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The 4th Mounted Division was a short-lived Yeomanry Division of the British Army active during World War I. It was formed on 20 March 1916, converted to 2nd Cyclist Division in July 1916 and broken up on 16 November 1916. It remained in England on Home Defence duties throughout its existence.[1]
| 4th Mounted Division 2nd Cyclist Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 20 March 1916 – 16 November 1916 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Yeomanry then Cyclist |
| Size | Division |
| Headquarters | Colchester then Ipswich |
| Service | World War I |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lord Lovat |
4th Mounted Division
The 4th Mounted Division was formed on 20 March 1916 from three 2nd Line[a] mounted brigades (2/1st Eastern, 2/1st South Eastern and 2/1st South Western) and the new 2/1st Southern Mounted Brigade. The Headquarters was at Colchester[5] and Brigadier-General (Major-General from 26 May) Lord Lovat was appointed to command.[6] The brigades were stationed at Wivenhoe, Canterbury, Kelvedon and Manningtree; they were numbered as 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Mounted Brigades, respectively, on 31 March.[4] Being formed relatively late, it did not appear to suffer the same organizational problems (lack of equipment and personnel) as other 2nd Line divisions, for example the 1st and 2/2nd Mounted Divisions.[5]
2nd Cyclist Division
In July 1916 there was a major reorganization of 2nd Line yeomanry units in the United Kingdom. All but 12 regiments were converted to cyclists:[4] the rest were dismounted, handed over their horses to the remount depots and were issued with bicycles. The 4th Mounted Division was reorganized as the 2nd Cyclist Division, now commanding the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Cyclist Brigades.[6] On reorganisation, 14th Mounted Brigade – with 2/1st Hertfordshire, 2/1st Queen's Own West Kent and 2/1st Essex Yeomanry – was posted to the new 1st Mounted Division (3rd Mounted Division redesignated) where it formed the new 3rd Mounted Brigade and remained mounted.[7] In exchange, the 10th Mounted Brigade (2/1st South Midland) joined as the 8th Cyclist Brigade.[8]
The Headquarters remained at Colchester and the brigades at Wivenhoe, Kelvedon, Manningtree and West Malling. It was assigned to the Southern Army, Home Defence Troops,[5] and Lord Lovat remained in command.[6] The Headquarters moved to Ipswich in September 1916 and the brigade were now at Wivenhoe, Wingham, Woodbridge and Ipswich.[5]
A further reorganization in November 1916 saw the 2nd Cyclist Division broken up. The cyclist brigades were dispersed and the yeomanry regiments were amalgamated in pairs to form Yeomanry Cyclist Regiments in new cyclist brigades. The division had remained in England on Home Defence duties throughout its brief existence.[5]
| 4th Mounted Division – 20 March 1916 to July 1916[9] | |
|---|---|
| 13th Mounted Brigade (2/1st Eastern)[n1 1] | Signal Service
Medical
4th Mounted Division Train
|
| 14th Mounted Brigade (2/1st South Eastern)[n1 3] | |
| 15th Mounted Brigade (2/1st South Western)[n1 4] | |
| 16th Mounted Brigade (2/1st Southern)[n1 5] | |
| |
| 2nd Cyclist Division – July 1916 to 16 November 1916[9] | |
|---|---|
5th Cyclist Brigade[n2 1]
|
Royal Horse Artillery
Signal Service
Medical
2nd Cyclist Division Train
|
| 6th Cyclist Brigade[n2 2] | |
7th Cyclist Brigade[n2 3]
| |
8th Cyclist Brigade[n2 4]
| |
| |
- In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw. 7, c.9) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units.[2] 2nd Line units performed the home defence role, although in fact most of these were also posted abroad in due course.[3] Likewise, existing pre-war formations (brigades and divisions) formed duplicate 2nd Lines with the same structure as their 1st Line parents.[4]
- 2/1st Berkshire Royal Horse Artillery was attached to 7th Cyclist Brigade from September 1916 until the division was broken up.[7]
- 2/1st Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery was attached to 8th Cyclist Brigade from September 1916 until the division was broken up.[7]
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