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8th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)

April 10, 2024

The 8th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that was active in both the First and Second World Wars. The division was first formed in October 1914 during the First World War, initially consisting mainly of soldiers of the Regular Army and served on the Western Front throughout the war, sustaining many casualties, before disbandment in 1919. The division was reactivated in Palestine, under the command of Major-General Bernard Montgomery, in the late 1930s in the years running up to the Second World War before being disbanded in late February 1940. It was briefly reformed in Syria in an administrative role during 1942-3.

8th Division
8th Infantry Division
Insignia of the 8th Division, First World War[1]
Active1914–19
1938–40
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
EngagementsBattle of Neuve Chapelle
Battle of Aubers Ridge
Battle of the Somme
Battle of Passchendaele
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Bernard Montgomery
Reade Godwin-Austen
William Heneker

History edit

Second Boer War edit

During the Second Boer War, an 8th division was active in South Africa from early 1900 until the war ended in 1902.[2] It was under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Rundle, and included a brigade division of Royal Artillery, one squadron of cavalry, one company of Royal Engineers, one company of Army Service Corps, a field hospital, and the following infantry brigades and battalions:[3]

First World War edit

Main article: History of the British 8th Division during the First World War
 
Infantrymen of the Royal Irish Rifles, 25th Brigade during the Battle of the Somme, 1916.

The 8th Division was a Regular Army division that was formed by combining battalions returning from outposts in the British Empire at the outbreak of the First World War. Major-General Francis Davies took command on 19 September 1914. The division moved to France in November, 1914, following the First Battle of Ypres. The division fought on the Western Front for the duration of the war, taking part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, the Battle of Aubers Ridge, both in 1915, the Battle of the Somme, in 1916, and the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.[4]

Order of battle edit

 
Memorial to the 8th Infantry Division in Aldershot dedicated in 1924

The division had the following organisation:[5]

23rd Brigade
24th Brigade

Between October 1915 and July 1916, the 24th Brigade swapped with the 70th Brigade from the 23rd Division.

25th Brigade
70th Brigade

The 70th Brigade was from the 23rd Division and was attached to the 8th Division between 18 October 1915, and 15 July 1916, swapping with the 24th Brigade.

Artillery
  • V Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (left 13 January 1917)
  • XXXIII Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
  • XLV Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
  • VIII Heavy Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery (left 5 March 1915)
Engineers
Pioneers

Second World War edit

 
The 8th Infantry Division formation sign in the Second World War[6]

The 8th Infantry Division was never a full-strength formation during the Second World War. In 1939 it was based in Palestine and consisted of two infantry brigades (14th and 16th Brigades). Due to the needs of defence against German and Italian forces these units were sent to places of need and reformed as different formations. Although it had infantry it had no divisional troops due to the shortage of artillery and engineers in the Middle East. Its units were dispersed and the division was disbanded on 28 February 1940.[7]

On 2 June 1942, the division headquarters was reformed as the 8th Division (Syria) following the redesignation of the 5th Cavalry Brigade. The division, in name only, was composed of administration units and intended to provide internal security within Syria, under the command of the Ninth Army. On 3 September the divisional headquarters role was taken by the headquarters of 89 Sub-Area, Ninth Army (Lines of Communications). In this second incarnation R.A.C. units from Ninth Army were attached. The division Headquarters were disbanded on 31 October 1943.[7]

Order of battle 1939 edit

The division had the following order of battle in 1939:[7][8]

General Officers Commanding edit

Commanders included:[9]

First World War[5]
Second World War[7]
  • 1938–1939 Major-General Bernard Montgomery
  • 1939–1940 Major-General Reade Godwin-Austen
  • 2 June 1942 – 2 September 1942 Brigadier C. E. L. Harris
  • 3 September 1942 – 31 October 1943 Colonel (Brigadier, December 1942) R. K. Jago

See also edit

Notes and references edit

  1. ^ Chappell pps. 24, 42
  2. ^ "Anglo-Boer War".
  3. ^ Vidani, Peter. "Upchurch war dead: Second Boer War". One Day More. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  4. ^ "8th Division". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b Becke, pp. 89–95.
  6. ^ Cole p. 38
  7. ^ a b c d Joslen pp. 53–4.
  8. ^ Orbat.com/Niehorster
  9. ^ Army Commands 5 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine

Bibliography edit

  • Becke, Major A. F. (1935). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1. The Regular British Divisions. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-871167-09-4.
  • Chappel M 1986 British Battle Insignia (1). 1914-18 Osprey Publishing ISBN 9780850457278
  • Cole, Howard (1973). Formation Badges of World War 2. Britain, Commonwealth and Empire. London: Arms and Armour Press.
  • Joslen, Lt-Col H.F. (1960). Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945 (Naval & Military Press ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 9781843424741.

Further reading edit

  • Boraston, J. H.; Bax, C. E. O. (1926). The Eighth Division in War 1914–1918 (N & M Press 1999 ed.). London: Medici Society. ISBN 1-897632-67-3.

External links edit

  • The British Army in the Great War: The 8th Division
  • BritishMilitaryHistory Palestine & Trans-Jordan 1930 - 1948

April 10, 2024
infantry, division, united, kingdom, infantry, division, infantry, division, british, army, that, active, both, first, second, world, wars, division, first, formed, october, 1914, during, first, world, initially, consisting, mainly, soldiers, regular, army, se. The 8th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that was active in both the First and Second World Wars The division was first formed in October 1914 during the First World War initially consisting mainly of soldiers of the Regular Army and served on the Western Front throughout the war sustaining many casualties before disbandment in 1919 The division was reactivated in Palestine under the command of Major General Bernard Montgomery in the late 1930s in the years running up to the Second World War before being disbanded in late February 1940 It was briefly reformed in Syria in an administrative role during 1942 3 8th Division8th Infantry DivisionInsignia of the 8th Division First World War 1 Active1914 191938 40Country United KingdomBranch British ArmyTypeInfantrySizeDivisionEngagementsBattle of Neuve ChapelleBattle of Aubers RidgeBattle of the SommeBattle of PasschendaeleCommandersNotablecommandersBernard MontgomeryReade Godwin AustenWilliam Heneker Contents 1 History 1 1 Second Boer War 1 2 First World War 1 2 1 Order of battle 1 3 Second World War 1 3 1 Order of battle 1939 2 General Officers Commanding 3 See also 4 Notes and references 5 Bibliography 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistory editSecond Boer War edit During the Second Boer War an 8th division was active in South Africa from early 1900 until the war ended in 1902 2 It was under the command of Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Rundle and included a brigade division of Royal Artillery one squadron of cavalry one company of Royal Engineers one company of Army Service Corps a field hospital and the following infantry brigades and battalions 3 16th Brigade 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards 2nd Battalion Scots Guards 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment commanded by Major General Barrington Campbell 17th Brigade 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment 2nd Battalion West Kent Regiment commanded by Major General John Edward Boyes First World War edit Main article History of the British 8th Division during the First World War nbsp Infantrymen of the Royal Irish Rifles 25th Brigade during the Battle of the Somme 1916 The 8th Division was a Regular Army division that was formed by combining battalions returning from outposts in the British Empire at the outbreak of the First World War Major General Francis Davies took command on 19 September 1914 The division moved to France in November 1914 following the First Battle of Ypres The division fought on the Western Front for the duration of the war taking part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle the Battle of Aubers Ridge both in 1915 the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 4 Order of battle edit nbsp Memorial to the 8th Infantry Division in Aldershot dedicated in 1924The division had the following organisation 5 23rd Brigade2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment 2nd Battalion Prince of Wales s Own West Yorkshire Regiment 2nd Battalion Cameronians Scottish Rifles until February 1918 1 6th Battalion Cameronians Scottish Rifles from March 1915 until June 1915 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment 1 7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment from March 1915 until February 1916 24th Brigade1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment 1 5th Battalion the Black Watch until October 1915 2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment to 25th Bde February 1918 1 4th Battalion Queen s Own Cameron Highlanders from February 1915 until April 1915 Between October 1915 and July 1916 the 24th Brigade swapped with the 70th Brigade from the 23rd Division 25th Brigade2nd Battalion Princess Charlotte of Wales s Royal Berkshire Regiment 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles until February 1918 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment until February 1918 2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment from 24th Bde February 1918 1 8th Battalion Middlesex Regiment from August 1915 until October 1915 1 13th Princess Louise Kensington Battalion London Regiment until May 1915 1 1st City of London Battalion London Regiment from May 1915 until February 1916 70th BrigadeThe 70th Brigade was from the 23rd Division and was attached to the 8th Division between 18 October 1915 and 15 July 1916 swapping with the 24th Brigade ArtilleryV Brigade Royal Horse Artillery left 13 January 1917 XXXIII Brigade Royal Field Artillery XLV Brigade Royal Field Artillery VIII Heavy Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery left 5 March 1915 Engineers2nd Field Company Royal Engineers 15th Field Company Royal Engineers 1 1st Home Counties Field Company Royal Engineers from 2 February 1915 became 490th Home Counties Field Company February 1917 Pioneers22nd Service Bn 3rd County Pioneers Durham Light Infantry joined 2 July 1916 until 3 July 1918 1 7th Bn Durham Light Infantry joined from 50th Northumbrian Division 20 June 1918 absorbed 22nd Bn DLI 3 July 1918 Second World War edit nbsp The 8th Infantry Division formation sign in the Second World War 6 The 8th Infantry Division was never a full strength formation during the Second World War In 1939 it was based in Palestine and consisted of two infantry brigades 14th and 16th Brigades Due to the needs of defence against German and Italian forces these units were sent to places of need and reformed as different formations Although it had infantry it had no divisional troops due to the shortage of artillery and engineers in the Middle East Its units were dispersed and the division was disbanded on 28 February 1940 7 On 2 June 1942 the division headquarters was reformed as the 8th Division Syria following the redesignation of the 5th Cavalry Brigade The division in name only was composed of administration units and intended to provide internal security within Syria under the command of the Ninth Army On 3 September the divisional headquarters role was taken by the headquarters of 89 Sub Area Ninth Army Lines of Communications In this second incarnation R A C units from Ninth Army were attached The division Headquarters were disbanded on 31 October 1943 7 Order of battle 1939 edit The division had the following order of battle in 1939 7 8 14th Infantry Brigade Brigadier G Dawes 2nd Battalion Queen s Royal Regiment West Surrey 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade 16th Infantry Brigade Brigadier C E N Lomax 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment 1st Battalion Welch Regiment 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters 12th Field Company Royal Engineers A divisional reconnaissance regiment of the Royal Armoured CorpsGeneral Officers Commanding editCommanders included 9 1902 1903 Major General Sir Hugh McCalmont 1903 1905 Major General Sir Reginald Pole Carew 1905 1906 Major General Sir William Knox 1906 1907 Major General Lawrence ParsonsFirst World War 5 19 September 1914 Major General F J Davies 27 July 1915 Brigadier General R S Oxley acting 1 August 1915 Major General H Hudson 10 December 1916 Major General W C G HenekerSecond World War 7 1938 1939 Major General Bernard Montgomery 1939 1940 Major General Reade Godwin Austen 2 June 1942 2 September 1942 Brigadier C E L Harris 3 September 1942 31 October 1943 Colonel Brigadier December 1942 R K JagoSee also edit nbsp United Kingdom portalList of British divisions in World War I List of British divisions in World War II British Army Order of Battle September 1939 Notes and references edit Chappell pps 24 42 Anglo Boer War Vidani Peter Upchurch war dead Second Boer War One Day More Retrieved 24 May 2020 8th Division The Long Long Trail Retrieved 24 May 2020 a b Becke pp 89 95 Cole p 38 a b c d Joslen pp 53 4 Orbat com Niehorster Army Commands Archived 5 July 2015 at the Wayback MachineBibliography editBecke Major A F 1935 Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1 The Regular British Divisions London HMSO ISBN 1 871167 09 4 Chappel M 1986 British Battle Insignia 1 1914 18 Osprey Publishing ISBN 9780850457278 Cole Howard 1973 Formation Badges of World War 2 Britain Commonwealth and Empire London Arms and Armour Press Joslen Lt Col H F 1960 Orders of Battle United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War 1939 1945 Naval amp Military Press ed London HMSO ISBN 9781843424741 Further reading editBoraston J H Bax C E O 1926 The Eighth Division in War 1914 1918 N amp M Press 1999 ed London Medici Society ISBN 1 897632 67 3 External links editThe British Army in the Great War The 8th Division BritishMilitaryHistory Palestine amp Trans Jordan 1930 1948 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 8th Infantry Division United Kingdom amp oldid 1206287267, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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