The Fighting Fortieth

Casualties:

Total battle casualties 2, 165 including prisoners of war and those who died of disease.

Battle Honours:

Messines

7 June 1917

Somme

1918

Ypres

1917

Ancre

1918

Polygon Wood

26 September 1917

Amiens, Albert

8 August 1916

Broodeseinde

4 October 1917

Mont St Quentin

1 September 1918

Poelcappelle

1917

Hindenburg Line

29-30 September 1918

Passchendaele

12 October 1917

St Quentin Canal

1918

Decorations:

2 Victoria Cross Winners – McGee & Statton 1 CMG
3 Distinguished Service Order 22 Military Cross
10 Distinguished Conduct Medal 81 Military Medal, 1 bar
9 Military Service Medals 26 Mention in Despatches
7 Foreign Awards


‘The fact that is was composed wholly of the men of a small island state, gave it a special stimulus to the highest emulation of all other units. In no other unit was the pride of origin and sense of responsibility to the people it represented stronger than in the 40th

Lieutenant General Sir John Monash