Royal Naval Divisions

[alfisherjr]

I've read very little about the Royal navy Divisions. When and where did they serve? What uniforms did they wear? Any information would be appreciated.

Al Fisher

[CGM]

Hello Al,

Something I know very, very little about too. I've looked on The Long, Long Trail (see top left of the screen: LLT) and found this

http://www.1914-1918.net/63div.htm

A search of the LLT using it's search facility will bring up some more information as well.

Regards

CGM

[horatio2]

Al, The Royal Naval Division is too large a subject to decribe here. If you have read little, I suggest a quick Google will provide you with numerous sources to build up the big picture. Thereafter, the best source is "The Royal Naval Division" by Douglas Jerrold, which is available in reprint.

Except in late 1914, when they wore naval/marine uniform, the RND wore (fairly) normal khaki dress. They served in the MEF at Gallipoli and the BEF in Belgium and France.

A search on this Forum will yield numerous threads.

Good reading!

[Roger H]

You may find this link interesting in relation to action at Gavrelle, Arras.

http://www.royalnavaldivision.co.uk/THE%20...%20WINDMILL.pdf

Roger

[trenchtrotter]

In a nutshell the RND (only one) was formed from excess reserve sailors and was fielded as an infantry division. Simply they wore army uniform with some peculiar characteristics such as officers wearing both army rank and naval rank. Rank was naval and not army ie Petty Officers, Able Seaman etc.

They fought in Gallipoli, then to France where they fought in the final stages of the Somme, Arras (Gavrelle), and also in 1918 they were at Cambrai in the final advances.

Loads out there on the web and the books referred to are good.

Regards

TT

[peterhogg]

The 63rd Naval Division was famously involved in the Nov. 13/16 attack along the Ancre towards Station Road and Beaucourt-sur-Ancre. This included the Hawke, Hood, Drake, Howe, Anson and Nelson battalions and details of the 1/ and 2/Royal Marines, 10/Dublins and 4/Bedfords. Conditions were terrible with the men's advance hampered by mud and poor weather, to say nothing of heavy machine-gun fire from the German defenders.

If you have an opportunity to walk the area it is very interesting.

cheers,

peter