28th Division commanders?

[armourersergeant]

I have just recieved backsome info regarding two pics that they hold of General G.Forestier-Walker who to my knowledge only commanded the 27th division for the last two years of the war but the captions marked by the IWM clearly state that they depict Forestier-Walker 'Goc 28th div landing with staff at Chanak nov 1918.'

I suppose its possible he was given 28th at the end of the war and most records do not show it as i have found it very difficult to get info regarding this chap. Anybody got any suggestions and ideas or even any div history to refer to, to help me?

Thanks in anticipation.

Arm.

ps i have e-mailed IWM to see if info is correct.

[Greenwoodman]

Becke's Order of Battle of Divisions show FW as GOC 27 Div 22/12/1916 until invalided 09/03/1919.

Becke show Maj Gen H L Croker as GOC 28 Div 08/03/1917 until 08/11/1920. Becke has a page on 28 Div in Turley 1919-1923, and states that GOC 28 Div (who was by then Maj Gen T O Marden) took over Dardanelles defence at Chanak Sep 1922. Part of 83 Bde had been at Chanak since April 1920.

27 Div operated in the Trans-Caucasus, and the GOC (Maj Gen G N Cory) passed through Constantinople in Sept 1919, after the disbandment of the division.

I have "The Chanak Crisis" by David Walder, which lists 8 references to Marden in its index, but nothing on FW.

IWM must have the wrong caption for their photo

[armourersergeant]

Richard,

I have never heard of this 'Chanak Crisis' but i am assuming it was post war. This pic says nov 1918, so i am wondering if the man is the correct man or if it is a different general in the picture. I will await their reply before proceeding in a purchase of a copy.

Now i will show my ignorance a little by asking.....

I have heard of Becke's order of battle but have never seen or used it and i was wondering what is access like to see it. That is to say i believe there is a copy at the Pro but is their any other references to it online etc.

Thanks for the info

Arm.

[Paul Reed]

I have heard of Becke's order of battle but have never seen or used it and i was wondering what is access like to see it. That is to say i believe there is a copy at the Pro but is their any other references to it online etc.

It forms the basis of the information about British divisions on Chris' main site, although Chris has greatly expanded the information and presented it in a far more accessible format.

Whatever you need to know from Becke is better found on the Long, Long Trail.

[MartinWills]

The order of Battle volumes are available as reprints from Ray Westlake, as well as Becke's volumes, two further volumes have been added by an author whose name escapes me at the moment. An Inter Library Loan via your local lending library should secure whichever volumes you want to peruse.

It is surprising what you can obtain by this method - rare unit histories, for example.

[ianw]

Yes, I ordered something via my library recently and was surprised to see that it eventually came from the library at Sandhurst.

[Sgt York]

The Central Library in Liverpool City Centre has the complete set of Becke and the marvellous 4 volume set of the 'Medical History of the War' by Major-General Sir W.G. MacPherson - I never tire looking through this history.

I managed to get the 'History of the 25th Division' by Lt-Col M. Kincaid-Smith through the Inter Library Loan.

G.O.C. 28th Division

17/12/14 Maj-Gen E. S. Bulfin (sick, 11/10/15)

12/10/15 Maj-Gen C. J. Briggs

18/05/16 Brig-Gen H. S. L. Ravenshaw (acting)

21.05/16 Maj-Gen H. L. Croker

27/01/17 Brig-Gen E. M. Morris (acting)

08/03/17 Maj-Gen H. L. Croker

08/11/20 Maj-Gen T. O. Marden

19/03/23 Col-Commandant A. S. Cotton

We all owe 'Becke' and 'James' immensely.