The division moved to Belgium in the first week of October 1914, landing at Ostend, although its third Brigade was only formed there once.

[3] During the war the division took part in most of the major actions where cavalry were used as a mounted mobile force, and also many where the troops were dismounted and effectively served as infantry.

[3] On 11 November 1918, units of the division had reached the River Dender at Leuze and Lessines in Belgium, when orders were received that they would cover the advance of the British Second Army into Germany.

[1] The 6th Cavalry Brigade was formed with the 1st Dragoons[4] and the 10th Hussars,[5] both from Potchefstroom, South Africa, and the 3rd Dragoon Guards from the Force in Egypt (though they did not join the brigade until 4 November in Belgium),[4] the only regular British Army cavalry regiments not stationed in the United Kingdom or India at the outbreak of the war.

[1] The division was also provided with two Cavalry Field Ambulances (6th and 7th), two Mobile Veterinary Sections (13th and 14th), and a divisional supply column (four companies of the Army Service Corps).

[1] At other times, the brigades formed dismounted units and served in the trenches as regiments under the command of their brigadiers.

The British and Canadian units remained in France[15] and most of them were transferred to the 3rd Cavalry Division causing it to be extensively reorganized.

[2] At the Armistice, units of the division had reached the River Dender at Leuze and Lessines in Belgium, when orders were received that they would cover the advance of the Second Army into Germany.

Transport difficulties meant that the only one cavalry division could advance with Second Army so the following winter was spent in Belgium.

[2] 6th Cavalry Brigade was formed on 19 September 1914 at Ludgershall, Wiltshire and served with the division throughout the war.

[1] 7th Cavalry Brigade was formed on 1 September 1914 at Ludgershall, Wiltshire and served with the division throughout the war.