73rd Division ( United Kingdom ) 73rd Division was a short - lived infantry division of the British Army during World War I . It served in Home Forces and never went overseas . Home Service . On the outbreak of World War I the Territorial Force ( TF ) immediately mobilised for home defence , but shortly afterwards ( 31 August 1914 ) , its units were authorised to raise 2nd battalions formed from those men who had not volunteered for , or were not fit for , overseas service , together with new volunteers , while the 1st Line went overseas to supplement the Regulars . Early in 1915 the 2nd Line TF battalions were also raised to full strength to form new divisions , and began to form Reserve ( 3rd Line ) units to supply drafts . The remaining Home Service men were separated out in May 1915 to form brigades of Coast Defence Battalions ( termed Provisional Battalions from June 1915 ) . 9th Provisional Brigade . 9th Provisional Brigade was formed in East Kent mainly from details of local units and infantry from Lancashire . It had the following composition : A number of men on the strength of these units were absent on civil employment such as munitions work . In the autumn of 1915 the brigade was under the command of 57th ( 2nd West Lancashire ) Division in Second Army of Central Force . By July 1916 the brigade was under the control of Southern Army of Home Forces , with its battalions billeted as follows : 73rd Division formed . Late in 1916 the War Office decided to form three new home - service divisions ; 73rd was the last of these , assembling at Blackpool in November . The division was based on 9th Provisional Bde , which moved from Margate and provided four infantry battalions and many of the support units . ( On 1 January 1917 these all received new designations and numbers . ) In addition , 189th ( 2 / 1st Yorkshire and Durham ) Brigade , left over after the earlier disbandment of 63rd ( 2nd Northumbrian ) Division , provided other components . Personnel to help form the other five artillery batteries were transferred from other home service divisions . The rest of the division was composed of new units . After assembling in Lancashire , 73rd Division moved in early January 1917 to join Southern Army of Home Forces , stationed in Essex and Hertfordshire , with the following composition : 218th Brigade . 218 Brigade was drawn from 9th Provisional Bde : The units of 218 Bde were stationed at Witham , Terling and Kelvedon . 219th Brigade . 219 Brigade was newly formed : The units of 219 Bde were stationed at Danbury and Maldon , later moving to Southend . 220th Brigade . 220 Brigade was formed from 189th ( 2 / 1st Yorkshire and Durham ) Bde : The units of 220 Bde were stationed at Chelmsford , Widford and Arbour Lane . Divisional mounted troops . The mounted troops were stationed at Wickford and Southminster . Royal Engineers . The field companies were stationed at Qitham and Chelsmford , and the signal company at Hitchin . Training . The Military Service Act 1916 swept away the Home / Foreign service distinction , and all TF soldiers became liable for overseas service , if medically fit . Henceforth part of the role of the Home Service divisions was physical conditioning to render men fit for drafting overseas , alongside units of the Training Reserve . ' Graduated Battalions ' of the Training Reserve were organised in four companies according to age , from 18 to 19 years . Recruits progressed from one to another company after three months , so that every three months there was a company of trained 19 - year - old men available for drafting overseas . In July 1917 it was decided that the Graduated Battalions could serve in a Home Defence role while completing their training . Between July and September 1917 , four Graduated Battalions joined 73rd Division , and in October these were affiliated to line regiments and adopted territorial designations . Disbandment . Towards the end of 1917 the War Office decided to break up the three home service divisions , and on 22 December 1917 the Commander - in - Chief , Home Forces , was ordered to break up the division as soon as possible . Three battalions left in January , the artillery was broken up in February , and the division ceased to exist on 8 April 1918 . Only the divisional engineers remained , and on 22 June 1918 the HQ and field companies went to France for active service on the Western Front . The 73rd Division title has never been reactivated .