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The Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)

No. 18 Battalion, MGC

A Machine Gun Battalion was attached to each Infantry Division and was formed of three MG Companies.

Division attached to:	18th (Eastern) Division
Formed from the:	53rd Machine Gun Company
	54th Machine Gun Company
	55th Machine Gun Company
	278th Machine Gun Company 265th Machine Gun Company

The 18th Bn, MGC was formed on 16 February 1918. It originally consisted of 53rd, 54th, and 55th MG Companies until it was joined, on 09 April 1918 by 278th Machine Gun Company which became D Company. It was also supplemented by 265th Machine Gun Company which joined the Division on 17 April 1918 and was broken up to reinforce the four existing companies of the Battalion.

As a unit of the 18th (Eastern) Division during this period, it will have taken part in the following battles and engagements.

1918

FIRST BATTLES OF THE SOMME

21 to 23 March Battle of St. Quentin [III Corps, Fifth Army].

04 April Battle of the Avre [XIX Corps, Fourth Army].

24 and 25 April Villers Bretonneux [III Corps, Fourth Army].

THE ADVANCE TO VICTORY

08 and 09 August Battle of Amiens [III Corps, Fourth Army].

SECOND BATTLES OF THE SOMME

21 to 23 August Battle of Albert [III Corps, Fourth Army].

23 August Capture of Usna and Tara Hills.

27 August Capture of Trones Wood (53rd Bde.).

31 August to 03 September Second Battle of Bapaume [III Corps, Fourth Army].

BATTLES OF THE HINDENBURG LINE

18 September Battle of Epehy [III Corps, Fourth Army].

20 September to 01 October Battle of the St. Quentin Canal [III Corps, until noon, 01 October; then XIII Corps, Fourth Army].

THE FINAL ADVANCE IN PICARDY

20 to 26 October Battle of the Selle [XIII Corps, Fourth Army].

04 November Battle of the Sambre [XIII Corps, Fourth Army].

On the 6th November the advanced troops of the 18th Division made good the line of the railway (along the south-eastern side of the Forest of Mormal) near Sassegnies, and pushed out patrols to the left bank of the River Sambre. The 18th Division was then drawn back into XIII Corps Reserve; and when the Armistice brought hostilities to a close, the Division was billeted in villages around Le Cateau. Here the Division remained until the end of the year; all ranks were given educational and recreational training and were employed on salvage work. On the 4th December, H.M. The King accompanied by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales passed through the 18th Division area. Demobilization began on the 10th December and coal-miners and pivotal men left during the month.
During January 1919 demobilization proceeded at an increasing pace; and at midnight 19th/20th March 1919 the 18th Division ceased to exist. During its war service the Division gaimed 11 Victoria Crosses and (approximately) 4,382 other honours. In this same period the 18th Division lost 46,503 killed, wounded, and missing. The Roll of Honour, deposited in St. James's Church at Colchester, contains the names of 13,727 officers, non-commissioned-officers, and men.

Sources

Becke, 1934

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1918
FIRST BATTLES OF THE SOMME
21 to 23 March	Battle of St. Quentin [III Corps, Fifth Army].
04 April	Battle of the Avre [XIX Corps, Fourth Army].
24 and 25 April	Villers Bretonneux [III Corps, Fourth Army].
THE ADVANCE TO VICTORY
08 and 09 August	Battle of Amiens [III Corps, Fourth Army].
SECOND BATTLES OF THE SOMME
21 to 23 August	Battle of Albert [III Corps, Fourth Army].
23 August	Capture of Usna and Tara Hills.
27 August	Capture of Trones Wood (53rd Bde.).
31 August to 03 September	Second Battle of Bapaume [III Corps, Fourth Army].
BATTLES OF THE HINDENBURG LINE
18 September	Battle of Epehy [III Corps, Fourth Army].
20 September to 01 October	Battle of the St. Quentin Canal [III Corps, until noon, 01 October; then XIII Corps, Fourth Army].
THE FINAL ADVANCE IN PICARDY
20 to 26 October	Battle of the Selle [XIII Corps, Fourth Army].
04 November	Battle of the Sambre [XIII Corps, Fourth Army].
On the 6th November the advanced troops of the 18th Division made good the line of the railway (along the south-eastern side of the Forest of Mormal) near Sassegnies, and pushed out patrols to the left bank of the River Sambre. The 18th Division was then drawn back into XIII Corps Reserve; and when the Armistice brought hostilities to a close, the Division was billeted in villages around Le Cateau. Here the Division remained until the end of the year; all ranks were given educational and recreational training and were employed on salvage work. On the 4th December, H.M. The King accompanied by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales passed through the 18th Division area. Demobilization began on the 10th December and coal-miners and pivotal men left during the month. During January 1919 demobilization proceeded at an increasing pace; and at midnight 19th/20th March 1919 the 18th Division ceased to exist. During its war service the Division gaimed 11 Victoria Crosses and (approximately) 4,382 other honours. In this same period the 18th Division lost 46,503 killed, wounded, and missing. The Roll of Honour, deposited in St. James's Church at Colchester, contains the names of 13,727 officers, non-commissioned-officers, and men.