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British 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 59th Infantry Division was a 2nd Line Territorial Army unit of the British Army
during the Second World War. It served as part of the 21st Army Group during the early stages of the North-West Europe campaign. It was one of two divisions (the other being 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division) of this army group that was disbanded due to the acute shortage of infantry reinforcements.
. Having been kept in Britain until mid-1944, the division's lead units landed in Normandy
as part of the Second Army
on 26 June. Attached to I Corps for Operation Charnwood
, the division was employed in the north-western outskirts of Caen, fighting heavily against elements of the 12th SS Panzer Division. Subsequently the division was attached to XII Corps in the Odon Valley.
Montgomery named the 59th, along with seven other divisions, as one of the reliable divisions within 21st army group, bemoaning that divisions such as the 7th Armoured, 3rd Infantry and 51st Infantry were not combat worthy after their initial performance, inland, after landing.
It fought in Normandy until 18 August 1944 when, due to the severe casualties suffered by other British units in the British Second Army
, it was disbanded and its men used as badly needed reinforcements for the rest of the Second Army. It was chosen because it was the most junior of the British divisions in Normandy
.
at the time of its disbandment on 18 August 1944.
176th Infantry Brigade
177th Infantry Brigade
197th Infantry Brigade
Divisional Troops
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Second World War. It served as part of the 21st Army Group during the early stages of the North-West Europe campaign. It was one of two divisions (the other being 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division) of this army group that was disbanded due to the acute shortage of infantry reinforcements.
History
The 59th Division was reconstituted on 21 August 1939 as a duplicate of the 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry DivisionBritish 55th (West Lancashire) Division
The 55th Infantry Division was a British Territorial Force division which served on the Western Front during the First World War.- First World War:...
. Having been kept in Britain until mid-1944, the division's lead units landed 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...
as part of the Second Army
British Second Army
The British Second Army was active during both the First and Second World Wars. During the First World War the army was active on the Western Front and in Italy...
on 26 June. Attached to I Corps for Operation Charnwood
Operation Charnwood
Operation Charnwood was a Second World War Anglo-Canadian offensive that took place from 8–9 July 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The operation was intended to at least partially capture the German-occupied French city of Caen , which was an important Allied objective during the opening stages...
, the division was employed in the north-western outskirts of Caen, fighting heavily against elements of the 12th SS Panzer Division. Subsequently the division was attached to XII Corps in the Odon Valley.
Montgomery named the 59th, along with seven other divisions, as one of the reliable divisions within 21st army group, bemoaning that divisions such as the 7th Armoured, 3rd Infantry and 51st Infantry were not combat worthy after their initial performance, inland, after landing.
It fought in Normandy until 18 August 1944 when, due to the severe casualties suffered by other British units in the British Second Army
British Second Army
The British Second Army was active during both the First and Second World Wars. During the First World War the army was active on the Western Front and in Italy...
, it was disbanded and its men used as badly needed reinforcements for the rest of the Second Army. It was chosen because it was the most junior of the British divisions in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
.
Order of battle
This is the division's order of battleOrder of battle
In modern use, the order of battle is the identification, command structure, strength, and disposition of personnel, equipment, and units of an armed force participating in field operations. Various abbreviations are in use, including OOB, O/B, or OB, while ORBAT remains the most common in the...
at the time of its disbandment on 18 August 1944.
176th Infantry Brigade
- 6th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment
- 7th Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment
- 7th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment
177th Infantry Brigade
- 5th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment
- 1st/6th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment
- 2nd/6th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment
197th Infantry Brigade
- 5th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment
- 2nd/5th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers
- 1st/7th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Divisional Troops
- 7th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
- 59th Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured CorpsRoyal Armoured CorpsThe Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
- 61st 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:...
- 110th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 116th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 68th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 257th Field Company, 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....
- 509th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 510th Field Company, Royal Engineers
See also
- Operation CharnwoodOperation CharnwoodOperation Charnwood was a Second World War Anglo-Canadian offensive that took place from 8–9 July 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The operation was intended to at least partially capture the German-occupied French city of Caen , which was an important Allied objective during the opening stages...
- 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