List of British corps in World War II

Last updated

During the Second World War, the British Army created several field corps; these were formations that controlled multiple divisions in addition to artillery, engineers, and logistical units that would be used to support the divisions as needed. A corps itself was generally under the control of a higher formation such as a field army, an army group or a command. [1] During the war, the British military contained 16 field corps and three that were intended to control anti-aircraft units; the latter were not comparable in role to formations, which were intended to control divisions in combat; anti-aircraft units were assigned to control anti-aircraft formations within a designated area, which could cover hundreds or thousands of square miles. Through deception efforts, a further 11 corps existed within the British military structure. Twenty-seven real or fictitious corps were active during the war, although they did not all exist at the same time and there was overlap between notional and real corps. [lower-alpha 1]

Contents

In 1939, at the start of the war, the British Army had only one field corps (I Corps); this was quickly followed by two more to help control infantry divisions that were assigned to the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Within the UK, a further six corps were formed in 1940, and two more were formed in the following years, the last being I Airborne Corps in December 1943. XIII Corps was formed in 1941, and was the first British corps to be formed outside the UK. XXX Corps was formed in Egypt later that year. [lower-alpha 2] Within the British military, corps were commanded by lieutenant-generals. [3]

The size and composition of a corps could vary depending on the mission assigned to it, as well as the tactical and strategic situation. The Western Desert Force, which was formed by re-designating a divisional headquarters, grew to a force of 36,000 men spread over one infantry, one armoured division, and other small units. [4] at the start of Operation Epsom in Normandy in June 1944, VIII Corps was 57,000 men strong; it controlled logistical, administrative, engineer, and artillery assets, two infantry divisions, one armoured division, one armoured brigade, and one tank brigade. During the operation, its strength was increased to 65,000 men. [5] [lower-alpha 3] The next major operation in which the corps was involved was Operation Goodwood in Normandy in July 1944, which saw a completely different order of battle. The corps then consisted of three armoured divisions, in addition to own logistical, administrative, engineer, and artillery forces, with a total strength of 62,000 men. [6] British army corps did not only just control British forces; on the eve of the Second Battle of El Alamein, the Eighth Army contained three corps and a multi-national force. XIII Corps contained British and French forces, X Corps contained only British troops, while XXX Corps consisted of Australian, British, Indian, New Zealand, and South African divisions. [7]

Unlike the other corps, the three anti-aircraft corps were largely static formations that were intended only to administer the aerial defence of the UK. Each corps commanded a different number of anti-aircraft divisions; five for I Anti-Aircraft Corps, four for II Anti-Aircraft Corps, and three for III Anti-Aircraft Corps; and each corps covered large geographical sections of the UK. [8] As the war progressed, more resources were allocated to I Anti-Aircraft Corps as it defended vital regions of the country that were vulnerable to Luftwaffe attacks. In October 1942, all three corps were disbanded as part of a reorganization of the UK's aerial defences. The corps and divisions were replaced with seven groups that were intended to ease the command and control of the anti-aircraft formations, save manpower, balance out responsibility, and make the formations more flexible. [9]

Corps

Corps
Formation nameCreatedCeased to existInsigniaLocations servedNotable campaignsNotesRef
I Corps 1902Jul 1945 I Corps.svg UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany Battle of France, Normandy campaign, Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine, Western Allied invasion of Germany The only permanent corps of the British Army in 1939 when the Second World War broke out, to which its spearhead insignia is an allusion. I Corps remained active throughout the war, served with the Second Army and First Canadian Army, and was in Germany at the close of the war. By mid-July 1945, with the war in Europe over, I Corps was converted into the First Corps District of the British military government in Germany, and administered Rhine Province and Westphalia. [10] [11]
I Airborne Corps Dec 1943Oct 1945 British Airborne Units.svg UK, Netherlands, Germany, India Operation Market Garden The corps was formed on 9 December 1943, officially as Headquarters, Airborne Troops (21st Army Group). It commanded the British Army's airborne divisions from formation onwards. The 6th Airborne Division, however, was assigned to other corps for combat operations. As a result, I Airborne Corps only took part in Operation Market Garden, in which it led the 1st Airborne Division into action. In June 1945, after the end of fighting in Europe, the corps was transferred to India, where It was intended to take part in attacks on Singapore and Thailand but with the end of the Pacific War, no operations took place. The corps was disbanded on 23 October 1945. [12] [13]
I Anti-Aircraft Corps Jun 1938Oct 1942 I AA corps.svg UK Battle of Britain, The Blitz, Baedeker Blitz The corps initially controlled anti-aircraft defences for London and the Home Counties. After the outbreak of the war, it was expanded to control all formations covering southern England and Wales, which corresponded with No. 10 and No. 11 Group RAF. It was the largest of the three anti-aircraft corps that were formed. It was disbanded when the anti-aircraft defences were reorganised. The insignia depicts the shooting of a German eagle. [14]
II Corps Sep 1939Mar 1944 II corps.svg UK, France, Belgium (1939), Belgium (notionally, 1944–1945) Battle of France Served with the BEF during the Battle of France and was evacuated back to the UK, where it remained on home defence duties. The corps was briefly disbanded in 1943 but then reformed and existed until early 1944, when it was again disbanded. Thereafter, it was used for deception purposes, and played a role in Operation Fortitude and additional efforts until it was notionally disbanded in December 1944. The Imperial War Museum stated the original insignia depicts blue-and-white wavy lines but a fish that appeared to be jumping over a brook was added—a pun on the name of the corps' first commander Alan Brooke. [15] [16] [lower-alpha 4]
II Anti-Aircraft Corps Apr 1939Oct 1942 II AA corps.svg UK Battle of Britain, The Blitz, Baedeker Blitz The corps controlled anti-aircraft defences for the Midlands and parts of northern England, corresponding with No. 9 and No. 12 Group RAF. The corps was disbanded when the anti-aircraft defences were reorganised. [20]
III Corps Oct 1939End of the war III corps.svg UK, France, Belgium, Egypt, Syria, Italy, Greece Battle of France, Greek Civil War Fought in France and Belgium with the BEF, and was evacuated back to the UK, where it remained on home defence duties until disbanded in 1943. It was then revived as a deception formation for Operation Cascade and was notionally transported to Iran. The corps was then actually reformed in the Middle East, subsequently moved to Italy, and was then dispatched to reoccupy Greece following a German withdrawal. The corps remained in Greece until the end of the war, when it was converted into HQ Land Forces Greece. [21] [22]
III Anti-Aircraft Corps Apr 1939Oct 1942 III AA corps.svg UK Battle of Britain, The Blitz, Baedeker Blitz The corps controlled anti-aircraft defences for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England that were not covered by II Anti-Aircraft Corps. These areas corresponding with No. 13 and No. 14 Group RAF. The corps was disbanded when the anti-aircraft defences were reorganised. [23]
IV Corps Feb 1940End of the war IV corps.svg UK, Norway, British India, Burma Norwegian campaign, Burma campaign Claude Auchinleck was tasked with forming IV Corps to move to France to reinforce the BEF. He chose an insignia based on the cap badge of his regiment, the 1st Punjab Regiment. In April 1940, the corps was used to temporarily form HQ Northern Norway Land Forces. It returned to the UK and undertook home defence duties until it was dispatched to India in 1942. It subsequently fought in Burma under the Fourteenth Army and ended the war in Burma under the Twelfth Army. [24] [25]
V Corps Jun 1940End of the War V corps.svg UK, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy Tunisian campaign, Italian campaign A second corps Claude Auchinleck was tasked with forming, V Corps used men from IV Corps who had been dispatched to Norway with him. The insignia, a Viking ship, commemorates this connection; its choice of colour echoes that of the First-World-War-era V Corps. The Corps undertook home defence in the UK then joined the First Army and was dispatched to fight in North Africa. V Corps later fought as part of the Eighth Army in Sicily and Italy, where it ended the war. [26] [27]
VI Corps Jun 1940Jul 1940N/AUKN/AIn mid-June 1940, VI Corps was formed in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, to command all troops located there. On 12 July 1940, the corps' headquarters was used to form British Troops in Ireland, which was later renamed British Troops in Northern Ireland. [28]
VII Corps Jul 1940Dec 1940A scarlet horizontal diamondUK (actual and notional)N/AFormed on 7 July and composed of British and Canadian forces under the command of Canadian officer Andrew McNaughton. On 25 December 1940, VII Corps was redesignated as the Canadian Corps. The corps was revived as part of the deception effort Operation Fortitude in April 1944; it was provided with an insignia of a scallop shell on a blue background. German intelligence were informed IV Corps was drained of manpower to replace casualties suffered by the 21st Army Group in Belgium, and it was notionally disbanded in January 1945. [29] [30]
VIII Corps Jul 1940Jul 1945 VIII corps (2).svg UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany Normandy campaign, Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine, Western Allied invasion of Germany Formed and served on home defence duties until 1944, when it formed part of the 21st Army Group and took part in the liberation of German-occupied Western Europe, and was in Germany at the close of the war. By mid-July 1945, after the war in Europe had ended, the corps was converted into an administrative district of the British military government in Germany and was based at Pion. The second version of the corp's insignia, which was displayed during the fighting in Europe, is depicted. [31] [32] [33]
IX Corps Jun 19411943 IX corps.svg UK, Algeria, Tunisia Tunisian campaign The insignia represents a "kilkenny cat", which was chosen because Kilkenny, Ireland, was the hometown of the corp's first commanding officer Ridley Pakenham-Walsh. IX Corps undertook home defence duties until 1942, when it was deployed to North Africa. At that point, the insignia was changed to a yellow trumpet on a red background. The corps was disbanded at the end of the fighting in North Africa. [34] [35] [36]
X Corps Jun 1940Jul 1945 X corps.svg UK, Egypt, Italian-Libya, Tunisia, Italy, Greece North African campaign, Italian campaign, Greek Civil War Formed for home defence duties, it was transferred to Egypt in August 1942 and fought across North Africa. It then served in Italy and Greece. In May 1945, the corps was placed in reserve and was scheduled to be transferred to Asia. By July, it was still in the Mediterranean theatre when it was disbanded. According to the Imperial War Museum, the insignia can be read as "10" with the symbols rotated 90 degrees. The museum also noted varying designs and coloured insignia existed at the same time. [37] [38]
XI Corps Jun 1940May 1943 XI corps.svg UKN/ACorp formed for home defence duties. The insignia depicts a fortified tower, representing the large number of defensive strong points the corps helped to construct. [39] [40] [lower-alpha 4]
XII Corps Jun 1940Jun 1945 XII corps.svg UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany Normandy campaign, Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine, Western Allied invasion of Germany According to the Imperial War Museum, the insignia on XII Corps represents an oak, ash, and thorn tree of Puck of Pook's Hill, linking the corps' first commander Andrew Thorne with the area of Sussex where the corps was formed. It was initially raised for home defence duties and was assigned to the 21st Army Group, and from 1944, it fought in north-west Europe. The corps ended the war in Hamburg, Germany, but was not selected to be part of the occupational forces and was stood down by June 1945 following the end of fighting in Europe. [41] [42] [43]
XIII Corps Jan 19411946 XIII corps.svg Egypt, Italian-Libya, Tunisia, Italy, Austria Western Desert campaign, Tunisian campaign, Italian campaign Created by the re-designation of the Western Desert Force. Following the end of Operation Compass in early 1941, XIII Corps was stood down following a re-organisation of the British command structure within the captured Libyan province Cyrenaica. It was reformed in October 1941 and fought across North Africa, and later in Italy. XIII Corps was based in Austria and north-west Italy when the war ended. In 1946, the corps was converted into HQ British Element Trieste Force (BETFOR), which retained the corps' insignia and was based in Trieste. The insignia represents a gazelle from the Western Desert, where the corps was formed. [44] [45]
XIV Corps Dec 1943End of the warA black wolf's head on a white fieldAlgeria, Tunisia, Italy (notionally)N/ANotional corps formed for deception purposes around the Mediterranean theatre [46]
XVI Corps Nov 1943UnknownPhoenix bearing a torch, emerging from red flames on a white fieldEgypt (notionally)N/ANotional corps formed to threaten an invasion of German-occupied Greek territories [47]
XVII Corps Nov 1944Nov 1944N/AUK (notionally)N/ANotional corps formed to threaten an invasion of German-occupied Greek territories [48]
XVIII Corps Jun 1941Jun 1941UnknownCyprus (notionally)N/ANotional corps formed to deceive Axis forces about the strength of British forces based in Cyprus. Redesignated as XXV Corps, another notional formation with the same role. [49]
XIX Airborne Corps Oct 1944Dec 1944 British Airborne Units.svg UK (notionally)N/ANotional corps formed to inflate the size of the First Allied Airborne Army. The corps was notionally disbanded in December 1944 after German intelligence had been informed it was merely an administrative formation. [50]
[51]
XXI Corps 19431943N/AUK (notionally)N/ANotional corps formed as part of the deception effort Operation Tindall. [52]
XXV Corps Jun 1941UnknownA red lion passant gardant on a yellow fieldCyprus (notionally)N/ANotional corps formed deceive Axis forces about the strength of British forces based in Cyprus. [53]
XXVI Airborne Corps Nov 1944End of the warA depiction of the god Mercury British India (notionally)N/ANotional corps formed to deceive Japan about the strength of British forces based in region and to project a threat towards Thailand. [54]
XXX Corps Oct 1941Jul 1945 XXX Corps 1944-1945 shoulder flash.jpg Egypt, Italian-Libya, Tunisia, UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany Western Desert campaign, Tunisian campaign, Normandy campaign, Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine, Western Allied invasion of Germany Started to form in early October 1941 in Egypt, XXX Corps was initially known as the Armoured Corps and became active on 21 October. The corps fought across North Africa and was transferred to the UK in early 1944. From June 1944, it fought in north-west Europe and was based in Germany when the war in Europe ended. By July 1945, it had been transformed into an administrative district of the British military government in Germany covering the Hanover region, and was headquartered at Neinburg. [55] [56]
Western Desert Force Jun 1940Oct 1941N/AEgypt, Italian-Libya Western Desert campaign Formed on 17 June 1940, when the headquarters of the 6th Infantry Division was redesignated as Western Desert Force to control all British forces in Egypt. In January 1941, Western Desert Force was redesignated as the XIII Corps. In March 1941, following a strategic reversal in Italian Libya, a new Western Desert Force was formed. It led British forces during operations Brevity and Battleaxe. In October 1941, Western Defence Force again became XIII Corps. [57]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ See below list for complete breakdown. In addition to the corps formed by the British Army, the British Indian Army contained or formed the Burma or Burcorps, III, IV, XV, XXI, XXXIII and XXXIV Corps. [2]
  2. ↑ See below list for complete breakdown, including dates.
  3. ↑ See List of British mobile brigades during the Second World War for the difference between armoured and tank brigades.
  4. 1 2 II Corps was initially disbanded in April 1943. [17] Colin Mackie, a school teacher who has been awarded for his efforts towards maintaining the public history and heritage, wrote that in May 1943, II Corps was reformed when XI Corps was renamed. [18] H. F. Joslen, who compiled the official British order of battle for the war, wrote the 54th (East Anglian) and the 61st Infantry Divisions transferred from XI Corps to II Corps District on 15 May 1943. [19]

Citations

  1. ↑ Dear & Foot 2001, pp. 303–306.
  2. ↑ Kirby et al. 1958, pp. 194, 454; Virk 1982, pp. 68, 112, 231, 247, 358, 360; Playfair et al. 2004, p. 403.
  3. ↑ Playfair et al. 2004, p. 465.
  4. ↑ Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 97, 260–261; French 2015, p. 202.
  5. ↑ Jackson 2006, pp. 27, 40.
  6. ↑ Jackson 2006, p. 84.
  7. ↑ Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 7–8.
  8. ↑ "No. 38149". The London Gazette . 16 December 1947. p. 5973. and "No. 38149". The London Gazette . 16 December 1947. p. 5974.
  9. ↑ "No. 38149". The London Gazette . 16 December 1947. p. 5985.
  10. ↑ "Badge, Formation, British, I Corps & 1st Corps". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  11. ↑ Dunlop 1938, pp. 218–219; Donnison 1961, p. 244.
  12. ↑ Pringle 1997, p. 28; Joslen 2003, pp. 104–107; Mead 2010, p. 96.
  13. ↑ "Badge, Formation, British, 1st Airborne Division & 6th Airborne Division & 16th Airborne Division TA". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  14. ↑ "Badge, Formation, I Anti-Aircraft Corps (1st AA Corps)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  15. ↑ "Badge, Formation, II Corps (2nds Corps)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 16 February 2022. and "No. 34753". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 December 1939. p. 8305.
  16. ↑ Hesketh 2000, pp. 37, 65–66, 140, 217, 296, 323; Holt 2004, pp. 587, 643, 836, 912–913; Heathcote 1999, p. 275.
  17. ↑ Heathcote 1999, p. 275.
  18. ↑ Mackie, Colin (2021). "Senior Army Appointments: 1860–" (PDF). pp. 249–251. Retrieved 28 February 2022. and Mackie, Colin (2021). "Colin Mackie's website" . Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  19. ↑ Joslen 2003, pp. 89, 96.
  20. ↑ "Badge, Formation, II Anti-Aircraft Corps (2nd AA Corps)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "Badge, Formation, III Corps (3rd Corps) & HQ Land Forces Greece & British Forces in Greece (BFIG)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 16 February 2022. and "No. 34722". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 October 1939. p. 7393.
  22. ↑ Mackenzie 1951, p. 593; Holt 2004, pp. 622, 914; Jackson & Gleave 2004, pp. 322–323.
  23. ↑ "Badge, Formation, III Anti-Aircraft Corps (3rd AA Corps)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  24. ↑ "Badge, Formation, British, IV Corps & 4th Corps & 64th Medium Regiment RA". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  25. ↑ McGilvray 2020, p. 32.
  26. ↑ "Badge, Formation, British, V Corps (5th Corps)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  27. ↑ Warner 2006, p. 59.
  28. ↑ Blake 1956, p. 159.
  29. ↑ "Badge, Formation, Canadian, VII Corps, 7 Corps, The Canadian Corps, 1st Canadian Corps". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  30. ↑ Stacey 1948, pp. 19, 26; Hesketh 2000, pp. 64–65, 75, 163, 245, 326, 334; Holt 2004, pp. 836, 914.
  31. ↑ "Badge, Formation, VIII Corps District (8th Corps District) & South Western District". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2022. and "Badge, Formation, VIII Corps (8th Corps)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  32. ↑ "No. 34944". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 September 1940. p. 5471.
  33. ↑ Jackson 2006, p. 1; Donnison 1961, p. 244.
  34. ↑ "Badge, Formation, British, IX Corps (9th Corps)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 16 February 2022. (IWM incorrectly stated "1940" instead of "1941"), "Badge, Formation, 1st Army". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 13 February 2022., and "Pakenham-Walsh, Ridley". ACT Memorial. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  35. ↑ "No. 35192". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 1941. p. 3440.
  36. ↑ Royal Engineers Journal 1967, p. 84.
  37. ↑ "Badge, Formation, British, X Corps (10th Corps)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  38. ↑ Crew 1959, p. 416; Williams 1960, pp. 61–68, 99, 132, 435, 453; Gould & Proud 1983, p. 462; Newbold 1988, pp. 202–203; Playfair et al. 2004, p. 2.
  39. ↑ "Badge, Formation, British, XI Corps (11th Corps)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  40. ↑ Newbold 1988, pp. 202–203.
  41. ↑ "Badge, Formation, British, XII Corps (12th Corps)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  42. ↑ "Lt.-General Ritchie For Scottish Command". The Times. No. 50163. 8 June 1945.
  43. ↑ Newbold 1988, pp. 202–203; Donnison 1961, pp. 225, 244.
  44. ↑ "Badge, Formation, British, XIII Corps (13th Corps) & British Element Trieste Force (BETFOR)". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  45. ↑ Playfair et al. 2004, p. 478; Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 478, 365.
  46. ↑ Holt 2004, pp. 595, 607–608, 623, 914–915.
  47. ↑ Holt 2004, pp. 915, 918.
  48. ↑ Hesketh 2000, p. 440.
  49. ↑ Holt 2004, p. 915.
  50. ↑ Hesketh 2000, pp. 327, 333, 453–454; Holt 2004, p. 915.
  51. ↑ "Badge, Formation, 1st Airborne Division & 6th Airborne Division & 16th Airborne Division TA". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  52. ↑ Hesketh 2000, pp. 2–3, 65; Holt 2004, p. 915.
  53. ↑ Holt 2004, pp. 32, 915, 927.
  54. ↑ Holt 2004, pp. 681–683, 762, 815, 916.
  55. ↑ "Badge, Formation, British, British, XXX Corps & 30th Corps". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2022. and "Badge, Formation, 8th Army". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  56. ↑ Donnison 1961, p. 244; Playfair et al. 2004, p. 403.
  57. ↑ Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 97, 104; Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 97, 104, 162, 170–173, 365.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)</span> WWII British Army unit

The 6th Airborne Division was an airborne infantry division of the British Army during the Second World War. Despite its name, the 6th was actually the second of two airborne divisions raised by the British Army during the war, the other being the 1st Airborne Division. The 6th Airborne Division was formed in the Second World War, in mid-1943, and was commanded by Major-General Richard N. Gale. The division consisted of the 3rd and 5th Parachute Brigades along with the 6th Airlanding Brigade and supporting units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Army Group Royal Artillery</span> Military unit

1st Army Group Royal Artillery was a brigade-sized formation organised by Britain's Royal Artillery during World War II to command medium and heavy guns. It served in the final stages of the Tunisian Campaign and throughout the Italian Campaign. It reformed in the Territorial Army in the 1950s to command air defence units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division</span> British Army Second World War division

The 55th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army's Territorial Army (TA) that was formed in 1920 and existed through the Second World War, although it did not see combat. The division had originally been raised in 1908 as the West Lancashire Division, part of the British Army's Territorial Force (TF). It fought in the First World War, as the 55th Division, and demobilised following the fighting. In 1920, the 55th Division started to reform. It was stationed in the county of Lancashire throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and was under-funded and under-staffed. In the late 1930s, the division was reduced from three to two infantry brigades and gave up some artillery and other support units to become a motorised formation, the 55th Motor Division. This was part of a British Army doctrine change that was intended to increase battlefield mobility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">70th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)</span> WWII British Army division

The 70th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. What would become the 70th Division originated with the 7th Infantry Division, which was formed in 1938 to serve in the British Mandate of Palestine during the Arab Revolt. This division then transferred to Egypt on the outbreak of the Second World War and soon became the 6th Infantry Division, which went on to take part in the Battle of Crete and the Syria–Lebanon Campaign. On 10 October 1941, the 6th Division was re-created as the 70th Infantry Division, in an attempt to deceive Axis intelligence concerning the strength of British forces in the Middle East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">78th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The 78th Infantry Division, also known as the Battleaxe Division, was an infantry division of the British Army, raised during the Second World War that fought, with great distinction, in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy from late 1942–1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)</span> 1939-1941 combat formation of the British Army

The 2nd Armoured Division was a division of the British Army that was active during the early stages of the Second World War. The division's creation had been discussed since the beginning of 1939, with the intent to form it by splitting the 1st Armoured Division. A lack of tanks delayed this until December 1939. For a short period after its creation, the division had no assigned units until the 1st Light Armoured Brigade was assigned to it from the 1st Armoured Division, and the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade from Southern Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The 8th Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army during the Second World War. It was deployed to Egypt in June 1942 but never operated as a complete formation and was disbanded in January the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">76th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The 76th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army, which was formed in November 1941 and served during the Second World War. It was created when the Norfolk County Division, initially raised in 1940 to defend the Norfolk coast from a potential German invasion, was redesignated. The division maintained the defensive duties that had been assigned to it, prior to it being renamed, until late 1942 when it became a training formation. It was then responsible for providing final tactical and field training to soldiers who had already passed their initial training. After five additional weeks of training, the soldiers were posted to fighting formations overseas. The formation was used as a source of reinforcements for the 21st Army Group, that was fighting in the Normandy campaign. After all available British troops had left the United Kingdom for France, the division was disbanded in September 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">77th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The 77th Infantry Division of the British Army was formed in 1941, during the Second World War, from the re-organisation of the Devon and Cornwall County Division. During its existence the division changed roles several times. The division's initial role was coastal defence, protecting Devon. On 20 December 1942, it was converted into a training formation, known as a reserve division. In this capacity, the division provided final tactical and field training for the infantry that had already passed their initial training. After five additional weeks of training, the soldiers would be posted to fighting formations overseas. The division also had a tank brigade attached to provide training in armoured warfare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">80th Infantry (Reserve) Division (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division was an infantry division of the British Army formed at the beginning of 1943, during the Second World War. For the twenty months that the division existed, it was a training formation. It was made responsible for providing final tactical and field training to soldiers who had already passed their initial training. After five additional weeks of training, the soldiers would be posted to fighting formations overseas. Notably, the division was used as a source of reinforcements for the 21st Army Group, which was fighting in Normandy. After all available troops left the United Kingdom for France, the division was disbanded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Skorpion</span> Military operation during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War

Operation Skorpion from 26 to 27 May 1941, was a military operation during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The operation was conducted by Axis forces under the command of Colonel Maximilian von Herff and British forces under Lieutenant-General William "Strafer" Gott. A counter-attack was made on British positions at Halfaya Pass in north-western Egypt, which had been captured during Operation Brevity (15–16 May).Unternehmen Skorpion was the second offensive operation commanded by Rommel in Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middlesex Yeomanry</span> Military unit

The Middlesex Yeomanry was a volunteer cavalry regiment of the British Army originally raised in 1797. It saw mounted and dismounted action in the Second Boer War and in World War I at Gallipoli, Salonika and in Palestine, where one of its officers won a Victoria Cross at the Battle of Buqqar Ridge and the regiment rode into Damascus with 'Lawrence of Arabia'. Between the world wars the regiment was converted to the signals role and it provided communications for armoured formations in World War II, including service in minor operations in Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Iran, as well as the Western Desert, Italian and North-West European campaigns. It continued in the postwar Territorial Army and its lineage is maintained today by 31 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, which forms part of the Army Reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manx Regiment</span> Military unit

The Manx Regiment – the 15th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery – was raised in 1938 as a Territorial Army (TA) unit of the British Army. It recruited on the Isle of Man and formed part of Anti-Aircraft Command at the outbreak of World War II. The regiment was posted to the Middle East in November 1940, serving in the Western Desert, East Africa and Crete. In August 1942 it became the air defence regiment for the 7th Armoured Division. It served with the division through the North African, Italian and North West European campaigns. It was reformed in the postwar TA as 515 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment before being reduced to a staff troop in 42nd (Lancashire) Division in 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Armoured Division (United Kingdom)</span> Armoured division of the British Army during World War II

The 1st Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army. The division was formed as the Mobile Division on 24 November 1937, after several years of debate on such a formation. It was then renamed, in April 1939, as the 1st Armoured Division. Following the start of the Second World War, subordinate units and formations were withdrawn from the division to reinforce others. It was eventually deployed for combat, in May 1940, when it was dispatched to France and subsequently fought in the Battle of France before being withdrawn back to the UK in June during Operation Aerial. In late 1941, the division was sent to North Africa where it took part in the Western Desert campaign, notably fighting at the Battle of Gazala, and the First and the Second Battles of El Alamein. During 1942, Major-General Herbert Lumsden was wounded in action twice while leading the division, and Major-General Alexander Gatehouse was wounded once.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.