52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division - Second World War

Second World War

In June 1940, following the Dunkirk evacuation, the division was shipped to France as part of the Second BEF to cover the withdrawal of forces near Cherbourg during Operation Ariel. From May 1942 until June 1944, the division was trained in a Mountain warfare capacity, but was never employed in this role. Following June, the division was reorganised and trained in airlanding operations. As part of this new role, the division was transferred to the First Allied Airborne Army.

Several operations were planned for the division, following the conclusion of the Normandy Campaign. Operation Transfigure planned to have the British 1st and the American 101st Airborne Divisions capture landing strips near Rambouillet, for the 52nd to land at. The three divisions would have then blocked the German line of retreat towards Paris. Operation Linnet proposed, the usage of most of the First Airborne Army including the 52nd Division, to seize areas in north-eastern France to block the German line of retreat. As part of Operation Market Garden, the 1st Airborne Division was given a subsidiary mission of capturing Deelen airfield, on which the 52nd division would land. Due to the course of events that unfolded during the Battle of Arnhem, the division was not deployed.

The division would never be utilised in either of the roles it had trained for, and was transferred to Belgium via sea landing in Ostend. The 157th Infantry Brigade landed first at the end of the first week of October, and the rest of the division arrived over the course of the following fortnight. On 15 October, the 157th Brigade was, temporarily, attached to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and relieved the Canadian units in the bridgehead over the Leopold Canal.

From 23 October until December, the division was assigned to the First Canadian Army. The divisions first operation would be to aid in opening the vital port of Antwerp, in the Battle of the Scheldt. Ironically, the first operation of the division would not be in mountainous terrain or being deployed by air, but fighting below sea level on the flooded polders around the Scheldt Estuary of Belgium and the Netherlands. Operation Vitality and Operation Infatuate were aimed at capturing South Beveland and the island of Walcheren to open the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. This would enable the Allies to use the port of Antwerp as a supply route for the troops in North-West Europe. It was in this vital operation that the 52nd Division was to fight its first battle with brilliant success. During the battle, the division was given command "of all the military operations" on Walcheren. This included command of the 4th Special Service Brigade, after it had landed on the island, and No. 4 Commando during the assault on Flushing. Following the battle the division would remain on Walcheren until November, when it was relieved by the 4th Canadian Armoured Division.

On 5 December, the division was transferred to British Second Army. During the month, the 157th Brigade was attached to the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division for several days.

In January 1945, the 52nd Division participated in Operation Blackcock, the clearing of the Roer Triangle between the rivers Meuse and Roer. During the operation, the 155th Infantry Brigade was attached to the 7th Armoured Division. During February and March, the division was slightly reorganised with battalions being moved transferred amongst the division’s brigades. Peter White, a platoon lieutenant within the division, describes this change due to Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery’s "aversion to two Battalions of the same Regiment" being in the same brigade as it could result "in one home district or town having disproportionate losses after any sticky action". For most of April, the 155th Infantry Brigade was again attached to the 7th Armoured Division "to drive for the Elbe across Lüneburg Heath".