British 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 43rd Infantry Division was a British
Territorial Army division
first formed in 1908. It was reformed in 1920 as part of the rebuilding of the Territorial Army, and raised a second line duplicate, 45th (Wessex) Infantry Division, on the doubling of the Territorial Army in 1939.
in 1908. On 24 September 1914, it accepted overseas service in India in order to relieve regular units required for active service. Divisional and Brigade HQs, both artillery and infantry, did not embark for India. The "Division" sailed on 9 October 1914, and moved to India where it remained throughout the Great War, reverting to peacetime service conditions. It did, however, supply battalions and drafts of reinforcements for divisions fighting in the Middle East.
In the Second World War it fought in Normandy
, where it initially was earmarked as a reserve for Operation Epsom
. It then launched an attack against the German 9th SS Panzer Division
at Hill 112 in July, though they were beaten back after both sides had suffered horrendous casualties. It performed well, and was considered one of the best British Divisions in the Second World War.
It was the first British formation to cross the Seine river, with an assault crossing at the French town of Vernon opposed by the German 49th Infantry Division (see 'Assault Crossing, The River Seine 1944' by Ken Ford). This enabled the armour of XXX Corps under Gen. Brian Horrocks to thrust across northern France into Belgium.
43rd Division later played a major role in Operation Market Garden
, as the support to Guards Armoured Division. During Market Garden, a Battalion (4th Dorsets) successfully crossed the Rhine as a diversion, so that 1st Airborne could withdraw more safely, but many men of the 4th Dorsets were themselves left behind on the north Bank of the Rhine when the Division withdrew.
The division later played a small part in the Battle of the Bulge
, where it was placed on the Meuse as a reserve, and a large part in the invasion of Germany and the Crossing of the Rhine (Operation Veritable
).
By the end of hostilities the 43rd had reached the Cuxhaven peninsula of northern Germany.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Territorial Army division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
first formed in 1908. It was reformed in 1920 as part of the rebuilding of the Territorial Army, and raised a second line duplicate, 45th (Wessex) Infantry Division, on the doubling of the Territorial Army in 1939.
History
The Division was a formation created with the rest of the Territorial ForceTerritorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
in 1908. On 24 September 1914, it accepted overseas service in India in order to relieve regular units required for active service. Divisional and Brigade HQs, both artillery and infantry, did not embark for India. The "Division" sailed on 9 October 1914, and moved to India where it remained throughout the Great War, reverting to peacetime service conditions. It did, however, supply battalions and drafts of reinforcements for divisions fighting in the Middle East.
In the Second World War it fought in Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, where it initially was earmarked as a reserve for Operation Epsom
Operation Epsom
Operation Epsom, also known as the First Battle of the Odon, was a Second World War British offensive that took place between 26 and 30 June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy...
. It then launched an attack against the German 9th SS Panzer Division
9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
The 9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen", also known as SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 9 Hohenstaufen or 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen, was a German Waffen-SS Armoured division which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II. The...
at Hill 112 in July, though they were beaten back after both sides had suffered horrendous casualties. It performed well, and was considered one of the best British Divisions in the Second World War.
It was the first British formation to cross the Seine river, with an assault crossing at the French town of Vernon opposed by the German 49th Infantry Division (see 'Assault Crossing, The River Seine 1944' by Ken Ford). This enabled the armour of XXX Corps under Gen. Brian Horrocks to thrust across northern France into Belgium.
43rd Division later played a major role in Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
, as the support to Guards Armoured Division. During Market Garden, a Battalion (4th Dorsets) successfully crossed the Rhine as a diversion, so that 1st Airborne could withdraw more safely, but many men of the 4th Dorsets were themselves left behind on the north Bank of the Rhine when the Division withdrew.
The division later played a small part in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, where it was placed on the Meuse as a reserve, and a large part in the invasion of Germany and the Crossing of the Rhine (Operation Veritable
Operation Veritable
Operation Veritable was a Second World War pincer movement conducted by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group to clear and occupy the land between the Rhine and Maas rivers. It took place between 8 February and 11 March 1945. It was a part of General Dwight Eisenhower's "broad front"...
).
By the end of hostilities the 43rd had reached the Cuxhaven peninsula of northern Germany.
Commanders
- Major-General Arthur Floyer-AclandArthur Floyer-AclandLieutenant General Arthur Nugent Floyer-Acland CB, DSO, MC, DL was a British soldier.-Background:...
, (from December 1938). - Major-General Robert PollockRobert Pollock (British Army officer)Major-General Robert Valentine Pollock CBE DSO was General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland District.-Military career:Pollock was commissioned into the 15th Hussars in 1903...
, (1940–1941) - Major-General Charles AllfreyCharles Walter AllfreyLieutenant-General Sir Charles Walter Allfrey, KBE, CB, DSO, MC was a British Army officer who served in both the First and Second World Wars .-Military career:...
, (1941–1942). - Major-General Ivor ThomasGwilym Ivor ThomasGeneral Sir Ivor Thomas GCB KBE DSO MC was a British Army General during World War II.-Military career:Thomas was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1912 and served in World War I....
, (from 1942).
129th Infantry Brigade
- 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
- 4th Battalion, Wiltshire RegimentWiltshire RegimentThe Wiltshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 62nd Regiment of Foot and the 99th Duke of Edinburgh's Regiment of Foot....
- 5th Battalion, Wiltshire RegimentWiltshire RegimentThe Wiltshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 62nd Regiment of Foot and the 99th Duke of Edinburgh's Regiment of Foot....
130th Infantry Brigade
- 7th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
- 4th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
- 5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
214th Infantry Brigade
- 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
- 1st Battalion, Worcestershire RegimentWorcestershire RegimentThe Worcestershire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 29th Regiment of Foot and the 36th Regiment of Foot....
- 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light InfantryDuke of Cornwall's Light InfantryThe Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles....
Support Units
- 8th Battalion, Middlesex RegimentMiddlesex RegimentThe Middlesex Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th and 77th Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.On 31 December 1966 The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated with three...
(Vickers machine gunVickers machine gunNot to be confused with the Vickers light machine gunThe Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled .303 inch machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army...
ners) - 43rd Reconnaissance RegimentReconnaissance CorpsThe Reconnaissance Corps or simply Recce Corps was a short-lived elite corps of the British Army whose units provided the mobile spearhead of infantry divisions from the Far East to Europe during the Second World War. It was formed from Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance Groups on 14 January 1941...
, Reconnaissance CorpsReconnaissance CorpsThe Reconnaissance Corps or simply Recce Corps was a short-lived elite corps of the British Army whose units provided the mobile spearhead of infantry divisions from the Far East to Europe during the Second World War. It was formed from Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance Groups on 14 January 1941... - 94th Field Regiment, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- 112th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 179th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 59th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 13th Bridging Platoon, Royal EngineersRoyal EngineersThe Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
- 204th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 207th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers (from Bath, Somerset).
- 260th Field Company, Royal Engineers (from Chippenham, Wiltshire).
- 553rd Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 54th Company, RASCRoyal Army Service CorpsThe Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
- 504th Company, RASC
- 505th Company, RASC
- 506th Divisional Company, RASC
- 110th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
See also
- British Divisions in World War IIBritish Divisions in World War IIThis page is a list of British Army divisions that fought in World War II.-Armoured:*Guards Armoured Division*1st Armoured Division*2nd Armoured Division - Formed 15 December 1939 in the UK. Served in Egypt from January 1941 until March 1941 and from April 1941 until May 1941, and in Libya from...
- British Army Order of Battle - September 1939
Sources
- http://www.1914-1918.net/43div.htm
- http://orbat.com/site/ww2/drleo/017_britain/39_org/div_inf.html
