The Fighting Pioneers. The Story of the 7th Battalion D.L.I.

The 7th Battalion was a Territorial Force battalion originally raised for home defence. As with virtually all Territorial units, when the time came they volunteered to serve overseas. They arrived in France just in time to become heavily involved with the Second Battle of Ypres. The in November 1915 they were chosen to be the pioneer battalion for their division. They continued as a pioneer unit until mid 1918, but following severe losses sustained by the 50th Division during the German Offensives, the battalion was broken up and it merged with the 22nd Battalion (Pioneers), and moved to 8th Division. It remained there for the rest of the war. The battalion suffered 600 fatalities through the war, plus many wounded.