company, 149th trench mortar battery. |
| 150th Brigade. |
 Top (l-r) 1/4th East Yorkshires, 1/4th, 1/5th Green Howards, 1/5th Durham Light Infantry. Lower (l-r) 150th machine gun company, 150th trench mortar battery. |
| 151st Brigade. |
 Top (l-r) 1/5th, Borderers, 1/6th, 1/8th, 1/9th Durham Light Infantry. Lower (l-r) 151st machine gun company, 151st trench mortar battery. |
The Northumbrian Division was an infantry division of the British Army, formed in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force with units drawn from the north-east of England, notably Northumberland, Durham and the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire. The division was numbered as 50th (Northumbrian) Division in 1915 and served on the Western Front throughout World War I. Due to losses suffered in the Ludendorf Offensive in March 1918 it had to be comprehensively reorganized. It was once again reformed in the Territorial Army as the Northumbrian Division in 1920.
Under the Haldane Reforms of the Army of 1908, the Territorial Force was formed and organised into 14 regional Divisions, each with area Brigades and local Battalions. The Divisions were intended to be replicas of the regular army divisions of approximately 18,000 men on mobilisation including infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineer, medical, supply and signal units. The Northumbrian Division was typical, consisting of three infantry brigades, the 'Northumberland', 'York and Durham' and 'Durham Light Infantry (DLI)' Brigades. Each brigade was composed of four infantry battalions, descendants of the local Volunteer corps. In 1907 Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell was appointed to command the Division; he held command from April 1908 to 1910.
The terms of the Territorial Force soldiers were for home service only, they were to be used to garrison the country when the regulars left for overseas. In the summer of 1914 the Division was at its annual summer training camp in North Wales when, on 3 August, it received orders to return to the North East. Receiving mobilisation orders the next day, the Division arrived at its war station of the coastal defences, railways and dockyards of the Tyne and Wear area. After preparing these defences and undertaking more training, the Territorials volunteered to serve overseas in September. After more training the Division was the fourth to be declared fit for service, embarking for France between 16 and 19 April 1915 with orders to concentrate around Steenvoorde.
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