The Plugstreet Archaeological Project The 142nd Trench Mortar Battery

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The 142nd Trench Mortar Battery was part of the 142nd Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division At the Battle of Messines the Company was on the northern edge of the ridge close to the mines at Hill 60 and The Caterpillar, the 69th and 70th Brigades lead the inital attack with the 68th Brigade following to strengthen the possitions gained.

Those who served with The 142nd Trench Mortar Battery at The Battle of Messines.

History of the 51st (Highland) Division 1914-1918 F.W. Bewsher The Highland Division was one of the pre-war Territorial divisions. Its HQ was in Perth with brigade HQs in Aberdeen, Inverness and Stirling. On mobilization the division moved down to its war station in Bedford where it remained, carrying out training till embarking for France in May 1915. During this period six of its battalions were sent to France, three in November 1914 and three in the following March, replaced by two Highland battalions and a brigade of four Lancashire battalions; it is not clear whether the latter were required to wear kilts. They were transferred to the 55th (West Lancashire) Division when that division reformed in France in January 1916 and were replaced, appropriately, by Scottish battalions. It was in May 1915, just as the division arrived in France, that it was designated 51st and the brigades 152nd, 153rd and 154th; by the end of the war the 51st (Highland) Division had become one of the best known divisions in the BEF. More information on: History of the 51st (Highland) Division 1914-1918

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