57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division

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The 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division was a British Army unit created in 1914 as part of the massive expansion of the British military during World War I. It was demobilized in 1919 following cessation of hostilities. The 57th Division was originally created as a Territorial Army (reserve) force but was sent to France on 22 Feb 1917, serving on the Western front for the duration of the war. The 57th was subordinate to XI Corps, First Army.

During the war the division fought in the:

• Second Battle of Passchendaele (eighth phase of the Third Battle of Ypres)
• Battle of the Scarpe (first phase of the Second Battles of Arras 1918, also known as the Second Battle of the Somme)
• Battle of Drocourt-Queant (second phase of the Second Battles of Arras 1918)
• Battle of the Canal du Nord (third phase of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line)
• Battle of Cambrai (sixth phase of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line)

During the World War II it was reconstituted from the 42nd Infantry Brigade for deception purposes.^[1] It was one of a number of units created for this purpose or having their names or numbers changed to keep the Axis forces confused.

Commanders

• Brigadier Adam (acting) (05 Nov 1914 to April 1915)
• Major General Forster (April 1915 to 20 Oct 1916)
• Lieutenant General Robert Broadwood, (20 Oct 1916 until killed in action 21 Jun 1917)
• Brigadeer Wray (acting) (21 Jun 1917 to 01 Jul 1917)
• Major General Barnes (01 Jul 1917 to 04 Jul 1919)

WW-I Order of Battle

• 170th (2/1st North Lancashire) Brigade
• 171st (2/1st Liverpool) Brigade
• 172nd (2/1st South Lancashire) Brigade
• Assorted subordinate units

References