British Divisions in World War II

This page is a list of British Army divisions that fought in World War II.

Armoured

*Guards Armoured Division :Formed 17 June 1941 in the UK. Served in NW Europe from June 1944 until the end of the campaign in NW Europe. Fought at Bourgebus Ridge, Mont Pincon, the Nederrijn (Nijmegen Salient), and the Rhineland. Ended the war in Europe under command of XXX Corps.
*1st Armoured Division :Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Priory Lodge, Andore. Served in France from May 1940 until June 1940, Egypt from November 1941 until December 1941 and from June 1942 until November 1942, Libya from December 1941 until June 1942, from November 1942 until March 1943, and from May 1943 until August 1943, North Africa from March 1943 until May 1943 and from August 1943 until May 1944, and in Italy from May 1944 until January 1945. 28 October 1944 division ceased operations. Fought at Gazala, Mersa Matruh, El Alamein, Tebaga Gap, Akarit, El Kourzia, Tunis, and Coriano. 11 January 1945 disbanded in Italy.
*2nd Armoured Division - Formed 15 December 1939 in the UK. Served in Egypt from January 1941 until March 1941 and from April 1941 until May 1941, and in Libya from March 1941 until April 1941. 8 April 1941 divisional HQ captured in Libya. Fought in Libya. 10 May 1941 disbanded in Egypt.
*6th Armoured Division - Formed 12 September 1940 in the UK. Served in North Africa from November 1942 until March 1944, Italy from March 1944 until May 1945, and Austria May 1945. Fought at Bou Arada, Fondouk, El Kourzia, Tunis, the Liri Valley, Arezzo, Florence, along the Gothic Line, and in the Argenta Gap. Ended the war in Europe under command of 5 Corps.
*7th Armoured Division - Formed September 1939 in Egypt as The Armoured Division by redesignation of the existing "Mobile Division". 16 February 1940 redesignated the 7th Armoured Division. Served in Egypt, Libya, and North Africa from September 1939 until September 1943, Italy from September 1943 until December 1943, and in northwestern Europe from July 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. Fought at Sidi Barrani, Bardia, Tobruk, Beda Fomm, Gazala, Alam el Halfa, El Alamein, Medenine, Mareth, Akarit, Enfidaville, Tunis, Salerno, Naples, the Volturno River, Bourgebus Ridge, the Nederrijn, and across the Rhine River. Ended the war in Europe under command of XII Corps.
*8th Armoured Division - Formed 4 November 1940 in the UK. Served in Egypt from July 1942 until December 1942. 1 January 1943 disbanded in Egypt.
*9th Armoured Division - Formed 1 December 1940 in the UK 31 July 1944 disbanded in the UK.
*10th Armoured Division - Formed 1 August 1941 in Palestine by redesignation and conversion of the 1st Cavalry Division. Served in Palestine from August 1941 until April 1942 and in January 1943, Egypt from April 1942 until December 1942 and from September 1943 until June 1944, and in Syria from January 1943 until September 1943. Fought at Alam el Halfa and El Alamein. 15 June 1944 disbanded in Egypt.
*11th Armoured Division:Formed 9 March 1941 in the UK. Served in northwestern Europe from June 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. Fought on the Odon River, at Bourgebus Ridge, Mont Pincon, the Nederrijn, and in the Rhineland. Ended the war in Europe under command of VIII Corps.
*42nd Armoured Division :Formed 1 November 1941 by conversion of the 42nd Infantry Division. 17 October 1943 disbanded in the UK.
*79th Armoured Division :Formed 14 August 1942 in the UK. Served as a division in northwestern Europe from August 1944 until the end of the war in Europe, but elements of the division landed in Normandy on D-Day. Division was equipped with specialized armoured fighting vehicles ("Hobart's Funnies") and did not fight as a complete Division; units of it were attached to other formations in combat to provide specialized support. Ended the war in Europe under command of 21st Army Group.

Cavalry

*1st Cavalry Division - Formed 31 October 1939 in the UK. Served in Palestine from January 1940 until May 1941, Transjordan in May 1941, Iraq from May 1941 until June 1941, and Syria from June 1941 until July 1941. 1 August 1941 redesignated as and converted to the 10th Armoured Division.

Infantry

*Guards Division - Formed 12 June 1945. Formed in Europe after the end of the war from the Guards Armoured Division. Service in northwestern Europe.
*1st Infantry Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Aldershot. Served in France from September 1939 until June 1940, North Africa from March 1943 to December 1943, Italy from December 1943 until January 1945, and in Palestine for most of 1945. Fought at the Medjez Plain, Tunis, Anzio, Rome, and on the Gothic Line. Ended war with HQ, Palestine and Transjordan command.
*1st (London) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Finsbury Barracks. Organized as a motor division. 18 November 1940 redesignated 56th (London) Division.
*2nd Infantry Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Aldershot. Served in France from September 1939 until May 1940, India from June 1942 until April 1944 and April 1945 until August 1945, and in Burma from April 1944 until April 1945. Fought at St Omer-La Bassée, Kohima, and Mandalay. Ended war under command of the Southern Army (part of GHQ India).
*2nd (London) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in the London District. Remained in the UK until 1 September 1944, when redesignated the 47th Infantry (Reserve) Division.
*3rd Infantry Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Bulford. Served in France from September 1939 until June 1940, and in northwestern Europe from June 1944 until the end of the war. Fought at Ypres-Comines Canal, assaulted Normandy, Caen, Bourguebus Ridge, Mont Pincon, the Nederrijn, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine River. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of 1 Corps.
*4th Infantry Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Colchester. Served in France from October 1939 until June 1940, in North Africa from March 1943 until December 1943, in Egypt from December 1943 until February 1944, in Italy from February 1944 until December 1944, and in Greece from December 1944 until the end of the war. Fought at Oued Zarga, the Medjez Plain, Tunis, Cassino, on the Trasimene Line, Arezzo, Florence, and on the Rimini Line. Ended the war under command of HQ Land Forces (Greece).
*5th Infantry Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Catterick Camp. Served in France from December 1939 until June 1940, in India from May 1942 until August 1942, in Iraq from August 1942 until September 1942, in Persia from September 1942 until January 1943, in Syria February 1943 until June 1943, in Egypt June 1943, in Sicily July 1943 until September 1943, in Italy September 1943 until July 1944, in Palestine July 1944 until February 1945, and in northwestern Europe from March 1945 until the end of the war. Fought at Ypres-Comines Canal, assaulted Sicily, on the Sangro River, on the Garigliano River, Anzio, and Rome. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under the command of 8 Corps.
*6th Infantry Division - Formed November 1939 in Egypt by redesignation of the 7th Infantry Division. 10 October 1941 redesignated 70th Infantry Division. 24 November 1943 disbanded in India. Served in Egypt from November 1939 until March 1940, February 1941 until June 1941, and December 1941 until February 1942, in Palestine March 1940 until June 1940, in Syria June 1941 until October 1941, in Libya October 1941 until December 1941, and in India from March 1942 until October 1943. Fought at Damascus and Tobruk. Under command of Central Army (part of GHQ India) when inactivated.
*7th Infantry Division - Existing division at the start of the war in Egypt, headquarters underway to Mersa Matruh. 3 November 1939 redesignated 6th Infantry Division.
*7th Division (Cyprus) - 14 June 1941 7th Division HQ formed for deception purposes and based in Cyprus; deception continued until June 1943.
*8th Infantry Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Palestine. 28 February 1940 disbanded in Palestine. Under command of HQ Palestine and Transjordan.
*8th Division (Syria) - 2 June 1942 8th Division HQ formed to control administrative units in Syria; disbanded 31 October 1943 in Syria.
*9th (Highland) Infantry Division - Formed September 1939 in the UK. 7 August 1940 redesignated 51st (Highland) Infantry Division.
*12th (Eastern) Infantry Division - Formed 10 October 1939 in the UK. Served in France from April 1940 until June 1940. 11 July 1940 disbanded in the UK.
*12th Division (Sudan Defence Force) - Formed 11 July 1942 in the Sudan. 12 January 1945 redesignated Sudan Defence Force Group (North Africa).
*15th (Scottish) Infantry Division - Formed September 1939 in the UK. Served in northwestern Europe from 14 June 1944 until the end of the war. Fought on the Odon River, at Caen, Mont Pincon, the Nederrijn, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of 8 Corps.
*18th Infantry Division - Formed 30 September 1939 in the UK. Served in India January 1942 and in Malaya February 1942. 15 February 1942 captured by the Japanese Army in Malaya. Fought on Singapore Island.
*23rd (Northumbrian) Infantry Division - Formed 2 October 1939 in the UK. Served in France from April 1940 until June 1940. 30 June 1940 disbanded in the UK.
*36th Infantry Division - Formed 1 September 1944 in Burma by redesignation of the 36th Indian Infantry Division. Served in Burma from September 1944 until May 1945, and in India from May 1945 until the end of the war. Fought at Mandalay and along the Rangoon Road. Under command of Southern Army (part of GHQ India) at the end of the war.
*38th (Welsh) Infantry Division - Formed September 1939 in the UK 1 September 1944 redesignated 38th Infantry (Reserve) Division. Ended the war in Europe under the command of Western Command.
*40th Infantry Division - Formed 9 November 1943 in Sicily as a deception operation. 17 June 1944 disbanded in Sicily.
*42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Manchester. Served in Belgium and France from April 1940 until June 1940. 1 November 1941 redesignated 42nd Armoured Division.
*43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Salisbury. Served in northwestern Europe from 24 June 1944 until the end of the war. Fought on the Odon River, at Caen, Bourguebus Ridge, Mont Pincon, the Nederrijn, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of 30 Corps.
*44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich. Served in France and Belgium from April 1940 until June 1940, and in Egypt from July 1942 until January 1943. 31 December 1943 disbanded in the Middle East. Fought at St Omer-La Bassée, Alam el Halfa, and El Alamein.
*45th Infantry Division - Formed September 1939 in the UK. August 1944 division dispersed. 1 September 1944 Redesignated 45th (Holding) Division. 1 December 1944 redesignated 45th Division. Under War Office Control at the end of the war.
*46th Infantry Division - Formed 2 October 1939 in the UK. Served in France and Belgium from April 1940 until June 1940, North Africa from January 1943 until September 1943, Italy from September 1943 until March 1944, July 1944 until January 1945 and April 1945 until May 1945, Egypt in March 1944 and June 1944, Palestine from April 1944 until June 1944, Greece from January 1945 until April 1945, and in Austria as an occupation force. Fought at St Omer-La Bassée, El Kouriza, Tunis, Salerno, Naples, on the Volturno River, Monte Camino, on the Gothic Line, Coriano, on the Rimini Line, and on the Lamone River. Ended the war in Europe under command of 5 Corps.
*47th (London) Infantry Division - Formed 21 November 1940 in the UK by redesignation of the 2nd London Division. August 1944 division dispersed. 1 September 1944 redesignated 47th Infantry (Reserve) Division.
*48th (South Midland) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Oxford. Served in France and Belgium from January 1940 until June 1940. 20 December 1942 redesignated 48th Infantry (Reserve) Division. Fought at St Omer-La Bassée.
*49th (West Riding) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Clifton, York. 5 April 1940 disbanded in the UK 10 June 1940 reconstituted in the UK. Served in northwestern Europe from 12 June 1944 until the end of the war. Fought on the Odon River and in the Scheldt Estuary. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under the command of 1 Canadian Corps.
*50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Darlington. Organized as a motor division. Served in France and Belgium from January 1940 until June 1940, Egypt from June 1941 until July 1941, February 1942, from June 1942 until December 1942, and from May 1943 until September 1943, Cyprus from July 1941 until November 1941, Syria from January 1942 until February 1942, Libya from February 1942 until June 1942, from December 1943 until March 1943, and from April 1943 until May 1943, North Africa from March 1943 until April 1943, Sicily from July 1943 until October 1943, and northwestern Europe from June 1944 until December 1944. 16 December 1944 redesignated an Infantry (Reserve) Division in the UK. August 1945 arrived in Norway and retitled HQ British Land Forces Norway. Fought at Ypres-Comines Canal, Gazala, Mersa Matruh, El Alamein, Mareth, Akarit, Enfidaville, assaulted Sicily, assaulted Normandy, and in the Nederrijn.
*51st (Highland) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Cragie, Perth. Served in France from 24 January 1940 until June 1940. 12 June 1940 captured by the German Army. 7 August 1940 reconstituted by redesignation of the 9th (Highland) Infantry Division. Served in Egypt from August 1942 until November 1942, Libya from November 1942 until February 1943, North Africa from February 1943 until July 1943, and northwestern Europe from June 1944 until the end of the campaign in northwestern Europe. Fought at El Alamein, Medenine, Mareth, Akarit, Enfidaville, Tunis, assaulted Sicily, Adrano, Bourguebus Ridge, Falaise, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of 30 Corps.
*52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Glasgow. Trained at various times as both a mountain and airlanding division, but never used in either role. Served in France June 1940 and in northwestern Europe from October 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. Fought in the Scheldt Estuary, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of 30 Corps.
*53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Shrewsbury. Served in northwestern Europe from June 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. Fought on the Odon River, at Caen, Mont Pincon, Falaise, the Nederrijn, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of 12 Corps.
*54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in The Barracks, Hertford. 14 December 1943 disbanded in the UK.
*55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Liverpool. Never left the UK. Ended the war under command of Western Command.
*56th (London) Infantry Division - 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 13 Corps.
*57th Infantry Division - Formed 9 November 1943 in North Africa as a deception measure. 29 July 1944 disbanded in North Africa.
*59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division - Formed 4 September 1939 in the UK. Fought at Caen and Mount Pincon. Served in northwestern Europe from June 1944 until October 1944. 19 October 1944 disbanded in northwestern Europe.
*61st Infantry Division - Formed September 1939 in the UK. Never left the UK. Ended the war under command of Eastern Command.
*66th Infantry Division - Formed September 1939 in the UK 22 June 1940 disbanded in the UK.
*70th Infantry Division - Formed 10 October 1941 by redesignation of the 6th Infantry Division. 10 October 1941 redesignated 70th Infantry Division. 24 November 1943 disbanded in India. Served in Egypt from November 1939 until March 1940, February 1941 until June 1941, and December 1941 until February 1942, in Palestine March 1940 until June 1940, in Syria June 1941 until October 1941, in Libya October 1941 until December 1941, and in India from March 1942 until October 1943. Under command of Central Army (part of GHQ India) when inactivated. 24 November 1943 disbanded in India.
*76th Infantry Division - Formed 18 November 1941 by redesignation of the Norfolk County Division in the UK 20 December 1942 redesignated 76th Infantry (Reserve) Division in the UK. 1 September 1944 disbanded in the UK.
*77th Infantry Division - Formed 1 December 1941 by redesignation of the Devon and Cornwall County Division in the UK 20 December 1942 redesignated 77th Infantry (Reserve) Division in the UK 1 September 1944 disbanded in the UK.
*78th Infantry Division - Formed 25 May 1942 in the UK to take part in Operation Torch. Served in North Africa from November 1942 until July 1943, Sicily from July 1943 until September 1943, Italy from September 1943 until July 1944 when it was sent to Egypt for rest and regrouping. It rejoined the campaign in Italy in September 1944 remaining until the end of hostilities there in early May 1945. Ended the war in Austria under command of V Corps. Fought in Tunisia at Tebourba Gap, Oued Zarga, Medjez Plain, Tunis; in Sicily at Adrano and Centuripe; and in Italy at Termoli, on the Sangro River, Cassino, in the Liri Valley, on the Trasimene Line, Florence (Gothic Line), on the Senio River, and in the Argenta Gap.
*80th Infantry (Reserve) Division - Formed 1 January 1943 in the UK 1 September 1944 disbanded in the UK

Airborne

* 1st Airborne Division - Formed 4 November 1941 in the UK. Served in North Africa from April 1943 until July 1943 and July 1943 until September 1943, Sicily in July 1943, Italy from September 1943 until November 1943, northwestern Europe (Arnhem) in September 1944, and after the end of the campaign in Norway. Fought in Sicily and at Arnhem. Ended the war in Europe under command of Force 134 (Norway).
* 2nd Airborne Division - Formed with the 11th & 12th Parachute Brigades and 13th Air-Landing Brigade. Based in Lincolnshire. Used as a deception division leading up to D-Day with Fourth Army of First U.S. Army Group, and then again for the proposed operation around Kiel-Bremen when Arnhem was underway. The division was disbanded in December 1944, as its troops provided replacements for the 1st & 6th Airborne Divisions. This division should not be confused with the 2nd Indian Airborne Division, formed on 1 November 1945 from the 44th Indian Airborne Division but active only briefly. [Holt, "The Deceivers"]
* 6th Airborne Division - Formed 3 May 1943 in the UK. Served in northwestern Europe June 1944 (landed at Normandy on D-Day) until September 1944, December 1944 until February 1945, and March 1945 until May 1945. Fought in Normandy and near Wesel. Met Soviet forces at Wismar on the Baltic Sea. Ended the war in Europe under command of U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps.

Anti-Aircraft

* 1st Anti-Aircraft Division - Existing division at start of the war, headquartered in Uxbridge.
* 2nd Anti-Aircraft Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered at RAF Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.
* 3rd Anti-Aircraft Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Edinburgh.
* 4th Anti-Aircraft Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Chester.
* 5th Anti-Aircraft Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Reading.
* 6th Anti-Aircraft Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Uxbridge.
* 7th Anti-Aircraft Division - Existing division at the start of the war, headquartered in Newcastle-on-Tyne.
* 8th Anti-Aircraft Division - Formed October 1940 in South Wales and western England. September 1942 disbanded.
* 9th Anti-Aircraft Division - Formed October 1940. September 1942 disbanded.
* 10th Anti-Aircraft Division - Formed November 1940 in Yorkshire. September 1942 disbanded.
* 11th Anti-Aircraft Division - Formed November 1940 in the West and Central Midlands. September 1942 disbanded.
* 12th Anti-Aircraft Division - Formed November 1940 in southwestern Scotland. September 1942 disbanded.

Indian

For British Indian Army units, see List of Indian divisions in WWII

African

*1st (African) Division - renamed 11th (African) Division - Formed 24 July 1940 in East Africa. 24 November 1940 redesignated 11th (African) Division. Served in East Africa from July 1940 until February 1941 and from August 1941 until November 1941, Italian Somaliland from February 1941 until March 1941, and in Abyssinia from March 1941 until August 1941. Fought at The Juba. 23 November 1941 disbanded in East Africa.
*2nd (African) Division - renamed 12th (African) Division and also known as the "12th (East Africa) Division" (after West African elements reassigned in late 1941) - Formed 19 July 1940 in East Africa. 24 November 1940 redesignated 12th (African) Division. Served in East Africa from July 1940 until February 1941, Italian Somaliland from February 1941 until April 1941, and in Abyssinia from April 1941 until April 1943. Fought at The Juba and Gondar. 18 April 1943 disbanded in East Africa.
*11th (East Africa) Division - Formed 15 February 1943 in East Africa. Served in East Africa from February 1943 until June 1943, Ceylon from June 1943 until May 1944, Burma from June 1944 until April 1945, and India from April 1945 until the end of the war. Fought in Burma. Ended the war under command of GHQ India.
*81st (West Africa) Division - Formed 1 March 1943 in Nigeria as the 1st (West Africa) Division, redesignated the 81st (West Africa) Division three days later. Served in West Africa from March 1943 until July 1943, India from August 1943 until December 1943 and from March 1945 until August 1945, and Burma from December 1943 until March 1945. Fought at North Arakan and on the Arakan Beaches. Ended the war under command of Southern Army.
*82nd (West Africa) Division - Formed 1 August 1943 in Nigeria. Served in West Africa from August 1943 until May 1944, India from July 1944 until November 1944, and in Burma from November 1944 until August 1945. Fought on the Arakan Beaches. Ended the war under command of HQ Allied Land Forces South East Asia.

Other

*Devon and Cornwall County Division - Formed 28 February 1941 in the UK. 1 December 1941 redesignated 77th Infantry Division.
*Dorset County Division - Formed 24 February 1941 in the UK 31 December 1941 disbanded in the UK.
*Durham and North Riding County Division - Formed 12 March 1941 in the UK. 1 December 1941 redesignated as the Durham and North Riding Coastal Area.
*Essex County Division - Formed 18 February 1941 in the UK by redesignation of the West Sussex County Division. 7 October 1941 disbanded in the UK.
*Hampshire County Division - Formed 28 February 1941 in the UK 31 December 1941 disbanded in the UK.
*Lincolnshire County Division - Formed 24 February 1941 in the UK. 3 December 1941 disbanded in the UK.
*Norfolk County Division - Formed 24 December 1940 in the UK. 18 November 1941 redesignated 76th Infantry Division.
*Northumberland County Division - Formed 24 February 1941 in the UK. 21 December 1941 disbanded in the UK.
*West Sussex County Division - Formed 9 November 1940 in the UK. by redesignation of Brocforce (reinforced 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade). 18 February 1941 redesignated the Essex County Division.
*Yorkshire County Division - Formed 24 February 1941 in the UK. 1 December 1941 redesignated East Riding District.

ee also

*List of military divisions by number
*List of military divisions by name
*List of British Empire divisions in World War II
*Military history of Britain during World War II
*British military history

Notes

References

*Lt.-Col. H. F. Joslen, Rtd "Orders of Battle", ., Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-84342-474-6. Reprint of 1960 2 volume history published by HMSO.
*Thaddeus Holt, "The Deceivers: Allied Military Deception in the Second World War", 2004

External links

* [http://home.adelphia.net/~dryan67/orders/army.html British, Commonwealth, and Empire Orders of Battle on 3 September] 1939]