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42nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)

May 03, 2024

The 42nd Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army raised during the Second World War.

42nd Armoured Division
42nd Armoured Division insignia
Active1 November 1941 – 17 October 1943
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeArmoured Division
Size13,235 men[1]
227 tanks[nb 1][nb 2]
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Miles Dempsey

History edit

War Service edit

The division was formed in late 1941 by converting the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division.[3] The 42nd Division was a 1st Line Territorial Army (TA) infantry formation that saw service in the Battle of France and was evacuated at Dunkirk in June 1940.[4] The division was converted on 1 November 1941 into an armoured division. The division's first commander was Major-General Miles C. Dempsey.[3]

However, the division was not posted overseas[5] and its divisional headquarters was disbanded on 17 October 1943;[3] the division's infantry was assigned to the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division and its armour to the 79th Armoured Division.[5]

General Officer Commanding edit

Two men served as the General Officer Commanding of the 42nd Armoured Division:

Order of battle edit

10th Armoured Brigade edit

Main article: 10th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)

On 1 November 1941, the 10th Armoured Brigade was converted from the 125th Infantry Brigade, of three battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers, and was attached to the 42nd Armoured Division. It comprised the 108 RAC (previously 1/5th Battalion), 109 RAC (1/6th Battalion) and 143 RAC (9th Battalion). On 25 July 1942, the brigade was converted again into the 10th Tank Brigade and finally disbanded on 25 November 1943. The 10th Armoured Brigade did not see active service as a unit and was broken up in late 1943.

11th Armoured Brigade edit

Main article: 11th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)

42nd Support Group edit

In the early days of the Second World War the support group (or Pivot Group as it was sometimes known) was what its name suggested. It provided whatever support the armoured brigades needed to the operation in hand, being able to provide motorised infantry, field artillery, anti-tank artillery or light anti-aircraft artillery as needed.

Divisional troops edit

See also edit

Notes edit

Footnotes
  1. ^ 201 tanks and 26 anti-aircraft tanks.[2]
  2. ^ These two figures are the war establishment, the on-paper strength, of the division; for information on how divisions size changed over the war, please see British Army during the Second World War and British Armoured formations of World War II.
Citations
  1. ^ Joslen, p. 129
  2. ^ Joslen, p. 6
  3. ^ a b c Joslen, p. 42
  4. ^ Joslen, p. 68
  5. ^ a b Chappell, p. 15
  6. ^ a b Joslen, p. 29

References edit

  • Chappell, Mike (1987). British battle insignia (2): 1939–1940. Men-At-Arms. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0-85045-739-4.
  • Joslen, Lieutenant-Colonel H.F. (1960) [1960]. Orders Of Battle Second World War 1939-1945. Naval & Military Press Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.

External links edit

  • "42 Armoured Division". Orders of Battle.com.

May 03, 2024
42nd, armoured, division, united, kingdom, 42nd, armoured, division, armoured, division, british, army, raised, during, second, world, 42nd, armoured, division42nd, armoured, division, insigniaactive1, november, 1941, october, 1943country, united, kingdombranc. The 42nd Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army raised during the Second World War 42nd Armoured Division42nd Armoured Division insigniaActive1 November 1941 17 October 1943Country United KingdomBranch British ArmyTypeArmoured DivisionSize13 235 men 1 227 tanks nb 1 nb 2 CommandersNotablecommandersMiles Dempsey Contents 1 History 1 1 War Service 2 General Officer Commanding 3 Order of battle 3 1 10th Armoured Brigade 3 2 11th Armoured Brigade 3 3 42nd Support Group 3 4 Divisional troops 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksHistory editWar Service edit The division was formed in late 1941 by converting the 42nd East Lancashire Infantry Division 3 The 42nd Division was a 1st Line Territorial Army TA infantry formation that saw service in the Battle of France and was evacuated at Dunkirk in June 1940 4 The division was converted on 1 November 1941 into an armoured division The division s first commander was Major General Miles C Dempsey 3 However the division was not posted overseas 5 and its divisional headquarters was disbanded on 17 October 1943 3 the division s infantry was assigned to the 53rd Welsh Infantry Division and its armour to the 79th Armoured Division 5 General Officer Commanding editTwo men served as the General Officer Commanding of the 42nd Armoured Division Major General Miles Dempsey November 1941 December 1942 6 Major General John Aldam Aizlewood December 1942 October 1943 6 Order of battle edit10th Armoured Brigade edit Main article 10th Armoured Brigade United Kingdom 108th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps Lancashire Fusiliers 109th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps Lancashire Fusiliers 143rd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps Lancashire Fusiliers 13th Battalion Highland Light Infantry On 1 November 1941 the 10th Armoured Brigade was converted from the 125th Infantry Brigade of three battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers and was attached to the 42nd Armoured Division It comprised the 108 RAC previously 1 5th Battalion 109 RAC 1 6th Battalion and 143 RAC 9th Battalion On 25 July 1942 the brigade was converted again into the 10th Tank Brigade and finally disbanded on 25 November 1943 The 10th Armoured Brigade did not see active service as a unit and was broken up in late 1943 11th Armoured Brigade edit Main article 11th Armoured Brigade United Kingdom 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps King s Own 110th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps Border Regiment 111th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps Manchester Regiment 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry 42nd Support Group edit 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment 147th Essex Yeomanry Regiment Royal Horse Artillery 53rd Worcestershire and Oxfordshire Yeomanry Anti Tank Regiment Royal Artillery 93rd Light Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery In the early days of the Second World War the support group or Pivot Group as it was sometimes known was what its name suggested It provided whatever support the armoured brigades needed to the operation in hand being able to provide motorised infantry field artillery anti tank artillery or light anti aircraft artillery as needed Divisional troops edit 112th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps Foresters armoured car regiment from 17 November 1941 left 24 February 1943 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry from 18 April 1943 left 16 October 1943 HQ 42nd Divisional Engineers 16th Field Company Royal Engineers 17th Field Company RE became 617th Field Company 1 March 1943 149th Field Park Company RE 42nd East Lancashire Armoured Divisional Signals Royal Corps of SignalsSee also edit nbsp United Kingdom portal List of British divisions in World War II British Armoured formations of World War IINotes editFootnotes 201 tanks and 26 anti aircraft tanks 2 These two figures are the war establishment the on paper strength of the division for information on how divisions size changed over the war please see British Army during the Second World War and British Armoured formations of World War II Citations Joslen p 129 Joslen p 6 a b c Joslen p 42 Joslen p 68 a b Chappell p 15 a b Joslen p 29References editChappell Mike 1987 British battle insignia 2 1939 1940 Men At Arms Osprey Publishing ISBN 0 85045 739 4 Joslen Lieutenant Colonel H F 1960 1960 Orders Of Battle Second World War 1939 1945 Naval amp Military Press Ltd ISBN 978 1 84342 474 1 External links edit 42 Armoured Division Orders of Battle com Royal Artillery Site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 42nd Armoured Division United Kingdom amp oldid 1205356073 42nd Support Group, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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