42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division

42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division

The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division was a Territorial Force division of the British Army. Originally called the East Lancashire Division, it was redesignated as the 42nd Division on 25 May 1915. It was the first Territorial division to be sent overseas during the First World War. The division fought at Gallipoli, in the Sinai desert and on the Western Front in France and Belgium. In World War II it served as the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division with the British Expeditionary Force in France, was then reformed in Britain in November 1941 as the 42nd Armoured Division which was disbanded in October 1943 without serving overseas.

The division was reformed in the Territorial Army after the Second World War. Beckett 2008 says that TA units that were in suspended animation were formally reactivated on 1 January 1947, though no personnel were assigned until commanding officers and permanent staff had been appointed in March and April 1947. From December 1955, the division was placed on a lower establishment, for home defence purposes only. On 1 May 1961 the division was merged with North West District to become 42nd Lancashire Division/North West District.