▁Division ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 1 5 ▁for ▁service ▁on ▁the ▁Western ▁Front . ▁The ▁ 1 2 th ▁( Service ) ▁Battalion ▁( 3 rd ▁G w ent ) ▁land ed ▁at ▁Le ▁Hav re ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 1 9 th ▁Brigade ▁in ▁the ▁ 4 0 th ▁Division ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 1 6 ▁for ▁service ▁on ▁the ▁Western ▁Front . ▁Wel sh ▁poet ▁and ▁language ▁activ ist ▁Sau nd ers ▁Lewis ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 2 th ▁Battalion ▁during ▁the ▁First ▁World ▁War . ▁ ▁Inter - W ar ▁The ▁ 1 st ▁Battalion ▁emb ark ed ▁for ▁Ireland ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 2 0 ▁to ▁maintain ▁order ▁during ▁the ▁Irish ▁War ▁of ▁Independ ence ▁and ▁to ▁W az ir istan ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 3 7 ▁in ▁connection ▁with ▁dist urban ces ▁on ▁the ▁front ier . ▁Meanwhile , ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Battalion ▁was ▁deployed ▁to ▁Palest ine ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 6 , ▁returning ▁home ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁year . ▁ ▁Second ▁World ▁War ▁▁ 1 st ▁Battalion ▁ ▁The ▁ 1 st ▁Battalion , ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 0 th ▁Indian ▁Infantry ▁Division , ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁Ira q ▁to ▁qu ell ▁a ▁German - in sp ired ▁u pr ising ▁in ▁Ira q ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁The ▁batt alion ▁saw ▁subsequent ▁service ▁in ▁Iran . ▁The ▁batt alion ▁sust ained ▁enorm ous ▁cas ual ties ▁in ▁Lib