Sidebar on this one-- here is what Allied Intelligence had regarding this division, (in which the 1st Reserve was a part) particularly once it arrived in France-- Just in case others haven't read. Lots of action with this unit. Interesting to note the 1st Reserve Regiment was almost entirely wiped out in Sept 1918. Might be when this rifle was captured-- who knows?
1st Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
| Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | Brigade. | Regiment. | |
|---|
| 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | | | | | |
|---|
| Infantry. | 1 Res. | 1 Res. | 1 Res. | 1 Res. | 1 Res. | 1 Res. | 1 Res. | 1 Res. | 1 Res. | 1 Res. |
| | | 3 Res. | | 3 Res. | | 3 Res. | | 3 Res. | | 3 Res. |
| | 72 Res. | 18 Res. | 72 Res. | 18 Res. | 72 Res. | 18 Res. | | 59 Res. | | |
| | | 59 Res. | | 59 Res. | | 59 Res. | 1 Res. | Jag. Btn. | | 59 Res. |
| | 1 Res. | Jag. Btn. | 1 Res. | Jag. Btn. | 1 Res. | Jag. Btn. | | | | |
| Cavalry. | 1 Res. Uhl. Rgt. (3 Sqns.). | 1 Res. Uhl. Rgt. | 1 Res. Uhl. Rgt. | 1 Res. Uhl. Rgt. (. Sqns.). | 4 Sqn. 2 Gd. Ulan Rgt. | | | | | |
| | 1 Res. Ers. Cav. Rgt. (3 Sqns.). | 1 Res. Ers. Cav. Regt. | | | | | | | | |
| Artillery. | 1 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 Btries.). | 1 Res. F. A. Rgt. | 1 Res. F. A. Rgt. | 1 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). | 1 Res. F. A. Rgt. | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 Abt. 1 Res. Ft. A. Rgt. | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1363 Light Am. Col. | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1390 Light Am. Col. | | | | | |
| | | | | | 1393 Light Am. Col. | | | | | |
| Engineers and Liaisons. | | 2 Eng. Btn. No. 1: | 4 Field Co. 2d Pion. Btn. | 301 Eng. Btn. (.): | 301 Pion. Btn.: | | | | | |
| | | Res. Co. 1 Pion. Btn. | 201 T. M. Co. | 4 Co. Pion. Btn. | 4 Co. 2 Pions. | | | | | |
| | | 1 Res. Pontoon Engs. | 1 Res. Pontoon Engs. | 1 Co. Pion. Btn. | 1 Co. 34 Res. Pions. | | | | | |
| | | 1 Res. Tel. Detch. | 1 Res. Tel. Detch. | 201 T. M. Co. | 201 T. M. Co. | | | | | |
| | | | | 348 Searchlight Section. | 31 Searchlight Section. | | | | | |
| | | | | Tel. Detch. | 401 Signals Command: | | | | | |
| | | | | | 401 Tel. Detch. | | | | | |
| | | | | | 158 Wireless Detch. | | | | | |
| Medical and Veterinary. | | | | 501 Ambulance Co. | 501 Ambulance Co. | | | | | |
| | | | | 399 Field Hospital. | 399 Field Hospital. | | | | | |
| | | | | 9 Res. Field Hospital. | 9 Res. Field Hospital. | | | | | |
| | | | | Vet. Hospital. | 137 Vet. Hospital. | | | | | |
| Transport. | | | | M. T. Col. | | | | | | |
HISTORY.
1914–15.
Russia.
1. The 1st Reserve Division was on the Russian front from August, 1914, until November 1, 1917, at which time it entrained for France.
East Prussia-Poland.
2. In 1914 it and the 36th Reserve Division formed the 1st Reserve Corps (Gen. Otto von Buelow). It took part in the operations of East Prussia (Hindenburg’s Army), in the Lodz maneuver (Von Mackensen’s Army), and in the combats on the Bzura.
3. In February, 1915, the division was in the Prasnysz region, northeast of the Bohr-Narew line.
Courland.
4. In May, as part of Eichhorn’s Army, it took part in the raid on Courland.
1916.
Galicia.
1. It was on the Dvina in the Friedrichstadt region until July.
2. In August it was identified in Galicia, in Bothmer’s Army, opposed to the Broussiloff offensive. Here it had heavy losses. (The 11th Company of the 3d Infantry Regiment, in particular, was reduced to 30 men.) During September the division was reinforced. The depot at Friedrichstadt, near Warsaw, was completely emptied to make good its losses.
Courland.
3. Toward the end of September elements of the division were in line near Friedrichstadt, along the Dvina, in a calm sector. The 18th Reserve Infantry Regiment was attached to the newly formed 225th Division.
1917.
1. January 5, 1917, the division was taken to the Mitau region, where it helped stop the Russian attack. Losses in this sector were light, but there was considerable discontent due to the cold.
2. The division was relieved about the 15th of March and sent to the neighborhood of Gross-Eckau, near Mitau, where it rested two months.
Riga.
3. The middle of May it was put back into line before Riga. It took part in the offensive against that city in September, stayed there from the 3d to the 7th of September, and then took up again its march toward the east. It organized its positions about 70 kilometers from Riga, near Hintzenberg (or Hildersberg?) (near Wenden) and established itself there.
France.
4. Relieved the end of October, it entrained near Wenden for the western front (Itinerary: Riga, Mitau, Kovno, Eidtkuhnen, Insterburg, Thorn, Posen, Lissa, Breslau, Cottbus, Leipsic, Erfuhrt, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Sarrebruecken, Thionville, Sedan, Vouziers.) It detrained November 6 at Semide (southeast of Vouziers).
Champagne.
5. After a rest of two days, the division went into line in the St. Hilaire sector (east of Vaudesincourt-Auberive).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division was recruited in East Prussia and, as a result of insufficient local resources, from divers other localities—a great many Alsace-Lorrainers during the sojourn on the Russian front.
35The 1st Reserve Division has taken part in all the important attacks which have taken place on the eastern front since the beginning of the war. It seems, however, from interrogation of deserters (in Champagne, November, 1917), that the cadres and men were little prepared for war as it was waged on the western front.
1918.
Champagne.
1. The division remained in line east of Auberive until relieved by the 23d Division April 30.
Montdidier.
2. May 13–14 it relieved the 76th Reserve Division in the Givesnes sector.
3. It was relieved August 4, but came back into line on the 10th a little farther to the north, in the region of Hangest-en-Santerre. It was withdrawn a few days later and rested several days in the neighborhood.
4. August 19 it relieved the 75th Reserve Division near Beuvraignes. It fought until relieved September 2.
St. Quentin.
5. After 10 days’ rest it relieved the 21st Division near Le Verguier, northwest of St. Quentin. It was withdrawn on the 20th.
Ribemont.
6. October 1 the division relieved the 208th Division near Ribemont. Withdrawn October 31.
Dompierre.
7. It came back into line November 7 and remained until the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division has suffered very heavily, notwithstanding the fact that, until about the 10th of August, it had taken no part in any really important actions this year. On the 18th of September the 1st Reserve Regiment was almost wiped out, its three battalion officers being captured with their staffs. It had also suffered a great many casualties the 9th and 10th of August. It is difficult to estimate the strength of its companies, owing to the fact that it is still in an active sector, but it is probably not over 50 rifles.
In the main the recruitment is East Prussian. There have been many Alsace-Lorrainers in its ranks, but since many of these have deserted there are probably not a great many of them left. For the most part the men are between 25 and 35 years old, but there are many older men and something less than 10 per cent of the division is made up by recruits of the 1919 class. It is again to be noted that the division was not employed in any of the German offensives this year.
Its conduct was remarkable in no way during the division’s participation in the heavy fighting around Hangest, Beuvraignes, and to the north of St. Quentin. During the early part of the year, when the division was in line in Champagne, there were a great many desertions, especially among the Alsace-Lorraine element. There have also been many cases of mutiny, especially in the 59th Reserve, the worst of the three regiments. About the middle of August a batch of some 500 recruits started out from the interior for the division. To sustain the morale of the men, these recruits were told they were going to simply support the artillery. Notwithstanding this, less than 250 men remained when the draft reached its true destination—the front lines. The men are very tired of the war, but on the whole seem resigned to the necessity of doing their duty.
The 1st Reserve is rated as a third-class division.
