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Of the six pre-war regular Divisions only two, 2nd and 5th, published a detailed history of their part in the Great War. The 5th Division was part of II Corps, a component. of the original British Expeditionary Force that landed in France in August 1914. It fought at Mons, the action at Élouges, Le Cateau, Marne, & Aisne. In September, it transferred to Flanders, where it participated in the severe but lesser-known battles fought by II Corps in conjunction with the French 10th army. In 1915, they participated in the capture of Hill 60 and fought throughout 2nd Ypres. In March 1916 the 5th Division moved south taking over the front line between St. Laurent Blangy and the southern edge of Vimy Ridge, a very active sector with many trench raids and very active mining. On 1 July it was in reserve and did not enter the Somme battles until 20 July and was withdrawn at the beginning of October. In 1917 was heavily committed to the Battle of Arras, to be withdrawn at the beginning of September, having been involved in active operations since 9 April. In 1917 the Division fought in Third Ypres from 26 September (Battle of Polygon Wood) until the battles ended in November. In January 1918, the Division was transferred to Italy but was recalled to France in April to counter the German spring offensives, fighting until 14 August, when it was put in reserve to recover and refit. Two weeks later it was recalled participating in the Hundred Days Offensive until finally withdrawn from action in late October.
