infantry division raised service world war formed egypt early new_zealand renamed detachment australian personnel left reinforcements new_zealand basis division commanded duration war division saw service western france belgium fighting major battles notable successes new division suffered defeat october costly day war early division helped blunt german spring offensive allies went offensive august days offensive followed lead divisions army advanced kilometres days division major engagement war early november stages war strongest divisions dominion serving western armistice served occupation duties germany disbanded background following outbreak world war new_zealand government authorised formation command major general service abroad october sufficient volunteers form brigades formations formed main body australian 1st basis new_zealand fought gallipoli campaign turks december depleted new_zealand evacuated gallipoli placed reserve near suez_canal concerns turks attack canal envisaged division soon called serve commanded major general reinforcements australia new_zealand began program intensive training deployment main body numbers volunteers steadily increased point longer integrated existing brigades january commander egypt lieutenant general sir proposed number available new_zealand personnel establishment new brigades existing brigade form new_zealand infantry division service western new_zealand government initially concerned prospect maintaining infantry brigades concurred murray number personnel egypt sufficient new division strength short term formation officially came egypt march new_zealand renamed russell regarded senior officer performed appointed commander new formation infantry brigades division commanded led original brigade gallipoli formed reinforcements currently egypt commanded gallipoli veteran brigadier general infantry brigade known commanded division included squadron designated remaining squadrons integrated pioneer battalion alongside personnel brigades field artillery total division men ranks australian 1st form command early march assumed responsibility section suez_canal guarded began embark france weeks duty returned base shipped france early april western divisions commanded lieutenant general taking initially based sector undergo intensive training trench warfare western line regarded allies nursery sector new units undergo called intensive offensive operations easy introduction new arriving sector found defensive arrangements poor immediately set improving trenches wire bulk division personnel manned secondary defences line avoid german artillery forward areas constantly patrolled attack impression fully manned static nature war meant intended scouts redundant squadrons australian infantry divisions soon transferred new formation designated 1st light horse regiment july transferred newly arrived moved south new follow course meantime general sir commander called actions attract attention away allied preparations forthcoming offensive achieve new mounted trench raids time relieved august incurred casualties including dead battle period refit training september assigned time participating september 2nd brigade 1st brigade reserve participated battle attack planned capture number german held trench systems successive advances alternating battalions objective switch trench complex designated brown blue lines included trench network final objective trench complex designated attack preceded day preparatory bombardment division supported tanks time tanks assigned division sector advance new flanked corresponding movements neighbouring british 41st following artillery barrage laid divisional guns 2nd brigade advanced objective switch trench complex seized hour losses heavy left advance forward movement held exposed 2nd fire continued switch trench won division victoria_cross actions dealing machine gun posts briefly delayed advance planned benefit tank support 2nd brigade objective tanks suffered mechanical problems failed arrive time battalion moved regardless secured brown line tanks followed knocked action artillery fire remaining tanks moved blue line advance led 2nd 3rd beginning slow preparatory bombardment failed clear barbed wire ahead trench infantry gone ground await tanks arriving crushed wire allowed clear trenches garrison 5th taken prisoner efforts consolidate newly captured positions right flank reached portion captured 47th division new remained exposed fire left flank german artillery fire hampered attempts shore positions began attack final objective secured portion trenches midday despite heavy casualties able secure objective withdraw village left new exposed heavy machine gun fire flanks germans spotted advancing northeast captain senior surviving officer area gave orders strengthen corresponding section line platoon began moving effect order withdrawal remaining elements battalion began pull village able check withdrawal men opted dig try despite afternoon new managed hold line including village flanks remained exposed failure 41st 47th divisions reach hold frontage successful day division captured ground divisions involved battle reached objectives ended day possession plus actually 41st division sector strengthen division positions brought forward lines overnight day attack launched brigade supported artillery suppressed attack germans minutes start battalion advance captured evening weather deteriorated days rain filled trenches shell holes turned ground thick mud new continually harassed german artillery attacks spur overlooking despite conditions 1st brigade carried operations strengthen division exposed left flank remained vulnerable fire german positions attack planned september postponed poor weather september attack went ahead intended extend high ground known factory corner high ground 1st brigade easily captured cover barrage days later factory corner formed attack brigade neighbouring designated trench support time attack straightforward took extra day entire objective new_zealand hands october preliminary canterbury battalions captured near fell 47th division days later time withdrawal lines october suffered casualties killed action wounded missing fatal september opening day battle casualties men joined fighting restructuring division moved north mid october replaced remained patrolling sector mounting raids february men division service western 2nd soon recovered 1st brigade having gallipoli veterans continued struggle commander consequently russell sent leave reorganised brigades 1st brigade swapped battalions 1st canterbury battalions 2nd 2nd wellington 2nd brigade placed battalions 1st brigade formations 2nd brigade artillery brigades reduced distributing batteries fourth came direct control period saw formation england response request new_zealand government infantry division numbers insufficient new division personnel new_zealand arriving depots europe higher rate lost division casualties attrition early reserve men available draw new brigade adversely affecting ability replace existing troops field short term brigade core units infantry battalions designated canterbury newly promoted brigadier general appointed brigade commander rigorous training programme curtailed orders report france embarked infantry brigades strongest dominion formation fighting france personnel russell like division brigade structure remainder british dominion infantry divisions brigades continually fend requests use extra brigade work corps rear area meantime division moved flanders february initially based following month shifted north area south relieve planning offensive heavily defended region flanders plan involved series steps capture sector given task capturing began intensive training forthcoming battle close supervision russell extensive preparatory work carried transportation infrastructure laid ample supplies shells brought forward artillery plan attack broken phases called 2nd carry initial advance trenches western slopes ridge village second phase advance eastern slope ridge objective designated final phase involve 1st brigade push line metres series outposts designated outpost line serve starting point advance continue attack designated mile crest ridge following preparatory artillery barrage began june battle commenced early hours june explosion mines dug german lines million pounds explosive felt far away london new centre flanked marked time australians new fought alongside major engagement western 2nd quickly moved forward surviving german soldiers encountered initially mines quickly subdued prisoners war continued advance resistance opponents soldiers 40th saxon 3rd divisions soon dealt outskirts village sight attacking village slowed machine gun posts corporal led section successful foray deal later awarded planned 1st brigade reached shortly began preparing phase advance establishment cover artillery barrage brigade 2nd moved forward formed series outposts close dug midday placed fend german advance continued supported new_zealand artillery meantime consolidated positions evening aware germans likely lay artillery barrage russell ordered minimum number troops remain personnel moved original positions day expected barrage began new remained position june relieved successful operation division objectives achieved schedule germans field guns numerous machine guns trench mortars captured losses division amounted casualties actually incurred holding captured ground casualties inflicted despite russell attempts number soldiers line defences minimum rely artillery machine guns primary means defending day battle russell visiting captured artillery barrage opened killed brigade commander brigadier general general officer killed action june division manning lines southeast mounting raids pushing outposts forward german territory generally consolidating positions finally withdrawn sector end month rest division returned area mid july tasked minor operations intended german attention away sector north focus renewed fighting continued planned offensive russell brigades man division section rotation trenches spent time training period new captured village subsequently lost german counterattack end month retook village playing key role action later awarded efforts following weeks men division worked consolidate positions trenches rain having set casualties incurred period including killed sniper august new command offensive september detailed ongoing offensive known battle wanted british hands winter series limited actions carried september october initial role launch attack running known attack overall strategy capture ridges running prior attack village battle weeks leading battle division repeatedly practiced tactics employ attack moved line frontage approximately metres moved southern portion line october right left flank 1st brigade corps left 1st brigade 1st brigade tasked objectives 1st wellington battalions 3rd canterbury battalions advance secure running crest ridge battalions respective brigades predecessors blue line spur october preceded artillery barrage beginning division began offensive infantry advancing barrage caught mass german troops preparing attack open german infantry battered artillery fire swiftly dealt advancing new despite presence reached schedule limited operations conducted forward line parties advancing battalions having moved red line attacking forces phase advance began infantry remaining battalions 1st moved forward despite resistance machine gun nests pockets infantry shell holes reached rain began fall later afternoon ground quickly days protection heavy artillery support brigades consolidated positions established trench lines germans mounted small scale easily dealt october rain began set making movement men equipment line difficult october new relieved attack success brigades taking objectives schedule captured prisoners war loss men killed wounded 1st brigade killed wounded starting positions division gains metres russell pleased outcome pushed involvement ongoing offensive success october brought forward phase offensive day october british divisions involved initial attack followed advance october battle limited time prepare intended set good base attack capturing attack proved failure significant advancement lines british divisions involved 49th divisions battalions unable reach starting positions scheduled time attack began held mud german defensive positions sake metres casualties despite keen fall pushed ahead october attack erroneous reports headquarters attack achieved similar gains october concurred discovered error fall corps needing restore faith leadership disregarded warnings senior artillery engineer officers ground conditions favourable winter rain set following time constraints key factor compromised preparations attack attack scheduled october likewise hampered limited preparation time terrain attack involve 2nd reserve attacking right new attempted division left 9th scottish division plan required new_zealand brigades advance battalion frontage battalions brigade sequence capture objectives designated green lines new number preparatory overcome battle men previous weeks carrying engineering work ongoing rainfall affected roads division starting positions placement supporting artillery muddy ground provide stable platform guns furthermore artillery barrage targeting barbed wire protecting slopes failed destroy fact determined scouts october information reached brigade commanders took command following young wounding pressed russell cancellation attack refused early morning october germans alert bombarded areas new_zealand infantry assembling prior commencing advance rounds artillery fell short inflicted numerous casualties new completed barrage began moving forward advance slowed ground conditions machine gun fire flanks stalled reaching wire arranged belts following battalions began catch leading unit 2nd filling depleted ranks held wire parties led non commissioned officers managed breach wire attack german leaders killed survivors began dig line advanced barely metres mid morning apparent failure new advance section exposed left flank neighbouring secured objective pushing second likewise left 9th scottish division managed reach final objective issued new instructions abandoning hope getting push attack timed early afternoon flanking scots pushed australians failed gains withdrawing gunfire flanks warned battalion commanders capturing impossible twice pushed russell cancellation attack russell initial response continue shortly attack begin abandoned moved line relieve 2nd remained division withdrawn training area late october following relief division suffered heavy losses october men killed wounded worst defeat new_zealand military history russell blamed outcome attack wrote politicians new_zealand stating private correspondence clear planning preparation staff inadequate account poor ground conditions winter november transferred left sole representative divisions renamed renamed corps returned mid november holding mile village stream took right sector overlooked spur topped ruined occupied germans december 1st canterbury 2nd brigade mounted attack attack launched midday attempt surprise germans proved relative failure ground taken remained enemy hands action private henry dealt machine gun post holding advance company won having advanced metres brigade consolidated positions withdrawn days later replaced units stage war popular commander temporarily charge division russell leave brigade commanders embarked worn january evacuated england treatment recovery rejoined original british_army regiment returning division rumours soldiers division punishment refusal carry october attack february losses resulted disbandment originally formed new_zealand prime minister felt new_zealand contributing fair share war effort determined additional reinforcements sent maintain brigade needed broken supply divisional replacements consequently brigade personnel remaining formations bring strength surplus troops formed 1st 2nd brigade provided pool trained reinforcements division changes divisional machine gun battalion formed companies belonging brigade squadron leave unit solely personnel apart senior officers designated spring offensive march germans launched spring offensive involved divisions advancing kilometres allies quickly pushed gap formed germans penetrated line following tour duty trenches winter months deployed cover gap developed corps old battlefield moving rapidly positioned march linked days new dug multiple advances germans initially artillery support infantry able quickly artillery began arriving evening march supplies took longer arrive rain began fall march soldiers wet weather gear new defensive positions improved despite weather harassment german artillery killed original commander barrage targeted headquarters division undertook offensive action british forces spring offensive battalions seized high ground farm march success relatively trivial new morale rest army germans launched renewed effort push april armies attacking new experienced heavy bombardment began cut communications later day suffered separate attacks infantry second recaptured farm attempt push main trenches new rebuffed heavy losses inflicted april pressure decreasing new_zealand positions germans shifted offensive north area bulk remained consolidated defences artillery went reinforce british forces bearing renewed german attacks casualties period war high nearly division personnel killed march april wounded continued man trenches section regularly mounted trench raids amusement new german soldiers manning trenches opposite warned avoid captured eaten june division withdrawn new returned early july settled sector east included division previous stint trench raids carried raid mounted july performed actions led posthumous award killed day prominent soldier renowned scouting skills death division days offensive august major offensive western commenced began attack canadian rolled german lines kilometres day advance days germans began shore defences recognised time pressure german decided use army continually forefront advance army remainder offensive stage war strongest infantry divisions dominion serving western numbered men reinforcements england aided fact new_zealand introduced conscription august continuous supply reinforcements prevented suffering reduction number battalions affected british australian divisions manpower reserves dried division advanced usually brigade sized battalions forward field artillery brigade allowed rapid artillery support need arose brigades moved forward initial involvement offensive august joined divisions army attack kilometre albert railway role relatively minor action days division played significant known second battle battle began august nighttime advance 1st 2nd brigades clear approaches including progress delayed heavy machine gun fire artillery took toll supporting tanks august captured new heavy artillery barrage attacked town time germans withdrawing village fell following day continued advance capturing september following failed attempt previous day moved outer defences including overlooked german positions conjunction 37th division elements 38th division new attacked spur september crest spur captured trench system far action earned exploits leading patrol captured company germans weeks line division attacked september easily achieving objectives capturing prisoners new adjacent platoon managed cross reach village pinned 1st 1st brigade managed cross day capture village private member trapped platoon earned war efforts messages companions company commander demolition charges bridge spanning october attacked germans withdrawn abandoned defences contribution 2nd easily achieved objectives advance flanking units placed intervene germans mounted counterattack adjacent british 2nd division october division advanced nearly kilometres including crossing captured prisoners field guns casualties amounted men withdrew line brief rest returning october end october positioned west fortified town november phase allied advance began division tasked capture extending line past town encircled achievement scaling surrounded town pushed close day 1st brigade established line east division successful day western day fall elements division moved 1st canterbury 2nd brigade leading way covering kilometres attacked captured houses occupied german forces men killed contact enemy marked offensive action division relieved night days offensive advanced kilometres days moving reserve rear area armistice signed november occupation duties disbandment chosen form allied occupation force germany displeasure personnel expected return home mid december begun moving belgium cologne arrived december city suburbs division remained active duty educational programs implemented began end december departure enlisted unit leave division additional men sent england leave remained transportation new_zealand arranged russell taken ill late january departed warmer climate leaving division artillery commander brigadier general charge division artillery march division formally disbanded march occupation duties taken memorials war new_zealand government instituted national battlefield memorials honour new_zealand soldiers died western overwhelming majority fatalities men memorials designed located memorial includes words ends earth contrast names new_zealand soldiers known grave listed memorials missing gate instead policy new_zealand government establish smaller memorials missing near soldiers went missing new british cemetery
New Zealand Division