The 17th (Northern) Division comprised the 6th Dorsets, 7th Green Howards, 7th East Yorks, 10th West Yorks, 7th Borders, 7th Lincolns, 8th South Staffords, 10th Notts & Derbys, 9th Duke of Wellington’s, 9th Northumberland Fusiliers and the 12th Manchesters.

For two weeks in August 1916 the Division and its support units held the line in the burning ruins of Longueval and the splintered remains of Delville Wood.

Pounded by the guns of both sides the Division, newly reinforced by green, untrained troops after the fighting of early July, was called upon to hold the line and assault well defended enemy positions.