Historian
Richard Doherty
James Richard Doherty (born 19 May 1948), known as Richard Doherty, is a British military historian and author from County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Educated at St. Columb's College, he has written more than twenty books about British and I ...
wrote that the division was created as an ad hoc measure "to achieve stabilisation" followed the
Battle of Kasserine Pass on February 19.
Brigadier
Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. In ...
Nelson Russell was given command. Doherty stated that the division comprised the 38th (Irish) Brigade, the
1st Parachute Brigade
The 1st Parachute Brigade was an airborne forces brigade formed by the British Army during the Second World War. As its name indicates, the unit was the first parachute infantry brigade formation in the British Army.
Formed from three parachute ...
, one French infantry battalion, and artillery support. H.F. Joslen, compiler of the
official history An official history is a work of history which is sponsored, authorised or endorsed by its subject. The term is most commonly used for histories which are produced for a government. The term also applies to commissions from non-state bodies includin ...
detailing British orders of battle, concurs that the Irish Brigade formed part of the division, but does not list the paratroopers as part of it. He recorded the division included the
1st Infantry Brigade (Guards)
The 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army with a long history including service during both the First and the Second World Wars. It was based at Tidworth Camp. Previously, it has been designated 1st (Guards ...
. The latter joined the division on 27 February, while the Irish Brigade joined on 16 February, likely the formation date of the division. The division was disbanded on 16 March. Richard Doherty wrote that "Russell never did find out why the formation was actually called Y Division".
Order of battle
See also
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List of British divisions in World War II
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British Army Order of Battle (September 1939)
In September 1939, the British Army was in process of expanding their anti-aircraft and mobile (including armoured) assets. Among these new changes was the formation of Anti-Aircraft Command which was formed on 1 April 1939, and the 1st Armoured ...
Notes
Footnotes
Citations
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Y Division
Infantry divisions of the British Army in World War II
Army Reserve (United Kingdom)
Military units and formations established in 1943
Military units and formations disestablished in 1943