The 18th (Eastern) Division was an infantry division of the British Army formed in September 1914 during the First World War as part of the K2 Army Group, part of Lord Kitchener's New Armies. From its creation the division trained in England until 25 May 1915 when it landed in France and spent the duration of the First World War in action on the Western Front, becoming one of the elite divisions of the British Army. During the Battle of the Somme in the latter half of 1916, the 18th Division was commanded by Major General Ivor Maxse. Formation history The division was formed in September 1914 during the First World War as part of the K2 Army Group, part of Lord Kitchener's New Armies. It was formed in the Colchester area but re-located to Salisbury Plain in May 1915. Major-General Ivor Maxse took command in October 1914. Order of battle The following units served in the division. 53rd Brigade 10th (Service) Battalion, Essex Regiment 8th (Service) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment (disbanded February 1918) 8th (Service) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (disbanded February 1918) 6th (Service) Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) (disbanded February 1918) 8th (Service) Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) (joined February 1918) 7th (Service) Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (joined from 55th Brigade February 1918) 53rd Machine Gun Company (joined 13 February 1916, left to move into 18th MG Battalion 16 February 1918) 53rd Trench Mortar Battery (joined 17 June 1916) 54th Brigade 10th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (left October 1914) 11th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 6th (Service) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment (joined November 1914) 12th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) (disbanded February 1918) 8th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (reformed as divisional pioneers February 1915) 7th (Service) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (joined February 1915 merged with 2nd Battalion in May 1918) 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (joined May 1918) 54th Machine Gun Company (joined 13 February 1916, left to move into 18th MG Battalion 16 February 1918) 54th Trench Mortar Battery (joined 1 June 1916) 55th Brigade 7th (Service) Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 7th (Service) Battalion, Buffs (East Kent Regiment) 8th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment 7th (Service) Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (transferred to 53rd Brigade February 1918) 55th Machine Gun Company (joined 13 February 1916, left to move into 18th MG Battalion 16 February 1918) 55th