British 23rd (Northumbrian) Division

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The 23rd (Northumbrian) Division was a 2nd Line Territorial Army duplicate of the British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division during the Second World War.

23rd (Northumbrian) Division
Active	World War I
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Territorial Army
Type	Infantry
Battles/wars	Battle of France

1 History
2 Commanders
3 Component Units
4 External Links

[edit] History

The 23rd Northumbrian Division was raised in October 1939, and was sent to France on 22nd April 1940 on Labour and training duties, without any of its artillery , signals, or administration units.

On 20th May 1940 the division suffered heavy casualties trying to delay the German advance at Arras. On its return to Britain, after Dunkirk, the 23rd Division was disbanded due to the heavy losses it had suffered. Ironically both of its infantry brigades would still survive till 1944 and see action in Normandy. The 70th being apart of the 49th Division and the 69th having seen action in the desert prior to Normandy as a part of the 50th Northumbrian Division .