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British County Divisions
The British County Divisions of the Second World War were raised by the British Army in 1941 as a defence against a planned German invasion of Britain. They were static formations which were supposed to command the Independent Infantry Brigades (Home) which were on anti-invasion duties. Each coast in danger had its own County Division. * Devon and Cornwall County Division * Dorset County Division * Durham and North Riding County Division * Essex County Division (formerly the West Sussex County Division) * Hampshire County Division * Lincolnshire County Division * Norfolk County Division * Northumberland County Division * West Sussex County Division (later, the Essex County Division) * Yorkshire County Division The Yorkshire County Division was a formation of the British Army in the Second World War, its headquarters were formed on 24 February 1941, and became operation on 19 March. It was commanded by three officers, Major-General the Hon E. F. Lawso ... These formations had ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers. World War II was a total war that directly involved more than 100 million personnel from more than 30 countries. The major participants in the war threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. Aircraft played a major role in the conflict, enabling the strategic bombing of population centres and deploying the only two nuclear weapons ever used in war. World War II was by far the deadliest conflict in human history; it resulted in 70 to 85 million fatalities, mostly among civilians. Tens of millions died due to genocides (including the Holocaust), starvation, ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurkhas, and 28,330 volunteer reserve personnel. The modern British Army traces back to 1707, with antecedents in the English Army and Scots Army that were created during the Restoration in 1660. The term ''British Army'' was adopted in 1707 after the Acts of Union between England and Scotland. Members of the British Army swear allegiance to the monarch as their commander-in-chief, but the Bill of Rights of 1689 and Claim of Right Act 1689 require parliamentary consent for the Crown to maintain a peacetime standing army. Therefore, Parliament approves the army by passing an Armed Forces Act at least once every five years. The army is administered by the Ministry of Defence and commanded by the Chief of the General Staff. The Brit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Operation Sea Lion
Operation Sea Lion, also written as Operation Sealion (german: Unternehmen Seelöwe), was Nazi Germany's code name for the plan for an invasion of the United Kingdom during the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. Following the Battle of France, Adolf Hitler, the German Führer and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, hoped the British government would accept his offer to end the war, and he reluctantly considered invasion only as a last resort if all other options failed. As a precondition, Hitler specified the achievement of both air and naval superiority over the English Channel and the proposed landing sites, but the German forces did not achieve either at any point during the war, and both the German High Command and Hitler himself had serious doubts about the prospects for success. Nevertheless, both the German Army and Navy undertook a major programme of preparations for an invasion: training troops, developing specialised weapons and equipment, and modifyin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Devon And Cornwall County Division
The Devon and Cornwall County Division was a County Division of the British Army created during the Second World War. It was formed on 28 February 1941, from recently recruited soldiers, in response to the renewed threat of a German invasion. The 10,000-strong division was a static formation, lacking transport, intended to defend possible landing sites along the southern Cornish and Devon coastlines from invading German troops. The creation of the division also helped to free up the more experienced troops, who were then held back from the coastline to be able to launch a counterattack against any potential German landings. During mid-1941, Germany launched a massive invasion of the Soviet Union, which practically eliminated the threat of an invasion of the United Kingdom. Consequently, the division never saw service in its intended role. With the threat of a German invasion lifted, the British Army began a series of reforms intended to restore balance to the then infantry-heavy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dorset County Division
The Dorset County Division was formed on 24 February 1941. However it did not take over operational commitments from Southern Area until March 10 and it did not finally assume command of its allocated infantry brigades until 24 April. It only had a short existence, being reduced to an administrative headquarters on 24 November at midday. The whole headquarters was disbanded on 31 December. Divisional history Background In 1940, following the Second World War's Battle of France, the United Kingdom was under threat of invasion from Nazi Germany. During the summer, the Battle of Britain dampened this threat. As the year progressed, the size of the British Army increased dramatically as 140 new infantry battalions were raised. During October, with the possibility of a German invasion during 1941, these new battalions were formed into independent infantry brigades that were then assigned to newly created County Divisions (a total of nine such formations were raised). The County ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Durham And North Riding County Division
The Durham and North Riding County Division was a coastal defence formation of the British Army during the Second World War. It existed only from 12 March 1941 until 1 December 1941, when it was redesignated Durham and North Riding Coastal Area and the subordinate brigade headquarters were disbanded. Most of the infantry battalions were then converted to other roles with the Royal Artillery or the Royal Armoured Corps. In its short existence the division had just one general officer commanding, Major-General P. J. Shears. It was under the command from X Corps from formation until 9 April and then under IX Corps. The divisional sign was a pun on the name of the division's commander and a reference to the wool industry of the area. Order of battle County divisions were static infantry-only formations with any supporting arms on loan from other formations. The division/s order of battle was as follows: * 215th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) ** 7th Battalion, Loyal Regiment ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Essex County Division
The Essex County Division was a short-lived formation of the British Army formed in the Second World War on 18 February 1941 by the redesignation of the West Sussex County Division. It was disbanded on 7 October. It had one commanding officer, Major-General J. H. T. Priestman. It was an infantry only formation consisting of three Independent Infantry Brigades (Home). Combat support, artillery, engineers etc., would be provided by other local formations.It was under the command of XI Corps from formation to 22 July and then under GHQ Home Forces. Order of Battle * 207th Independent Home Infantry Brigade ** 7th Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry ''(left 26 August 1941)'' ** 9th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment ''(left 27 August 1941)'' ** 10th Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment ''(left 25 August 1941)'' ** 13th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters ''(left 22 July 1941)'' The brigade headquarters remained, without battalions, with t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hampshire County Division
The Hampshire County Division was a short-lived formation of the British Army, located in South East England on the coast of the English Channel. It was raised in the Second World War and was formed on 28 February 1941 by the redesignation of Hampshire Area. On 25 November the division ceased to function and the headquarters was disbanded on 31 December. It was commanded by Major-General G. J. P. St. Clair and was an infantry only formation consisting of one Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) and three sub areas from the Hampshire area.Joslen p. 112 Combat support, artillery, engineers etc., would be provided by other local formations.Joslen p. 108 and served under V Corps. Order of Battle The brigade served with the division from its formation until 30 November 1941.Joslen p. 377 * 214th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) ** 6th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry ''(left 26 November 1941)'' ** 19th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers ** 20th Battalio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lincolnshire County Division
The Lincolnshire County Division was a short-lived formation of the British Army, formed in the Second World War. The headquarters were formed on 24 February 1941, becoming operational on 27 March. It ceased to function on 25 November and was disbanded on 3 December. Its commanding officer was Major-General Arthur Kenneth Hay,Joslen p113 and it was an infantry only formation consisting of three Independent Infantry Brigades (Home). Combat support, artillery, engineers etc., would be provided by other local formations. It was commanded by I Corps Order of Battle All brigades were part of the division from 27 March to late November 1941. * 204th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) ** 6th Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry ** 7th Battalion, The South Lancashire Regiment ''(left 31 May 1941)'' ** 8th Battalion, The South Lancashire Regiment ** 12th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters ''(left 31 August 1941)'' Redesignated the 204th Independent Infantry Brigade with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Norfolk County Division
The Norfolk County Division was short lived of the British Army formed during the Second World War. It was formed on 24 December 1940, and disbanded on 18 November 1941 by being redesignated as the 76th Infantry Division.Joslen p. 114 It was commanded by Major-General W.H. Ozanne, and it was an infantry only formation consisting of three Independent Infantry Brigades (Home). Combat support, artillery, engineers etc., would be provided by other local formations. It was under command of II Corps for its existence. Order of Battle All brigades were part of the division from 12 December 1940 to 17 November 1941. 213th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) * 13th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment * 9th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment * 14th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment Redesignated as the 213th Infantry Brigade on leaving the division. 220th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) * 23rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers ''(left 5 July 1941)'' * 7th Battalion, Royal N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Northumberland County Division
The Northumberland County Division was a formation of the British Army in the Second World War, its headquarters were formed on 24 February 1941. It ceased to function on 1 December 1941, and the headquarters were disbanded on 21 December 1941. It was commanded by Major-General R. C. Money and was an infantry only formation consisting of three Independent Infantry Brigades (Home). Combat support, artillery, engineers etc., would be provided by other local formations. It was commanded by X Corps until 9 April, IX Corps until 30 November and War Office control from then until disbandment.Joslen p115 Order of Battle All brigades were part of the division from 12 March to 30 November 1941. 202nd Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) Commanded by Brigadier H. Pawle to 20 May 1941, Brigadier G.F. Gough to 11 November 1941, and then Lt-Colonel A.E. Belcher. * 11th Battalion, King's Regiment (Liverpool) – ''left 18 November 1941, to 225th Brigade'' * 12th Battalion, King's Regiment (Li ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
West Sussex County Division
The West Sussex County Division was a formation of the British Army, raised in the Second World War and formed by the redesignation of Brocforce on 9 November 1940. On 18 February 1941, the headquarters was redesignated as the Essex County Division. It was commanded by four officers, Major-General Edwin Morris from formation until 16 December, Brigadier A. E. Lawrence until 29 December, Major-General Sir Oliver Leese until 30 January 1941 and then Brigadier H. J. Parham. It was an infantry only formation consisting of two Independent Infantry Brigades. Usually, combat support, artillery, engineers etc., would be provided by other local formations, exceptionally, for a county division, the 29th Brigade Group commanded additional units. It was commanded by XII Corps until 15 January 1941 and then by IV Corps.Joslen, p. 116 Order of Battle Both brigades were part of the division from 9 November 1940 to 17 February 1941. * 29th Infantry Brigade Group **1st Battalion, Royal Sc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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