The British Infantry Division, 1943 to 1945
Divisional Troops
Divisional Headquarters
Defence and Employment Platoon
Field Security Section
Divisional Signals
Reconnaissance Regiment - click on the
Support Battalion (from mid 1943 to early 1944) - see below
Superseded by;
Machine Gun Battalion (from early 1944 onwards) - with thirty six Vickers medium machine guns, divided into three Companies, with three Platoons of four MMGs per Company. Also one Heavy Mortar Company with sixteen 4.2-in mortars, divided into four Platoons of four mortars each.
Three Infantry Brigades, each comprised of;
Brigade Headquarters
Ground Defence Platoon
Three Infantry Battalions - click on The British Infantry Battalion 1943 to 1945 link for more detail.
Divisional Artillery
Headquarters, Divisional Artillery
Counter Mortar Officer - added by Divisions first in Italy then in Northwest Europe from mid 1944.
Three Field Regiments - each with twenty four towed 25-pdr guns divided into three Batteries, with two Troops of four guns per Battery.
Anti-tank Regiment - see below
Light Anti-aircraft Regiment - with fifty four towed 40-mm light anti-aircraft guns, divided into three Batteries, with three Troops of six guns per Battery. Additionally, each Battery was reinforced by one Troop of eight truck mounted 20-mm light anti-aircraft guns for the early part of Normandy campaign. These Troops were subsequently disbanded during July 1944, and were not implemented in Italy.
Divisional Engineers
Headquarters, Divisional Engineers
Three Field Companies
Field Park Company
Bridging Platoon (from mid 1943)
Supply and Transport
Headquarters, Commander, Royal Army Service Corps
Three Infantry Brigade Companies
Divisional Troops Company
Medical
Three Field Ambulances
Two Field Dressing Stations
Field Hygiene Section
Ordnance
Divisional Ordnance Field Park (from 1944)
Repair
Headquarters, Commander Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Three Infantry Brigade Workshops
Light Aid Detachments
Miscellaneous
Divisional Provost Company
Divisional Postal Unit
Points of note
In mid 1943 the previous Machine Gun Battalions began to be replaced by Support Battalions. A Support Battalion had one Brigade Support Group per Infantry Brigade in the Division.
Each Brigade Support Group had three Companies. The first had twelve Vickers medium machine guns in three Platoons of four guns each. The second had eight 4.2-in mortars in two Platoons of four weapons each. The third had sixteen 20-mm light anti-aircraft guns in four Platoons of four guns each.
Support Battalions operated with several Divisions in Italy, where the 20-mm light anti-aircraft guns were largely dispensed with. In February 1944 the Machine Gun Battalion (as described above) was reintroduced, mixing Vickers MMGs and 4.2-in mortars, and it was this organisation that was used throughout in Northwest Europe. All the Support Battalions in Italy had converted to the Machine Gun Battalion organisation by the end of July 1944.
The Anti-tank Regiment also underwent numerous modifications. From early 1943 it had thirty two towed 6-pdr and sixteen towed 17-pdr guns. These were divided into four Batteries, each with two 6-pdr and one 17-pdr Troops, with four guns per Troop of the relevant calibre. This was amended in early 1944 for Divisions that would operate in Northwest Europe. The ratio of 6-pdr guns to 17-pdr guns was reversed, giving each Regiment thirty two towed 17-pdr and sixteen towed 6-pdr guns, with two 17-pdr and one 6-pdr Troop in each Battery. Regiments in Italy began to adopt the new establishments during July 1944.
By late 1944 and into early 1945 however, further variations began to appear, largely as a result of the introduction of self-propelled 17-pdr guns in Northwest Europe. There were also different establishments for those Regiments taking part in the Normandy assault, and local amendments made both in Italy and Northwest Europe.
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