THE epic story of the men of the East Lancashire territorial division is to be told for the first time in a book marking the 100th anniversary of their heroism and sacrifice, in one of the greatest battles of the First World War.

Death of a Division, by military historian David Martin, explores the extraordinary story of the 66th (2/1st East Lancashire) Division.

It charts its beginnings, from recruitment from some of the poorest parts of East Lancashire, through to providing drafts at Gallipoli, serving in the Home forces, the Third Battle of Ypres and Passchendaele to the Great German Offensive of March, 1918, that decimated it.

It was March 21, 1918, when the German Army unleashed an enormous offensive in a last major effort to win the war. One million German soldiers poured from their trenches to attack a British expeditionary force along a frontline of nearly 50 miles.

Facing the onslaught and heavily out-numbered, stood a dozen British divisions, among them the territorial soldiers of the 66th Division - made up mostly of mill workers, miners, railwaymen and clerks from our East Lancashire mill towns.

They fought valiantly for eight days and their ultimate sacrifice helped to put the allies on the road to victory.

"For the first time this book tells the complete story of the 66th. They are so far down the army order their history was never written,” said author David Martin.

“Each man played their role in one of the greatest battles of the First World War, one that is often overlooked when compared with the Somme in 1916 and Passchendaele in 1917.

“The offensive differed from those earlier battles; it was mostly open warfare, fought over a very large area with artillery, cavalry and tanks.

“These men who had been mill workers, railwaymen, colliers and clerks found themselves out-numbered in the frontline facing the onslaught of the German army. They were steadfast. They fought bravely. They didn’t run or surrender. They got on with the job."

The 66th was made up of the territorial units of the Lancashire Fusiliers, the East Lancashire Regiment and the Manchester Regiment.

The men were largely recruited from the north west, including Blackburn, Burnley, Bacup, Accrington, Clitheroe, Church, Darwen, Haslingden, Padiham, Ramsbottom and Todmorden.

The 66th Division were in the thick of the fighting during the German offensive, from March 21 to March 31, at the battles of St Quentin and Peronne through to the defence of Amiens.

The German attack failed to break through. By March 27, the High Command of both sides came to the conclusion that the Allies had won the war.

The British held until the Australians could take over at Villers-Bretonneux in April.

Casualties were huge on both sides. There were more than 267,000 British casualties, either killed missing or wounded and 72,000 taken prisoner. French losses stood at 77,000 and German losses at 239,000.

Of the 9,472 men who formed the 66th Division on March 21, only 2,483 were still on duty 10 days later. Of those serving on the frontline, only 500 remained.

The loss of so many men had a devastating effect on the lives and economy of all our cotton-manufacturing towns.

* ‘Death Of A Division: Eight Days In March 1918 and the Untold Story of the 66th (2/1st East Lancashire) Division’, written by David Martin, published by Pen & Sword, costs £19.99.

A book launch will be held at Fulwood Barracks on Saturday, April 14. To book a place contact davidemartin1918@gmail.com.