British 6th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 6th Infantry Division was first established by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
for service in the Peninsula War as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army
and was active for most of the period since, including the First World War and the Second World War. The modern division was reformed on 1 February 2008, as a deployable two star Headquarters for service in Afghanistan
during Operation Herrick
.
It was officially reformed with a parade and flag presentation at York on Tuesday 5 August 2008 and then closed in April 2011.
, it was present at the Battles of Fuentes de Onoro
, Salamanca
, Pyrenees
and the Battle of Orthez
.
that was sent to France
on 9 September 1914. It served on the Western Front
for the duration of the First World War, first seeing action in the First Battle of Ypres
as part of III Corps.
In 1915 the division moved into the Ypres Salient
to relieve troops that had fought in the Second Battle of Ypres
. The Salient was relatively quiet for the rest of the year, except for an attack on the chateau at Hooge
on 9 August.
At the end of July 1916 the division was withdrawn, having suffered 11,000 casualties, and in September it was attached to XIV Corps
where it joined in the Battle of the Somme
by attacking the German fortification known as the Quadrilateral. It captured this area on 18 September. They then participated in the attacks on Morval
and Le Transloy
before being withdrawn on 20 October and moved into Corps Reserve. Total casualties on the Somme were 277 officers and 6,640 other ranks. In November the division moved to the relatively quiet La Bassée
sector, and in March 1917 it went to the Loos
sector where it conducted operations and trench raids around Hill 70.
It was withdrawn on 25 July, shortly before the final assault on the hill
. From reserve, it then went to take part in the Battle of Cambrai as part of III Corps. Four days after the battle ended, the division was withdrawn to rest at Basseux
. By February 1918 the division was manning the Lagnicourt
Sector and was there on 22 March when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive
which drove the division back and caused 3,900 casualties out of its 5000 infantry. On 25 March the division was withdrawn to the Ypres Salient again as part of Second Army.
By September the division was part of IX Corps and took part in the Battle of Epehy
, participating in the general attack on St Quentin and The Quadrilateral that began on 18 September and ended with the Quadrilateral's capture on the 25th.
The division's last two major assaults of the war were in October. On the 8th they captured Bohain
and on the 18th they took the high ground overlooking the Sambre–Oise Canal that prepared the way for the Battle of the Sambre
.
:
17th Brigade
(until October 14, 1915) :
The brigade transferred to the 24th Division
in October 1915, swapping with the 71st Brigade.
18th Brigade
:
19th Brigade (until May 31, 1915) :
Originally an independent brigade before being attached to the division, the 19th Brigade moved to the 27th Division
in May, 1915 and was not replaced, reducing the division to the standard three infantry brigades.
71st Brigade (from October 11, 1915) :
The brigade joined from the 24th Division
in October 1915, swapping with the 17th Brigade.
Royal Field Artillery
:
Royal Engineers
:
by the redesignation of the British 7th Infantry Division
, under the command of Major-General R.N.O'Connor
. On 17 June 1940 Divisional H.Q. became H.Q. Western Desert Force
. The Division effectively ceased to exist. The Division reformed in Egypt
on 17 February 1941, under the command of Major-General John Evetts
. From 7 to 19 April it was temporarily under command of Brigadier C.E.N.Lomax.
On 18 June, when command of the allied forces fighting in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign
on the southern front were reorganised, the divisional HQ was placed under Australian I Corps to command the remnants of Gentforce (5th Indian Infantry Brigade
and 1st Free French Light Division
). Two days later the division was joined from Egypt by 16th Infantry Brigade and on 29 June by 23rd Infantry Brigade. Gentforce force captured Damascus
on 21 June. For the rest of the campaign, which ended with the Vichy French surrender on 11 July, the division was engaged with the support of Australian units in attempts to force the Damascus to Beirut road through the Anti-Lebanon mountains the entrance to which was dominated by the 5000 feet (1,524 m) high Jebel Mazar. Despite intense efforts Vichy forces maintained control of the position and the main allied effort was switched to the advance on the coast.
On 29 September 1941 Major-General Evetts left and Brigadier G.N.C. Martin took acting command. Eleven days later on 10 October that year it was redesignated the 70th Infantry Division
, and Major-General Ronald Scobie
assumed command.
Engineers
Artillery
British 22nd Infantry Brigade
British 14th Infantry Brigade
British 16th Infantry Brigade
British 23rd Infantry Brigade
's Regional Command South in Afghanistan. Des Browne
said 'In order to meet these temporary demands we have decided to augment the forces’ command structure, and will temporarily establish an additional 2-Star deployable HQ. It will be based in York and will be known as HQ 6 Division, with a core of 55 Service personnel, drawn from existing structures. We will keep our planning assumption under review but currently we assess this HQ will be established until 2011.' Major General J D Page
OBE took command of the new HQ with effect from 1 February 2008.
The new divisional headquarters, Headquarters 6th (United Kingdom) Division, marked its formation with a parade and flag presentation in York 5 August 2008. It had a clear focus on preparing brigades for Afghanistan and was based at Imphal Barracks, Fulford
, York
.During summer 2009, the divisional headquarters was significantly reinforced and transformed into Combined Joint Task Force 6 before deploying to Afghanistan as Regional Command South
in November 2009.
The division headquarters closed in April 2011.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
for service in the Peninsula War as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army
Anglo-Portuguese Army
The Anglo-Portuguese Army was the combined British and Portuguese army that won the Peninsular War, under the command of Arthur Wellesley. The Army is also referred to as the British-Portuguese Army and, in Portuguese, as the Exército Anglo-Luso or the Exército Anglo-Português.The Anglo-Portuguese...
and was active for most of the period since, including the First World War and the Second World War. The modern division was reformed on 1 February 2008, as a deployable two star Headquarters for service in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
during Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
.
It was officially reformed with a parade and flag presentation at York on Tuesday 5 August 2008 and then closed in April 2011.
Peninsula War
The 6th Division was formed for service in the Peninsula War by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of WellingtonArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
, it was present at the Battles of Fuentes de Onoro
Battle of Fuentes de Onoro
In the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro , the British-Portuguese Army under Viscount Wellington checked an attempt by the French Army of Portugal under Marshal André Masséna to relieve the besieged city of Almeida.-Background:...
, Salamanca
Battle of Salamanca
The Battle of Salamanca saw Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish armies under the Duke of Wellington defeat Marshal Auguste Marmont's French forces among the hills around Arapiles south of Salamanca, Spain on July 22, 1812 during the Peninsular War....
, Pyrenees
Battle of the Pyrenees
The Battle of the Pyrenees was a large-scale offensive launched on 25 July 1813 by Marshal Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult from the Pyrénées region on Emperor Napoleon’s order, in the hope of relieving French garrisons under siege at Pamplona and San Sebastián...
and the Battle of Orthez
Battle of Orthez
The Battle of Orthez saw the Anglo-Portuguese Army under Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington defeat a French army led by Marshal Nicolas Soult in southern France near the end of the Peninsular War.-Preliminaries:...
.
Formation during the Peninsula War
- Commanding General Lieutenant General Sir Henry ClintonHenry Clinton (Napoleonic Wars)Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clinton, GCB, GCH was a British Army officer and a general officer during the Napoleonic Wars.He came from a family of soldiers...
- 1st Brigade: Major General Hulse (to November 1812)
- 1/11th Foot
- 2/53rd Foot
- 1/61st Foot61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment of FootThe 61st Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, created in 1758 and amalgamated into The Gloucestershire Regiment in 1881....
- 1 coy., 5/60th FootKing's Royal Rifle CorpsThe King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
- 1st Brigade: Major General Pack (from November 1812)
- 1/42nd Foot42nd Regiment of FootThe 42nd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Originally the 43rd Highlanders they were renumbered the 42nd in 1748.- Early history :...
- 1/79th FootQueen's Own Cameron HighlandersThe Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1793. In 1961 it was merged with the Seaforth Highlanders to form the Queen's Own Highlanders...
- 1/91st Foot91st Regiment of FootThe 91st Regiment of Foot was a Line Regiment of the British Army . It was first formed in 1759 and in 1881 became the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.- Early formations :...
- 1 coy., 5/60th Foot
- 1/42nd Foot
- 2nd Brigade: Colonel Hinde (to November 1812)
- 2nd FootQueen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)The Queen's Royal Regiment was a regiment of the English and later British Army from 1661 to 1959. It was the senior English line infantry regiment of the British Army, behind only the Royal Scots in the British Army line infantry order of precedence...
- 2/32nd Foot
- 1/36th Foot36th (Herefordshire) Regiment of FootThe 36th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1701 and amalgamated into The Worcestershire Regiment in 1881...
- 2nd Foot
- 2nd Brigade: Major General Lambert (from November 1812)
- 1/11th Foot
- 1/32nd Foot
- 1/36th Foot
- 1/61st Foot
- 1 coy., 5/60th Foot
- Portuguese Brigade: Brigadier General de Rezende
- 1/8th Portuguese Line
- 2/8th Portuguese Line
- 1/12th Portuguese Line
- 2/12th Portuguese Line
- 9th CaçadoresCaçadoresThe Caçadores were the elite light infantry of the Portuguese Army during the Peninsular War...
First World War
The British 6th Division was a Regular Army divisionDivision (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...
that was sent to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 9 September 1914. It served on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
for the duration of the First World War, first seeing action in the First Battle of Ypres
First Battle of Ypres
The First Battle of Ypres, also called the First Battle of Flanders , was a First World War battle fought for the strategic town of Ypres in western Belgium...
as part of III Corps.
In 1915 the division moved into the Ypres Salient
Ypres Salient
The Ypres Salient is the area around Ypres in Belgium which was the scene of some of the biggest battles in World War I.In military terms, a salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. Therefore, the salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops...
to relieve troops that had fought in the Second Battle of Ypres
Second Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front in the First World War and the first time a former colonial force pushed back a major European power on European soil, which occurred in the battle of St...
. The Salient was relatively quiet for the rest of the year, except for an attack on the chateau at Hooge
Hooge
Hooge can refer to:*Hooge, Prince Su*Houvenkopf Mountain known as "Hooge Kop"*Hooge, Germany, an island and municipality in northern Germany*Hooge, Belgium...
on 9 August.
At the end of July 1916 the division was withdrawn, having suffered 11,000 casualties, and in September it was attached to XIV Corps
XIV Corps (United Kingdom)
XIV Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I.-World War I:XIV Corps was formed in France on 3 January 1916 under Lieutenant-General the Earl of Cavan...
where it joined in the Battle of the Somme
Battle of the Somme (1916)
The Battle of the Somme , also known as the Somme Offensive, took place during the First World War between 1 July and 14 November 1916 in the Somme department of France, on both banks of the river of the same name...
by attacking the German fortification known as the Quadrilateral. It captured this area on 18 September. They then participated in the attacks on Morval
Battle of Morval
The Battle of Morval, which began on 25 September 1916, was an attack by the British Fourth Army on the German-held villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs during the Battle of the Somme. These villages were originally objectives of the major British offensive of 15 September, the Battle of...
and Le Transloy
Battle of Le Transloy
The Battle of Le Transloy was the final offensive mounted by the British Fourth Army during the 1916 Battle of the Somme.-Prelude:With the successful conclusion of the preceding Battle of Morval at the end of September, the Fourth Army of Lieutenant General Henry Rawlinson had finally captured the...
before being withdrawn on 20 October and moved into Corps Reserve. Total casualties on the Somme were 277 officers and 6,640 other ranks. In November the division moved to the relatively quiet La Bassée
La Bassée
La Bassée is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-History:La Bassée was the birthplace of the painter and draftsman Louis-Léopold Boilly .-References:*...
sector, and in March 1917 it went to the Loos
Loos-en-Gohelle
Loos-en-Gohelle is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A former coal mining town, three miles northwest of the centre of Lens, at the junction of the D943 and the A21 autoroute. Its nearest neighbours are Lens to the south, Grenay to the...
sector where it conducted operations and trench raids around Hill 70.
It was withdrawn on 25 July, shortly before the final assault on the hill
Battle of Hill 70
The Battle of Hill 70 was a localized battle of World War I between the Canadian Corps and five divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle took place along the Western Front on the outskirts of Lens in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France between 15 August 1917 and 25 August 1917.The primary...
. From reserve, it then went to take part in the Battle of Cambrai as part of III Corps. Four days after the battle ended, the division was withdrawn to rest at Basseux
Basseux
Basseux is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A small farming village located 8 miles southwest of Arras on the D1 road, which follows the route of a Roman road...
. By February 1918 the division was manning the Lagnicourt
Lagnicourt-Marcel
Lagnicourt-Marcel is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village situated southeast of Arras, at the junction of the D18, D14 and the D5 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:...
Sector and was there on 22 March when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive
Spring Offensive
The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht , also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during World War I, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914...
which drove the division back and caused 3,900 casualties out of its 5000 infantry. On 25 March the division was withdrawn to the Ypres Salient again as part of Second Army.
By September the division was part of IX Corps and took part in the Battle of Epehy
Battle of Epéhy
The Battle of Épehy was a World War I battle fought on 18 September 1918, involving the British Fourth Army against German outpost positions in front of the Hindenburg Line.- Prelude :...
, participating in the general attack on St Quentin and The Quadrilateral that began on 18 September and ended with the Quadrilateral's capture on the 25th.
The division's last two major assaults of the war were in October. On the 8th they captured Bohain
Bohain-en-Vermandois
Bohain-en-Vermandois is a commune in the department of Aisne in Picardy in northern France.It is the place where the painter Henri Matisse grew up.-History:...
and on the 18th they took the high ground overlooking the Sambre–Oise Canal that prepared the way for the Battle of the Sambre
Battle of the Sambre (1918)
The Second Battle of the Sambre was part of the final European Allied offensives of World War I.-Background:...
.
First World War formation
16th BrigadeBritish 16th Infantry Brigade
The British 16th Infantry Brigade was a British Army formation based in Palestine at the beginning of the Second World War as part of the British 8th Infantry Division. It was later part of the British 6th Infantry Division which was redesignated as the British 70th Infantry Division on 10 October...
:
- 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment
- 1st Battalion, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry
- 2nd Battalion2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster RegimentThe 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment was formed by the redesignation of the 84th Regiment of Foot in 1881.-History:...
, The York and Lancaster Regiment - 8th (Service) Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment (from 71st Bde. November 1915, disbanded February 1918)
- 1st Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (to 71st Bde. November 1915)
- 1/5th Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (from February 1915 to June 1915)
17th Brigade
British 17th Infantry Brigade
The 17th Infantry Brigade was a formation of the British Army which provided active service in both the First and Second World Wars. It was mainly composed of Regular Army battalions.- History :...
(until October 14, 1915) :
- 1st Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion, The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment)North Staffordshire RegimentThe North Staffordshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, which was in existence between 1881 and 1959. It can date its lineage back to 1756 with the formation of a second battalion by the 11th Regiment of Foot, which shortly after became the 64th Regiment of Foot...
- 2nd Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)
- 3rd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade
- 1/2nd (City of LondonCity of LondonThe City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
) Battalion, The London Regiment (from February 1915)
The brigade transferred to the 24th Division
British 24th Division
The British 24th Division was a New Army division that was sent to France between August and September, 1915. It served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War...
in October 1915, swapping with the 71st Brigade.
18th Brigade
British 18th Infantry Brigade
The 18th Infantry Brigade was a British Army brigade during the Second World War.- History :Originally designated as Cairo Area and 18th Infantry Brigade it ceased to exist when in May 1940 it was absorbed by HQ Cairo Sub-Area....
:
- 1st Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment
- 1st Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment (until November 1915)
- 2nd Battalion, the Durham Light InfantryDurham Light InfantryThe Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
- 11th (Service) Battalion, The Essex Regiment (from 71st Bde. October 1915)
- 2nd Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (to 71st Bde. October 1915)
- 14th (Service) Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry (from November 1915, disbanded February 1918)
- 1/16th (County of London) Battalion, the London Regiment (until February 1916
19th Brigade (until May 31, 1915) :
- 2nd Battalion, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
- 1/5th Battalion, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
- 1st Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment
- 2nd Battalion2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland HighlandersThe 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were formed in 1881 when the 91st Regiment of Foot was amalgamated with the 93rd Regiment of Foot to form the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.-Early history:...
, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Originally an independent brigade before being attached to the division, the 19th Brigade moved to the 27th Division
British 27th Division
The British 27th Division was a First World War regular army infantry division formed in late 1914 by combining various units that had been acting as garrisons about the British Empire. The division spent most of 1915 on the Western Front in France before moving to Salonika where it remained with...
in May, 1915 and was not replaced, reducing the division to the standard three infantry brigades.
71st Brigade (from October 11, 1915) :
- 9th (Service) Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment
- 9th (Service) Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment (disbanded February 1918)
- 8th (Service) Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment (to 16th Bde. November 1915)
- 11th (Service) Battalion, The Essex Regiment (to 18th Bde. October 1915)
- 1st Battalion, the Leicestershire Regiment (from 16th Bde. November 1915)
- 2nd Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters (from 18th Bde. October 1915)
The brigade joined from the 24th Division
British 24th Division
The British 24th Division was a New Army division that was sent to France between August and September, 1915. It served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War...
in October 1915, swapping with the 17th Brigade.
Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
:
- II Brigade RFA
- XXIV Brigade RFA
Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The 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....
:
- 12th Field Company RE
- 509th (1st London) Field Company RE1st London Field Company Royal EngineersThe 1st London Field Company, Royal Engineers was a Territorial engineer unit of the British Army active during World War I. On formation in 1908 it was part of 56th Division. The company was based in Bethnal Green in London....
- 459th (2/2nd West Riding) Field Company RE
Second World War
During the Second World War the division did not fight as a complete formation. On 3 November 1939 it was formed in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
by the redesignation of the British 7th Infantry Division
British 7th Infantry Division
The 7th Infantry Division was established by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army, for service in the Peninsula War and was active also during the First World War from 1914-1918/19 and also in 1938-39 in Palestine and Egypt.-Peninsula War:The 7th Division...
, under the command of Major-General R.N.O'Connor
Richard O'Connor
General Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor KT, GCB, DSO & Bar, MC, ADC was a British Army general who commanded the Western Desert Force in the early years of World War II...
. On 17 June 1940 Divisional H.Q. became H.Q. Western Desert Force
Western Desert Force
The Western Desert Force, during World War II, was a British Commonwealth army formation stationed in Egypt.On 17 June 1940, the headquarters of the British 6th Infantry Division was designated as the Western Desert Force. The unit consisted of the 7th Armoured Division and the Indian 4th Infantry...
. The Division effectively ceased to exist. The Division reformed in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
on 17 February 1941, under the command of Major-General John Evetts
John Fullerton Evetts
Lieutenant-General Sir John Fullerton Evetts CB, CBE, MC was a career soldier of the British Army.-Military career:Educated at Lancing College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Evetts was commissioned into The Cameronians in 1911.He fought on the Western Front during World War I, and was...
. From 7 to 19 April it was temporarily under command of Brigadier C.E.N.Lomax.
On 18 June, when command of the allied forces fighting in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
on the southern front were reorganised, the divisional HQ was placed under Australian I Corps to command the remnants of Gentforce (5th Indian Infantry Brigade
5th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted for the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade in September 1939, and assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade fist moved to Egypt and took part in the early battles in North...
and 1st Free French Light Division
1st Free French Division
The 1st Free French Division was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces during World War II, and the first Free French unit of divisional size.-World War II:...
). Two days later the division was joined from Egypt by 16th Infantry Brigade and on 29 June by 23rd Infantry Brigade. Gentforce force captured Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
on 21 June. For the rest of the campaign, which ended with the Vichy French surrender on 11 July, the division was engaged with the support of Australian units in attempts to force the Damascus to Beirut road through the Anti-Lebanon mountains the entrance to which was dominated by the 5000 feet (1,524 m) high Jebel Mazar. Despite intense efforts Vichy forces maintained control of the position and the main allied effort was switched to the advance on the coast.
On 29 September 1941 Major-General Evetts left and Brigadier G.N.C. Martin took acting command. Eleven days later on 10 October that year it was redesignated the 70th Infantry Division
British 70th Infantry Division
- History :This formation had a brief history during the Second World War. It was formed originally in the Middle East from units stationed in Egypt, Palestine, Cyprus and in Crete, as the regular British 6th Infantry Division. It was then redesignated as the 70th Division on 10 October 1941. -...
, and Major-General Ronald Scobie
Ronald Scobie
Lieutenant-General Sir Ronald MacKenzie Scobie KBE, CB, MC was a British Army officer who commanded III Corps.-Military career:...
assumed command.
Second World War formation
- 6th Divisional Signals - 9th Oct.1941
- The Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) - 25 March 1940-30 May 1940 (Cavalry)
- 45th Recce.Battalion - 21st Oct.1942-16th Sept.1943
Engineers
- 2nd 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....
- 12th 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....
- 54th 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....
- 219th 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....
Artillery
- 8th 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:...
- 51st 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:...
- 60th (North Midland) 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:...
- 50th Anti-Tank 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:...
- 69th Light Anti-Aircraft/ Anti-Tank 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:...
British 22nd Infantry Brigade
22nd Guards Brigade
The British 22nd Guards Brigade was a British Army unit during the Second World War .-History:The 22nd Infantry Brigade was formed by the conversion of the 29th Infantry Brigade on 3 September 1939 and in March 1940 became responsible for all the troops in the Mersa Matruh Garrison area...
- 3rd Battalion, Coldstream GuardsColdstream GuardsHer Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
- 2nd Battalion, Scots GuardsScots GuardsThe Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
(25 May 1942 - 27 June 1943) - 6th Battalion, Grenadier GuardsGrenadier GuardsThe Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
(7 Oct. 1942 - 17 Nov. 1944) - 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment (14 June 1942 - 22 June 1942)
- 9th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (14 Jan. 1942 - 4 June 1942)
- 1st Battalion, Durham Light InfantryDurham Light InfantryThe Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
British 14th Infantry Brigade
British 14th Infantry Brigade
The British 14th Infantry Brigade was a British Army formation during both the First World War and the Second World War.- World War I :In 1914 this brigade was part of the 5th Division and moved over to France...
- 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own RegimentThe Queen's Own Royal West Kent RegimentThe Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1961. It was formed as The Queen's Own as part of the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 50th Regiment of Foot and the 97th Regiment of Foot...
- 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland HighlandersArgyll and Sutherland HighlandersThe Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
- 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade
- 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire RegimentBedfordshire and Hertfordshire RegimentThe Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment was the final title of an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army originally formed in 1688...
- 2nd Battalion2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster RegimentThe 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment was formed by the redesignation of the 84th Regiment of Foot in 1881.-History:...
, York and Lancaster RegimentYork and Lancaster Regiment-History:It was formed in 1881 through the amalgamation of two other regiments:*65th Regiment*84th RegimentThe title of the regiment was derived not from the cities of York and Lancaster, or from the counties... - 2nd Battalion2nd Battalion, Black WatchThe 2nd Battalion, Black Watch was formed in 1881 when the 42nd Regiment of Foot and the 73rd Regiment of Foot were amalgamated to form the Black Watch ....
, Black WatchBlack WatchThe Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II.... - 7th Battalion, The Royal Leicestershire RegimentRoyal Anglian RegimentThe Royal Anglian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on 1 September 1964 as the first of the new large infantry regiments, through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the East Anglian Brigade.* 1st Battalion from the...
British 16th Infantry Brigade
British 16th Infantry Brigade
The British 16th Infantry Brigade was a British Army formation based in Palestine at the beginning of the Second World War as part of the British 8th Infantry Division. It was later part of the British 6th Infantry Division which was redesignated as the British 70th Infantry Division on 10 October...
- 1st Battalion, The Welch Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Sherwood ForestersSherwood ForestersThe Sherwood Foresters was formed during the Childers Reforms in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 45th Regiment of Foot and the 95th Regiment of Foot...
- 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire RegimentSouth Staffordshire RegimentThe South Staffordshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 38th Regiment of Foot and the 80th Regiment of Foot. In 1959 the regiment was amlagamated with the North Staffordshire Regiment to form the Staffordshire Regiment...
- 2nd Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
- 2nd Battalion, The Royal Leicestershire Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment
British 23rd Infantry Brigade
British 23rd Infantry Brigade
The British 23rd Infantry Brigade was a Second World War infantry brigade which saw active service in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign, the Western Desert Campaign and the Burma Campaign.-History:...
- 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex RegimentRoyal Sussex RegimentThe Royal Sussex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1966. The regiment was formed as part of the Childers reforms by the amalgamation of the 35th Regiment of Foot and the 107th Regiment of Foot...
- 1st Battalion, Essex RegimentEssex RegimentThe Essex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army that saw active service from 1881 to 1958. Members of the regiment were recruited from across Essex county. Its lineage is continued by the Royal Anglian Regiment.-Origins:...
- 1st Battalion, Durham Light InfantryDurham Light InfantryThe Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
- 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's RegimentThe Duke of Wellington's RegimentThe Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
- 4th Battalion, Border RegimentBorder RegimentThe Border Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 34th Regiment of Foot and the 55th Regiment of Foot....
Twenty-First Century
On 26 July 2007 the Secretary of State for Defence announced that a new 'HQ 6 Division' would reform to direct the International Security Assistance ForceInternational Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
's Regional Command South in Afghanistan. Des Browne
Des Browne
Desmond Henry Browne, Baron Browne of Ladyton is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Kilmarnock and Loudoun from 1997 to 2010...
said 'In order to meet these temporary demands we have decided to augment the forces’ command structure, and will temporarily establish an additional 2-Star deployable HQ. It will be based in York and will be known as HQ 6 Division, with a core of 55 Service personnel, drawn from existing structures. We will keep our planning assumption under review but currently we assess this HQ will be established until 2011.' Major General J D Page
Jonathan David Page
Major General Jonathan David Page CB OBE is a British Army General.-Military career:He joined the British Army in 1981, commissioned into the Parachute Regiment...
OBE took command of the new HQ with effect from 1 February 2008.
The new divisional headquarters, Headquarters 6th (United Kingdom) Division, marked its formation with a parade and flag presentation in York 5 August 2008. It had a clear focus on preparing brigades for Afghanistan and was based at Imphal Barracks, Fulford
Fulford
Fulford is a historic village and civil parish on the outskirts of York, England. Situated to the south of the city, on the east bank of the River Ouse, it was the site of the 11th century Battle of Fulford...
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.During summer 2009, the divisional headquarters was significantly reinforced and transformed into Combined Joint Task Force 6 before deploying to Afghanistan as Regional Command South
Regional Command South
Regional Command is a multinational military formation, part of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. It is responsible for provincial reconstruction and security in Kandahar, Lashkar Gah, Qalat and Tarin Kowt. The Command also has responsibility for the provinces of Nimruz...
in November 2009.
The division headquarters closed in April 2011.
General Officers Commanding
Commanders have included:- 1905-1906 Major-General Arthur WynneArthur Wynne (British Army officer)General Sir Arthur Singleton Wynne GCB was a senior British Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary.-Military career:...
- 1906-1907 Major-General Theodore StephensonTheodore StephensonMajor-General Theodore Edward Stephenson CB was a British Army officer who commanded 2nd Division.-Military career:Educated at Marlborough College, Stephenson was commissioned into the 56th Regiment of Foot in 1874. He served in the Second Boer War in which he commanded a column which took part in...
- 1907-1909 Major-General Lawrence ParsonsLawrence Parsons (British Army officer)Lieutenant General Sir Lawrence Worthington Parsons KCB was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding 6th Division.-Military career:...
- 1909-1910 Major-General Charles MetcalfeCharles Metcalfe (British Army officer)Major-General Charles Theophilus Evelyn Metcalfe CB was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding 6th Division.-Military career:...
- 1910-1914 Major-General William Pulteney
- 1914-1915 Major-General John KeirJohn KeirLieutenant General Sir John Lindesay Keir KCB was a British Army officer during the Boer War and the First World War. After early service in the Royal Artillery, he commanded the 6th Division in the British Expeditionary Force when it was mobilised in 1914, and was later promoted to lead VI Corps...
- May 1915-Nov 1915 Major-General Walter CongreveWalter Norris CongreveGeneral Sir Walter Norris Congreve VC KCB MVO DL was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
- 1915-1917 Major-General Charles RossCharles Ross (British Army officer)Major-General Charles Ross , CB, DSO, was a British Army officer, active during the Boer War and the First World War, where he commanded 6th Division from 1915 to 1917...
- 1917-1919 Major-General Thomas MardenThomas MardenMajor General Sir Thomas Owen Marden KBE, CB, CMG was a British Army officer, active during the Boer War and the First World War, where he commanded a battalion of the Welch Regiment, a brigade, and finally 6th Division...
- 1919-1922 Major-General Sir Peter StricklandPeter StricklandLieutenant-General Sir Peter Strickland KCB KBE CMG DSO was a British Army officer who commanded 1st Infantry Division during World War I.-Military career:...
- 1939-1940 Major-General Richard O'ConnorRichard O'ConnorGeneral Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor KT, GCB, DSO & Bar, MC, ADC was a British Army general who commanded the Western Desert Force in the early years of World War II...
- Jan 1941-Sep 1941 John EvettsJohn Fullerton EvettsLieutenant-General Sir John Fullerton Evetts CB, CBE, MC was a career soldier of the British Army.-Military career:Educated at Lancing College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Evetts was commissioned into The Cameronians in 1911.He fought on the Western Front during World War I, and was...
- 2008-2009 Major-General Jacko Page
- 2009-2011 Major-General Nick CarterNick Carter (British Army officer)Major General Nicholas Patrick "Nick" Carter CBE DSO is a senior British Army officer and formerly Commander of combined forces, including British Forces, in Southern Afghanistan.-Military career:...