CHAPTER I THE FORMATION OF THE DIVISION AND TRAINING IN ENGLAND _4th August 1914 to 19th July 1915_ On the 4th of August 1914 war was declared between England and Germany. Two days later Parliament sanctioned an increase of 500,000 men to the army, and in a letter to the nation on the 7th of August Lord Kitchener appealed for the immediate enrolment of 100,000 men. The ready response to this appeal soon supplied more than sufficient men for the first six divisions of the New Army, eventually numbered 9 to 14. New battalions continued to be raised to absorb as far as possible the stream of recruits and on the 11th of September the formation of six additional divisions--the 15th to the 20th--was authorised. Thus the 20th (Light) Division came into existence. It was to be composed entirely of Rifle and Light Infantry battalions--formed into the 59th, 60th, and 61st Infantry Brigades--and Divisional troops. A few changes were made later, and the order of battle of the Division as finally constituted was as follows:-- _59th Infantry Brigade_ 10th (Service) Battalion the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 11th (Service) Battalion the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 10th (Service) Battalion the Rifle Brigade. 11th (Service) Battalion the Rifle Brigade. _60th Infantry Brigade_ 6th (Service) Battalion the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. 6th (Service) Battalion the King’s (Shropshire Light Infantry). 12th (Service) Battalion the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 12th (Service) Battalion the Rifle Brigade. _61st Infantry Brigade_ 12th (Service) Battalion the King’s (Liverpool Regiment). 7th (Service) Battalion Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry). 7th (Service) Battalion the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. 7th (Service) Battalion the King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry). _Pioneer Battalion_ 11th (Service) Battalion the Durham Light Infantry. _Divisional Artillery_ 90th Field Artillery Brigade. 91st Field Artillery Brigade. 92nd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade. 93rd Field Artillery Brigade. _Divisional Engineers_ 83rd Field Company Royal Engineers. 84th Field Company Royal Engineers. 96th Field Company Royal Engineers. _Signal Service_ 20th Divisional Signal Company Royal Engineers. _Divisional Transport and Supply_ 20th Divisional Train. _Medical Units_ 60th Field Ambulance. 61st Field Ambulance. 62nd Field Ambulance.