No 71- 11th (Northern) Division

Thus quaint sign, believed by many to represent a keyhole, really had its origin in the “Sign of Life” or the “Ankus”. A service division, it served in the Dardanelles and in Egypt (hence the adoption of the sign), and finally on the Western Front. Some of its action in the last theatre were- 1916, Somme (Flers-Courcelette, Thiepval Ridge, Stuff Redoubt); 1917, Ancre, Messines, Ypres (Langemarck, St Julien, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle); 1918, Hindenburg Line (Scarpe2, Drocourt-Queant Line, Canal du Nord, Cambrai), Battles of the Selle and of the Sambre (Passage of the Grande Honelle)

No 72- 27th Division

Like the other divisions which made up the Salonica Force, the mark of this division was worn on the shoulder strap. The official type is illustrated- yellow or buff, but this was by no means universal throughout the division, some units contenting themselves with pieces of puttee string. A regular division, the 27th went to France early in 1915. Some of its battles there included- 1915 Neuve Chapelle (St Eloi), Ypres (Gravenstafel, St Julien, Frezenburg, Bellewaarde Ridge). In December of the same year it went on to the Salonica Front, where it remained up to the Armistice.

No 73- 22nd Division

All the divisions in the Salonica Force (22nd, 26th, 27th and 28th) wore their distinctive marks on their shoulder straps. Black was the twenty second’s colour. The division was made up of New Army recruits, and joined the BEF on the Western Front in September 1915. Two months later it was transferred to Salonica, and there it served right through the campaign, remaining in that theatre until the Armistice.

No 74- 13th Corps

When this sign was instituted Lieut. General Sir Walter Congreve VC, was the commander. The horseshoes stood for luck and, back to back, resembled a monogram of two “C’s”- “Congreve’s Corps”. Some of its actions were- 1916, Somme (Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Delville Wood, Ancre); 1917, Arras (First, Second and Third Scarpe, Arleux, Oppy Wood); 1918, Somme (Arras), the Advance in Flanders, Hindenburg Line (St Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir Line, Cambrai), the Selle and the Sambre.

No 75- 15th Corps

When the XV Corps was first formed in Egypt, pending its being given a number it was designated the “Y” Corps. Afterwards, when it was named the Fifteenth, the old Y sign was kept, as, with a little ingenuity, a Y might be made out of three Roman “V’s”, making 15. Among its engagements on the Western Front are- 1916, Somme (Albert, Bazentin Ridge, High Wood, Delville Wood, Guillemont, Ginchy, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Transloy Ridges); 1917, German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, Messines (Nieuport); 1918, Lys (Estaires, Hazebrouk, La Becque, Capture of Meteren); 1918, Outtersteene Ridge, Final Advance in Flanders (Ypres, Courtrai)

No 76- 12th (Eastern) Division

The “Ace of Spades” of the 12th was a well-known sign, but has no particular history attached to its origin. It was composed of New Army recruits, and its infantry consisted of the 35th, 36th and 37th Brigades. In June 1915 it joined the BEF on the Western Front. Among its chief actions are- Loos 1915, Somme 1916 (Albert, Pozieres Ridge, Transloy Ridges), Arras and Cambrai 1917, Somme 1918, Hindenburg Line 1918, and it participated in the Great Advance in 1918. To it fell an unusual and melancholy distinction; for one of its commanders- Major General FDV Wing CB, CMG- was killed in action at Loos on October 2nd 1915.

No 77- 52nd (Lowland) Division

This sign needs no explanation. The three infantry brigades used the same design; but in the case of the 155th Brigade the L was blue, for the 156th red, and for the 157th yellow. The division was composed of Territorials and entrained for Gallipoli in May 1915. On the way to the port a most dreadful railway disaster befel one of the trains. By the end of June the Division was at Cape Helles, where it remained until evacuation. Thence it went to Palestine, and, finally, in April 1918 to France, where it remained up to the end.

No 78- Fifth Army

The “Flying Fox” sign was one of the best known in France. It had no particular history, and was first used in the middle of 1916. Originally known as the “Reserve” Army, the Fifth was formed on the Western Front on May 23rd, 1916, and was given the designation of Fifth Army at the end of the following October. Heavily engaged in the fighting during March 21st to April 5th, 1918, it was forced to retreat by the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, and suffered heavy casualties. Later on, when the army command was changed, the “Star” sign superseded the other.

No 79- 40th Division

This was one of the New Army Divisions and went out to France in the middle of 1916. For a long time it used a diamond alone as a sign, but eventually (as the diamond was also used by the 42nd and 48th Divisions) a bantam cock was added. The division was originally known as a “bantam” division. In November 1917, the Fortieth captured Bourlon Wood, and the acorn was thereupon placed on the diamond. Some of its other actions include the Somme and Hindenburg Line 1916, Cambrai 1917, the Somme (St Quentin, Bapaume), the Lys (Estaires, Hazebrouck), Ypres 1918.

No 80- 50th (Northumbrian) Division

This was a territorial division and used the crest of one of its Commanders (Major-General Sir Percival Wilkinson KCMG, CB) as its sign. The Division went over to France in May 1915, and fought in many actions, of which the following are a very few:- Ypres 1915 (St Julien, Frezenburg Ridge, Bellewaarde Ridge), Somme 1916 (Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Transloy Ridges), Arras 1917, Ypres 1917 (Passchendaele), Somme 1918 (St Quentin, Somme Crossings, Rosieres), Lys 1918 (Estaires, Hazebrouck), Aisne 1918, Hindenburg Line 1918 (St Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir Line, Cambrai), the Selle, and the Sambre 1918.