6th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)
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| 6th Division | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of the 6th (United Kingdom) Division |
|
| Active | 1914 to 1941 As 70th Infantry Division: 1941-1945 2008 - |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Regular Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Garrison/HQ | York |
| Engagements | Battle of the Somme (1916) Battle of Cambrai (1917) Battle of Epehy |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Major General J D Page OBE (from February 2008) |
| Notable commanders |
Richard O'Connor |
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] First World War
The British 6th Division was a Regular Army division that was sent to France on 10 September 1914. It served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War, fighting in the Battle of the Somme (1916), the Battle of Cambrai (1917) and the Battle of Epehy.
[edit] Second World War
During the Second World War the division did not fight as a complete formation. On 3 November 1939 it was formed in Egypt by the redesignation of the British 7th Infantry Division, under the command of Maj-Gen.R.N.O'Connor. On 17 June 1940 Divisional H.Q. became H.Q. Western Desert Force. The Division effectively ceased to exist. The Division reformed in Egypt on 17 February 1941, under the command of Maj-Gen. John Evetts. From 7 to 19 April it was temporarily under command of Brig.C.E.N.Lomax. On 29 September 1941 Major General Evetts left and Brig.G.N.C.Martin took acting command. Eleven days later on 10 October that year it was redesignated the 70th Infantry Division, and Major General R.MacK. Scobie assumed command.
[edit] Twenty-First Century
On 26 July 2007 the Secretary of State for Defence announced that a new 'HQ 6 Division' would reform to direct the International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command South in Afghanistan.[1]
Des Browne said 'In order to meet these temporary demands we have decided to augment the forces’ command structure, and will temporarily establish an additional 2-Star deployable HQ. It will be based in York and will be known as HQ 6 Division, with a core of 55 Service personnel, drawn from existing structures. We will keep our planning assumption under review but currently we assess this HQ will be established until 2011.'[2] See also Afghanistan War order of battle.
[edit] World War I formation
- 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment
- 1st Battalion, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment
- 8th (Service) Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment (from 71st Bde. November 1915, disbanded February 1918)
- 1st Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (to 71st Bde. November 1915)
- 1/5th Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (from February 1915 to June 1915)
- 17th Brigade (until October 14, 1915)
- 1st Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion, The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment)
- 2nd Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)
- 3rd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade
- 1/2nd (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (from February 1915)
The brigade transferred to the 24th Division in October 1915, swapping with the 71st Brigade.
- 1st Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment
- 1st Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment (until November 1915)
- 2nd Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry
- 11th (Service) Battalion, The Essex Regiment (from 71st Bde. October 1915)
- 2nd Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (to 71st Bde. October 1915)
- 14th (Service) Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry (from November 1915, disbanded February 1918)
- 1/16th (County of London) Battalion, the London Regiment (until February 1916
- 19th Brigade (until May 31, 1915)
- 2nd Battalion, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
- 1/5th Battalion, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
- 1st Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Originally an independent brigade before being attached to the division, the 19th Brigade moved to the 27th Division in May, 1915 and was not replaced, reducing the division to the standard three infantry brigades.
- 71st Brigade (from October 11 1915)
- 9th (Service) Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment
- 9th (Service) Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment (disbanded February 1918)
- 8th (Service) Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment (to 16th Bde. November 1915)
- 1st Battalion, the Leicestershire Regiment (from 16th Bde. November 1915)
- 2nd Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters (from 18th Bde. October 1915)
The brigade joined from the 24th Division in October 1915, swapping with the 17th Brigade.
[edit] World War II formation
- 6th Divisional Signals - 9th Oct.1941
- The Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) - 25 March 1940-30 May 1940 (Cavalry)
- 45th Recce.Battalion - 21st Oct.1942-16th Sept.1943
Engineers
- 2nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 12th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 54th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 219th Field Company, Royal Engineers
Artillery
- 8th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 51st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 60th (North Midland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 50th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 69th Light Anti-Aircraft/ Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
British 22nd Infantry Brigade
- 3rd Nov.1939 - 11 March 1940 &
- 10 June 1940 - 17 June 1940
- 29 March 1940 - 30 May 1940 &
- 10 July 1941 - 11 May 1943 &
- 28 March 1940 - 27 June 1940 &
- 19th Feb.1941 - 17 May 1941 &
- 19 June 1941 - 19th Sept.1941 &
- 22nd Oct.1941 - 26th Feb. 1942 &
- 29 June 1941 - 22 April 1943
[edit] Current formation
The implementation team for the the new HQ 6 Division is based in York. Major General J D Page OBE took command of the new HQ with effect from 1 February 2008.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The British Army in the Great War: The 6th Division
- Official website
- A Short History of the 6th Division in WW1
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