The XVIII Corps was a British infantry formation during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. It was reactivated, briefly, in

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

during

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 opposin ...

as part of a

military deception Military deception (MILDEC) is an attempt by a military unit to gain an advantage during warfare by misleading adversary decision makers into taking action or inaction that creates favorable conditions for the deceiving force. This is usually ac ...

History

British XVIII Corps was formed in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

in January 1917 under Lieutenant General

Sir Ivor Maxse General Sir Frederick Ivor Maxse, (22 December 1862 – 28 January 1958) was a senior British Army officer who fought during the First World War, best known for his innovative and effective training methods. Early life Ivor Maxse was the eldest ...

. From its formation,

XVIII Corps Cavalry Regiment The South Irish Horse was a Special Reserve cavalry regiment of the British Army. Formed as an Imperial Yeomanry regiment in 1902 as the South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry, it perpetuated a unit formed during the Second Boer War. It transferred t ...

was provided by A and B Squadrons, South Irish Horse and B Squadron, 1/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry. In May 1917, F Squadron South Irish Horse replaced the Herts Yeomanry, and XVIII Corps Cavalry Regiment was also known as

2nd South Irish Horse The South Irish Horse was a Special Reserve cavalry regiment of the British Army. Formed as an Imperial Yeomanry regiment in 1902 as the South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry, it perpetuated a unit formed during the Second Boer War. It transferred ...

. It was dissolved in August 1917 when the South Irish Horse went to be retrained as infantry. XVIII Corps pursued the German forces to the

Hindenberg Line The Hindenburg Line (German: , Siegfried Position) was a German Defense line, defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during the First World War. The line ran from Arras to La ...

and was then merged into

VIII Corps 8th Corps, Eighth Corps, or VIII Corps may refer to: * VIII Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars *VIII Army Corps (German Confederation) * VIII Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army ...

in July 1918. In 1941, during World War 2, the XVII Corps was briefly reactivated as a fictional unit, as part of the

Cyprus Defence Plan Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

deception. However, it was later renamed XXV Corps.

General officers commanding

Commanders included: * 15 January 1917 – 22 July 1918 Lieutenant-General

Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
/ref> * 22 June – 2 July 1918 Lieutenant-General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:18 Corps British field corps Corps of the British Army in World War I Fictional units of World War II