Osprey men at arms 187 british battle insignia (2) 1939 45

Th Brili hlroop''' ho" nl on 10 fi~hl in 'i ily and hal fromJul '9B n arl al"a "or their divi i nal i~n on Ballledr and khaki drililropieal unifo rms, bUIother in ignia "ere regulated in

Publi hro in 1<)87 b)

o pre) Publi hinK L,d

~1rmb<r compan) of ,he GrorKe Philip Group

11 q I.onll A re, London \\' E 9L1'

( COP)rillh' ,<)870 pr ) Publishinlll.ld

rhi book i COP) ri~htrd und r the Bern COlln.'IHioll

•\11 ri~h, r nro Apar from an) fair dealinll for ,he

purp<hC of priv3t(" tud), rNt'ar h, crilici m or rf\ic".

permilled under ,he Cop)ri~h Art '956, no par,

of thi public31i n may l)(' rrprodu ro, _tored in a

r'('lri \ al S) (('tn, or trall5miuoo in an) form or b) an)

mcan d«tronic, dcctriral chemical, mechanical.

opli ai, ph01OCOP in~. recordinl( or othrn,isc, ,,,itholH

lhr prior penni ion of tht ("op)ri~hl 0\\ n r Enquiri",

hould be addr <oed '0 he Publi hen.

Br.luh I b,ory COl%guln( In Pub/i(ollon DaM

Chappell, ~Iike

Brit~h hanle:' III i~nia ~Ien-al·arm \("n~; 187)

2: 1<)39 15

I, Title II Seri

355 1 4 IJCS3S· G 7

Prin,ro ,h,()u~h Bookbuilde" L,d, Ilon~ Konll

Dedication rhi book i droica,ro '0 ,he librarian and staff of ,h

Prince.- ConSOrt' Librar) Aldershol.

Briti h Battle III igllia 2 : 1939-45

Illtrod"ctioll

Inl/J:mo (I): /f/I~ 18, and Ir.l(( Ilw lIlr) of Ihe

period i exa II ,the arne as in the pre\inu book:

Int lIil! n e'

availabl il has been decided lolimittht, 0\ ral(e of

Regulations and terminology

Ih anarch) that had pre-ailed in thi an'a in the

,r at War Aft r orders forbiddinl( battle in il(nia

ilem of battle in il(nia and Riving them name> uch

'arm-of· "'ice di tingui hlllg mark , CIt', I hese

•

in ignia being ignored, contradicted or defied are

100 num rou 10 m ntion SllIdied loda , Ihl') lell

wa o(luol{, "nrn i quite another 10l), "hith this

-'Loa.U made'di,,; 50DaI i The +4tla 1m, d Place 82 I t

("',.-'939 fo h i cr. Place ) c::h05e di"l '0 i p for ~ oa

unil< rln thai wC':re impl 10 maluJ.~u~, th~ mple

pow ( OIP: • «dum ' " inch If' i reproduced below

""",pie of m.§iSma, mo I ofwhlc::h art: (rom the coUrctioft of

Mr. w. HUlhe of rookham, Hamp hire.)

and other OUlposts of th empire, and a «··formedTerrilorial Arm) fM home d fence Brilalll hadreturned to the 'proper 'Oldi rinl(' enjo)rd b) Ihe

II "aJ decided thaI in futur th Ie uniform of th

3

unifi,rmity; and wai I belts ba)on I frol('> and linl( "I' Ih,' Slad"-Wallac~ whil~ t>un' t-quipmt'nt

rin,,-\\t'n' i ued fi,r ,,~ar on parad~and fOr\,alkin~-(>lII,

Infantr) warrant oflic~rs anel 'fI(~ant "r~

"rd,'r,'d 10 \,,'ar red ",h "ith .~ i "Dr "nparad •~lt~ and medal w~~ pt'rmilled to lx' ""m

on (('f("monial oc(a.sion~ \\ ilh St·n ic Dr "

Oddly, blafk boo~ w~r~ no" i ued l() olh~r ran ,

uni\ ('rsally i ued" ilh full dr , IwO pairs ofbm" n,lOkk lxxll had I)('('n i ued «) 1'001 Idi~rs On~

pair \"'n' Iht'n black~ned for ",'ar with lull drand II", oll",r pair w~r~ k pt K~'" 'd [bmwn) for

\\("ar \\ilh "ni( D ' ·0\\ in lhr U':l( • \\ilh

"nly ,I liny prnportion ollh~ ,\nny in ""'" ion oflull dn • all ankk boo~ w"re ord,'n'(\ l() Ix' mael,'

hmw n b,x,~ "ith th,'ir, · IC~ Drt ,On,' of tht' Itr.;t mo\ In th,' m,tr\t'ninl(-up'pron ad"pted for i ~ Dr "as Ih ~mo\ al

"I' Ih~ balll inil(Oia of Ih~ lal~ "ar Thi

di ,lPlx'an:'d a: th~ formations \\ ho \\ort' it \\ r~

d"mobili ('d, or it was ordered off th kt'\( of II",I,'w R"l(ular fi,rmalion who hael ad"pled it "'h n

\\ound triJX'"' and 0\,(' a ervin· chevron \\(.'f('

aboli h('(1 in "122 th~ la't of th,' ballk in il(nia of

"J' I ,8 \ ani hed from Ih~ uniform of th~ Brili h

Re~ul,lr ,\rm) a had the d~\ if painlt'd on th~ir

"'hidl'S and i~nboards. By now, onl) r"l(im~ntal

badl(' and Ii Ill'S and badl(l'S of rank, lrad~ and

prufi(i('llf) \\('re \\orn on unifonn in much th~

1111(' wa) '" th~y had I)('('n up unlil lip 4 '5'Only in th~'1 "rritorial Arm) wa th~ w~arin~of

DI\ i ion "\~') man proudly won' Ih 'HD' d~\'i

0" hi k,''': ,he men of Ih 5lnel Lo"land

of • I Andn'" and a Ihi II,'; Ih 4lnd La tl.an, '" hir~ Di\'j ion k~pt Ih"lr numlx'r,'(\ diamond

\( h~lnt,: Ih~ 47th L"ndon Oi\l ion ""n' Ihe 'DutchIlk' i~n; th 491h W t Ridln~ Oi\i ion "or,' th~

"hil~ J'O\(' appropnal~to th~,r counly, and Ihc' 55th

Wt II.an"" h,r,' Di\ i ion continu,-c! to w ar II", n'(\

rn ','mhli'm whlfh thn h.ltl adoplt'd in lip Ii

R''1(,ml'nlal fOliar badl(" ",'n- taken inl() u 'Ior

w ar'In.·,· iu·Dr b\Olh~rr,lOk, inlh lip ,a

d, lInfti"n pn'\;"u I) th~ pri\'ik~,' of "Ilict·rs only

Olh~r ,11IC'mpt l() add olour to what "'" inlt'nded

10 IX' an unohlru i\,' form or tin includ,'(\ th~

'ft " _

"'" • _. - · r J '-".' .

Batd la.d.nla 1941 f.L The 6 I Div. \kf' led d1a.mond o.

blue) Ildopcf'd the pnttia- or '.pliltlD" tbe rtd arm-ot.

met brlpde iDdlncor trip to Ahow the sen.iorhy or

lalennecliale brirde i indicacf'd: the 4th

orthamplon.-whose blaek r~."eftt.alfla h "' a the boliorn orthe lpalc:h' or

i n ilm (Baule in lqpla WWi (requently mounted in hi -y.

(or ".\IIy auaehment '0 •.ad removal (rom blou I~e .)

11Ie ,ath (In"') Bel• were the int•• try elf'lnf'DI or Ihe 6th

Armd.Div wbeD h landed in Tu.n i i.a i.n o\.-ember 194::1 I"tit,

Ihe bri de 'p or the 31th, • V'ft:D harnro<:k, i di.lipla"K

below the blac:k~u:ld·~hhedh.,· 10_1 iAn ofehe 61h Armoured

and • reel infanlry arm-Gf.un-ic:e trip.

no lon~ r be a K~n~ral i u~, and rein' Drt "'"

"alkin~-out, ,,~II '" for all oth~r dUlil'S "ilh Ih,'

xc~ption of fati~u ,

" · i 0 had b~~n d i~ned a, an ani,,·

rvi ~ fi~ld unir rm, It n,'t'ded cm" idnabl,'

lak~ th~ plac ofth Iradilional full dl"( ,'I "0 uit

of , ; Or " r Ih~r~r r~ , u,-c! I" "ath

Idi"r, "ilh "n k~pt I -fillin~ f"r aClhe · in·

and Ih~ ,"h~r tail red d -fillin~ f"r barra b\t·ar

In lim bOlh ui~ ,,~r~ lailored 10 Ih~ sam~ nu~

and con lri tinl( fil, a practi ~ /Tidal" mnelon('(1

ord n-c! 10 flit and mak~ up " ·ic~ Dr 10 nt'"

iz pccificali"n 10 produc~ th~ n-quired lit on

i u , Wir~ I(romm~~ ,,~n' ord~rcd ba k illl" 11ll'

cro"n 1'0 ap>, ~\~n th" of Ih 1917-pall,'m

'",ft' cap III Ih inl~r I of parael -I(rounel

I

"('ann~ of Ian ,Ird and colourcd bad,:( or rank,

lrad and proficicn )

"ilh a black hllll rd, and Ih(' KOYLI \\llh ,1j!Teen

pockcl Dunn!\' thc Crcat War Ih(' fa"hion tauRht

lan)ard, and somc rc':im('1ll 0plin,: for 1'IIl}ard in

Lil(lit I nfanlr) re!\'imcllls "ilh !\'recn Ian ard In

'0111(' of Ih<"C rel\'imcnl Ihc privile!\,e of '\I'arinR

Ih rank 0 ('r~eanl.

'9'1. Th "erc "om around llic houlder in llie

c\'cllluall} ,Idopted officiall) for Ihc OIlier rank! of

'930, f\'i D had \'ol\'ed from Ih(' liapcl

for (C'rtain £'A fi rmalion nOllc of this in il{ni~l '\ as

BattJedres

.\rm)

".~ 1'28t.h (UamJKNrr) l.nt.BcIe. ~. 1•• «1 U-Buu.all)' or

lh~ "ttalio.~or .h~ JI m~rr R~ the bripde ~ftli 10

rth rria with the 46t.h Div i.a J-uary 1!HJo t kft "' ~

"'ul i".s.i~iaofehe s.ftd 4th n mp§lU a WI li.mr, a. "XIII

i the i.a iSaia "'" , by the I I 4th llampuu,," l haly u.

INS-GU' the difTerial ~mta.l fla.m (~Iound m~r aad

bbdc)a.ad the u. i iK't positioai.ll,ot rm.oOt rna trip

la t.h~ H<Oftd ~lIUunple. cr Plat 1)6

odd badl{e of rank to mar authonty's dream,

mo I soldierly unifonn in the world, and was bein!\,

d i~n(' Onc a~in th Bnli h Idi r had

•

.1

rvi e, or 'sid' cap Collar badg and metal

hould r title> wer not to be worn, their pia cs a>

by drab 'lip-on' epaulette lid with abbreviated

thread; whilst onl drab worsted bad!\"cs of rank,

trade, ,nd proficiency were to be worn

PhotogTaphs of the '93914° period show that

thc<c rulcs were immediately broken, with officers,

warrant offi ers and staff sergeants wearin~ metal

badg being worn; and a variety of coloured rank

and proficien y bad~cs previou Iy auth riscd r. r

• "icc 0 being displa) cd on Battledrcss

month of the war, added to a confuved ituation,

and it was at thi time that battle insignia began to

reappear on Briti,h Army uniform

British BottleIllsiKllio

1939-45

The first item of battle insignia to be adopted b)

the Briti h Arm) in the eond World War were the

divisional sign painted on the vehi Ics of the Briti h

Expeditionary Force in late 1939 Ofthe '4 infantry

division "hich comprised the BEF in the late

pringof 1940, all had existed in the Creat War, and

i~ in that connic! • 'ow, in 1939/40, all were

ordered to ad pt new si~s. Of these only four bore

faint imilaritics to the former sign: the white

diamond ofthe 42nd, the diam nd shape ofthe 48th

and the t ndrew, cross ofthe 52nd Divi ions like

the 51st Highland, who pleaded to keep their

traditional igns, were firmly ordered to choose

another in the intere>ts ofsccurity The 51St chose a

.tai head on a gr en and purpl ba kground, but

determined to revert to their belo,ed 'liD' • n

as an opportunity permined

The adoption of divisional ign for transport

traffi control was g-rudgingly accepted as ncce>sary

in i'tl1ia in the interests of ~urit. urpri in~ 3. it

6

now veem , the R"gular rm) hav'ing got rid ofdidsional i!(ns after the Creat War "ent ba k tothe pre-1914 pra tice of painting the unit title onth,' idcs of vehi I Thi form f adverti ing wasrapidl) di pensed with in 1939, and replaced withthe divisional ign, mentioned, along with a y tem

These banle in i~ia were u,uall painted on thfront and rear of vehicles, but exampl have beennoted painted on vehicle id in the manner of the

•

prc\ IOU \\ ar.

I':arly in "9~0 the first schem of banle in i~ia

on uniform began to manifcst themselvcs in theBEF Leading the field were the irrepr ible 5' tIlighiand Di,ision, who havin~ been deprived fthe kilt and th ir '110' divisional sign weredetermined to have a uniform distin tion to relieve

Andre" 's erO' , whi h was worn by all ranks in avariety of c lours to indi ate brigadcs etc withinthe di,i ion, with bars bel w to indicate unitswithin bri!(ad Other divi ions permined thewearin!: of'nashes' patehcs of cloth in regimentaleolou to di tin!:uish units from each other; and

This growing trend alarmed the War Office who,

wearin~ of divi ional insignia statin~ that isional ign or badges will not be worn b) Britishdivisions durin~ th", ar' But if the auth riti weredetermined to maintain the security value ofBanledrc<!, the officers and men condemned to

th msehcs with the mean to sct themsch'cs apart

fr m the drab herd

War ffiee to recommend that office 'ranking bemade m re readily di.tin!:ui hable on Banledr ,and pointing out that infantry bprit dt corps woulduffer if unit were not allowed to wear titl ordistingui hing marks B the 'ew Year of 1940 theWar Office had conceded these points to Lord COrtand had a~rced in prin iple to a the en han ementofoffi ers' badg of rank wilh cloth in the colour fthe arm-of-scrvice; b strips of clolh in the amecolours to be worn at the t I' of the slee, b allranks; and e the wearing of re~mental nash on

Banlt:'dr , Thus the lint Ihree ilem or banle

in il{nia Rained official appro\al

erman bll/:;J.nfg and the \acuation or Ihc BEl'

pr <inl{ on rr 10 th rore, Ihat il w S not ulllil

War ffic dctailing th w arinl{ or arm r· "'ic

trip, regim Illal nash and in contradiction or

Ih ir dir li\ Ii, monlh pre,iou I) di,·i ional

and olh r ronnation il{ll,

From this poinl onward it was po< ible 10 t II ir

inralllC) man, a gunner, a pper, a tanlman, etc

impl) by glan inl{ at the arm-or "'ic trip on hi

one, two or thr trip'r r inralllC)m n to indicat

juni r bril{ad or their divi<ion Oi,; j nal ign or

higher rormation, ind pendent brigade r brigade

gr up il{n were w rn al>o' th arm-or· "ic

lrips, and ira regimelllal nash was worn it W.15 wn

beneath Ihe ann-or· ",icc strips Thus wilh 'Orneunil wcaring trip' or coloured c10lh on houl·

de trap' 10 indicale c mpani it wa po ible totell a Idier' di\i i n, bril{ad , unit • nd e, n

fOlnpi.lll) at a ~Ian c fcouN" for IhO'o(, una\\ar~

"Ithe ,mboli m "r Ihl e in gn'a the) prcsc'nlld a

.\nd so, in laIC '940, th rul ror Ihe wcarrnll 01banlc in illnia Ihroul(houl th Briti hArm, w rcstabli hed How rar the) w re ol>c)t:'d and hO\,often thc) were il{nored willlx-com ob,iou th1OC) i rollowed

Th Briti h \rm) i proud ori15 rcgiment and Ih ir

boulder lid '942 43- Thne it~m wert u.Md 10 d.i play

benle iasipia _hea i.a 1I lIj drilllrOpicaJ drH ckft i tile

tide of lite I • 4th £S~ _be_ i.a lbe W (<<'II IHwrt wi tile 4eh lDdian Div.; the red~I"f'divi lonal ip i locaUy made, Dd i_Ale UJaalry arm or emce trip i wora below it At nt'" i • lide beano, the boJu '40th Div.' ip _lUch ~

worn in iciJ in -!H3 in ord", to dea-i\-f' AJd latelUlftlct e broWlill roreonawh.ilediamolMli t:a.keft,(romthel,17 '4oth

Diy ild.)

7

•

Shoulder slid 1945- At I,/t i a lide burial the bailie

in i5nd or the 2nd La.nn hire Fu meno.7lth Diy., a ~OrD in

Italr. cr. Plain 8, C, and DOle the ",hilr oD~red rrcinlullal

fbJlh I rix'" i • • lide worn b), the 2nd NOMh Siafford in the

IA"I Diy in PaJefJthae ole the tnin ialure di"'i ion.aJ is" on the

tafford • rt'd black while ~&inleDt.1fl.afih and the red

ann-or-Hrvi« bripde iACtintor tltripsor,heltDd Infanlry Hri de.

tradition, and it c1inlr' to the r<·l(im,·ntal )st"m

e,·cn Ihoullh at tim as in both World \\ aI'>, it

Lnllii hmen, for examplc; the :akrno mutiny of

pcnonnd of the 50th and 5' t Hillhland Di"i ion

\\ h n ordrrro into other formations; th('

pUIS /lTeat store b) 100terinlltradition '" a ml'an to

the maintenancc of morale

For this reason regimental in itt"nia \H'r(' incu'a ~

inl(l) allowed to be worn on Battkdn s durin\( Ill{'

cond World War even thouKh thc) had no plaee

II

Dr< son \\hith the) had Ix-cn \\orn Their place, onBattledr< ,had b""n tak"n b) \\ors!"d dr b • lip-

seturn) dictated Thc ktt<'rinl( on tl" • slip-on

Guards had IX"'n pcnnitted to \\"ar on Battkdrtil{' cloth houlder titles the) had \\orn on pre-\\ ar

("{llours at thcir o\\n expcnS(' ,\monl(St the first

ofTicial ·a'KIIon \\erc thc Ro)al :-'orlolk ReKimel1t

tl", Ilaml hir<' R"j{imcl1t, the Bordcr RCl(imel1tand th,' Durham !.il(ht Infant') Oth"r units,

despite \\ar OfTice orders forbiddinll thc pratti " Finall) , authority Raw in to the ine\itable and, inJune '91:1 authoried and bel(an to i u,· doth

•

hould,'r lit! ,TIl(" ,,,'n' prinh'd on e<>llon drill

n'j(imwl,11 wlou" for all hUI thc majoril) of

infanlJ) r(·~mc:n., \\ltu \\t0rt.' ord("n-d to \\t:ar

'arkl lill, \\ ith \\ hilc kll("ring

.'hould(Or title: \\t"n.' \\()rn \\ilh a \~trit·t\, ufothtor

n"{{imc:ntal in i~nia it~m lith a' lan~ard. tap

paId", IX ial di linflion hadg' "t(" in

wm-hinalion \\ilh halllc in i~nia rhl'l\\O hould om,

hc)\\{·\("r IX" nmlll I.

·r hI' hadg, of rank \\orn on Ballll'dn h,I\I'

aln'ad) h""n «)u,h,'d UIXlIl, Trad,', in tn,«o "

kill-aI-arm and Roo<1 condun b ~dg \\("n' ,t! )

\\orn, and indud,'d a numlx'r of n,'\\ hadgl

introdu'ed «) co,,'r Ih,' kill and qualifll,llion

nccded to foght an in'f("",ingh Icchnoloj(i'al \\ar

·nl,lbll' ,Imong I Ih",,' \\cn' a vari"l) of had~l forIll(' dn' I'" and mcchank of mc,han; 'd tran port,

homh di po 1 hadR' , qualifi,'(1 para' huti I '

pMIKip'llion in an opcr,llional Rlidl'r landing,

0lx'r llo 'and m, hani, 'hadg ,

'r \\0 form of ill! ignia from Ihc Great \\ ar \\("rc

n urr,'('(('(1 in "HI in Ih form of\\ound lrip'" and'"i,,' ,h,"ron, 'nlik thc IlP4 ,8 ,aricl)

'1"'\ in' dlC"\rnn \\{'ft' a\\ardrd for ni at hom

11M-hi i Ilia of lta 28d t:a : Von Ill,,", iad.ic::ali•• the M'Ilior bripde or~ ,ret Di • , ~-illt. mUUatu" '" hite naHal roM c •

blu::k ua rqinle-taJ fbi h; cr Plate ES- Tlte I t Ro) t or(ou l.a theju.aior bripdeolt.k me d ivi.ioa (~lfIrr)• Mod

• lrip orbJ.dr ~Uow repme.tal ribbo•• ~r flaP t

'Witt I• • t baU]e u. i or tk I I 1iddl~ m.ac:~

-bauaJ'o to lbe 15th ( uu.h) Diy. .~ Uo 0- yeUow cI.i.K, a

"'bhe "In black ,-leL The a~r """ice trip ii (or lara.try atKI the rqilnftltal fta h '- )ellow.Dd marooo

Sources and research

bailie in i~nia of the ond World War Ihan those

of the real War

Research into Ihe ubjccI i made fairly simple by

Ih RO\ rnin~ regulation i ued from 1940 13 Ihe

boo' of 110" am I • Ih ,,1I-illU>lraled

div-i div-ional and undiv-it hdiv-i tordiv-i "hi h h., been publi hed

Ihe ,i lory al EI Alamein, "hen divi ional iKnbegan to be di pia ed upon all form of uniform b~

Di,i ion and Ih 50th "1 yn , Te ' • nd Humber'Di,' ion Th 'I Army, landinK Ill. 'orth Afri a inlale Il).p, brouKht Ih ir 'K bailie in ignia "ilh

befonn-embarkalion ru, a uril) pr aull n Th Brili hlroop''' ho" nl on 10 fi~hl in 'i ily and hal fromJul '9B n arl) al"a "or their divi i nal i~n

on Ballledr and khaki drililropieal unifo rms, bUIother in ignia "ere regulated in a ual fa hion

ombinaliom emerged

The "carinI!; of bailie in ignia in the Far East ".compli aled b) the chang in uniform di lated by

fi~hting condilion At Ihe lim f the Japan,.,.,.,

lrou ; 0 belo\ed by Ihe Brili h "hich ~a\ Ii III

later Ihe Brili h had ad pted a drill Ballledr in aolour more uiled 10 the "ar in lIlh-Easl ia,

thaI Ihe divi ional i~n the only bailie in igniagenerall) "orn in the I ar [ru,1 w u uall)

di pla)ed

B) Ih nd of the "ar much oflhe prid form rl)

di\ i ion, and Ihi" ,,;d nl inlh wa) Ihat Brili hIroop' 31" a h 10 " ar Ih ir di\; i nal i~n

befo re an) olh r in i~nia., in 19'4 8 soldie

" Ih ir di\ i in"" Ihe real t am and "ere proud

of i a hie\ m n"' R~m Illal in r aliI)'.batlalion prid "as felt bUI to a much I r

c: 'tent.

a combinalion of blue and red

Th.sJrd (Wei lil) Di• had their haule in ala print«t iD M

oa dnb drill c~ ror ""nr OD &uIHl ~Iow i a.n

example ror the uuermediate bripde of the clh.-i.5Io (.

iadincNbylhetwoarm-or mer trip-MI lheclh; ionaJ

lJ:., d Plale I)' ~ tht"'ft' u"iCllI be.rs lndjote tbe third,

juaior banaliioD of the bripde, a «te", ~uJ"r 10 the S3rd

Dhl loe.

Battle insignia developDl nt

European campai~n bailie III i~nia" r fairl~" II

feKUlaled Ihroughoullh c u e ofth war, "ere

olh rdr mailers In olh r Ih air of opera lion

balll in i~nia deHloped III quil dilli relll w.)

In 'orlh fri a di\i ional iK ,arm-of- r\i

lrip and olher baltl in i~ia did nOI appear ulllil

brought OUI 10 the theatre b) formation mo,in~

from Ih 'K from 191' on" ard E\Cn Ihen, Ihe

rath r asual allilud 10 dm< pr ,alent in Ihe 8th

Army neRated Ih ,alu of bailie in i~ia ulllil after

'"

and nOI least b the million or ulyivin~ item

Oifficulti ari \\ h n pholograph or British Iroop>

\\anim mor hal oblileraled in i~nia in order 10

maintain urit)"; and \\ hen- insifVJia can be seen

re-membered Ihatlh wearin~ rballie insignia varied

rr m di"i ion to di,i ion and rrom Ihealre 10

th alre Regimental histori which are u uall}

\\cll-illu traled offer by rar lhe besl source or

r fI ren e material, som goin~ rar as 10 spccif'

Ih itelTl> r in ignia \\ rn Oi"i ional rdel"!> or

will""') eml,d h-Ingdom and Colomal Formal/om and

Briti h Divi ional Organisation 1939 45

Th r \\er man) mor t IX"> or divi ion in the

Brili h rm} in th ond "'orld War than Ihere

di tinction drawn was bet\\t'cn divi ion con i lin~

or inrantry and those c n i ling or caval'} Brilain

\\ent to war in 1939 \\ilh Inrantry Oi"i ion, and

e, n n val'} Oi"i ion, bUlto Ih \\ere added

Armoured Oivision • unl Oivi i ns al the lime

0,,; i ns lal r in the \\ar [siabli hment or Ih

r, r bailie \\as sou~ht. Cnder di,;"j nal mmand

Inrant'} Brigad • Tank Brigad • ~IOI r ~Ia hine

Independ nl Inrantry Brigad " Ind pend nl

Brig-ad roup> and rmoured Brigade roup>

The Armoured Oi"i ion larted out in '939

organised into an HQ.; a Lighl Armoured Brigade;

anille'), mOlOrised inranl'} and, ppers; plu Ihe

usual logi lical back-up In 1 (0 Ihe organi alion

chan~ed t repla Ihe H a, and Li~hl.\rmoured

Bri~ad with IWO \nn ured Bri~ad In '94'

\\ hi h included a mOlOr ballali n backed up \\ ilh

an Inrantry Brigade, an arm ured car r gim nt.artillc') 'ppe and lagisti al lail Finall} in

r<l+-( 45, Ihi tabli hment w 'fin -tuned' byimpro, in~ it upportin~ firepow r Ov r Ih waryea the manpower or th \rmoured Oi,;"ion ro-.~

rr m 9.441 10 '4.964; its tan' rr m 35' to 3 ; ,I)

ficld RUn rrom 40 10 48

B comparison Inrant'} Oi,i ional rganisati n

'93910 '91' and t914'451he Inrantry Oivi i n wasupported by Ihre ficld regim n" R ,an anti-tankregimenl RA, three ficld compani R E and Iheusual logistical back-up £Stabli hment in remcnts

in luded a reconnaissan regiment, a lighl air rart regimenl RA a machine !l'un ballalion and

anti-Maa u.a.ic wo~ 'u.aoro iaI' trips or coloured ribbon

0-A.houJd~.nps 10 i.lMlinl~ ~rnplUlifl Sltowa hu~' tile

151."" u.wel by tJw tIWI 4lh Ha.mpshirn., wlto ,",0_ • «aIm

colouN'd seripe OD blae:1& rib~ the ttal tripe''' ryinli.a

n>lour from compaD 10 comp&A) .u .ader Plate C:a.

,,

71b Artnoured Division

ch n Iheir divi ional ign, thi di, i ion \\ '" in

e i ten(' III Ll\"}pt al Ih oUlbreak or \\,1(, I"'ing

, "iano lX'forc lX'inl(di bandt-d Thedi,i ion' il(n

\,,~ a charKin't rhino \\urn on uniform "ith lht~landard arm-of- ",icc sirip, C1c. I'he di,i ionlurm'(l m ran innediblc number of unilS during ilani,e t'''' Kt': lonl(·sc",'ing amonll'llhem were TheB,ly ; loth Jlu ar;; 91h Lancers; I I Kinl(' RoyalRin, Corp', I t and 1nd Rin Bril(ade, and '11hLann'""

61b Armoured DivisionThi di\l ion h<hC lhe maikd Ii I a il! il(n, ,aken

.\rmourt-d ' rp> Thi was WOrn in Ihe UniledKlIlgdom where Ihe divi ion formed in '9lO, and III, 'orlh \frica, Itah and \u lria whert' th di'l Ion

endt'd It war Amongst it man) ('ommand('1"S \\

Ih Ihen.~I~ •Gen G \\' R T mpl r, \\oundro inwmmand III ,\ul(u I 19\! Th~ divi ion' balllIII ludro Bou \rada, Fondouk, LI Kourzia, 'Iuni ,Llri \'allt'., Ar ao, \dvance 10 1'I0ren('e, GOlhi'Line and.\~enta Gap Lonl(' ",;nl( unil \\~r IhDerby hire Yromanry; 16 51h and 17 l ' I Lan('e ;LOlhian Horse; and ballalion of Ihe Kinl(' RoyalRine Corp' and Ihe Rifle Brigad~.

laler II w"" di banded after Ihe caplure of It('t'neral on er ('.ommanding and mu('h tll hi

Group al ~lcch,li, Lib)a a greal prize fo r Rommel

in hI liN dt 'rl' nlure Ourinl( i horl eXI Inc

helm"1 , , ,t 'l(n, c nainl) palllied on ,chid andlankJ, bUI probabl ne'er worn on uniform, '" tht,di,i ion leillhe UK for th ~liddl Ea!>1 before Ihe

authori"H.Hioll of bat tie insi~nia. ni~ 1"\ in't ,,,ilh

Ihe di, i ion includt-d 51h and 61h Royal Tanks;

I'm\er 11.\lnlel Rin

,

Ions \\-rre not

3rd, 41b and Sib Armoured Diviformed

'\tol! ft1 "cnnrnl ur <luotnJ thruUJI:hout m lM b"m uwd "If II

mrki J I ul.- hunour

Briti II Army Divi -ioll

'939-45

a bridl(inl( plawon, 'Irenl(lhs rOM' from '3,863 all

ran' in 1939 10 18,l!? in '9l5; gun from I 17 w

to 1,26:1.

Di,; iono '939 lO b",i(all) i, mowri'>t'dlllfanl'"

realil) an Jnfanll") Oh, ,on wilh one of II bril(ad

repla ed by a lank Bril(ade

Already in XlSt n Ihe'K '~Iobil ' Oi,; ion al

Ih oUlb ak of war, Ihi di,' i nj inro th BLI in

deba I Ba k in Lngland il w re-equipped, and

nl in lal 194' to Ih ~liddle E I, where il

T bal(a ap, Wadi Akarit, EI Kounia and Tuni

hipped 10 Italy in , H, il foughl in Ih balll of

Guards Artnoured Division

di\'i i n landed in han e inJune 'm and wenl on

10 lil(hl in Ihe balll of Bourguebus Ridl(e, ~Iom

Pincon, I'h • 'ederrijn and The Rhineland' Its

FOOl Guard, armoured, mOlori'Cd and in Ihe

infanl"" role A il di,'isional il(1l Ihe uard

Armoured Oi, I'll a modili ation of the badge

u;cd by Ihe Guard Oi,i ion of 19'5 ,8, Ihe e"t'r·

open eye.• 0 other bailie in ignia were worn on

uniform apan from r gimemal di linclions

Like tht'" Greal War predcc rs Ihe Guard

Armoured Oi\' labli hed a repulation '" a (orpJ

~lotor and 1nd Armoured renadier 'd.; I I

uard ; 1nd Armourro and 3rd Iri h Gd ; and

I I and 1nd \\ I h Guard

kno"n at Ihat dale The Armoured Di\i 'on

ballle ofSidi Barrani, Bardia, CaplUr(' ofTobruk,

Beda lomm, fobruk, G,"ala, Defence of \lam('1I1

Caplur of 'apl( and \'olturno Cros inl( 'hipped

in '9H and at Th(' Rhin in '945' Fi\ yea,."of<olid

ballalion of Ihe Royall ank R l(imenl, ballalion

,hal"J>'hootl· , 51h Dral(oon Guard, ballalion ()f

rmouN"d dh.-i i _I jp Both in blade _bice /4'" Hit

rmd.Div.; "(It" gch.

e10ubtful if a divi ional il!"n "'" Renerally "orn on

(;( C " arinl!" a il!"" in 1943, bUI f('" OIh r

Ih(' j('rlXla

"ith Ihe \('gend 'CO' as it! di\ i j nal il(n I hI "."

\rmoured I)i\ l>el(an to hip out 10 Lin pI in :\Ia)

r('(,rRani a one \rmoured Bri'l""de one Infant!)

, I

lamein Line having been rcor/(aniscd a an

2~lh rmoured &Ie was redesignated an

di banded after lhe bailie of EI Alamein The

arrival in E/(ypl On I Janua!) '943 "hal was left

of lhe divi ion was di banded, but before this

melancholy evenl the lanks of lhe di\i ion had

proudly borne lhe' 0' divi ional ign into bailie

1 he Ie urviving formalion of lhe dhi i n the

ch as a new ign lhe 'Liver bird', and, having

foughl in the ballies of Defence of Alamein Line,

Alam el Haifa and EI lamein, went on 10 fighl al

9th Armoured Division

Thi divi, ion was r. rmed in lh nited Kingdom in

December '940 and was di banded inJuly I 14 It

did not ser'e o"e ,Ca!.

Armoured bripde iSIl lA'ft'~ ri6At, the 4th (blae:k on wb.ite).

8th rown.nd bl.ck OD -olden yellow) aDd 27th (Iold and

while on blue) lndepeDdenl Rripde both arl1'lourfll and

infantry, u ually wore their bripde l.p!lalone' but e tnple

hau bee noted or tb e beiDI worn in addhion 10 divi ional

iJllS (e.~. Mme tank bripde , d. Plate DIt :J8th and 56th

Wantry Bde , elc.)

lOth Armoured DivisionThis division was formed in Pal line in ugu I

'941 by the redesi/(nalion and rcorgani ati n of the

1 t ('",valry Di"i ion fter training, lhe 10thArmoured moved 10 Egypl and foughl in the balllofAlam eilialfa and EI Alamein The divi, i n lhenmoved 10 Palestine, yria, and ba k to EgYPl beforebeing disbandt'd in June '9+! Units sen;ng wilhlhe divi ion in luded 2nd Derbyshire Ycomanry,lhe :-;ollinghamshir Y omanry, lhe tatTord hireYeoman!), 3rd Royal Tanks, ,st and 4th Burr, and

Division chose a fox's mask as its ign a device

di"i ion's 8th Armoured &Ie after lhey becameindependent in November '9}2

The I I th rmoured Divi ion began forming in the

le/(endary 'Hobo', ~Iaj.- en P Hobarl, laler

scwral ehan/(es ofestabli hment lhe di,; ion sell led

10 one "hieh ineluded lhe 29th Armoured &Ie.23rd Ilu ar , 2nd Fife and Forfar Ycoman!), 3rdRoyal Tanks and 81h RiOe Brigade and lhe '591hInfantry &Ie 4lh K L1, 3rd ~Ionmouth, 'stIlerefords bcfore embarkin/( for Normandy on 11June ''lH There it look part in the ballies ofTh

I I

Odon, Bourxeubus Rid~ and ~Iont Pin on be or

movinl( on 10 Ih baul, of 'ederrijn and I h

Rhineland, '[ h dive ional il(n, a charKiJ1l~ bull,

\\as in all probabilit eh n b 'C n, Hohan, \\ ho

cho a bull', h ad as Ih di\'i ional ign for Ih 791h

Oi\; ion \\hen il \\as raised in 19P,

42Dd Annoured Division

Th I,nd \\as formed in the 'niled Kinlldom in

• 'ov mher 19f1 b) Ihe (,OJ1\ersion oflhe pnd La I

Lanc hIre Infanlry Ol\'i ion The di\i Ion \\a

di banded in 0 I her '9H' n \er ha\inl( r\'"<!

0\ 3!, It Infanlr\ Bril(3de \\as J>O'led 10 Ih

'Jrd \\' I h Infant') 01\', and it, \rmoured

Bril(ad to Ih 791h Armoured Oivi>ion \\'hen II

\\ COJ1\ ned from an infanlrj to an amlour,"<!

di\'i ion Ih pnd lepI il mall red,and·\\hite

diamond divi ional ign,

79th Annoured Divi ion

Formed in Augu I 191> th 79th Armoured Di\

tan d life as y I anOlher armoured r, rmation, [n

April 1l)f3 il \\ 3.'0 ordered 10 take owr the

Tunni • and il \\ in thi rol Ihal il pla)('(! u h

a pecla ular parI from 'O',Oay until th nd ofth

\\h I of it xi lence \\~ ~Iaj,. n 'ir P

La lh~ &, - t",r or h~ '" r both Servi« ~.ad uJedrn

wu'~ worn Htoft IhrH juAior or tJae Ro I t:.~""

phol~, phfll ia " how Sf'rvi« Oru- with at, I K I

uui,D.i.a, nd Bald.d~ de~okl or.u i ipia u.ttpC metal title All _nr Field ",iet caps.

Hoban \\ ho ch 'a hull' head for hi di\'i ionalil(n a bllll pas alii " aid 10 haH featured in 'irPer y', family r I Long rvinll unit wilh Ihedi\i ion \\ere nnd Dragoon, W, tminsl r Dral('oon , I I Lothian, and 51h, 61h and f,nd.\ aultRel(imem RIC O"I.lchmenu from Ihe di\'i i nfoul(hl in Ih • orm.IIld) landin ,Ih \\'al h r noperauon, th Rhn'" cr inl( and man) oth r

qualified for offiual IMule h nou ,

1st Cavalry Divi ionFormed in the lJJ1Ill't! Kinl(dom 1\\0 months alierIhe outhreal of\\ar Ih I I valry DI\ con i ted

of a compo it Ilou'>!'h Id Cavalrj Rel(im nl, thRo) al \\ilu hin' Y"omanrj, Ihe ,'orth ' mer\CtY,'Omanry, Ihe Yorl,hire Dra~oon ,the YorkJhirelIu aI'>, Ihe :\oullll(ham hire Yeomanrj, the'h",hire Yeomanr), the lafford hire Yromanryand Ih Wa1"'\\ iclc hir Yf'Omanry ,'hipped 10Pal line in January Il)fo, dement of the division

div; ional HQ, 41h and th a\alry Bd he~an 10

I "

,oth Armour('(1 Div • \\hil(' ,Iw :"h C.1\alr) Bd,'

carrit'd on it dutit ~r ~l mounted fClrmatioll in

,\ria and Pal ,in un,ilJUJl(' 1'111 \\Il('n i, IIQ,

\\a rt'd il(Il.\,('d IIQ8'h Di\ ,')ria Durinl( 11

10 m", l il(n ul '<lut'n,h u '(1 11\ til<' 8,h

,\nnourt-d Bd(· or ,h \\hit<· ho"" il(Tl (·\(,ntu.llh

u -d b) 'Ith \nnourt-d 8<1<-.: no di\ i i(mal 'l(n

aplx'al"\ to ha\c' Ix>c'n "urn nn unil(,rm h\ dl('

di\ i ion in "IN I'

\ prt··\\ ar RN(ular Oi\1 lun ,I" , 'muhih d fior

"ar .11 it pC'au'um talicm Aide, hot \nd

mO\ro '0 I ran((' \\i,h ,h,' Briti h I puli,iona"

rOrt on "I" 'pt<'mh"r "I,l'l '( h(·rt, 'ran pon 01

,Il(' divi ion \\,1 phol<>/:r.lplwd di pl.l)inR ,Iw ,rianl('" (ho,,-n a 1 di\ i ;on.11 'Rn, I'hi h.t h('('n

\\hit<-dl ·rih('(I.1 ,h, lip of th· 1 Corp' JX'arll('.ld h)

nnw Il\ ,urc co • hut it imilarit\ In til(" \\ hilt' pC'nnant

u ·d h\ ,Ill' J to" in "II.! ,8 i t<K,ob\(ou In

il(nor(' .\ltn Dunlirllh(' di\ i ,on n'main('(1 JIlII,

LK, rt'(orl(ani,,'(I.1 a ~li <'<I OJ\i ion IromJun' In

o\(·m r 0' "Ill, Inl'drl) "I'l,h, , , il(d Ii,ronh ,\lri(.t.1 part ollh(' , ',\nn), hl(htinl( in th,halll, ul ~l<'(Ij,., Plain and I uni ,\It<'r (ar"in!!:oUI ,Il(' 'K( up ,iun 01 ,h,' ( land of I'antdlaria Ih

I ,Di\ mO\,'(1 on In Itah hl(htllll(.11 \n/lo ROIll(

[J 11 rm) nil Afri~ Lt.Ge- ·or-rW c u· ••

- " ""M Udju «bua rt'18.H'd ( m Axi pCi"lt)'.1"1t.i

\\.r Offin.rW9a tlwcli,,' te ,I j ef' ~ I t nncLDi".

""h.1I red • t )'dlow Ro I Arrnourfll eorps ann-of': ,,~",i«

trip ~aow. Imperial War \fll.W'tUD~

and II", GllIhi,' I.i,,,, TI", , I Inlimll") \\a 1lI1<' ul

\\ hc.°11 it ('amc" to til(" \\('arini{uf in iRllhl. \11 mamwr

uf C<lmbinatiun ,all b,' "'Til in phulOl{r•• ph ul th,'

drill tropical unililrm , 'II", di\ i iun••1 il{n ha IlI'('n

'n in man~ i"c di pl l~t.·d on 1(-('\( or (:pault·ltt·

lid md lill I"'d "n 10 r"ltiml'l1l••1 fla I" ••Ild

diamond· haJX-d (~,r", fl•• Ill" , Lunl{' -r\ ill~ '1Illt

laffi'rd , 61h Curdun , , I Duk,' nl \\'dlinl{I'lI1' ,

:'.I(;

1.J00d eh, ,till" H'" "d k('\, Il<',au",' till" ,~n of ••

di\i ion \\hik \\ilh 11ll" BLI III \\inl"r "13" 10 ho\\

I he." di, i iOlMI ii(11 p lll11Cd un tilt" lH:a"idt

.niu'(l Kinttdolll frolll \\ Ilfl1('1: it .1IIt'<I f()r I ndht 111

,\pril IlJll, I rllm tI"'n'lI", lnd Di\ mardl("d inl<>

:'.1.lIldala) ,\h"r th,' J.'p.,","'!' urn'nela tl",

di\i ion' ,ilh Inl'lIltl") Ikk,l<lIlk th",,,, ""d k('\ I<>

Japan \\ h"r" Ihl') furnl('d parI ul II" 'lI'('ulJ,lllUn

CorC( \'('{('ran unit of til(' di\ i ion \\('n" I t RO\ ll

\"'1 anolha pn'·\\.Ir R,'~ul.,r Di\ i iun, tl", Inl

"WI: il (.oe \\., a «'rt••jn :'.1.'J,·(.,'n B, I

:'.Iunt~mm-r\ II \\a :'.I<"m \\hu '\\lth II", 1ll'lp of

Irian~l, on a ,irtular lidd 01 d", "mal n'(l I h,'

talion in «:.I( h bri~~ldt, \\'I1('n til(" di\i iUlMI i~n

wa authnr1\C.·d fur \\('~lr un B.Iukdn III I q II It

£j hlh rmy. 'orth rri~ 190ft • prh t~ of • forth

lIi~h.land~ '-llaUo"" 51 I JU h.la Dd Oh." ho"," ofT hi

dh,i iow 'sn.1IMI "'IiOl~laJ fla.1i. n~ Cft'.tGr hal ~, -.d hi

~iln~nt.1 cap bad,,"~. whibl I~.vin Ih~ dhi JOliaI Ill~

lMi~1.a for 11 10 IWM

m.dle I, rc"d ill\e:rlt'd. tn.ln~k Upt'nmlM '<I III

I'la,u!l", Ill< Ird [)" \\,'n' ,'n~,l~,-d in Ih hallk uf

ualion •• I(('r \\hie h Ihc"' I.nc"d, in 111(' l K f(.r fuur

)C'~lrst rt"Hr~~Uli'-( d ~l .l ~li, c:d Di\i ion III CHl 1

~lIld n'\t rlin~ lu til<" rt)!t'ufan Inlantr"\ 1)1\1 lUI' lor'D'·Da\, \\h"n th('\ ""nl bat k 10 Eu",p"lu h~hl on

~ud", Rid~" :'.Iunl Pillnlll, II", ,'(krrijll, Ill<

in dn" ~u1(llhc' \\C'~lrin"t urin iRma \\c'n' \('r\ hi~h

ill die" 'ird Di\ \dlC'rt· n·"tulatiun \\t'Ie" lritth

OJ, i iun• l1I.II~iIH'C·"'" \\01 ( rt"~inl('IlI 1In.l he \\ hic:h

Eip"" rlny, orth Africa, 1942: • RoyaJ T R~iln~nl

rnaJo.r 1\Idi~ a map durin a. a irc:' n jou",~y ot lh

dju i _J j~ of Ih h rmd.Di ~ lh Ro) rmou~

Corpll a",,~f· "ie: lrip, and Ih - RTR la.k ri_hl rm

d 1'\\1

Clllllra"'nro Ih rult furbiddins; nWlal dn itt and

numbc:rs lO lX' \\urn un tht item Inr \ntl") ullit

\\nh Ilw di\l ,on In 'urlh-\\, I Lurupt· indud,~1

, I, ulloll ,nd La I Yurk!, , I, lUlh 1~\Iu , ,nd

\\ "m ork • I I Rc,) al orfulk ,nd KSLI and ,nd

Ill(' ph \\("r(' al'i) t pn··\\ar R("~ular fi.rmatinn.

and m", ro to I rann' \\ nh Ill(' BLI III Ollol,,'r

"13'1 '1 h('re Ihn adopl(~1 a «'d dl\l ulIl,,1 is;n 111

Iht hap< of a qu"dr-anl Iht liN quadranl "

lI'dock to '1 o'<Iuck \ftn Dunkirk ,lnd Ilw

,II

uh "<llIflll ( lahli hl1wnl of th(> divi ion in Ill("

l"niu'd Kin~d()m.lhl d('\I((' \\.t \\urn on unllc)rm

\\ ilh trm-uf:' ('1"'\ in' In}>' and n'~lm('ntalfloc lu In lUll(' "'Illh,' di\i iun \\a rl'''Kani ~ a a ~Ii t~1 Di\ 1 lun, mu\ in~ In urth \fri( \ \\ ilh th(' I I \rm~

W hS;hl a lit h in ,'arh "11'1 II IUllS;hl in Ill<' balli,

ul Ollt~1 /."l"I;a ~"'dj,·/ Plall1 ,lJld 'I uni bdun' n·()r~.tni in't.l In inlanll") dl\l iun in Dtc.tmlx·r

ballit ul C" inu II, Ira illl("w Li,l<', \«'NU, \(hantt In nun'nu' lnd Rimini Lint' hd()n'

Ill'" 1111( lu (,«",,,, in ta", "1I1 W Iwlp qudllht· (i\ il lIn« I Ih «· II \\., in Ilal) tI"'l til<' di\i inllal il(n dliln~('d hom a qu;.-'Clr tnl In t n'd firdt' \\ilh l

CJll.ldr uH 'I nul Ih(' \\hn)(' un a ~Iuan \\hih' ba kS;nlllnd Lxamplt ha,,' b(TII nn"'d nl H'hidt·

i~11 \\ ilh tlw hl"\l (Iuadralll "t ClUI ~lnd olh('1"\ \\ ith Ih(' IOllnh <i".ldr,tnl 90'do( k 10 " n·d., k '·IOllI.

,\1 Ihi lInll' Illl' di\i i0l1ol1 n,'" p"I,,'r \\a ,all,~!

'1 Ill' Qu.,dr.IIlI' \\hik Ill(' dl\l 1I11lai <Iuh njc"n~!

in Ilw lilk 01 'Tht, DUI h Ch('( \ ('Ieran unit "' th., ph 1I1( lud.~1 ,nd &'dlurd ,IIU! J1t'nl',rd hin

lu ,lit· ,blh BloI<k \\ Il( h I I Rm,,1 \\ I K,'nl ,nd lim''''''' I 1.1 ,nd Kinl(' and ,nd ph 1I,'mp hin

Th,' ·)Ih ,I pn··\\ar R('s;ul.lr Di\i inn, \\t'nl to

I"r.tnn· "ilh Ih,' BLI , pMli"palin~ in Ih,' b.lllh· "' Ypn Cumin" (:.\I1al Ix·h>rt, Ih Dunkirk nac· ualiun, "rum til(" "nilt"'C.l Kin~dom in ~1J.nh I()l:l

Iht· di'i inn ht·~~tn ~ln (' Ira()rdlll~tl"' (J(h -.t"' Ihal tonk in \I"dal(a'tar, India Ir,'q I't'",a H10I

hnalh, "nh·\\'( I Lur"I'" Durinl( Ilwir Ir,n'" Ill(' di\, Ion pMli' ip,m~1 in Ill(" h.llIl, of LandinI( in

" Iflh, I'lu ~lI1~r(), G tri~lianu (:rt Ul~ \o/in tndRClllw I hI' ';Ih <I" Iht' IC'llt'r \" a Ilwir

\'01 k hin' till' di\ i ion' h" " in "U9 Ilw klll'r

\\ •• u uall) u'n illed or lildwd W quan of khaki dnll dOlh, alonll \\ ilh a \\ id,' \ ari"I) 01 n'l(ul,ltion

l1lt"chnd uf \\(· trin~ b ulk in i'tnia Lontot· "1"'\ in~ unil of till' di, i inn "t·rt' :lnd C~lmc:runlan , lnel Wilt hin', , I (,rn'n lim,,"rd , I KOYLI I I

\nrk ,lIld 1_lIu • 1nd Rm,t1 01 I u ,Ii,· lnd

"nl",nl , blh ·.Ifonh ,lIld 71h Ch, hin ~I(.,

6th (70th) Infantry Division

,\ 61h In"ull') Dis had ~,i t,'d in ElO'pt for a f,'w

month in '939 10, but thc tru~ dis; ion did not

b",,';n to form th,'", until F~bruar} 1911, ,\n~r

o~ralin\( in thc \\'''''tcrn D rl tb,' 6th mosw 10

} ria, Wb,'r~ il fou~hl 11 Ihc battk of Ihma«:us

Infanlry Dis'ision in auobcr '9 J1, bdorc mosin~

II> Tobruk and rdi~s'in\( thc Australian \(arrison

thcrc In thc nc t fcw month of fil(htinl( Ih"

disi ion participatcd in thc battl", of Dcfcncc of

Tobruk, aficr which il was wilhdrawn to El(}pt and

S}ria Ix-forc Ix-inl( shippro 10 India to countcr thc

Japanese insill ion lhrcal in Fd,rua') ~Iar h "H~.

Thcrc, in :cptcmlx-r Ig.n, thc 701h Dis

com-mencw rcorl(aniinl( for Ihe role of Lonl( Ranl(e

P(,llrtralion, handin~ OH'r its Cormations and units

to pt'eial Forcc th,' official title of Bri\( arde

\\'inl('llc's ·Chindit.' and di, bandinl( dis'i ional

HQin • 'o\'Cmlx-r '943 Thc ",d four-pointw star

chosen a a disi ional, il(n for the 6th and 70th wa'

paintw on \'Chid" ClC., bUl '''I probabl} nescr

worn 011 uniform Infantry \\ith th(' divi ion atlhl'

Finll rrny, orth AfridL Ig.u: • pri~(e of lh~ 6ch Cordon

ILi&h.landt":n ftlrc::he • G rma pnliOder-or-war, Crich~l Ou~ April 1943- Ole tbe Ion trip of Cord n arta uHd in!itn.d or rqimto:dtal ticlf',ju t vi 'ble at the lOp ofehe lH've

with, Mlow iI, • palc.b of drab drill cloth with the while

trian,le divi.tiiona.l i~ ofehe I • lnf.Di and the twO rf'd arm·

o( ervi(':f' trips of lilt" t.nd tnfa.nlry Bnpde (IWM)

time of lhe handoser 10 ~cial Force included, tBedford hire and H~rlford,hi", 16 and 6, I-

Bla,k \\'at h I~ and 73 Columns , ~nd York and

~nd Dukeof\\'ellin\(lOn' 33 and 76 Column 1 t

55 Column

i\ Re!\,ular Dis'i ion in Palestinc Ix-fore the outbreak

of war, the 71h moved to El(} pI in August 1939 and

\Va, red il(natcd 61h Infantr} Dis in Noscmlx-r

1939 The 7th probabl} had 110 dis'isional i\(ndurin\( it.s shorl existence FrornJune 1941 10June

1913 Ihe litle 7th Divi,ion }prus was u'Cd by Ihe

"I

IIQ ,wd /(arri"lIl tnK)1 in C}pru h,r ektl'J>lion

purpu-.{' ; it i not kn()\O~n iLl b01(u di\ i iOlMI if(1l

\\ a u d in lhi fa ' SUfh if(1l \\-('n' ('X('11 i\ <"1\,

u '(I in 1111' ~llddlc' La t for dc'('c'ptinn, ,1I1d \\c'n'pickc'd up h} \" Intdli~~n(('.

\nnthc'r prc'·\\ar Rc,ltular D" I lon,n Pah linc', thc8th ta}c'(llh rc' Ulllil di,i ional HQdi handc'(l inI'c'hruaC} "I~o, '1111' di, i ional i~n i /(i,,'n ,I 1 rc'(!

Fin nDy, ortlli Africa, pril I!HJ: t lIM'dh,i ioaal IIQ or lIM- 6t1a Dh 11M- GnattraJ Officer Conunaodi••• 'f_j.WL FI'ft'rnJl.-.Au-.ood riCh talk 10 two or Ili bri di~

broidh"ed cli~i ioaal ip ~~ by thr GOC,.JMI lh• •~o r.d

bripdr iDodkalor In., CHI Sri Ilardu.S' 1ft'~iI'. IW f

'cru "da' 'ITO nn a hluc' hidd.lnJulll' "Ill IIQ81h J)"i inn S}ria \\'" h.rmc'd in S}ria w

(unll1lJ,nd troup tlwr(- III an mtt'rnal curit~ and

admini Ir,lIinn r6k I h IIQ \\a di h,lIlckd inO<!OIK" "11:1, II i nC>l kno\\n if till' c'arl;c'r

di, i ional ;~n \\a U\I'd h} Ihc' lall'r formalion,

J II I prior w till' oUlbr k of '''lr mc I 1c'rriwrial

Di, i ion had Ill'c'n urd rro 10 form 'dupl;tal 'intill' nMnnc'r ollhc' Gr ac War '('und·lin di\l ion,'1 hc' 'Ith \\a Ih dllplicat e rch :.I.t lIi~hland

Jnl,lIun Di,i ion, In ,\u~u c "140 Ihc' 'Ith \\a,rc'(h i~natl'<l thc'.')1 t lIilthland Di,i ion alt r thcapilulalion of me I of Ihc' oril(in,tl ')1 I in I'r.lnc

-10

In il hort ,'xi I('nc,' Ih,' 91h had u '(llh,' di, i ional

il,'ll of Ihe (,,,'al War qlh SHllli h D;, ,I iI-"r

Ihi II,· on a blue I(rtlund

(he duplic.lI'· d,vi ion of Ih,' +Ilh Ilonll' C",ml;'

Fi. • rlDy, orth tria 1943=. drt:adl.m~1orcH 64th

.li-Taak R~ RA ~""l~ th b, mod•• l7'-Jl'dr••• d a.n I& A

rnouaced 011 • lIs-pdr arria "I. n. divi io 1 ••• i-c.an.k

~mnll ortlt. 71th Dh 1 'he6.tlh had ori,iDa1ly bun Claslo

Yeomanry The Hr«n.nt in ,h r I"rlrowKI "'" nth battl••x.

I • of the ,ach Div red and blue Royal rcilluy arm-or·

rvice triPlanet. dia010nd h.~ rqinu:nlal A._h h.I,,«I

" y and blllck witJt the now leuers 'CV' U~riOlpoMd.

rWM)

Inlaml") Di'i ion In \polllll0 Ih('di,i ionalllQand Ihe Ih,,'(' infaml) b0!rad \\enl Ie> Francr for

Dunkirk (" ",ualion Ihr di, i ion \\<1.> d; band(,(\ in.lui) "1l0.I k all B~.F 1)1\, ,on Ih(' ulh did nm

u 'il C"'.II Wardivi ional.il\'n IIll'arrof pad, ,bUI ,h,,,,' .1 plain \\ hilr diamond 10 painl on il

",hid,

In lui) "11' Ih(' IiIit' ,"h I)i, \\a w,rn Ie> a.udan Dd('n r Forn' bril\'adr for de rplion andmhrr "'a! )! Th, bol\'u ,"h Div oprral''(\ in

L~ pI, on 81h Arm) lin ofcommunical;')!" and in

I ri,-xllil.,lli •• B.\ ' \rea unlilJanua" '915 In Ihallilm' il rna) ha\l' uS('(1 rilhrr Ihe a r ol\pad orlll!'

\\hilr dianumd a il 'falSt, colours' divi ional il(n

Kin\(dom until the '('(ond I"rnnt bein\( plan'(l on

I t "'.Diy ".ud lite i laM of Pa c 1bLria part of • COlDbiafli ~ntio to M'Utralboe t k ltalia ." I baw lh~.

linT rn~ of". I.' Kdl' ~ ~h laC_try, vd

W Ide ,J"UU"d lI.li pri'60tM:n o(.war.Dd ci\.iJu dH.i a'

R~m~taJ li.&e<I, din io-.J· aad rm r~rvi«fbripd.

.-il .r t k I Di" -d the priDted _ul wipia ~'th"'

prntou!5ly wo~ IIad by INW bu cUK-rded (IWM

I nf.ultl*) Di,"j ion ont(o more ix mUlllh lau·f. I'll('

di, i ion Iik(' th,' 'Ith adopu'(\ tho' di, i i<>lMI i\(n of

(,c.·un~t· \ I '('in~ the i'tll on &1n in p<.'oiun J,t.l\("

p('rm, nn lior thc ann of,' 'ntland tn hc' di pia, ('(I

:\Iont Pinwn II, ,'ed rnJn Thc' R hllldand and

hth Ro~al ,'ou Fu ilic 1nd Gla!~o\\ lIi~h·

land(· 7th "',Ifonh 9th amtmlllan ,mh JILl.1nd \r~1I 1nd Gordo", and 1 t :\Iiddl " :\1(,

•8th Infantry Division

Cnil('(1 KinRdmn thc ,8th \\a, hipped out wlndia

:\1.11.1~" alld Sin~aporc, Onc bri\(ad(· tho' 5:lrd

lIl'tapon' nn 13 January and \\rnt trai~ht into

Inl~U1tr) Di" had landed in Sinl(aporc but on '5

Alu~lilln formation It \\a,: \\oro on uniform in th

UK hut not on tropical unifonn in the di,i ion'

:\0 di\'j ion, numlx'r!"(1 from 19 1022 \\cn' e\cr

fornl('d.

23rd ( orthUDlbrian) Divi ion

fh(' l:lrd \\a til(' duplicatc Oflhc 51llh ,

onhum-brian ~Iotor [)i,·i,ion In April "110 Ihc IIQand

tht,t\\o infantry 11I;l:ade> \\('ntto Francc to joinllw

BLF fi,r lraillin!( and labour dUli(' Alkr lh('

Dunkirk e.'\'a(,u~lIi{)n Ihe.' di\ i~ion \\ ~l di,band{'d in

.Iune '910, tlw bril:"de> mo, inl: on to otlwr

lonna lion, \\'ith tlw l3rd in '<) 10 \\cn' 51h Ea I

York, 6th and 7th G,("cn IIm'arcl , "lIh and 'Ilh

DI.l and 1St fy III ide' $colli,h r!w di,i,ional i~n

bore' no rdaliol1\hip 10 thaI of tlw Gn'at \\ ar l:lrcl

Di\" hUI enn i u'd of a \,hill' r()~' to rq>r( ('nl the.'

York hin' rCl(imcl1l on a I\'r('('n lil\'hl inl'lIllry

b<ICkl(round E~amplc> of thi i!\"n made' up lor

\\('ar on uniform (\\ ith thc ro\(' \«'ncilled on a "'It

palfh an' in wlknion\, and indicate thaI tlw l:lrd

\\ere' probably on(' of tho\(' BEl' formalion\ \\('arin!\"

'illc!(al' balllc in i!\"nia in "110.

, '0 di, i ion numb('n'd from 24 to 35 \\('n' ewr

">nne·d.

36th Infantry Division

Thi d"'i ion \\ a, I(,rmed in Burma by thc

n'd( i!\"nation of thc :l61h Indian InlillllC\ Di\ in

St'ptt'mb('r '911. It lh 'n \\('111 on to fi/\'ht in tlw

ballit of ~1,\Ildal,l) alld R,ln!(oon Road Ix'lon' the

Japanc.'c.' urrc.-nde.'r InfoUltr\ unit \\ilh the 361h ~1I

this timc \\('n' JIld Bull, , I [)('\on, , t onhant,

I t Royal,' ot Fu ilil'C), lnd Royal \\d(h

fu ili('C), lnd La I Lanc, 61h South \\ all

Borckn',." 101h GI(l\I('C), 9th Royal, u 't' and'D'

\\ hie.'h had ju I ~lrri\ e.~t in ~icih f()r ilHe.'rnal 't'(-Uril~

Th~ inuliion of Sicily, 1943: 8nl Roy Urqu.hart (later to

.ehj~,,~ f.m~ •• cornmander of Ibe I I irboml' Div.•• mhern) COl11rnanded tbe 2]1 I (Malia) lar.Bde in thl' Ii hlinl for lbe i.!iland. Th~ briR:.d~ wa" compoH'd of ballalion \!rho had r-iMned Maha durt.n,8 It hi 10ri~ jele.nd we", now

Min~I.un tb~ ~ha.n~e10 hil f.dr; al tbe Gerl11an aAd I li.an

Th~ bripde iln ofa wbile MaJt~ cro on a red hjeld ~

,",om on flannel birt leoe" on lbe nih 1 arl11 only; d Plale

DS- (IWM)

duti( on lin of communication \\~~ df'i~naINI

Imh I nf"nln I)i, fi,r d('U'I>lion puqXl < Bnl\' Whitll('ld \\," K'H'n th('I<X',11 rank olmajor-K('n('ral

to funl)('r tI)(' <k("<'!>t;on; Ih(' Ullll of lhc form('r hril(adc :lO nWr\('t 1.1, 3" Ro,.,1 :>'orfolk and 3"

Do ('t \\('n'WH'n bril(ade dt i/\,llatulIl; ,lnel t"\try dlon \\ ,I mad(' to apIX'ar to lx' a din 'UI" Th;

;1\{ lud('d (1)(' adoplion of a divi,jonal il(n f('atunn/\, th(' diamond and awrn ofth(' Gr('at \\ ar Imh 1)1\.,

till '\\cn' ma(h- up 1<X'ally and \\orn on unilclrIn by tl)(' IX'C\Onnei or th(' 'di\i\ion' in r('ality, llm'(' ball•• liol1\ On(m m('dieal (" at('/\,ory mt'n arm('d \\ ith IX'NlIlal \\('apon onl) and \\ith kdt'lOn wmplim("ll( of Iran port TI)(' <h-ccplion \\ ,I pia) t'd (lut unlil IU1W HI.H, \\h('n Ihc lormation \\,1

di band('d.

'\0 41st Division \\~t ('v("r lornu·d.

4"nd (Ea t l.ancashire) Infantry Divi 'on

\ Ii 1·lm~ I rnl<>nal fonnatlon al Ih,' oUlbrt"ak 01

\\ar Ih~ pnd \\"nltol' ranc~ \\ilh Ih BLI m \pril

I94n.• \ft~r Dunkirk il r~·lom1l'd m Ih,' l' nil"d

Kinl(dom and '''''' rt'(l iRnal~ pnd \nnourt'd

Di, m 'Cl\~mlx'r I'lp L,k,' <>th"r BLI di" 11m

Ih,' pnd \\ a' ordert'd 10 ,hoo a 'll'\\ di, i ional

iRn on proc""dioR 10 I ran'e Ihal rho'o('n \\.,

remarkabl) imilar tolh~ i~1I bOflll' bl Ih,' Ilnd in

Ih,' Gr al \\ ar

•\nolh"r lirsl·lin~1 ~rritorial f,mnatlon m S,·pl,·m.

Ix'r '!l:l'l Ih nrd did nOI R" to Fran,,· \\ilh Ih~

BU and did nOI um'r Ihe fal~ of Ih",,' Di, i ion.

R"l(ular and 'I '·rritorial \\ho fou~hl Ilwir \\on I"

Ih,' ~,al"Uation Ix-a,h, al Dunkirk bUI I<-It Ih"ir

h"a,) \\eapon and ~quipmenllh,'"'' rill' I:lrd \\a

in Ih~ I,rst lin~ of d,'r, n,e afkr Dunkirk Ix-in~

r!'OrRan; ~ a a ~Iix,'d Di'i ion ('"mJun,' 1'l4110

pt~ml r '943 On lIJUIll' '944lh Brd \\" "

Di', ,ame a' hort" in th~ :\onnand) brid~"head,

and \\enl on to Ii~h, ill Ih,' balli, of 'rill' Odon.

Caen, BOUfl(Ul'bu Rid~~, ~I"nl I'inwn I h,'

infanll'\ unil "ilh Ih d"i ,on indudrd Ilh

me 'I LI Ilh and 'ilh Wilt hir' , 7,h lIamp'

hir Ilh and 51h Do el 51h DCLI 71h Stunt' "1

LI I I WOe( t" and 81h ~lrddll , \1(; (,,,'al

.\lI,'ntlOn \\ a pa,d 10 Ih \\"lnn~ of m i~nia in l'lrd

We Di"i ion, The d('\·i,,· ,h()'o('n for •• di, i iem••1

'Rn \\<!' Ihe \\),ern an an,i"nl h"raldi, )mbol

rdatin~ l() Ih,' kin,:, 01 \\" ·x, In Ih,· first "ri, "I

divi jUlla( i~n made.' up k)r \\('~lr em unilclnn Ilw

\\,,~rn arc I,'n,ill<-d on blue fclt in )"'1,)\\ paml

with ehl" and tunt{u( picked oul in a \~U;C:I) uf

wnlra lin~{"()lours: Ih,' i~i(i,an "of Ihi ha \I'll()

em"r~,',

\ fi"l·hn h'rritorial Di, i ion al Ih,' outb,,'ak of

\\~\rl tht" th was hroken up d a di\"j ion in

Janua,) 11113 aft~r Ih,' \Iam"in (i~hlin~ \\ 'Ih 1\\0

of il bri~ad, bein~ di band~ and Ih,' olh"r

Ix'cominl( a lorn~ infanll'\ fonnalion, 'I h,' H Ih

lloid Rone l() I rante \\ ilh Ih,' BLI in \pril "14" .lIld

had lak"n part in th" bailie of SI Om"r l La Ba t.".

.\ftt·r Ihe' Dunkirk f\atualion Ihe di, i i"n had I)('('n

'nlto L~, pI in ~Ia, I Q p, lakin~ part in Ihe b.llIl,

J I

of \lam d lIalia lIld 1.1 .\lan1l'in laler Ihal \Car Int.nl') unil \\ilh the IIlh indudrd ' I 51h , t blh •• nd , I 71h Qm·en· Ilh and 51h RCl\ al

\\, I K"nl • Jnd and Ilh Bun lnd, Ilh and 51h R"'al u and bth CIll' hi,,' ~IG rh,· di,i IOnal ,~ol Ihe' 11th i lid I<> reprt 'Ill till' (h ••1,m k"1 ~mund n".1f Ilw drill hall 01 "n,' of 11ll' di\ i ion' unit.

45th Infantry Divi ion

Th,' duph,'ale di" ,,,n ollh~ I3rd \\, th 151h did nOI 'I'\e oul id,' 11ll' 'n;I''d Km~d"m durin~

t Iw \\'a r

46th Infantry Division

rh,' Ihlh Di, ,,," ra, <'d m O'l<>lx'r "l.l'l '" ••

duphral" "I Ih,' 191h \\ I R,dinl( DI\ "'Ill"

hi torian h.IVI'd, Tilx'd il a Ih," '''rth l\lrdland and \\, I R,dm~' Di, • alter Ih old 4Uth Di"

di b.lOd,'(1 m "'36, Th,' di, i ion \\enl to ("rante I<>

j"m Ih~ BLI m \pril "Ho, fi~hlin~ m Ih bailie "I

SI 01lll"f L B.l 'o('~ bdilre 11ll' Dunkirk nacuali"n, Lart) III "II] Ih,' Iblh land~ III I uni ia a part 01 Ih,' I I, \m1\ h,:hlin~ al Ih,' hallie "f LI Kouri/a and I UI1I iX'lun" mu\ me; on to I tal~ lU fi'tIH \I

.·.IIl'fno lh,' Caplun' or aplt • \ "It urn" Crt In~

\t()ntt~ Camino, Golltir l.int.\ Coria no Rimini Lint~

and Ih, Lamon" Crn inl( I n ,'art) 1C145 Ih, di,i ion "a 'nl to Green' ttl h"'p pUI do\\n Ih,' ,i,iI unn Ilh"n', bUI in.\pril "a hark in Ital) fi"

llll" final \lIi,'d ,,'T"n i\t Th,' di, i ional i~n of Ih,' Ihlh i d, Tilx'd a 1 "'h""""KI Fort I "ak',

\'l"ll'fan unil of Ih,' di"i i"n' hard fi~hlin~ in 'onh \fi-i'a and Ital) intlud~ Ih lnd I I llh and 51h Haml hin, (jlh Lintoln Jnd llh KOYI.I, hlh York lIld 1 111 Jnd 'jlh I,,·i I , 'jlh F"" I""", Ihlh DLI and 'Ilh ~lan h"I""

\IG

47th (London) Infantry Divi ion

I orlll,'(1 in 19:19 a IIll'dupli at of Ihe I t London

Di, • Ih,' I7lh \\., kn"\\n until '\""'Illlx'r l'lIO a

Ih, lnd Lundon Di,i jon Bmh L(lIldon d;,; i"n

""", allhi lilll'" ~llIlor D" i ion, rh,' Hlh n("\ ,'r

"" ,'d ""''''''' , In h'''''in\( •• di,i ional i~ Ihal b"rn,' hI 11ll' di,i ion Irom '9,6 ttl 1Cl:l6 \\a di\(·artl<-d and in il pl.lt"e Ih,' 1'13'1 45 I7lh Di, ,he a i,:n il(nil) in~ I~l\\ Bell