British VIII Corps

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

The British VIII Corps was an army corps formation that existed during World War I and World War II.

[edit] World War I

The VIII Corps was first formed at Gallipoli during World War I. The main British battle front was at Cape Helles on the tip of the Gallipoli peninsula. As the battle became protracted, more British division arrived as reinforcements. In May 1915, these divisions were arranged as the British Army Corps which was then redesignated as the VIII Corps in June. The corps commander was Lieutenant General Aylmer Hunter-Weston. When Hunter-Weston relinquished command due to illness, the corps was commanded by General Francis Davies.

During the Gallipoli campaign, the corps contained the following units:

After the evacuation of Gallipoli, the corps was reformed in France in March 1916, once again under the command of Hunter-Weston. It participated in the Battle of the Somme. The corps was disbanded in June 1918 when Hunter-Weston moved to the XVIII Corps but this corps was then redesignated as the VIII Corps in July 1918.

[edit] World War II

VIII Corps fought on the western front in 1944 and 1945 as part of Second Army. From January 21 to November 27 1944 it was commanded by Lt. General Richard O'Connor. At the start of the Normandy Campaign it comprised:

It would play a major role in Operations Epsom, Jupiter, Goodwood and Bluecoat before being reduced in size and moved to the reserve prior to the breakout from Normandy. The Corps fought in Operation Market Garden, capturing the Dutch towns of Deurne and Helmond. And took part in the advance on Venraij and Venlo ( Operation Constellation ) beginning on October 12 1944. VIII Corps would later go on to cross the Elbe, occupy Plon in Schleswig-Holstein and take part in Operation Plunder.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../b/r/i/British_VIII_Corps_4c55.html"