List of British Divisions in World War II - Infantry

Infantry

  • Guards Division
The division was formed in North West Europe on 12 June 1945, following the reorganisation of the Guards Armoured Division.
  • 1st Infantry Division
Existing division at the start of the war, stationed at Aldershot. Served in France from September 1939 until June 1940, North Africa from March 1943 to December 1943, Italy from December 1943 until January 1945, and in Palestine for most of 1945. Fought at the Medjez Plain, Tunis, Anzio, Rome, and on the Gothic Line. Ended war under HQ, Palestine and Transjordan command.
  • 1st London Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Finsbury Barracks. Organized as a motor division. 18 November 1940 redesignated 56th (London) Division.
  • 2nd Infantry Division
Existing division at the start of the war, stationed at in Aldershot. Served in France from September 1939 until May 1940, India from June 1942 until April 1944 and April 1945 until August 1945, and in Burma from April 1944 until April 1945. Fought at St Omer-La Bassée, Kohima, and Mandalay. Ended war under command of the Southern Army (part of GHQ India).
  • 2nd London Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in the London District. Remained in the UK until 1 September 1944, when redesignated the 47th Infantry (Reserve) Division.
  • 3rd Infantry Division
Existing division at the start of the war, stationed at in Bulford. Served in France from September 1939 until June 1940, and in northwestern Europe from June 1944 until the end of the war. Fought at Ypres-Comines Canal, assaulted Normandy, Caen, Bourguebus Ridge, Mont Pincon, the Nederrijn, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine River. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of I Corps.
  • 4th Infantry Division
Existing division at the start of the war, stationed at Colchester. Served in France from October 1939 until June 1940, in North Africa from March 1943 until December 1943, in Egypt from December 1943 until February 1944, in Italy from February 1944 until December 1944, and in Greece from December 1944 until the end of the war. Fought at Oued Zarga, the Medjez Plain, Tunis, Cassino, on the Trasimene Line, Arezzo, Florence, and on the Rimini Line. Ended the war under command of HQ Land Forces (Greece).
  • 5th Infantry Division
Existing division at the start of the war, stationed at Catterick Camp. Served in France from December 1939 until June 1940, in India from May 1942 until August 1942, in Iraq from August 1942 until September 1942, in Persia from September 1942 until January 1943, in Syria February 1943 until June 1943, in Egypt June 1943, in Sicily July 1943 until September 1943, in Italy September 1943 until July 1944, in Palestine July 1944 until February 1945, and in northwestern Europe from March 1945 until the end of the war. Fought at Ypres-Comines Canal, assaulted Sicily, on the Sangro River, on the Garigliano River, Anzio, and Rome. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under the command of VIII Corps.
  • 6th Infantry Division
Formed November 1939 in Egypt by redesignation of the 7th Infantry Division. 10 October 1941 redesignated 70th Infantry Division. 24 November 1943 disbanded in India. Served in Egypt from November 1939 until March 1940, February 1941 until June 1941, and December 1941 until February 1942, in Palestine March 1940 until June 1940, in Syria June 1941 until October 1941, in Libya October 1941 until December 1941, and in India from March 1942 until October 1943. Fought at Damascus and Tobruk. Under command of Central Army (part of GHQ India) when inactivated.
  • 7th Infantry Division
Existing division at the start of the war in Palestine, headquarters underway to Mersa Matruh. 3 November 1939 redesignated 6th Infantry Division.
  • 8th Infantry Division
Existing division at the start of the war, stationed in Palestine. 28 February 1940 disbanded in Palestine, while under command of HQ Palestine and Transjordan.
  • 8th Division (Syria)
2 June 1942 8th Division HQ formed to control administrative units in Syria; disbanded 31 October 1943 in Syria.
  • 9th (Highland) Infantry Division
Formed September 1939 in the UK. 7 August 1940 redesignated 51st (Highland) Infantry Division.
  • 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division
Formed 10 October 1939 in the UK. Served in France from April 1940 until June 1940. 11 July 1940 disbanded in the UK.
  • 12th Division (SDF)
Formed 11 July 1942 in the Sudan, from the 1st Sudan Defence Force Brigade. 12 January 1945 redesignated Sudan Defence Force Group (North Africa).
  • 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division
Formed September 1939 in the UK. Served in northwestern Europe from 14 June 1944 until the end of the war. Fought on the Odon River, at Caen, Mont Pincon, the Nederrijn, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of VIII Corps.
  • 18th Infantry Division
Formed 30 September 1939 in the UK. Served in India January 1942 and in Malaya February 1942. 15 February 1942 captured by the Japanese Army in Malaya. Fought on Singapore Island.
  • 23rd (Northumbrian) Division
Formed 2 October 1939 in the UK. Served in France from April 1940 until June 1940. 30 June 1940 disbanded in the UK.
  • 36th Infantry Division
Formed 1 September 1944 in Burma by redesignation of the 36th Indian Infantry Division. Served in Burma from September 1944 until May 1945, and in India from May 1945 until the end of the war. Fought at Mandalay and along the Rangoon Road. Under command of Southern Army (part of GHQ India) at the end of the war.
  • 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division
Formed September 1939 in the UK 1 September 1944 redesignated 38th Infantry (Reserve) Division. Ended the war in Europe under the command of Western Command.
  • 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Manchester. Served in Belgium and France from April 1940 until June 1940. 1 November 1941 redesignated 42nd Armoured Division.
  • 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Salisbury. Served in northwestern Europe from 24 June 1944 until the end of the war. Fought on the Odon River, at Caen, Bourguebus Ridge, Mont Pincon, the Nederrijn, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of XXX Corps.
  • 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich. Served in France and Belgium from April 1940 until June 1940, and in Egypt from July 1942 until January 1943. 31 December 1943 disbanded in the Middle East. Fought at St Omer-La Bassée, Alam el Halfa, and El Alamein.
  • 45th Infantry Division
Formed September 1939 in the UK. August 1944 division dispersed. 1 September 1944 Redesignated 45th (Holding) Division. 1 December 1944 redesignated 45th Division. Under War Office Control at the end of the war.
  • 46th Infantry Division
Formed 2 October 1939 in the UK. Served in France and Belgium from April 1940 until June 1940, North Africa from January 1943 until September 1943, Italy from September 1943 until March 1944, July 1944 until January 1945 and April 1945 until May 1945, Egypt in March 1944 and June 1944, Palestine from April 1944 until June 1944, Greece from January 1945 until April 1945, and in Austria as an occupation force. Fought at St Omer-La Bassée, El Kouriza, Tunis, Salerno, Naples, on the Volturno River, Monte Camino, on the Gothic Line, Coriano, on the Rimini Line, and on the Lamone River. Ended the war in Europe under command of V Corps.
  • 47th (London) Infantry Division
Formed 21 November 1940 in the UK by redesignation of the 2nd London Division. August 1944 division dispersed. 1 September 1944 redesignated 47th Infantry (Reserve) Division.
  • 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Oxford. Served in France and Belgium from January 1940 until June 1940. 20 December 1942 redesignated 48th Infantry (Reserve) Division. Fought at St Omer-La Bassée.
  • 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Clifton, York. 5 April 1940 disbanded in the UK 10 June 1940 reconstituted in the UK. Served in northwestern Europe from 12 June 1944 until the end of the war. Fought on the Odon River and in the Scheldt Estuary. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under the command of I Canadian Corps.
  • 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Darlington. Organized as a motor division. Served in France and Belgium from January 1940 until June 1940, Egypt from June 1941 until July 1941, February 1942, from June 1942 until December 1942, and from May 1943 until September 1943, Cyprus from July 1941 until November 1941, Syria from January 1942 until February 1942, Libya from February 1942 until June 1942, from December 1943 until March 1943, and from April 1943 until May 1943, North Africa from March 1943 until April 1943, Sicily from July 1943 until October 1943, and northwestern Europe from June 1944 until December 1944. 16 December 1944 redesignated an Infantry (Reserve) Division in the UK. August 1945 arrived in Norway and retitled HQ British Land Forces Norway. Fought at Ypres-Comines Canal, Gazala, Mersa Matruh, El Alamein, Mareth, Akarit, Enfidaville, assaulted Sicily, assaulted Normandy, and in the Nederrijn.
  • 51st (Highland) Infantry Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Cragie, Perth. Served in France from 24 January 1940 until June 1940. 12 June 1940 captured at Saint-Valery-en-Caux. 7 August 1940 reconstituted by redesignation of the 9th (Highland) Infantry Division. Served in Egypt from August 1942 until November 1942, Libya from November 1942 until February 1943, North Africa from February 1943 until July 1943, and northwestern Europe from June 1944 until the end of the campaign in northwestern Europe. Fought at El Alamein, Medenine, Mareth, Akarit, Enfidaville, Tunis, assaulted Sicily, Adrano, Bourguebus Ridge, Falaise, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of XXX Corps.
  • 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Glasgow. Trained at various times as both a mountain and airlanding division, but never used in either role. Served in France June 1940 and in northwestern Europe from October 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. Fought in the Scheldt Estuary, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of XXX Corps.
  • 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Shrewsbury. Served in northwestern Europe from June 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. Fought on the Odon River, at Caen, Mont Pincon, Falaise, the Nederrijn, the Rhineland, and across the Rhine. Ended the campaign in northwestern Europe under command of XII Corps.
  • 54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in The Barracks, Hertford. 14 December 1943 disbanded in the UK.
  • 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division
Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, with headquarters in Liverpool. Never left the UK. Ended the war under command of Western Command.
  • 56th (London) Infantry Division
Formed 18 November 1940 by redesignation of the 1st London Division. Served in Iraq from November 1942 until March 1943, Palestine in March 1943, Egypt from March 1943 until April 1943 and from April 1944 until July 1944, Libya in April 1943 and from May 1943 until August 1943, and in Italy from September 1943 until March 1944 and from July 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. Fought at Enfidaville, Tunis, Salerno, Naples, on the Volturno River, Monte Camino, on the Garigliano River, Anzio, on the Gothic Line, Coriano, on the Rimini Line, on the Lamone River, and in the Argenta Gap. Ended the war in Europe under command of XIII Corps.
  • 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division
Formed 4 September 1939 in the UK. Fought at Caen and Mount Pincon. Served in northwestern Europe from June 1944 until October 1944. 19 October 1944 disbanded in northwestern Europe.
  • 61st Infantry Division
Formed September 1939 in the UK. Never left the UK. Ended the war under command of Eastern Command.
  • 66th Infantry Division
Formed September 1939 in the UK 22 June 1940 disbanded in the UK.
  • 70th Infantry Division
Formed 10 October 1941 by redesignation of the 6th Infantry Division. 10 October 1941 redesignated 70th Infantry Division. 24 November 1943 disbanded in India. Served in Egypt from November 1939 until March 1940, February 1941 until June 1941, and December 1941 until February 1942, in Palestine March 1940 until June 1940, in Syria June 1941 until October 1941, in Libya October 1941 until December 1941, and in India from March 1942 until October 1943. Under command of Central Army (part of GHQ India) when inactivated. 24 November 1943 disbanded in India.
  • 76th Infantry Division
Formed 18 November 1941 by redesignation of the Norfolk County Division in the UK 20 December 1942 redesignated 76th Infantry (Reserve) Division in the UK. 1 September 1944 disbanded in the UK.
  • 77th Infantry Division
Formed 1 December 1941 by redesignation of the Devon and Cornwall County Division in the UK 20 December 1942 redesignated 77th Infantry (Reserve) Division in the UK 1 September 1944 disbanded in the UK.
  • 78th Infantry Division
Formed 25 May 1942 in the UK to take part in Operation Torch. Served in North Africa from November 1942 until July 1943, Sicily from July 1943 until September 1943, Italy from September 1943 until July 1944 when it was sent to Egypt for rest and regrouping. It rejoined the campaign in Italy in September 1944 remaining until the end of hostilities there in early May 1945. Ended the war in Austria under command of V Corps. Fought in Tunisia at Tebourba Gap, Oued Zarga, Medjez Plain, Tunis; in Sicily at Adrano and Centuripe; and in Italy at Termoli, on the Sangro River, Cassino, in the Liri Valley, on the Trasimene Line, Florence (Gothic Line), on the Senio River, and in the Argenta Gap.
  • 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division
Formed 1 January 1943 in the UK 1 September 1944 disbanded in the UK

Read more about this topic:  List Of British Divisions In World War II