It must be confessed that the immediate result of this amalgamation, involving as it did the extinction as a separate entity of the 4th (Reserve) Battalion, was a heavy blow to the _esprit de corps_ of all ranks, which was in the circumstances at least comprehensible. The rank and file at a critical stage of their training came under the command of officers and N.C.O. instructors who were unknown to them, while the instructors of the old 4th (Reserve) Battalion experienced a natural and very keen disappointment at not being permitted to complete the task to which they had applied themselves with such devotion for many weeks past. A closer acquaintance with the new surroundings, however, resulted in a gradual disappearance of these feelings of regret, and in due course a new _esprit de corps_ and a closer bond of union between the two Regiments concerned took their place. At the end of its existence in November 1918 the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion had become an extremely happy one, in which no sort of distinction existed between the 3rd and 4th London Regiments, and each worked for the welfare of all. CHAPTER IX THE FORMATION OF THE 56TH DIVISION From May onwards during the remainder of 1916 the history of the Regiment in France is that of the 1/4th Battalion, into which the 2/4th Battalion was merged; and we may therefore proceed to follow its fortunes from the date of its attachment to the newly formed 56th Division. At the date of the 1/4th Battalion's arrival in billets at Citerne on the 9th February 1916, the 56th Division was just being concentrated. The 47th Division, which comprised chiefly battalions of the 2nd London Division of pre-war days and which the Battalion had just left, had joined the British Armies in France as a Division; but the units of the old 1st London Division, which had been among the first Territorial units to leave England, had hitherto been scattered throughout the Army attached to different regular divisions. The 56th, therefore, though junior in precedence, owing to its comparatively late formation, to many other Territorial Divisions which had left England as complete organisations, consisted entirely of battalions which might fairly be described as veteran, since all had seen a good deal of stiff work up and down the lines. The infantry battalions were brigaded as follows: 56TH (LONDON) DIVISION--Major-Gen. Sir C. P. A. Hull, K.C.B. 167TH INFANTRY BRIGADE--Brig.-Gen. F. H. Burnell-Nugent, D.S.O. 1/1st London (Royal Fusiliers). 1/3rd London (Royal Fusiliers). 1/7th Middlesex. 1/8th Middlesex. 168TH INFANTRY BRIGADE--Brig.-Gen. G. G. Loch, C.M.G., D.S.O. 1/4th London (Royal Fusiliers). 1/12th London (Rangers). 1/13th London (Kensingtons). 1/14th London (London Scottish).