3rd Cavalry Division
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Cavalry Division was a division
of the British Army
in the First World War. It was formed in Ludgershall, Wiltshire
England in September 1914 under the command of General Major General Julian Byng
. The division moved to Belgium
in the first week of October 1914, landing at Zeebrugge
, although its third Brigade was only formed once there.
During the war the division took part in most of the major actions where cavalry were used as a mounted mobile force, and also many where the troops were dismounted and effectively served as infantry.
On November 11, 1918, units of the division had reached the River Dender at Leuze
and Lessines
in Belgium
, when orders were received that they would cover the advance of the British Second Army
into Germany. They started the advance on 17 November, divisional headquarters being established at Waterloo
on 21 November. The following winter was spent in Belgium but by 13 March 1919, the division was.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in the First World War. It was formed in Ludgershall, Wiltshire
Ludgershall, Wiltshire
Ludgershall is a town and civil parish north east of Salisbury, Wiltshire, at grid SU264509. The population was: 535 in 1831; 1,906 in 1951; and 3,775 in 2001. Ludgershall is now officially a town.-Historical features:...
England in September 1914 under the command of General Major General Julian Byng
Julian Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy
Field Marshal Julian Hedworth George Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy was a British Army officer who served as Governor General of Canada, the 12th since Canadian Confederation....
. The division moved to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in the first week of October 1914, landing at Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
, although its third Brigade was only formed once there.
During the war the division took part in most of the major actions where cavalry were used as a mounted mobile force, and also many where the troops were dismounted and effectively served as infantry.
On November 11, 1918, units of the division had reached the River Dender at Leuze
Leuze
Leuze may refer to the following places:*Leuze-en-Hainaut, in the province of Hainaut, Belgium*Somme-Leuze, in the province of Namur, Belgium*Leuze, Aisne, in the department of Aisne, France...
and Lessines
Lessines
Lessines is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Lessines had a total population of 17,848. The total area is 72.29 km² which gives a population density of 247 inhabitants per km²...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, when orders were received that they would cover the advance of the British Second Army
British Second Army
The British Second Army was active during both the First and Second World Wars. During the First World War the army was active on the Western Front and in Italy...
into Germany. They started the advance on 17 November, divisional headquarters being established at Waterloo
Waterloo, Belgium
Waterloo is a Walloon municipality located in the province of Walloon Brabant, Belgium. On December 31, 2009, Waterloo had a total population of 29,573. The total area is 21.03 km² which gives a population density of 1,407 inhabitants per km²...
on 21 November. The following winter was spent in Belgium but by 13 March 1919, the division was.
6th Cavalry Brigade
- 1st The Royal Dragoons
- 10th Royal Hussars
- 3rd (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards
- 1/1st North Somerset YeomanryNorth Somerset YeomanryThe North Somerset Yeomanry was first raised in Frome in 1798. A condition of service was that it should not be required to march more than 10 miles from the town and it was soon disbanded in 1802...
- 6th Signal Troop RE
- 6th Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron
7th Cavalry Brigade
- 1st Life GuardsLife Guards (British Army)The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
- 2nd Life Guards
- 1/1st Leicestershire YeomanryLeicestershire YeomanryThe Leicestershire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1794 and again in 1803, which provided cavalry and mounted infantry in the South African War and First World War and provided two field artillery regiments of the Royal Artillery in the Second World War,...
(Prince Albert's Own) - 7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards
- 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons6th (Inniskilling) DragoonsThe 6th Dragoons was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1689. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 5th/6th Dragoons in 1922.The 'Skins' are one of the four ancestor regiments of the Royal Dragoon...
- 17th Lancers17th LancersThe 17th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War...
(Duke of Cambridge's Own) - 7th Signal Troop R.E.
- 7th Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron
8th Cavalry Brigade
- Royal Horse GuardsRoyal Horse GuardsThe Royal Horse Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry.Founded August 1650 in Newcastle Upon Tyne by Sir Arthur Haselrig on the orders of Oliver Cromwell as the Regiment of Cuirassiers, the regiment became the Earl of Oxford's Regiment during the reign of...
- 10th Royal Hussars ,(Prince of Wales's Own)
- 1/1st Essex YeomanryEssex YeomanryThe Essex Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army raised in 1797. The regiment recruited volunteers from the county of Essex in the East of England.-Origins:...
- 8th Signal Troop R.E.
- 8th Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron
Canadian Cavalry Brigade
Joined the Division from 5th Cavalry Division on 13 March 1918.- Royal Canadian Dragoons
- Lord Strathcona's Horse
- Fort Garry Horse
- Canadian Cavalry Brigade Machine-Gun Squadron
- Canadian Cavalry Signal Troop
Divisional Artillery
All units of the Royal Horse Artillery unless shown- XV Brigade RHA , C Battery attached to 6th Cavalry Brigade, K Battery to 7th Cavalry Brigade.
- G Battery RHA
- Royal Canadian HA Brigade (joined with Canadian Cavalry Brigade, 13 March 1918)
- 3rd Cavalry Divisional Ammunition Park
Divisional commanders
- Major General the Hon. J. Byng (from formation to May 1915)
- Major General J.C.Briggs (from 7 May 1915 to October 1915)
- Major General J. Vaughan (from 15 October 1915 to March 1918)
- Major General A. Harman (from 5 May 1918.).