156th Infantry Division (France) explained

Unit Name:	156th Infantry Division
Dates:	19151919
Country:	France
Branch:	French Army
Battles:	Second Battle of Krithia Battle of the River Cherna Battle of Monastir (1917) Battle of Skra-di-Legen
Notable Commanders:	Maurice Bailloud

156th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the French Army during the First World War. It was deployed overseas, seeing action during the Gallipoli campaign, and thereafter on the Salonika front, fighting alongside British troops in both theatres of war. It was sent to the Crimea in December 1918 as part of the Army of the Danube.

Creation and nomenclature

• March 17, 1915 : Creation of the 156th Infantry Division
• 29 April 1915 : Takes the name of 2nd Infantry Division of the Corps expéditionnaire d'Orient
• 15 October 1915 : Reverts to the designation of 156th Infantry Division

Commanders

• 16 March 1915 : General Maurice Bailloud
• 26 August 1916 – 1 May 1918 : General Baston
• 11 June 1919 – 12 October 1919 : General Dufieux

Chronology

1915

• 2 May - 7 August 1915: until May 20, transport by sea to Cape Helles by the liner SS France (1910) (converted during wartime into a troopship). From 6 May, as its units landed, engaged in the Battle of Krithia: took part, on May 6th, 7th and 8th, 1915, in the 1st engagement of Kéréves Déré; 4, 21 and 30 June, fought in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th engagements of Kéréves Déré; 12 and 13 July, present in the 5th engagement of Kéréves Déré. From 13 July, preparations for the offensive.
• 7 August - 1 October: fought in the 6th engagement of Kéréves Déré; then took up positions in the French sector.
• 1 October - 9 December: evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula; transported to Salonika. From 14 October, occupation, on the Serbian-Bulgarian border, of a sector northeast of Guevgheli (Gevgelija):

21 October: seizure of Rabrovo; local actions 22 and 23 October.

3 - 12 November: offensive towards Strumica; progression to Kosturino, thereafter fortification and the defence of the captured positions.

• 9–16 December: retreat to Salonika:

9th, 10th and 11th December: defence of Boyimia, Fourka and Chernitsa positions. Then retreat movement in two columns, towards Kilindir (Kalindria in the municipal unit of Cherso) and Karasouli (Polykastro).

• 16 December 1915 - May 5, 1916: establishment of the entrenched camp of Salonika, between Kiorziné (Xirochori) and Dogandji (Prochoma). From 20 March, elements detached 15 kilometres north of Kiorziné (entrenching work, then, from April 18, occupation of the Kilindir front, Lake Ardzan).

1916

• 5 May - 29 July: established positions on the (Kalindria) Kilindir front, Lake Ardzan (by the entire division).
• July 29 - August 31: relief by British elements. Regrouping south of Bohemitsa (Axioupoli); preparations for an offensive (elements engaged towards Lioumnitsa (Skra, Kilkis)). From August 21, transported by the Kodza Déré Decauville Railway in the Veria region, Ostrovo.
• 31 August 1916 – 2 January 1917: participation in the allied Monastir offensive : until August 31, grouping of the division south of Lake Ostrovo (fighting near Nalbandkeui). From September 12, offensive; on the 15th, crossing the Malka, towards Aitos (Aetos, Florina); the 17th occupation of Florina; then took up positions in a sector facing the Verbéni front (Itea, Florina), Arménohor (Armenochori, Greece).

From 30 October, pursuit of the enemy to the Kenali lines and attacks.

From 15 November, new enemy withdrawal up to 6 kilometres south of Monastir (Bitola), then 19 November to the north of the city. Established and defended positions in a sector, 3 kilometres north of Monastir (Battle of the River Cherna).

1917

• 2 January - 13 March: occupation of a new sector between the stream of Bratin Dol, Ternova and the ridge of Baba Planina. Elements of the division (176th Infantry) seconded to Albania.
• 13 March 13–1 June: engaged in the Battle of Monastir (1917): attacks from enemy positions towards Péristéri and Tservéna Sténa; advance west of Ternova; on 26 March new attack towards Tservéna Sténa; then fortification of the captured positions:

17 April: violent enemy attack in the direction of Dihovo.

19 April: French counter-attack.

• 1 June - 25 July 25: occupation of the Dihovo region, Lake Prespa.
• 25 July 1917 – 7 January 1918: withdrawal from the front. Movement by successive elements towards the region of Negovani (Flampouro, Florina), Léskovéts (Leskoec). In September and October 1917, elements engaged in the operations of Pogradec.

1918

• 7 January - 27 August: occupation of a sector towards the Prespa and Okrida lakes (frequent local actions). Elements are detached towards Gorgopi, then to the Battle of Skra-di-Legen.
• 27 August - 16 September: relieved from the front line; dispatched to rest area towards Monastir.
• 16–29 September: occupation of a sector north of Monastir. From 21 September, the division's cavalry engaged in the : advance towards Pribilci, and, on 29 September, to the outskirts of Sop (3 km north west of Cer, Kičevo) and Tsersko .
• 29 September - 11 November: Bulgarian Armistice; withdrawal from the front line; redeployed for a rest towards Lopatitsa (Lopatica, Bitola), then towards Kičevo.

1919

In December 1918, the 156th Division was transported to Southern Russia (as part of the Army of the Danube (AD)). It then left this formation in November 1919 to form the Army of the Levant, during the Cilicia Campaign.

Order of battle

May 1915

2nd Division which disembarked at Gallipoli from 6–8 May 1915

• 3rd Metropolitan Brigade
  • 176th Regiment
    • three battalions of metropolitan infantry
  • 2nd Provisional African Regiment
    • composed of three battalions of Zouaves^[1]
• 4th Colonial Brigade
  • 7th Mixed Colonial Regiment
    • mixed composition of two battalions of Senegalese Tirailleurs, and one battalion of French regulars known as Marsouins. Both troop types classified as Troupes coloniales.
  • 8th Mixed Colonial Regiment
    • mixed composition of two battalions of Marsouins and one battalion of Senegalese
• Divisional Troops
  • Groupe Deslions - 3 batteries (4x 75mm field guns apiece) of the 17th Field Artillery Regiment commanded by Captain Deslions
  • Groupe Mercadier - 3 batteries (4x 75mm field guns apiece) of the 25th Field Artillery Regiment commanded by Captain Mercadier (succeeded by Captain Salin)
  • Groupe Roux - 3 batteries (4x 75mm field guns apiece) of the 47th Field Artillery Regiment commanded by Captain Roux (succeeded by Major Mercadier)
  • Supporting elements for engineering, logistical and medical services^[2]

October 1915

Left the Dardanelles and disembarked on the Salonika front in October 1915 to become part of the Armée d'Orient (1915–19). The Division's War Diary lists the following elements of the Division to be embarked locally and from further afield:

• 1st Metropolitan Brigade
  • 175th Regiment
    • three battalions of metropolitan infantry
  • 1st Provisional African Regiment
    • composed of a Foreign Legion battalion and two Zouave battalions.^[1] Both troop types classified as Army of Africa (France)
• 3rd Metropolitan Brigade
  • 176th Regiment
    • three battalions of metropolitan infantry
  • 2nd Provisional African Regiment
    • composed of three Zouave battalions
• Divisional Troops
  • • Groupe Deslions - 3 batteries (4x 75mm field guns apiece) of the 17th Field Artillery Regiment commanded by Captain Deslions
    • Groupe Salin - 3 batteries (4x 75mm field guns apiece) of the 25th Field Artillery Regiment formerly commanded by Captain Mercadier (succeeded by Captain Salin)
    • Groupe Grépinet - 2 batteries (4x 65 mm mountain guns apiece) of the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment formerly commanded by Major Benedittini (succeeded by Major Grépinet)
    • 6 58T trench mortars
    • Divisional Ammunition Column: Artillery park detachment, 12th Ordnance Section, half of a mobile repair workshop team. In transit from France: 1 infantry munitions section, 2 artillery munitions sections (S.M.I. - Section de Munitions d’Infanterie, S.M.A. - Section de Munitions d’Artillerie).
  • Supporting elements for engineering, logistical and medical services
    • Engineers: 2x field companies (5/15 and 5/15bis); engineer park detachment 5/22
    • Telegraphy: Divisional RT detachment, P2 signal lamp detachment, 2 radio sets to be sent from France
    • Medical: Group of divisional stretcher-bearers, ambulances 3 and 4, casualty evacuation section, half-Group of Corps stretcher-bearers. In transit from France: 1 Field Hospital, 2 Casualty Clearing Stations
    • Lines of Communication: A detachment of Army Catering Corps (COA - Commis et ouvriers d’administration),^[3] a field bakery in transit, two logistics companies in transit from Algeria, two motor transport sections in transit from France, a labour battalion.
• Corps Artillery:
  • 1 Heavy Battery of 120 mm field artillery commanded by Captain Delval
  • 1 Heavy Battery of 6x 155 mm howitzers of the 48th Field Artillery Regiment commanded by Captain Kolyczko

July 1916

• 311th Brigade
  • 175th Regiment
    • three battalions of metropolitan infantry
  • 1st Provisional African Regiment
    • composed of a Foreign Legion battalion^[4] and two Zouave battalions. Both troop types classified as Army of Africa (France)
• 312th Brigade
  • 176th Regiment
    • three battalions of metropolitan infantry
  • 2nd Provisional African Regiment (disbanded in September 1917)
    • composed of three Zouave battalions
• Divisional Troops
  • Groupe Deslions - 3 batteries (4x 75mm field guns apiece) of the 17th Field Artillery Regiment commanded by Captain Deslions
  • Groupe Salin - 3 batteries (4x 75mm field guns apiece) of the 25th Field Artillery Regiment formerly commanded by Captain Mercadier (succeeded by Captain Salin)
  • Groupe Coloniale - 3 batteries (4x 75mm field guns apiece) of the 3rd Colonial Field Artillery Regiment, having arrived in January 1916. (There was nothing of significance to occur that warranted a mention in the regimental history.) All of the 75mm batteries above were grouped together in April 1917 to form the 242nd Field Artillery Regiment.
  • Groupe Grépinet - 2 batteries (4x 65 mm mountain guns apiece) of the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment formerly commanded by Major Benedittini (succeeded by Major Grépinet)
  • Mortar Battery - 102nd Battery of the 17th Field Artillery Regiment, equipped with the Mortier de 58 mm type 2, reclassified in July 1918 as the 5th Battery of the 179th Trench Artillery Regiment.
  • One cavalry squadron of the 4th Regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique having arrived in February 1916 (disbanded November 1918).
  • Supporting elements for engineering, logistical and medical services

Notes and citations

NotesCitations

References

• Book: Aspinall-Oglander, C. F. . Military Operations Gallipoli, Vol II: May 1915 to the Evacuation . Cecil Faber Aspinall-Oglander . 1932 . History of the Great War. William Heinemann . London . 278615923.
• Book: Falls, C.. . . Military Operations Macedonia: From the Outbreak of War to the Spring of 1917 . I . Cyril Falls . 1996 . 1933 . . London . Imperial War Museum and Battery Press . 978-0-89839-242-5.
• Book: . Historique du 1er régiment de marche d'Afrique. 779710448. Imprimerie française. Bizerte. 1920 . CITEREFHistorique du 1er RMA 1915-1919. fr. FRBNF42568098.
• Book: . Historique du 2e régiment de marche d'Afrique pendant la guerre 1914-1918. 493813515. Berger-Levrault. Paris. 1920 . CITEREFHistorique du 2e RMA 1915-1918. fr. FRBNF42764122.
• Book: . Historique du 3e régiment d'artillerie coloniale : 1914-1918. 493910880. Chapelot. Paris. 1920 . CITEREFHistorique du 3e RACcol 1920. fr. FRBNF42718151.
• Book: . Historique du 4me régiment de chasseurs d'Afrique depuis sa formation 1839 jusqu'à la fin de la Grande Guerre 1919. Imprimerie française. Bizerte. 1920 . CITEREFHistorique du 4e RCA 1839-1919. fr. FRBNF42717877.
• Book: . Historique du 175e régiment d'infanterie pendant la guerre 1914-1919. 779714087. Berger-Levrault. Paris. 1920 . CITEREFHistorique du 175e RI 1920. fr. FRBNF42569185.
• Book: . Le 176e Régiment d'Infanterie, Campagne d'Orient de 1915 à 1919. 493809036. Imprimerie du Midi. Béziers. 1920 . CITEREFHistorique du 176e RI 1920. fr. Université Paris Nanterre . OPCE_013310.
• Encyclopedia: Jauffret . Jean-Charles .

  fr:Jean-Charles Jauffret

  . Gilbert . Martin . Martin Gilbert . The Straits of War . The Gallipoli Campaign: the French point of view . L'expédition des Dardanelles vue du côté français . en . 2000 . 1996 . The History Press . The Gallipoli Memorial Lectures 1985-2000 . 978-0-7509-2408-5.
• Book: Lepetit . Vincent. Tournyol du Clos . Alain. Rinieri . Ilario. La campagne d'Orient (Dardanelles et Salonique). Tome VIII. Premier Volume. (février 1915-août 1916) [8,1]]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique. Imprimerie Nationale. Paris. 1923 . fr. 491775878.
• Book: . La campagne d'Orient jusqu'à l'intervention de la Roumanie (février 1915-août 1916). Tome VIII. Premier volume. Annexes - 1er Volume [8,1,1]]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique. Imprimerie Nationale. Paris. 1924 . CITEREFAFGG 8,1,1 1924 . fr. 163166542.
• Book: Lepetit . Vincent. Tournyol du Clos . Alain. Rinieri . Ilario. Cardot . Jean Charles Léonide Philippe. Druène . Bernard. La campagne d'Orient (Dardanelles et Salonique). Tome VIII. Deuxième Volume. (août 1916 jusqu'en avril 1918) [8,2]]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique. Imprimerie Nationale. Paris. 1933 . fr. 491775909.
• Book: Tournyol du Clos. Alain. Rinieri . Ilario. Cardot . Jean Charles Léonide Philippe. Druène . Bernard. La campagne d'Orient (Dardanelles et Salonique). Tome VIII. Troisième Volume. (avril 1918 à décembre 1918) [8,3]]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique. Imprimerie Nationale. Paris. 1934 . fr. 493568247.
• Book: Pompé . Daniel. etal. Ordres de bataille des grandes unités - Divisions d'Infanterie, Divisions de Cavalerie. Tome X. 2e Volume. [10,2]]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique. Imprimerie Nationale. Paris. 1st . 1924 . fr. 6 September 2020.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Zouaves et Dardanelles . 12 August 2014. Forum pages14-18. fr. 18 August 2020.
2. Web site: Corps expéditionnaire d'Orient (C.E.O.): J.M.O. 22 février-5 mai 1915: 26 N 75/10 - Pièces justicatives 3 avril-16 septembre 1915 . Mémoire des hommes: Journaux des Unites (1914-1918) . Ministere De la Defense . Ordre de bataille 1 juin 1915 K34 . images 132 to 136 of 213 . fr . JPG . 10 July 2020 . Ordre de bataille 1 juin 1915 K34.
3. Web site: Abréviations militaires . www.HoriZon14-18.eu . fr . 12 September 2022.
4. Web site: Foreign Legion in the Balkans: 1915-1919 . foreignlegion.info . en. 22 June 2021. Here is the detailed history of the French Foreign Legion in the Balkans during the First World War..