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The composition of the 34th division was unusual in that 8 of the infantry battalions where Northumberland Fusiliers 20th to 23rd form the 102nd [Tyneside Scottish] brigade on the 24th to the27th the 103rd [Tyneside Irish]. The divisional pioneers where the 18th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The division arrived in France in January 1916 and had the unique misfortune a losing one of its brigade commanders at its first battle, shot by sniper. The division also had the melancholy distinction of suffering the highest number of casualties of all the divisions engaged on the first day of the Somme 6,380, a figure that included all four battalion commanders of the Tyneside Scottish Brigade. Such were the casualties that on the 5th of July the 103rd and 102nd brigades were transferred to the 37th division then in reserve in exchange for the 11th and 12th brigades from that division. It was nearly seven weeks before the restored brigades returned. The division took part in the Arras battles of April 1917. It again suffered heavily in the March 1918 German offences and was reduced to a cadre and employed in training American troops. In June it was reconstituted, mainly with battalions arriving from Palestine and returned to the line. Total casualties from 1916 to 1918aAmounted to 41,183 and 4 Victoria Crosses were awarded. This is very readable account all the division’s operations and movements with the right amount of detail supported by excellent maps. Appendices give a summary of the 2,506 honours and awards and the 364 foreign awards won by the officers and men of the division.
