22. divize (22nd Division)( září 1914 - 31.3. 1919)

• 1915 - 1919 pod. XII. sbor (XII Corps) (1915 - 1919)

http://www.1914-1918.net/22div.htm

The history of 22nd Division

This Division was established in September 1914 as part of Army Order 388 authorising Kitchener´s Third New Army, K3. The units began to assemble in the area of Eastbourne and Seaford, with the artillery at Lewes, from September 1914. The Division remained in these areas, other than when the infantry moved for two weeks entrenchment training to Maidstone in April 1915, as it was trained and equipped.

The Division crossed to France in early September 1915, all units being concentrated near Flesselles by 9th of the month. But the stay in France was to be very short.

On 27 October 1915, the Division, having been moved by train to Marseilles, began to embark for Salonika. It completed concentration there in November, although the final artillery units were still coming in as late as 13 December 1915. The 22nd Division remained in the theatre for the rest of the war, taking part in the following operations:

1915

8-13 December: the Retreat from Serbia (Advanced Divisional HQ, 6th Brigade, 9th Border and 68th Field Ambulance only)

1916

10-18 August 1916: the Battle of Horseshoe Hill

13-14 September 1916: the Battle of Machukovo

1917

24-25 April and 8-9 May 1917: the Battles of Doiran

1918

The Division lost a number of units in mid 1918; they were transferred to France

18-19 September 1918: the Battle of Doiran

An Armistice with Bulgaria was signed on 30 September 1918.

By 18-20 October, units of the Division had marched back to Stavros. Here they embarked on destroyers with the intention of a landing at Dede Agach to continue the fight against Turkey. After one attempt was called off due to rough weather, the infantry finally landed on 28 October 1918. On reaching Makri, the Division learned that an Armistice with Turkey was imminent. Demobilisation began at Chugunsi and the Division ceased to exist by 31 March 1919.

The 22nd Division had suffered casualties of 7,728 killed, wounded and missing during the war but vastly larger numbers sick with malaria, dysentery and other diseases rife in the Salonika theatre.