Second World War
| 51st (Highland) Division | |
|---|---|
Formation patch as worn after 1940 |
|
| Active | 1939-1945 World War II |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Territorial Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Nickname | The Highway Decorators |
| Engagements | Battle of France Battle of El Alamein Sicily Landings Normandy Campaign Battle of the Bulge Operation Veritable Operation Plunder |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Alan Cunningham Neil Ritchie Douglas Wimberley Tom Rennie |
|
The 51st Division commanded by Major-General Victor Fortune formed part of the British Expeditionary Force at the start of World War II. With the capture of two of its brigades in France the division effectively ceased to exist. The 9th (Highland) Infantry Division was renumbered as the 51st and subsequently served in the North Africa campaign. From there it went to Sicily before returning to France as part of the invasion of Northern Europe.
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