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44th (Home Counties) Division

The Home Counties Division was an infantry division of the Territorial Force, part of the British Army, that was raised in 1908. As the name suggests, the division recruited in the Home Counties, particularly Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex.

Home Counties Division
44th (Home Counties) Division
44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division
44th Infantry Division insignia.
ActiveApril 1908 – 3 December 1914
February 1920 – 31 January 1943
January 1947 – 1 May 1961
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Peacetime HQHounslow, Middlesex
EngagementsFirst World War
Second World War
St Omer-La Bassée
Alam Halfa
Second Battle of El Alamein[1]
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Charles Townshend
Arthur Percival
Sir Brian Horrocks
Sir Hugh Stockwell

At the outbreak of the First World War, it accepted liability for overseas service and was posted to India in 1914 to relieve Regular Army units for service on the Western Front. On arrival in India it was effectively broken up, so it did not see active service as a complete formation. However, most of its constituent units did serve in active theatres, notably Mesopotamia from 1915 and in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.

Reformed in the Territorial Army (TA) in 1920 as the 44th (Home Counties) Division, the division saw active service in the Second World War in Belgium, France and North Africa (notably in the Battle of El Alamein) before again being disbanded in 1943. Once again, its component units continued to serve, in North Africa, Italy, North-West Europe, and Burma.

The division was again reformed in the TA in 1947 before being merged with the Home Counties District in 1961, thus ending its separate existence.

History edit

Formation edit

The Territorial Force (TF) was formed on 1 April 1908 following the enactment of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw.7, c.9) which combined and re-organised the old Volunteer Force, the Honourable Artillery Company and the Yeomanry. On formation, the TF contained 14 infantry divisions and 14 mounted yeomanry brigades.[2] One of the divisions was the Home Counties Division.[3]

As the name suggests, the division recruited in the Home Counties, particularly Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex. It was composed of the Surrey, Middlesex and Kent Infantry Brigades (each of four battalions), four artillery brigades[a] of the Royal Field Artillery recruited in Sussex and Kent, a heavy battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (also recruited in Kent), plus support units of the Royal Engineers (including the Signal Service), Royal Army Medical Corps and the Army Service Corps. Two Army Troops battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment were also attached for training, but were not integral to the division. In peacetime, the divisional headquarters was in Hounslow in Middlesex.[3][6][7]

First World War edit

In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw.7, c.9) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. 2nd Line units performed the home defence role, although in fact most of these were also posted abroad in due course.[8] The Home Counties Division formed the 2nd Home Counties Division in this manner with an identical structure.[9]

The division mobilised on the outbreak of the war. Early in September 1914, the division sent two battalions to Gibraltar to relieve regular battalions; 7th and 8th Middlesex left on 4 and 10 September respectively.[6] On 22 September, India agreed to send 32 British and 20 Indian regular battalions to Europe in exchange for 43 partially trained TF battalions.[10][b] Accordingly, the division accepted liability for service in India. It was joined by the 4th (Cumberland and Westmorland) Battalion, Border Regiment (from Carlisle) and the 4th Battalion, King's (Shropshire Light Infantry) (from Shrewsbury) to replace 7th and 8th Middlesex, and 1/1st Brecknockshire Battalion, South Wales Borderers (from Brecon) as an extra battalion for garrison duties in Aden.[6]

The division sailed from Southampton on 30 October 1914 with 13 infantry battalions and 3 artillery brigades (nine batteries of four 15-pounder BLCs each, but without ammunition columns).[6] The infantry brigade staffs, the IV Home Counties (H) Brigade, RFA, the Home Counties (Kent) Heavy Battery, the engineers, signals, ambulance and train units were all left behind and most were soon posted to other divisions on the Western Front.[15]

The division arrived at Bombay on 1–3 December 1914, with the Brecknockshire Battalion departing again on 9 December for Aden.[6] The divisional commander, Major-General J.C. Young, accompanied the division to India. On arrival, he handed over the units and returned to England, arriving on 22 December.[9] He took command of the 2nd Line 2nd Home Counties Division on 20 January 1915.[16]

The division was effectively broken up on arrival in India in December 1914; the units reverted to peacetime conditions and were dispersed throughout India and Burma. The battalions were posted to Lucknow (2), Cawnpore, Fyzabad, Mhow, Kamptee, Jubbulpore, Jhansi, Dinapore, Fort William, Rangoon and Maymyo and the batteries were posted to Kamptee, Mhow (2), Jullundur, Multan, Ferozepore, and Jubbulpore (3).[6] The battalions and batteries moved around the various garrison stations in India, Burma and Aden from time to time. For example, the 1/4th Buffs[c] moved from Mhow[17] to Aden in August 1915,[18] to Bareilly in January 1916,[19] and to Multan in July 1918 where it remained until the end of the war.[20] The 1/4th KSLI went further afield; on arrival in India, it was posted to Rangoon, with a detachment in the Andaman Islands. On 6 February 1915 it was dispatched to Singapore to help to suppress a mutiny. In April, part of the battalion went to Hong Kong; the battalion was replaced at Rangoon by the 2/4th Border Regiment.[6] Thereafter, it returned to England via Colombo, Durban and Cape Town before landing at Plymouth on 27 July 1917. Two days later, it left Southampton for France to join 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.[21]

The units pushed on with training to prepare for active service, handicapped by the need to provide experienced manpower for active service units.[6] By early 1916 it had become obvious that it would not be possible to transfer the division to the Western Front as originally intended.[22] Nevertheless, individual units of the division proceeded overseas on active service through the rest of the war. All three artillery brigades went to Mesopotamia in 1916 (III Home Counties) and 1917 (I and II Home Counties) and, likewise, so did 1/5th Queen's, 1/5th Buffs, 1/5th East Surrey, 1/9th Middlesex, 1/5th QORWK infantry battalions.[15] In addition, the 1/4th Queen's, the 1/4th and 2/4th Border, and the 1/4th QORWK took part in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.[22]

The Territorial Force divisions and brigades were numbered in May 1915 in the order that they departed for overseas service, starting with the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. The Home Counties Division should have been numbered as the 44th (Home Counties) Division, but as the division had already been broken up, this was merely a place holder. Likewise, the Surrey, Middlesex and Kent Brigades were only notionally numbered as 131st, 132nd and 133rd, respectively.[23]

Between the wars edit

In 1919, the remaining units in India were repatriated to England.[22] The Territorial Force was effectively disbanded in 1919, but started to reform from 1 February 1920 as the units commenced recruiting. From 1 October 1921, it was renamed as the Territorial Army (TA).[24] The division was reformed in 1920.[22]

One major change with the new TA had an effect on the number of infantry battalions. The original 14 divisions were reformed with the pre-war standard of three brigades of four battalions each, for a total of 168 battalions. Infantry were no longer to be included as Army Troops or part of the Coastal Defence Forces so the pre-war total of 208 battalions had to be reduced by 40. This was achieved by either converting certain battalions to other roles, usually artillery or engineers, or by amalgamating pairs of battalions within a regiment.[24] The 44th (Home Counties) Division illustrated both of these processes: the 10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment was converted to the Home Counties Divisional Signals, RCS in 1921[25] and the 4th and 5th (The Weald of Kent) Battalions, Buffs were amalgamated as the 4th/5th Battalion in the same year.[26] In this way, the division was able to incorporate two Army Troops battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment.

The divisional artillery was reformed with three brigades: 1st Home Counties with 1–4 Sussex Batteries, 2nd Home Counties with 5–8 Sussex Batteries, and 3rd Home Counties with 1–4 Kent Batteries. These were renumbered in 1921 as the 57th (Home Counties), 58th (Home Counties) and 59th (Home Counties) Brigades, later 57th (Home Counties), 58th (Sussex) and 59th (Home Counties)(Cinque Ports) Brigades.[27]

The division underwent a number of changes in the late 1930s. In 1936, it was decided to concentrate Vickers machine guns in specialised machine gun battalions. Rather than resurrecting the Machine Gun Corps, a number of line infantry regiments were converted instead; the Middlesex Regiment was one of four regiments selected for conversion.[28][d] The 7th and 8th Battalions were converted at the same time.[29][30] They were replaced by the 22nd and 24th Battalions of the London Regiment, which from 1937 became the 6th (Bermondsey)[31] and 7th (Southwark) Battalions[32] of the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).

A major reorganisation in 1938 saw the TA divisions reduced from twelve to nine battalions.[33] As a result, 9th Middlesex was converted to 60th (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment, RA,[25][34] the 4th Queen's to 63rd (Queen's) Searchlight Regiment, RA[35][36] and 5th East Surreys to 57th (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA[37][38] The latter remained part of the division.[39] In the same year, the 59th (Home Counties)(Cinque Ports) Field Regiment, RA was converted to 75th (Home Counties)(Cinque Ports) Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA.[40] It was replaced by 65th (8th London) Field Regiment, RA from the former 47th (2nd London) Division.[41]

By 1939 it became clear that a new European war was likely to break out, and the doubling of the Territorial Army was authorised, with each unit and formation forming a duplicate.[42] The 44th (Home Counties) Division formed the 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division.[43][e]

Second World War edit

The division, as the 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division (Major-General Edmund Osborne), was mobilised on 3 September 1939 on the outbreak of the Second World War. Initially in Southern and then Eastern Command, the division was sent overseas where it joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France on 1 April 1940 and was assigned to III Corps (Lieutenant-General Ronald Forbes Adam).[39] It took part in the Battle of St Omer-La Bassée (23–29 May) during the retreat to Dunkirk. At the end of May 1940 the division was evacuated from at Dunkirk after the German Army threatened to cut off and destroy the entire BEF from the French Army during the battles of France and Belgium.[59]

After returning to England the division, much reduced in manpower and woefully short of equipment and now under the command of Major-General Arthur Percival (who had taken command in late June 1940, until late March the following year), spent nearly two years on home defence, anticipating a German invasion which never occurred, travelling through the counties of Kent and Sussex and serving under I and XII Corps.[39] On 29 May 1942, the division, now under the control of the War Office and commanded by Major-General Ivor Hughes, departed the United Kingdom to take part in the North African Campaign. It arrived in Cairo, Egypt on 24 July – the long journey being due to sailing via the Cape of Good Hope.[59]

 
A soldier emerges from the 'mud bath' during training at the 44th Divisional battle school at Dene Park, Tonbridge in Kent, 22 April 1942.

Less than three weeks after its arrival the division was ordered by General Sir Harold Alexander (replacing General Sir Claude Auchinleck on 13 August), the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), Middle East, to be sent forward to join the Eighth Army (Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery), at El Alamein. The 44th Division joined XIII Corps (Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks, commander of the division between June 1941 and March 1942) and fought at the Battle of Alam el Halfa (30 August – 7 September) where the 132nd Brigade was temporarily detached to the 2nd New Zealand Division[39][59][52] and suffered nearly 700 casualties.

On 8 September, the 133rd Brigade was detached from the division. It was briefly assigned to the 8th Armoured Division[49] before being transferred to the 10th Armoured Division on 29 September as a lorried infantry unit.[60] The division started the Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 4 November) with two brigades.[59] It was still in XIII Corps,[61] with the 7th Armoured Division and 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division.[62] The corps was on the southern flank with the task of tying down Axis reserves while the main thrust was made in the north by XXX and X Corps. The division was further reduced when the 131st Brigade was attached to the 7th Armoured Division on 1 November, as a lorried infantry brigade after the 7th Motor Brigade was transferred to the 1st Armoured Division.[63][64]

The Battle of El Alamein was the last engagement of the 44th Division; it was disbanded on 31 January 1943.[39][f] The 132nd[52] and 133rd Brigade[49] were dispersed, with the battalions ending up as British battalions in British Indian Army brigades.[g] The 131st Brigade remained in the 7th Armoured Division for the rest of the war, taking part in the rest of the North African Campaign, culminating in May 1943 with the surrender of almost 250,000 Axis soldiers as prisoners of war, the Allied invasion of Italy from September–November 1943 and in the North-West Europe campaign from June 1944 until Victory in Europe Day in May 1945.[63][72]

Post Second World War edit

The Territorial Army (TA) was formally disbanded at the end of the Second World War. TA units were reactivated on 1 January 1947, though no personnel were assigned until commanding officers and permanent staff had been appointed in March and April 1947.[73] The division, under the command of Major-General Philip Gregson-Ellis, was reformed in 1947; it included the Northamptonshire Yeomanry, and 47th (London), 131st (Surrey), and 133rd (Kent & Sussex) Infantry Brigades.[74]

On 1 May 1961, all ten TA divisions were merged with the districts,[75] and the division became 44th (Home Counties) Division/District, thus ending the division's separate existence. Subsequently, redesignated as South Eastern District,[76] it was used to form the 4th Division on 1 April 1995.[77]

Orders of battle edit

Order of Battle – August 1914

Just before the outbreak of the First World War, the division commanded the following units:[3][78]

Surrey Brigade Royal Artillery Divisional troops

Home Counties Divisional Engineers

Royal Army Medical Corps

  • 1st Home Counties Field Ambulance
  • 2nd Home Counties Field Ambulance
  • 3rd Home Counties Field Ambulance
  • Home Counties Clearing Hospital

Home Counties Divisional Train, ASC

  • Divisional Company (Headquarters)
  • Surrey Brigade Company
  • Kent Brigade Company
  • Middlesex Brigade Company
Middlesex Brigade
Kent Brigade
Attached
Order of Battle – September 1939

The division commanded the following units in the Second World War:[78][39][80]

131st Infantry Brigade Royal Artillery

44th (Home Counties) Divisional Engineers

Royal Corps of Signals

Machine Gun Battalion

Reconnaissance

132nd Infantry Brigade
133rd Infantry Brigade
Order of Battle – January 1947

The division was reformed after the Second World War with the following units:[78][74]

* Headquarters 44th Infantry Division

Commanders edit

The Home Counties Division had the following commanders, from formation in April 1908 to disembarkation in India:[81]

From Rank Name Notes
April 1908 Major-General Colin G. Donald
January 1909 Major-General Edward T. Dickson
April 1912 Major-General Charles V.F. Townshend
25 October 1912[82] Major-General James C. Young Broken up in December 1914

When the division was re-established after the First World War, it had the following commanders until it was disbanded in the Middle East on 31 January 1943:[81]

From Rank Name Notes
July 1919 Major-General Sir John R. Longley
June 1923 Major-General Sir Henry W. Hodgson
June 1927 Major-General Arthur G. Wauchope
January 1929 Major-General Henry R. Peck
January 1933 Major-General John Kennedy
April 1934 Major-General John R. Minshull-Ford
April 1938[39] Major-General Edmund Osborne
25 June 1940[39] Major-General Arthur E. Percival
27 March 1941[39] Brigadier F.C.A. Troup acting
31 March 1941[39] Brigadier J.E. Utterson-Kelso acting
8 April 1941[39] Major-General Frank N. Mason-Macfarlane
25 June 1941[39] Major-General Brian G. Horrocks
14 March 1942[39] Brigadier Ivor T.P. Hughes acting
20 March 1942[39] Major-General Ivor T.P. Hughes Disbanded on 31 January 1943

When the division was re-established after the Second World War, it had the following commanders until 1 May 1961 when the Territorial Army divisional headquarters were merged with regular army districts:[81]

From Rank Name Notes
1 January 1947 Major-General Hugh C. Stockwell [83]
July 1947 Major-General Philip G.S. Gregson-Ellis
July 1950 Major-General Brian C.H. Kimmins
March 1952 Major-General E. Otway Herbert
January 1954 Major-General Robert C.M. King
November 1956 Major-General William F.R. Turner
November 1959 Major-General Paul Gleadell
January 1962 Major-General Ewing H.W. Grimshaw
July 1965 Major-General F. Brian Wyldbore-Smith Disbanded in 1968

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ The basic organic unit of the Royal Artillery was, and is, the Battery.[4] When grouped together they formed brigades, in the same way that infantry battalions or cavalry regiments were grouped together in brigades. At the outbreak of the First World War, a field artillery brigade of headquarters (4 officers, 37 other ranks), three batteries (5 and 193 each), and a brigade ammunition column (4 and 154)[5] had a total strength just under 800 so was broadly comparable to an infantry battalion (just over 1,000) or a cavalry regiment (about 550). Like an infantry battalion, an artillery brigade was usually commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel. These figures refer to 6-gun batteries; Territorial Force artillery batteries were organised on a 4-gun basis at the outbreak of the war, so strengths would be approximately two thirds of this. Artillery brigades were redesignated as regiments in 1938.
  2. ^ The 32 British regular battalions thus relieved formed the bulk of the 27th (10 battalions),[11] 28th (10 battalions),[12] and 29th Divisions (9 battalions, including 3 from Burma)[13] and part of the 8th (3 battalions).[14]
  3. ^ With the formation of the 2nd Line, the original units and formations were designated with the fractional "1/" and the 2nd Line with "2/".
  4. ^ The other three regiments selected for conversions to machine gun battalions were the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, Cheshire Regiment and the Manchester Regiment.[28]
  5. ^ Between 3 September and 7 October 1939, the units of the 12th (Eastern) Infantry Divisionwere administered by its parent division.[39]
  6. ^ 57th and 58th Field Regiments, RA joined the Eighth Army, 65th Field Regiment, RA transferred to 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division,[65] 57th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA also joined the Eighth Army[38] and the 30th LAA Regiment, RA was assigned to Middle East Command.[66] The 6th Cheshires (MG Battalion)[67] and 44th Recce joined the 56th (London) Infantry Division.[68]
  7. ^ 2nd Buffs joined the 26th Indian Infantry Brigade,[69] 4th QORWK joined the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade and 5th QORWK joined the 21st Indian Infantry Brigade;[70] the 2nd Royal Sussex joined the 24th Indian Infantry Brigade, 4th and 5th Royal Sussex were amalgamated as 4th/5th Royal Sussex and joined the 27th Indian Infantry Brigade.[71]
  8. ^ 1/IV Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA remained in England when its parent division went to India in October 1914. It went to France on 21 December 1914 as 27th Division Ammunition Column but returned to the UK, reformed as an artillery brigade and joined 67th (2nd Home Counties) Division in June 1915. It was posted to the Western Front on 10 March 1916, joining the Fourth Army before transferring to the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division on 18 July 1916.[79]
  9. ^ a b c d 2nd Buffs replaced 1/7th Queen's in 131st Brigade from 4 May 1940. 1/7th Queen's joined 132nd Brigade from 1 July 1940 to 1 July 1941 before swopping places with 2nd Buffs.[80]
  10. ^ 208th Field Company was replaced by 11th Field Company on 4 May 1940.[39]
  11. ^ 6th Cheshires joined as the divisional Machine Gun Battalion on 11 November 1941 and left on 24 November 1942.[39]
  12. ^ 44th Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps joined as the divisional reconnaissance unit on 6 January 1941, was redesignated as 44th Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps on 6 June 1942 and left on 24 November 1942.[39]
  13. ^ a b 1/6th East Surreys was replaced in 132nd Brigade by 1st QORWK on 4 May 1940. In turn, it was replaced by 1/7th Queen's from 131st Brigade on 29 June 1940.[80]

References edit

  1. ^ The hutchison atlas of World war II battle plans. page 107
  2. ^ Westlake 1992, p. 3
  3. ^ a b c Conrad, Mark (1996). "The British Army, 1914". Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. ^ . Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  5. ^ Baker, Chris. "What was an artillery brigade?". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Becke 1936, p. 53
  7. ^ Westlake, Ray (2011). The Territorials, 1908–1914: A Guide for Military and Family Historians. Pen & Sword. ISBN 978-1848843608.
  8. ^ Baker, Chris. "Was my soldier in the Territorial Force (TF)?". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  9. ^ a b Becke 1937, p. 81
  10. ^ Becke 1936, p. 47
  11. ^ Becke 1935, p. 102
  12. ^ Becke 1935, p. 110
  13. ^ Becke 1935, p. 122
  14. ^ Becke 1935, p. 94
  15. ^ a b Becke 1936, p. 50
  16. ^ Becke 1937, p. 75
  17. ^ Perry 1993, p. 68
  18. ^ Perry 1993, p. 158
  19. ^ Perry 1993, p. 94
  20. ^ Perry 1993, p. 138
  21. ^ James 1978, p. 92
  22. ^ a b c d Becke 1936, p. 54
  23. ^ Rinaldi 2008, p. 35
  24. ^ a b Westlake 1986, p. 47
  25. ^ a b c d Westlake 1986, p. 185
  26. ^ a b Westlake 1986, p. 72
  27. ^ Frederick 1984, pp. 516–517
  28. ^ a b Fisher, Richard (2007). "The Vickers Machine Gun; British Service; The Army". Vickers MG Collection & Research Association. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  29. ^ Fisher, Richard (2007). "The Vickers Machine Gun; Units That Used The Vickers; The Middlesex Regiment". Vickers MG Collection & Research Association. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  30. ^ Westlake 1986, pp. 183–184
  31. ^ a b Westlake 1986, p. 69
  32. ^ a b Westlake 1986, p. 71
  33. ^ Westlake 1986, p. 49
  34. ^ a b Bellis 1995, p. 63
  35. ^ a b Westlake 1986, p. 68
  36. ^ a b Bellis 1995, p. 64
  37. ^ a b Westlake 1986, p. 135
  38. ^ a b c Bellis 1995, p. 75
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Joslen 1990, p. 71
  40. ^ Frederick 1984, p. 517
  41. ^ Frederick 1984, p. 518
  42. ^ "History of the Army Reserve". MOD. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  43. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 56
  44. ^ a b James 1978, p. 43
  45. ^ a b c Joslen 1990, p. 316
  46. ^ a b c Joslen 1990, p. 282
  47. ^ a b James 1978, p. 114
  48. ^ a b James 1978, p. 44
  49. ^ a b c d e Joslen 1990, p. 319
  50. ^ a b c Joslen 1990, p. 286
  51. ^ a b James 1978, p. 74
  52. ^ a b c d e Joslen 1990, p. 318
  53. ^ a b c Joslen 1990, p. 284
  54. ^ a b James 1978, p. 77
  55. ^ a b James 1978, p. 90
  56. ^ a b c d James 1978, p. 93
  57. ^ Westlake 1986, p. 183
  58. ^ Westlake 1986, p. 184
  59. ^ a b c d Joslen 1990, p. 72
  60. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 25
  61. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 570
  62. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 569
  63. ^ a b Joslen 1990, p. 20
  64. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 14
  65. ^ Bellis 1995, p. 92
  66. ^ Bellis 1995, p. 43
  67. ^ Bellis 1994, p. 56
  68. ^ Bellis 1994, p. 32
  69. ^ Bellis 1994, p. 47
  70. ^ Bellis 1994, p. 105
  71. ^ Bellis 1994, p. 119
  72. ^ Joslen 1990, p. 21
  73. ^ Beckett 2008, p. 169
  74. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
  75. ^ Beckett 2008, pp. 183, 185
  76. ^ . Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  77. ^ . Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 2015-03-25.
  78. ^ a b c Morling.
  79. ^ Becke 1937, p. 80
  80. ^ a b c Joslen 1990, pp. 316–319
  81. ^ a b c Mackie 2015, p. 202
  82. ^ Becke 1936, p. 49
  83. ^ "Army Notes". Royal United Services Institution. 92:566 (566): 298. 1946. doi:10.1080/03071844709434007.

Bibliography edit

  • Becke, Major A. F. (1935). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1. The Regular British Divisions. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-09-4.
  • Becke, Major A. F. (1936). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56). London: HMSO. ISBN 1-871167-12-4.
  • Becke, Major A. F. (1937). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2B. The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th) with The Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-871167-00-0.
  • Beckett, Ian F. W. (2008). Territorials: A Century of Service. Plymouth: DRA Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9557813-1-5.
  • Bellis, Malcolm A. (1994). Regiments of the British Army 1939–1945 (Armour & Infantry). London: Military Press International. ISBN 0-85420-999-9.
  • Bellis, Malcolm A. (1995). Regiments of the British Army 1939–1945 (Artillery). London: Military Press International. ISBN 0-85420-110-6.
  • Frederick, J. B. M. (1984). Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978. Wakefield, Yorkshire: Microform Academic Publishers. ISBN 1-85117-009-X.
  • James, E. A. (1978). British Regiments 1914–18. London: Samson Books. ISBN 0-906304-03-2.
  • Joslen, H. F. (1990) [1st. Pub. HMSO:1960]. Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939–1945. London: London Stamp Exchange. ISBN 0-948130-03-2.
  • Mackie, Colin (June 2015). (PDF). www.gulabin.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  • Col L.F. Morling, Sussex Sappers: A History of the Sussex Volunteer and Territorial Army Royal Engineer Units from 1890 to 1967, Seaford: 208th Field Co, RE/Christians–W. J. Offord, 1972.
  • Perry, F. W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.
  • Rinaldi, Richard A. (2008). Order of Battle of the British Army 1914. Ravi Rikhye. ISBN 978-0-97760728-0.
  • Westlake, Ray (1986). The Territorial Battalions, A Pictorial History, 1859–1985. Tunbridge Wells: Spellmount. ISBN 978-0-946771-68-4.
  • Westlake, Ray (1992). British Territorial Units 1914–18. Men-at-Arms Series. Vol. 245. Osprey. ISBN 978-1-85532-168-7.

External links edit

  • Baker, Chris. "The 44th (Home Counties) Division in 1914–1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  • . Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  • "44 (Home Counties) Infantry Division". Orders of Battle.com.

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The Home Counties Division was an infantry division of the Territorial Force part of the British Army that was raised in 1908 As the name suggests the division recruited in the Home Counties particularly Kent Middlesex Surrey and Sussex Home Counties Division44th Home Counties Division44th Home Counties Infantry Division44th Infantry Division insignia ActiveApril 1908 3 December 1914February 1920 31 January 1943January 1947 1 May 1961Country United KingdomBranch British ArmyTypeInfantrySizeDivisionPeacetime HQHounslow MiddlesexEngagementsFirst World WarSecond World War St Omer La Bassee Alam Halfa Second Battle of El Alamein 1 CommandersNotablecommandersCharles TownshendArthur PercivalSir Brian HorrocksSir Hugh Stockwell At the outbreak of the First World War it accepted liability for overseas service and was posted to India in 1914 to relieve Regular Army units for service on the Western Front On arrival in India it was effectively broken up so it did not see active service as a complete formation However most of its constituent units did serve in active theatres notably Mesopotamia from 1915 and in the Third Anglo Afghan War in 1919 Reformed in the Territorial Army TA in 1920 as the 44th Home Counties Division the division saw active service in the Second World War in Belgium France and North Africa notably in the Battle of El Alamein before again being disbanded in 1943 Once again its component units continued to serve in North Africa Italy North West Europe and Burma The division was again reformed in the TA in 1947 before being merged with the Home Counties District in 1961 thus ending its separate existence Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation 1 2 First World War 1 3 Between the wars 1 4 Second World War 1 5 Post Second World War 2 Orders of battle 3 Commanders 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksHistory editFormation edit The Territorial Force TF was formed on 1 April 1908 following the enactment of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 7 Edw 7 c 9 which combined and re organised the old Volunteer Force the Honourable Artillery Company and the Yeomanry On formation the TF contained 14 infantry divisions and 14 mounted yeomanry brigades 2 One of the divisions was the Home Counties Division 3 As the name suggests the division recruited in the Home Counties particularly Kent Middlesex Surrey and Sussex It was composed of the Surrey Middlesex and Kent Infantry Brigades each of four battalions four artillery brigades a of the Royal Field Artillery recruited in Sussex and Kent a heavy battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery also recruited in Kent plus support units of the Royal Engineers including the Signal Service Royal Army Medical Corps and the Army Service Corps Two Army Troops battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment were also attached for training but were not integral to the division In peacetime the divisional headquarters was in Hounslow in Middlesex 3 6 7 First World War edit In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 7 Edw 7 c 9 which brought the Territorial Force into being the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country However on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914 many members volunteered for Imperial Service Therefore TF units were split into 1st Line liable for overseas service and 2nd Line home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas units 2nd Line units performed the home defence role although in fact most of these were also posted abroad in due course 8 The Home Counties Division formed the 2nd Home Counties Division in this manner with an identical structure 9 The division mobilised on the outbreak of the war Early in September 1914 the division sent two battalions to Gibraltar to relieve regular battalions 7th and 8th Middlesex left on 4 and 10 September respectively 6 On 22 September India agreed to send 32 British and 20 Indian regular battalions to Europe in exchange for 43 partially trained TF battalions 10 b Accordingly the division accepted liability for service in India It was joined by the 4th Cumberland and Westmorland Battalion Border Regiment from Carlisle and the 4th Battalion King s Shropshire Light Infantry from Shrewsbury to replace 7th and 8th Middlesex and 1 1st Brecknockshire Battalion South Wales Borderers from Brecon as an extra battalion for garrison duties in Aden 6 The division sailed from Southampton on 30 October 1914 with 13 infantry battalions and 3 artillery brigades nine batteries of four 15 pounder BLCs each but without ammunition columns 6 The infantry brigade staffs the IV Home Counties H Brigade RFA the Home Counties Kent Heavy Battery the engineers signals ambulance and train units were all left behind and most were soon posted to other divisions on the Western Front 15 The division arrived at Bombay on 1 3 December 1914 with the Brecknockshire Battalion departing again on 9 December for Aden 6 The divisional commander Major General J C Young accompanied the division to India On arrival he handed over the units and returned to England arriving on 22 December 9 He took command of the 2nd Line 2nd Home Counties Division on 20 January 1915 16 The division was effectively broken up on arrival in India in December 1914 the units reverted to peacetime conditions and were dispersed throughout India and Burma The battalions were posted to Lucknow 2 Cawnpore Fyzabad Mhow Kamptee Jubbulpore Jhansi Dinapore Fort William Rangoon and Maymyo and the batteries were posted to Kamptee Mhow 2 Jullundur Multan Ferozepore and Jubbulpore 3 6 The battalions and batteries moved around the various garrison stations in India Burma and Aden from time to time For example the 1 4th Buffs c moved from Mhow 17 to Aden in August 1915 18 to Bareilly in January 1916 19 and to Multan in July 1918 where it remained until the end of the war 20 The 1 4th KSLI went further afield on arrival in India it was posted to Rangoon with a detachment in the Andaman Islands On 6 February 1915 it was dispatched to Singapore to help to suppress a mutiny In April part of the battalion went to Hong Kong the battalion was replaced at Rangoon by the 2 4th Border Regiment 6 Thereafter it returned to England via Colombo Durban and Cape Town before landing at Plymouth on 27 July 1917 Two days later it left Southampton for France to join 63rd Royal Naval Division 21 The units pushed on with training to prepare for active service handicapped by the need to provide experienced manpower for active service units 6 By early 1916 it had become obvious that it would not be possible to transfer the division to the Western Front as originally intended 22 Nevertheless individual units of the division proceeded overseas on active service through the rest of the war All three artillery brigades went to Mesopotamia in 1916 III Home Counties and 1917 I and II Home Counties and likewise so did 1 5th Queen s 1 5th Buffs 1 5th East Surrey 1 9th Middlesex 1 5th QORWK infantry battalions 15 In addition the 1 4th Queen s the 1 4th and 2 4th Border and the 1 4th QORWK took part in the Third Anglo Afghan War in 1919 22 The Territorial Force divisions and brigades were numbered in May 1915 in the order that they departed for overseas service starting with the 42nd East Lancashire Division The Home Counties Division should have been numbered as the 44th Home Counties Division but as the division had already been broken up this was merely a place holder Likewise the Surrey Middlesex and Kent Brigades were only notionally numbered as 131st 132nd and 133rd respectively 23 Between the wars edit In 1919 the remaining units in India were repatriated to England 22 The Territorial Force was effectively disbanded in 1919 but started to reform from 1 February 1920 as the units commenced recruiting From 1 October 1921 it was renamed as the Territorial Army TA 24 The division was reformed in 1920 22 One major change with the new TA had an effect on the number of infantry battalions The original 14 divisions were reformed with the pre war standard of three brigades of four battalions each for a total of 168 battalions Infantry were no longer to be included as Army Troops or part of the Coastal Defence Forces so the pre war total of 208 battalions had to be reduced by 40 This was achieved by either converting certain battalions to other roles usually artillery or engineers or by amalgamating pairs of battalions within a regiment 24 The 44th Home Counties Division illustrated both of these processes the 10th Battalion Middlesex Regiment was converted to the Home Counties Divisional Signals RCS in 1921 25 and the 4th and 5th The Weald of Kent Battalions Buffs were amalgamated as the 4th 5th Battalion in the same year 26 In this way the division was able to incorporate two Army Troops battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment The divisional artillery was reformed with three brigades 1st Home Counties with 1 4 Sussex Batteries 2nd Home Counties with 5 8 Sussex Batteries and 3rd Home Counties with 1 4 Kent Batteries These were renumbered in 1921 as the 57th Home Counties 58th Home Counties and 59th Home Counties Brigades later 57th Home Counties 58th Sussex and 59th Home Counties Cinque Ports Brigades 27 The division underwent a number of changes in the late 1930s In 1936 it was decided to concentrate Vickers machine guns in specialised machine gun battalions Rather than resurrecting the Machine Gun Corps a number of line infantry regiments were converted instead the Middlesex Regiment was one of four regiments selected for conversion 28 d The 7th and 8th Battalions were converted at the same time 29 30 They were replaced by the 22nd and 24th Battalions of the London Regiment which from 1937 became the 6th Bermondsey 31 and 7th Southwark Battalions 32 of the Queen s Royal Regiment West Surrey A major reorganisation in 1938 saw the TA divisions reduced from twelve to nine battalions 33 As a result 9th Middlesex was converted to 60th Middlesex Searchlight Regiment RA 25 34 the 4th Queen s to 63rd Queen s Searchlight Regiment RA 35 36 and 5th East Surreys to 57th East Surrey Anti Tank Regiment RA 37 38 The latter remained part of the division 39 In the same year the 59th Home Counties Cinque Ports Field Regiment RA was converted to 75th Home Counties Cinque Ports Anti Aircraft Regiment RA 40 It was replaced by 65th 8th London Field Regiment RA from the former 47th 2nd London Division 41 By 1939 it became clear that a new European war was likely to break out and the doubling of the Territorial Army was authorised with each unit and formation forming a duplicate 42 The 44th Home Counties Division formed the 12th Eastern Infantry Division 43 e Changes in infantry between the wars Battalion In 1914 Between the wars 44th Division 1939 12th Division 1939Queen s Royal West Surrey Regiment 1921 Queen s Royal Regiment West Surrey 4th Battalion Surrey Brigade 44 1938 Converted to 63rd Queen s Searchlight Regiment RA 35 36 5th Battalion Surrey Brigade 44 5th Battalion 1 5th Battalion in 131st Brigade 45 2 5th Battalion in 35th Brigade 46 22nd The Queen s London 6th London Brigade 47 1937 6th Bermondsey Battalion 31 1 6th Battalion in 131st Brigade 45 2 6th Battalion in 35th Brigade 46 24th The Queen s London 6th London Brigade 47 1937 7th Southwark Battalion 32 1 7th Battalion in 131st Brigade 45 2 7th Battalion in 35th Brigade 46 Buffs East Kent Regiment 1935 Buffs Royal East Kent Regiment 4th Battalion Kent Brigade 48 1921 Amalgamated as 4th 5th Battalion 26 4th Battalion in 133rd Brigade 49 5th Battalion in 37th Brigade 50 5th The Weald of Kent Battalion Kent Brigade 48 East Surrey Regiment5th Battalion Surrey Brigade 51 1938 Converted to 57th East Surrey Anti Tank Regiment RA 37 38 6th Battalion Surrey Brigade 51 6th Battalion 1 6th Battalion in 132nd Brigade 52 2 6th Battalion in 36th Brigade 53 Royal Sussex Regiment4th Battalion attached to HC Division 54 4th Battalion 4th Battalion in 133rd Brigade 49 6th Battalion in 37th Brigade 50 5th Cinque Ports Battalion attached to HC Division 54 5th Cinque Ports Battalion 5th Battalion in 133rd Brigade 49 7th Battalion in 37th Brigade 50 Queen s Own Royal West Kent Regiment April 1921 Queen s Own Royal West Kent Regiment4th Battalion Kent Brigade 55 4th Battalion 4th Battalion in 132nd Brigade 52 6th Battalion in 36th Brigade 53 5th Battalion Kent Brigade 55 5th Battalion 5th Battalion in 132nd Brigade 52 7th Battalion in 36th Brigade 53 Duke of Cambridge s Own Middlesex Regiment 1921 Middlesex Regiment Duke of Cambridge s Own 7th Battalion Middlesex Brigade 56 1936 Converted to a Machine Gun Battalion 57 8th Battalion Middlesex Brigade 56 1936 Converted to a Machine Gun Battalion 58 9th Battalion Middlesex Brigade 56 1938 Converted to 60th Middlesex Searchlight Regiment RA 25 34 10th Battalion Middlesex Brigade 56 1921 Converted to Home Counties Divisional Signals RCS 25 Second World War edit The division as the 44th Home Counties Infantry Division Major General Edmund Osborne was mobilised on 3 September 1939 on the outbreak of the Second World War Initially in Southern and then Eastern Command the division was sent overseas where it joined the British Expeditionary Force BEF in France on 1 April 1940 and was assigned to III Corps Lieutenant General Ronald Forbes Adam 39 It took part in the Battle of St Omer La Bassee 23 29 May during the retreat to Dunkirk At the end of May 1940 the division was evacuated from at Dunkirk after the German Army threatened to cut off and destroy the entire BEF from the French Army during the battles of France and Belgium 59 After returning to England the division much reduced in manpower and woefully short of equipment and now under the command of Major General Arthur Percival who had taken command in late June 1940 until late March the following year spent nearly two years on home defence anticipating a German invasion which never occurred travelling through the counties of Kent and Sussex and serving under I and XII Corps 39 On 29 May 1942 the division now under the control of the War Office and commanded by Major General Ivor Hughes departed the United Kingdom to take part in the North African Campaign It arrived in Cairo Egypt on 24 July the long journey being due to sailing via the Cape of Good Hope 59 nbsp A soldier emerges from the mud bath during training at the 44th Divisional battle school at Dene Park Tonbridge in Kent 22 April 1942 Less than three weeks after its arrival the division was ordered by General Sir Harold Alexander replacing General Sir Claude Auchinleck on 13 August the Commander in Chief C in C Middle East to be sent forward to join the Eighth Army Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery at El Alamein The 44th Division joined XIII Corps Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks commander of the division between June 1941 and March 1942 and fought at the Battle of Alam el Halfa 30 August 7 September where the 132nd Brigade was temporarily detached to the 2nd New Zealand Division 39 59 52 and suffered nearly 700 casualties On 8 September the 133rd Brigade was detached from the division It was briefly assigned to the 8th Armoured Division 49 before being transferred to the 10th Armoured Division on 29 September as a lorried infantry unit 60 The division started the Second Battle of El Alamein 23 October 4 November with two brigades 59 It was still in XIII Corps 61 with the 7th Armoured Division and 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division 62 The corps was on the southern flank with the task of tying down Axis reserves while the main thrust was made in the north by XXX and X Corps The division was further reduced when the 131st Brigade was attached to the 7th Armoured Division on 1 November as a lorried infantry brigade after the 7th Motor Brigade was transferred to the 1st Armoured Division 63 64 The Battle of El Alamein was the last engagement of the 44th Division it was disbanded on 31 January 1943 39 f The 132nd 52 and 133rd Brigade 49 were dispersed with the battalions ending up as British battalions in British Indian Army brigades g The 131st Brigade remained in the 7th Armoured Division for the rest of the war taking part in the rest of the North African Campaign culminating in May 1943 with the surrender of almost 250 000 Axis soldiers as prisoners of war the Allied invasion of Italy from September November 1943 and in the North West Europe campaign from June 1944 until Victory in Europe Day in May 1945 63 72 Post Second World War edit The Territorial Army TA was formally disbanded at the end of the Second World War TA units were reactivated on 1 January 1947 though no personnel were assigned until commanding officers and permanent staff had been appointed in March and April 1947 73 The division under the command of Major General Philip Gregson Ellis was reformed in 1947 it included the Northamptonshire Yeomanry and 47th London 131st Surrey and 133rd Kent amp Sussex Infantry Brigades 74 On 1 May 1961 all ten TA divisions were merged with the districts 75 and the division became 44th Home Counties Division District thus ending the division s separate existence Subsequently redesignated as South Eastern District 76 it was used to form the 4th Division on 1 April 1995 77 Orders of battle editOrder of Battle August 1914Just before the outbreak of the First World War the division commanded the following units 3 78 Surrey Brigade 4th Battalion Queen s Royal West Surrey Regiment 5th Battalion Queen s Royal West Surrey Regiment 5th Battalion East Surrey Regiment 6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment Royal Artillery I Home Counties Brigade RFA 1st Sussex Battery 2nd Sussex Battery 3rd Sussex Battery I Home Counties Brigade Ammunition Column II Home Counties Brigade RFA 4th Sussex Battery 5th Sussex Battery 6th Sussex Battery II Home Counties Brigade Ammunition Column III Home Counties Brigade Cinque Ports RFA 1st Kent Battery 2nd Kent Battery 3rd Kent Battery III Home Counties Brigade Ammunition Column IV Home Counties H Brigade RFA h 4th Kent H Battery 5th Kent H Battery IV Home Counties H Brigade Ammunition Column Home Counties Kent Heavy Battery RGA Home Counties Kent Ammunition Column Divisional troops Home Counties Divisional Engineers 1st Home Counties Field Company Royal Engineers 2nd Home Counties Field Company Royal Engineers Home Counties Divisional Signal Company Royal EngineersRoyal Army Medical Corps 1st Home Counties Field Ambulance 2nd Home Counties Field Ambulance 3rd Home Counties Field Ambulance Home Counties Clearing HospitalHome Counties Divisional Train ASC Divisional Company Headquarters Surrey Brigade Company Kent Brigade Company Middlesex Brigade CompanyMiddlesex Brigade 7th Battalion Duke of Cambridge s Own Middlesex Regiment 8th Battalion Duke of Cambridge s Own Middlesex Regiment 9th Battalion Duke of Cambridge s Own Middlesex Regiment 10th Battalion Duke of Cambridge s Own Middlesex Regiment Kent Brigade 4th Battalion Buffs East Kent Regiment 5th The Weald of Kent Battalion Buffs East Kent Regiment 4th Battalion Queen s Own Royal West Kent Regiment 5th Battalion Queen s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Attached 4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment 5th Cinque Ports Battalion Royal Sussex RegimentOrder of Battle September 1939The division commanded the following units in the Second World War 78 39 80 131st Infantry Brigade 1 5th Battalion Queen s Royal Regiment West Surrey 1 6th Battalion Queen s Royal Regiment West Surrey 1 7th Battalion Queen s Royal Regiment West Surrey i 2nd Battalion Buffs Royal East Kent Regiment i Royal Artillery 57th Home Counties Field Regiment RA 58th Sussex Field Regiment RA 65th 8th London Field Regiment RA 57th East Surrey Anti Tank Regiment RA 99th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment RA 3 February 25 March 1942 30th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment RA from 4 April 1942 44th Home Counties Divisional Engineers 208th Sussex Field Company Royal Engineers j 209th Sussex Field Company Royal Engineers 210th Sussex Field Company Royal Engineers 211th Sussex Field Park Company Royal Engineers 11th Field Company Royal Engineers from 4 May 1940 Royal Corps of Signals 44th Home Counties Divisional SignalsMachine Gun Battalion 6th Battalion Cheshire Regiment k Reconnaissance 44th Battalion Reconnaissance Corps l 132nd Infantry Brigade 1 6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment m 4th Battalion Queen s Own Royal West Kent Regiment 5th Battalion Queen s Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1st Battalion Queen s Own Royal West Kent Regiment m 1 7th Battalion Queen s Royal Regiment West Surrey i 2nd Battalion Buffs Royal East Kent Regiment i 133rd Infantry Brigade 4th Battalion Buffs Royal East Kent Regiment 4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment 5th Cinque Ports Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex RegimentOrder of Battle January 1947The division was reformed after the Second World War with the following units 78 74 Headquarters 44th Infantry Division 44th Divisional Signal Regiment Royal Corps of Signals Hounslow Northamptonshire Yeomanry Northampton divisional armoured reconnaissance 44th Divisional Royal Army Service Corps Croydon 44th Divisional Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 44th Divisional Royal Army Medical Corps 47th London Infantry Brigade HQ 47th Infantry Brigade 7th Battalion The Duke of Cambridge s Own Middlesex Regiment Hornsey Queen Victoria s Rifles Westminster Queen s Westminster Regiment Westminster 131st Surrey Infantry Brigade HQ 131st Infantry Brigade 5th Battalion The Queen s Royal West Surrey Regiment Guildford 6th Bermondsey Battalion The Queen s Royal West Surrey Regiment Bermondsey 6th Battalion The East Surrey Regiment Surbiton 133rd Kent and Sussex Infantry Brigade HQ 133rd Infantry Brigade 4th 5th Battalion Royal East Kent Regiment Buffs Canterbury 4th 5th Cinque Ports Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment Worthing 4th 5th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment Tonbridge Commander Royal Artillery 44th Division CRA Headquarters 257th Home Counties Field Regiment Royal Artillery Brighton 264th 7th London Field Regiment Royal Artillery Fulham 298th Surrey Yeomanry Queen Mary s Field Regiment Royal Artillery Clapham 381st East Surrey Anti Tank Regiment Royal Artillery Wimbledon 297th Kent Yeomanry Light Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery Maidstone Commander Royal Engineers 44th Division CRE Headquarters 119th Field Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers Eastbourne 44th Divisional Field Park Royal EngineersCommanders editThe Home Counties Division had the following commanders from formation in April 1908 to disembarkation in India 81 From Rank Name NotesApril 1908 Major General Colin G DonaldJanuary 1909 Major General Edward T DicksonApril 1912 Major General Charles V F Townshend25 October 1912 82 Major General James C Young Broken up in December 1914When the division was re established after the First World War it had the following commanders until it was disbanded in the Middle East on 31 January 1943 81 From Rank Name NotesJuly 1919 Major General Sir John R LongleyJune 1923 Major General Sir Henry W HodgsonJune 1927 Major General Arthur G WauchopeJanuary 1929 Major General Henry R PeckJanuary 1933 Major General John KennedyApril 1934 Major General John R Minshull FordApril 1938 39 Major General Edmund Osborne25 June 1940 39 Major General Arthur E Percival27 March 1941 39 Brigadier F C A Troup acting31 March 1941 39 Brigadier J E Utterson Kelso acting8 April 1941 39 Major General Frank N Mason Macfarlane25 June 1941 39 Major General Brian G Horrocks14 March 1942 39 Brigadier Ivor T P Hughes acting20 March 1942 39 Major General Ivor T P Hughes Disbanded on 31 January 1943When the division was re established after the Second World War it had the following commanders until 1 May 1961 when the Territorial Army divisional headquarters were merged with regular army districts 81 From Rank Name Notes1 January 1947 Major General Hugh C Stockwell 83 July 1947 Major General Philip G S Gregson EllisJuly 1950 Major General Brian C H KimminsMarch 1952 Major General E Otway HerbertJanuary 1954 Major General Robert C M KingNovember 1956 Major General William F R TurnerNovember 1959 Major General Paul GleadellJanuary 1962 Major General Ewing H W GrimshawJuly 1965 Major General F Brian Wyldbore Smith Disbanded in 1968See also edit nbsp United Kingdom portal nbsp World War I portal nbsp World War II portal67th 2nd Home Counties Division for the 2nd Line formation in the First World War 12th Eastern Division for the duplicate formation in the Second World War List of British divisions in World War I List of British divisions in World War II British Army Order of Battle September 1939 Second Battle of El Alamein order of battleNotes edit The basic organic unit of the Royal Artillery was and is the Battery 4 When grouped together they formed brigades in the same way that infantry battalions or cavalry regiments were grouped together in brigades At the outbreak of the First World War a field artillery brigade of headquarters 4 officers 37 other ranks three batteries 5 and 193 each and a brigade ammunition column 4 and 154 5 had a total strength just under 800 so was broadly comparable to an infantry battalion just over 1 000 or a cavalry regiment about 550 Like an infantry battalion an artillery brigade was usually commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel These figures refer to 6 gun batteries Territorial Force artillery batteries were organised on a 4 gun basis at the outbreak of the war so strengths would be approximately two thirds of this Artillery brigades were redesignated as regiments in 1938 The 32 British regular battalions thus relieved formed the bulk of the 27th 10 battalions 11 28th 10 battalions 12 and 29th Divisions 9 battalions including 3 from Burma 13 and part of the 8th 3 battalions 14 With the formation of the 2nd Line the original units and formations were designated with the fractional 1 and the 2nd Line with 2 The other three regiments selected for conversions to machine gun battalions were the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers Cheshire Regiment and the Manchester Regiment 28 Between 3 September and 7 October 1939 the units of the 12th Eastern Infantry Divisionwere administered by its parent division 39 57th and 58th Field Regiments RA joined the Eighth Army 65th Field Regiment RA transferred to 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division 65 57th Anti Tank Regiment RA also joined the Eighth Army 38 and the 30th LAA Regiment RA was assigned to Middle East Command 66 The 6th Cheshires MG Battalion 67 and 44th Recce joined the 56th London Infantry Division 68 2nd Buffs joined the 26th Indian Infantry Brigade 69 4th QORWK joined the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade and 5th QORWK joined the 21st Indian Infantry Brigade 70 the 2nd Royal Sussex joined the 24th Indian Infantry Brigade 4th and 5th Royal Sussex were amalgamated as 4th 5th Royal Sussex and joined the 27th Indian Infantry Brigade 71 1 IV Home Counties Howitzer Brigade RFA remained in England when its parent division went to India in October 1914 It went to France on 21 December 1914 as 27th Division Ammunition Column but returned to the UK reformed as an artillery brigade and joined 67th 2nd Home Counties Division in June 1915 It was posted to the Western Front on 10 March 1916 joining the Fourth Army before transferring to the 63rd Royal Naval Division on 18 July 1916 79 a b c d 2nd Buffs replaced 1 7th Queen s in 131st Brigade from 4 May 1940 1 7th Queen s joined 132nd Brigade from 1 July 1940 to 1 July 1941 before swopping places with 2nd Buffs 80 208th Field Company was replaced by 11th Field Company on 4 May 1940 39 6th Cheshires joined as the divisional Machine Gun Battalion on 11 November 1941 and left on 24 November 1942 39 44th Battalion Reconnaissance Corps joined as the divisional reconnaissance unit on 6 January 1941 was redesignated as 44th Regiment Reconnaissance Corps on 6 June 1942 and left on 24 November 1942 39 a b 1 6th East Surreys was replaced in 132nd Brigade by 1st QORWK on 4 May 1940 In turn it was replaced by 1 7th Queen s from 131st Brigade on 29 June 1940 80 References edit The hutchison atlas of World war II battle plans page 107 Westlake 1992 p 3 a b c Conrad Mark 1996 The British Army 1914 Retrieved 27 February 2015 The Royal Artillery Ministry of Defence United Kingdom Archived from the original on 23 October 2013 Retrieved 13 April 2013 Baker Chris What was an artillery brigade The Long Long Trail Retrieved 13 April 2013 a b c d e f g h Becke 1936 p 53 Westlake Ray 2011 The Territorials 1908 1914 A Guide for Military and Family Historians Pen amp Sword ISBN 978 1848843608 Baker Chris Was my soldier in the Territorial Force TF The Long Long Trail Retrieved 19 February 2015 a b Becke 1937 p 81 Becke 1936 p 47 Becke 1935 p 102 Becke 1935 p 110 Becke 1935 p 122 Becke 1935 p 94 a b Becke 1936 p 50 Becke 1937 p 75 Perry 1993 p 68 Perry 1993 p 158 Perry 1993 p 94 Perry 1993 p 138 James 1978 p 92 a b c d Becke 1936 p 54 Rinaldi 2008 p 35 a b Westlake 1986 p 47 a b c d Westlake 1986 p 185 a b Westlake 1986 p 72 Frederick 1984 pp 516 517 a b Fisher Richard 2007 The Vickers Machine Gun British Service The Army Vickers MG Collection amp Research Association Retrieved 16 March 2015 Fisher Richard 2007 The Vickers Machine Gun Units That Used The Vickers The Middlesex Regiment Vickers MG Collection amp Research Association Retrieved 16 March 2015 Westlake 1986 pp 183 184 a b Westlake 1986 p 69 a b Westlake 1986 p 71 Westlake 1986 p 49 a b Bellis 1995 p 63 a b Westlake 1986 p 68 a b Bellis 1995 p 64 a b Westlake 1986 p 135 a b c Bellis 1995 p 75 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Joslen 1990 p 71 Frederick 1984 p 517 Frederick 1984 p 518 History of the Army Reserve MOD Retrieved 2 April 2014 Joslen 1990 p 56 a b James 1978 p 43 a b c Joslen 1990 p 316 a b c Joslen 1990 p 282 a b James 1978 p 114 a b James 1978 p 44 a b c d e Joslen 1990 p 319 a b c Joslen 1990 p 286 a b James 1978 p 74 a b c d e Joslen 1990 p 318 a b c Joslen 1990 p 284 a b James 1978 p 77 a b James 1978 p 90 a b c d James 1978 p 93 Westlake 1986 p 183 Westlake 1986 p 184 a b c d Joslen 1990 p 72 Joslen 1990 p 25 Joslen 1990 p 570 Joslen 1990 p 569 a b Joslen 1990 p 20 Joslen 1990 p 14 Bellis 1995 p 92 Bellis 1995 p 43 Bellis 1994 p 56 Bellis 1994 p 32 Bellis 1994 p 47 Bellis 1994 p 105 Bellis 1994 p 119 Joslen 1990 p 21 Beckett 2008 p 169 a b United Kingdom The Territorial Army 1947 by Graham Watson March 10 2002 Archived from the original on 5 December 2013 Retrieved 2015 02 13 Beckett 2008 pp 183 185 Home Counties District 1870 1995 at regiments org by T F Mills Archived from the original on 3 July 2007 Retrieved 2012 09 30 4th Division 1995 present at regiments org by T F Mills Archived from the original on 15 July 2007 Retrieved 2015 03 25 a b c Morling Becke 1937 p 80 a b c Joslen 1990 pp 316 319 a b c Mackie 2015 p 202 Becke 1936 p 49 Army Notes Royal United Services Institution 92 566 566 298 1946 doi 10 1080 03071844709434007 Bibliography editBecke Major A F 1935 Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1 The Regular British Divisions London His Majesty s Stationery Office ISBN 1 871167 09 4 Becke Major A F 1936 Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st Line Territorial Force Divisions 42 56 London HMSO ISBN 1 871167 12 4 Becke Major A F 1937 Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2B The 2nd Line Territorial Force Divisions 57th 69th with The Home Service Divisions 71st 73rd and 74th and 75th Divisions London HMSO ISBN 1 871167 00 0 Beckett Ian F W 2008 Territorials A Century of Service Plymouth DRA Publishing ISBN 978 0 9557813 1 5 Bellis Malcolm A 1994 Regiments of the British Army 1939 1945 Armour amp Infantry London Military Press International ISBN 0 85420 999 9 Bellis Malcolm A 1995 Regiments of the British Army 1939 1945 Artillery London Military Press International ISBN 0 85420 110 6 Frederick J B M 1984 Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660 1978 Wakefield Yorkshire Microform Academic Publishers ISBN 1 85117 009 X James E A 1978 British Regiments 1914 18 London Samson Books ISBN 0 906304 03 2 Joslen H F 1990 1st Pub HMSO 1960 Orders of Battle Second World War 1939 1945 London London Stamp Exchange ISBN 0 948130 03 2 Mackie Colin June 2015 Army Commands 1900 2011 PDF www gulabin com Archived from the original PDF on 5 July 2015 Retrieved 1 August 2015 Col L F Morling Sussex Sappers A History of the Sussex Volunteer and Territorial Army Royal Engineer Units from 1890 to 1967 Seaford 208th Field Co RE Christians W J Offord 1972 Perry F W 1993 Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B Indian Army Divisions Newport Ray Westlake Military Books ISBN 1 871167 23 X Rinaldi Richard A 2008 Order of Battle of the British Army 1914 Ravi Rikhye ISBN 978 0 97760728 0 Westlake Ray 1986 The Territorial Battalions A Pictorial History 1859 1985 Tunbridge Wells Spellmount ISBN 978 0 946771 68 4 Westlake Ray 1992 British Territorial Units 1914 18 Men at Arms Series Vol 245 Osprey ISBN 978 1 85532 168 7 External links editBaker Chris The 44th Home Counties Division in 1914 1918 The Long Long Trail Retrieved 27 August 2019 44th Home Counties Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 1918 by P B Chappell Archived from the original on 29 October 2013 Retrieved 9 March 2013 44 Home Counties Infantry Division Orders of Battle com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 44th Home Counties Division amp oldid 1175035504, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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