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These
extracts taken from ‘AND WE SHALL SHOCK THEM - The
British Army in the Second World War’ by David Fraser.
Published by Hodder & Stoughton - Appendix I |
Apart from Home
Defence “County” Divisions, and excluding divisions of
the Indian Army and Colonial Divisions, the British Army formed forty-eight
divisions in the Second World War.
Armoured
Divisions
An
armoured division’s organisation was frequently changed. Typical-ly,
it consisted of one or more armoured brigades, each consisting of
three or four tank Regiments: a total of some two hundred tanks,
normally cruiser tanks. In addition, an armoured division had a
support group, or lorried infantry brigade; and each armoured brigade
had one or more “motor battalions” — infantry
travelling in special vehicles designed for cross-country work and
thus able to move with tanks. An armoured division had, normally,
its own armoured-car Regiment, for reconnaissance. The divisional
artillery, typically, consisted of field artillery Regiments of
three batteries, each of eight guns; Regiments on a scale of one
to each brigade of the division. The divisional artillery also frequently
included an anti-tank Regiment and a light anti-aircraft Regiment.
The divisional engineers normally comprised a field squadron for
the close support of each brigade, and a field park of heavy and
specialised equipment. Divisional Signals were responsible for communications
down to and including Regimental and Battalion Headquarters: within
the Regiment or battalion communications were a Regimental matter.
There was also, on occasions, an independent machine-gun company.
An armoured division’s logistic troops included field ambulances
and the ability to set up an advanced dressing station as well as
support each brigade with posts for the immediate handling and clearing
of casualties. There were a number of transport companies for the
supply of the division forward of a distribution point which would
be established and itself supplied by corps or army transport. There
were Ordnance field parks — mobile distribution and supply
centres handling the entire, huge business of spares replacement:
and in an armoured division were field workshops, normally on a
scale of one for each brigade, in addition to the fitters and detachments
for “light aid” — immediate repair or preparation
for backloading — attached to each unit. The division consisted
of between 10,000 and 14,000 men and had a total of between 3,000
and 4,000 vehicles of all types. It needed about 140 miles of road
for column movement. The British Army possessed or formed eleven
armoured divisions during the Second World War, as listed below.
In addition there were formed or deployed some fourteen independent
armoured or tank brigades. In ordinary usage an “armoured”
brigade was equipped with cruiser tanks, a “tank” or
“army tank” brigade with “infantry” tanks
(examples are the “Matilda” and the “Churchill”
tanks), slow-moving, heavily armoured, designed for close support
of infantry rather than for manoeuvre, and normally placed in support
of a nominated infantry division. Some armoured brigades originally
formed part of armoured divisions but were later made independent
brigade groups and used as corps, army or army group reserves.
| DIVISIONS |
THEATRES
OF ACTIVE SERVICE |
COMMENT |
| Guards |
North-West
Europe |
Formed
from a number of Guards brigades in 1941, and engaged in the
Battles of Normandy, the advance to the Nederrijn, the Rhineland,
the crossing of the Rhine and the advance to the Elbe. All
Regiments of the Household Troops were represented. |
| 1st |
France
1940,
Egypt and Libya
Tunisia
Italy |
Formally
the “Mobile Division”, a Regular division in the United Kingdom,
the division moved to France in incomplete form in 1940. In
November 1941 it moved to Egypt, and engaged in the Battles
of Gazala and Alamein, advancing with Eighth Army to Tunisia
thereafter. In Italy the division fought as part of Eighth
Army once again. |
| 2nd |
Egypt |
Formed
in 1939, the division was divided on reaching the Mediterranean,
and its 1st Armoured Brigade sent to Greece. The Headquarters
was overrun in Cyrenaica in Rommel’s offensive of spring 1941
and the division was not reformed thereafter. |
| 6th |
Tunisia
Italy |
Formed
in 1940, 6th Armoured Division was among the first to reach
Tunisia as part of First Army, and fought at Bou Arada and
Fondouk. In Italy the division fought under Eighth Army to
the end. |
| 7th |
Egypt
and Libya
Tunisia
Italy
North-West Europe |
The
original Middle Last “Mobile Division” (General Hobart) was
redesignated 7th Armoured Division in February 1940. The original
“Desert Rats”, they fought in O’Connor’s first offensive which
ended with the destruction or capture of the Italian Army
at Beda Fomm; in the Western Desert battles of 1941 and 1942,
culminating in the victories of Alam Li Halfa and Alamein;
in the advance of Eighth Army to Tunisia; in the Salerno landings
and the South Italian campaign; and were then transferred
to England to take part in OVERLORD,
the Battles of Normandy and the Low Countries, and the crossing
of the Rhine. |
| 8th |
Egypt |
The
division was formed in England in 1940 and moved to Egypt
in 1942: but never operated as a division and was disbanded
in January 1943. |
| 9th |
|
Formed
and disbanded in the United Kingdom. |
| 10th |
Egypt |
Formed
originally in Palestine from 1st Cavalry Division, was moved
to Egypt and took part in the Battles of Alam El Haifa and
Alamein, and thereafter moved to Syria. It was disbanded in
Egypt in 1944. |
| 11th |
North-West
Europe |
Formed
in England in 1941, 11th Armoured Division was, like Guards
Armoured Division, retained in England for OVERLORD.
The division took part in the Battles of Normandy, took Antwerp,
advanced into the Low Countries and engaged in Operation VERITABLE. |
| 42nd |
|
Formed
and disbanded in the United Kingdom, from 42nd (Infantry)
Division, a first-line Territorial division from Lancashire
(q.v.). |
| 79th |
North-West
Europe |
Formed
in the United Kingdom in 1942, in 1943 79th Armoured Division
was given responsibility for the development of all “special
armoured vehicles” — amphibious tanks, minefield and obstacle-clearing
tanks and assault engineer vehicles, flame throwers et al.
As such it did not operate as a division but individual brigades,
Regiments and squadrons supported particular formations in
North-West Europe, dependent on the needs of the battle: and
were crucial to its success. |
Infantry
Divisions
An infantry division normally consisted of three infantry brigades,
each of three battalions, and with divisional artillery, engineers
and communications on a scale comparable to an armoured division.
Infantry divisions’ transport was mechanical throughout the
war, although in some theatres there was extensive reliance on mule-pack
companies in support. There was no troop-carrying transport established
within the division: the infantry marched, unless transport was
specifically allocated. Logistic services were, again, on a comparable
scale to those in armoured divisions, although tonnages to be carried,
whether as spares or in re-supply, were, of course, much less.
As with the armoured division many changes took place during the
war, in the size and shape of infantry divisions. The division’s
size increased as the war went on — at full strength it counted
under 14,000 men in 1939 and over 18,000 in 1944. Vehicles increased
from under 3,000 to over 4,000 (but including 1,000 motorcycles).
There was little difference in vehicle count between an infantry
and an armoured division. An anticipatory version of Parkinson’s
Law applied, however, and stores increased to fill the carrying
capacity available. A British corps of four divisions moving on
one road would extend from London to Inverness.
It may be regarded as curious that the British Army retained certain
divisions at home, and disbanded some during the war. The reason
was shortage of manpower, and particularly of specialist power.
It was more economic to reinforce existing formations even at the
cost of breaking up others.
The British Army possessed or formed thirty-five infantry divisions
in the Second World War, as listed below. In addition, there were
formed nine County divisions, for coastal defence, each commanding
a number of brigades but without the divisional troops which formed
part of the establishment of field force divisions. The list of
the field force given below does not include divisions of the Indian
Army, nor the Colonial divisions. Nor are listed independent Guards
and infantry brigade groups, which formed part of the field force
and were placed in divisions as the need arose. Finally there was
a large number of more or less static brigades for Home Defence,
for the defence of Malta and other garrisons; numbering over forty
in sum.
| DIVISION |
THEATRES
OF ACTIVE SERVICE |
COMMENT |
| 1st |
France
and Belgium 1940
Tunisia
Italy |
The
division, one of the original Regular divisions of the army,
was part of the BEF. Evacuated at Dunkirk, it later took part
in the expedition of First Anny to Tunisia, and thereafter,
in Italy, took part in the fighting at Anzio, the advance
to Rome and the Battles of the Gothic Line. Like all infantry
divisions its battalions, as the war went on, were a mixture
of Regular and Territorial or wartime battalions. |
| 2nd |
France
and Belgium 1940
Burma |
An
original Regular division and part of the BEF. The division
moved from England to India in 1942, and was brought into
the Battle of Kohima, taking part thereafter in CAPITAL
in 1944. |
| 3rd |
France
and Belgium 1940
North-West Europe |
An
original Regular division and part of the BEF. The division
took part in OVERLORD. the Battles
of Normandy, the advance into the Low Countries, VERITABLE
and the crossing of the Rhine. |
| 4th |
France
and Belgium 1940
Tunisia
Italy |
An
original Regular division and part of the BEF. The division
took part in the Tunisian campaign in First Army, and in the
Italian campaign as part of Eighth Army; and was moved to
Greece in the crisis of December 1944. |
| 5th |
France
and Belgium 1940
Sicily
Italy |
An
original Regular division and part of the BEF. Two brigades
took part in the expedition to and fighting in Madagascar
in 1942. In 1942 the division was sent to India, and thence
to Persia, Iraq, Syria and thence took part in the landings
in Sicily — HUSKY — and in the advance
up the east flank of Italy to the Battles of the Sangro in
1943. In 1944 the division was engaged on the West Italian
flank, in the crossing of the Garigliano, and the Anzio landings;
and in the advance to Rome in summer 1944. |
| 8th |
Palestine |
A
Regular division before the war, the division was disbanded
in Palestine in 1940 |
| 12th |
France
and Belgium 1940 |
A
Territorial division, with Regiments mainly recruited in the
Home Counties, the division moved to France for “labour duties”
and was caught up, without supporting artillery, logistic
or communications, in the campaign which began in May 1940.
Disbanded in England in July 1940. |
| 15th |
North-West
Europe |
A
Territorial division, 15th was a Scottish division, formed
in the main from Scottish Regiments. An OVERLORD
division it took part in the Battles of Normandy, the advance
in the Low Countries, VERITABLE,
and the Rhine crossing. |
| 18th |
Malaya
and Singapore |
A
Territorial division, drawn from East Anglia, 18th was sent
to India at the end of 1941 and immediately diverted to Singapore,
where part of the division was deployed forwards to the mainland.
The division was largely destroyed or taken prisoner in the
fighting on Singapore Island. |
| 23rd |
France
and Belgium 1940 |
A
Territorial division, with North Country Regiments from Durham
and Yorkshire, 23rd Division suffered the same fate as 12th
(q.v.). It was disbanded. |
| 36th |
Burma |
Originally
an Indian division, 36th became a British division in 1944
and took part in the march south from the Northern Combat
Area Command, joining Fourteenth Army in the Battles for Mandalay. |
| 38th |
|
A
Territorial division, formed in 1939 and disbanded in England
in 1944. |
| 42nd |
France
and Belgium 1940 |
A
Territorial division, almost entirely composed of Lancashire
and Manchester Regiments, 42nd Division served in the BEE,
and in November 1941 was converted into an armoured division
(q.v.). |
| 43rd |
North-West
Europe |
A
Territorial division, composed of regiments from the Wessex
Counties, 43rd Division took part in OVERLORD,
the Normandy battles, the advance in the Low Countries, VERITABLE,
and the Rhine crossing. |
| 44th |
France
and Belgium 1940
Egypt |
A
Territorial division, and part of the BEF in 1940, the division
was composed of Regiments from the Home and Southern Counties.
In 1942 the division was sent to Egypt, arriving for the Battles
of Alam El Haifa and Alamein. It was disbanded in January
1943. |
| 45th |
|
A
Territorial division, disbanded in England in 1944. |
| 46th |
France
and Belgium 1940
Tunisia
Italy |
Composed
of Regiments from the Midlands and Yorkshire, 46th Division,
a Territorial division, was part of the BEF, and then took
part in the Tunisian campaign as part of First Army. The division
landed at Salerno, and advanced up the west coast of Italy;
and after the fall of Rome took part in the Battles of the
Gothic Line. |
| 47th |
|
Originally
the 2nd (London) Territorial Division, 47th Division was so
designated in November 1940. It originally consisted primarily
of London Regiments but at some time also included battalions
from Scotland, Ireland and the West Country. It was disbanded
in 1944. |
| 48th |
France
and Belgium 1940 |
With
Regiments from Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire,
Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire,
as well as Irish and Scottish battalions at various times,
48th Division, a Territorial division, was highly representative
and its designation of “South Midland”, applicable to its
origins rather than its ultimate character. The division was
part of the BEF and ceased to be a first-line division in
1942. |
| 49th |
Norway
1940
North-West Europe |
49th
Division, a Territorial division, was nominally a Yorkshire
division but included battalions from Welsh and Midland Regiments
as well. Although not fighting as a division, its brigades
fought individually in the Norwegian Expedition of 1940. Thereafter
it became an OVERLORD division, fought
in the Battles of Normandy, and as part of I Corps in the
operations to clear the Scheldt. |
| 50th |
France
and Belgium 1940
Egypt
Libya
Tunisia
Sicily
North-West Europe |
50th
Division, a Territorial division, was rooted in the north.
Its Regiments were largely from Northumberland, Durham and
Yorkshire. It had, however, as the war continued, brigades
with London, Midland and Home Counties Regiments as well.
Originally part of the BEF, 50th Division went to the Middle
East in the spring of 1941 and was first sent to Iraq and
Syria. Deployed then to Egypt it took part in the Western
Desert battles of 1942, culminating in Alamein; advanced with
Eighth Army to Tunisia; landed in Sicily; was withdrawn to
England for OVERLORD, and took part
in the Battles of Normandy, and the advance in the Low Countries. |
| 51st |
France
1940
Egypt
Libya
Tunisia
Sicily
North-West Europe |
51st
(Highland) Division, a Territorial division composed of Highland
Regiments, was surrounded and forced to surrender at St. Valéry-en-Caux
in June 1940. Reconstituted in England by the renaming, in
August 1940, of 9th (Highland) Division, it moved to Egypt
in August 1942 in time for the Battle of Alamein. Thereafter
it advanced with Eighth Army to Tunisia, landed in Sicily,
and was withdrawn to England for OVERLORD.
The division took part in the Battles of Normandy, in Operation
VERITABLE and in the Rhine crossing. |
| 52nd |
France
1940
North-West Europe |
52nd
Division, a Territorial division composed in the main of Lowland
Scots and Glasgow Regiments, was sent to France to “start
a new BEF” in 1940 and evacuated from western French ports
in June. Thereafter the division was deployed to North West
Europe in October 1944, took part in the clearance of the
Scheldt, in Operation VERITABLE and
in the Rhine crossing. |
| 53rd |
North-West
Europe |
A
Welsh Territorial division, composed of Welsh Regiments, 53rd
Division crossed to Normandy in June 1944 and took part in
the Battles of Normandy, the advance in the Low Countries,
VERITABLE and the Rhine crossing. |
| 54th |
|
A
Territorial division, based in West Lancashire, 54th Division
remained in the United Kingdom. |
| 56th |
Iraq
1942-43
Palestine 1943
Egypt 1943, 1944
Libya 1943
Italy 1943-1944
Europe 1944-1945
|
Originally
1st (London) Territorial Division, 56th Division was largely
composed of London and Home Counties Regiments. Formed 18
November 1940 by redesignation of the 1st London Division.
Served in Iraq from November 1942 until March 1943, Palestine
in March 1943, Egypt from March 1943 until April 1943 and
from April 1944 until July 1944, Libya in April 1943 and from
May 1943 until August 1943, and in Italy from September 1943
until March 1944 and from July 1944 until the end of the war
in Europe. Fought at Enfidaville, Tunis, Salerno, Naples,
on the Volturno River, Monte Camino, on the Garigliano River,
Anzio, on the Gothic Line, Coriano, on the Rimini Line, on
the Lamone River, and in the Argenta Gap. Ended the war in
Europe under command of XIII Corps. |
| 59th |
North-West
Europe |
A
Territorial division, primarily of Staffordshire but also
of Lancashire Regiments, the division took part in OVERLORD
and the Battles of Normandy, and was disbanded in October
1944. |
| 61st |
|
A
Territorial division, formed in September 1939, and retained
in the United Kingdom. |
| 66th |
|
A
Territorial division, formed in September 1939 and disbanded
in the United Kingdom in June 1940. |
| 70th |
Egypt
Libya
India |
Originally
a Regular division — 7th Division — in Egypt, and then redesignated
6th Division until October 1941. 70th Division formed part
of the garrison of Tobruk, and took part in the CRUSADER
battle when Tobruk was relieved. Thereafter the division was
sent to India and formed the basis of “Special Force”, the
Chindit Long Range Penetration force. The division was disbanded
as such in November 1943. |
| 76th |
|
Formed
in England in 1941 and disbanded in 1944. |
| 77th |
|
A
career exactly parallel to that of 76th Division (q.v.). These
divisions were redesignated from the “County” division formed
to act as immediate defence on the coast, against invasion
in 1940; and, like several other divisions, were ultimately
disbanded in order to provide reinforcements for other formations. |
| 78th |
Tunisia
Sicily
Italy |
78th
Division was formed in England in 1942, with Regiments from
several parts of the United Kingdom, with a Guards brigade,
and no clear Territorial affiliation. The division took part
in the Tunisian campaign as part of First Army, in the landings
in Sicily, and in the Italian campaign as part of Eighth Army,
until the final act. |
| 80th |
|
Formed
in 1943 and disbanded in 1944 in the United Kingdom. |
Airborne
Divisions
The airborne division, an innovation of the Second World War, was
the outcome of extensive experiment during the war and in battle
itself. The general pattern was that of parachute troops dropping
— or, at least, trained and equipped to drop — by parachute,
and airlanded troops arriving by glider or by (later) transport
aircraft. The establishment provided for two parachute and one airlanding
brigades.
Supporting arms and logistic services were based on a comparable
scale to other divisions — a field squadron or company of
engineers, a field ambulance, supporting each brigade for instance;
and those supporting the parachute brigades were themselves parachute
troops. The armoured reconnaissance and artillery Regiments (including
antitank artillery) were airlanded. An airborne division consisted
of 12,000 men: 1,000 scout cars (lightly protected); 3,000 bicycles;
1,000 motorcycles; about six hundred “soft skinned”
vehicles; and twenty-two light tanks.
The British Army formed two airborne divisions in the Second World
War. They are listed below. Parachute brigades were switched between
divisions, or fought as infantry in other, non-airborne, divisions.
| DIVISION |
THEATRES
OF ACTIVE SERVICE |
COMMENT |
| 1st |
Tunisia
Sicily
Italy
North-West Europe |
1st
Airborne Division was formed in 1941. Brigades took part in
the North African landings as part of First Army: the Sicilian
landings as part of Eighth Army: the Italian landings (from
the sea) and the Italian campaign until the spring of 1944.
The division was reassembled in England as Part of I (Airborne)
Corps and took part in MARKET GARDEN,
being dropped at Arnhem. Thereafter, after heavy casual ties,
the remainder were withdrawn to England. |
| 6th |
North-West
Europe |
6th
Airborne Division was formed in 1943. It took part in OVERLORD,
attacking ahead of the seaborne assault on D Day. After the
early Normandy battles, the division was withdrawn to England,
and again deployed to North-West Europe in reserve during
the Ardennes offensive of Christmas 1944. Withdrawn again
to England in February 1945, the division took part in the
Rhine crossing, as a division and in the airborne role. |
Foonote
Operation
keywords used
|
CAPITAL |
British
offensive in Burma, December 1944 |
|
CRUSADER |
British
offensive in the Western Desert, November 1941 |
|
HUSKY |
Allied
invasion of Sicily, July 1943 |
|
MARKET
GARDEN |
Army
offensive to cross the Meuse, Waal and Nederrijn Rivers, September
1944 |
|
OVERLORD |
German
offensive in Tunisia, February 1943 |
|
VERITABLE |
British
and Canadian offensive between Meuse and Rhine, February 1945 |
Last
updated
18 November, 2020
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