It was sent overseas to India in December 1914 to relieve Regular Army units for service in France.

The division remained there for the rest of the war, supplying drafts of replacements to the British units fighting in the Middle East and later complete battalions.

2nd Line units performed the home defence role, although in fact most of these were also posted abroad in due course.

[3] In the event, the division did not consist of much more than 12 infantry battalions and 12 artillery batteries; no ammunition columns, signals or train companies were formed.

[3] By early 1916 it had become obvious that it would not be possible to transfer the division to the Western Front as originally intended.

Nevertheless, individual units of the division proceeded overseas on active service through the rest of the war.

During 1919, the remaining units were reduced and returned to England and the division ceased to exist.

Nicholson commanded the division on its voyage; he handed over the troops on disembarkation and returned to England, arriving on 3 February 1915.