50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division

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50th (Northumbrian) Division
Active World War II
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Type Infantry
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Maj. Gen. William Ramsden

The 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division was a 1st Line Territorial Army division during the Second World War. Its unit badge had two Ts, to represent the two boundaries to its recruitment area, the rivers Tyne and Tees.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] 1939-40

Active in 1939 as a Motor division, this formation was sent to France in 1940, with the 25th Infantry Brigade attached and was involved in the evacuation at Dunkirk. It then remained in Britain until 22 April 1941, when it was sent to North Africa, reinforced by the 69th Infantry Brigade from the disbanded 23rd (Northumbrian) Infantry Division.

[edit] North Africa and Sicily

It saw service in the Western Desert Campaign, losing one of its brigades (150th Infantry Brigade) at Gazala. It later took part in the retreat to El Alamein, where it was held in reserve because it was understrength. In the 2nd Battle of El Alamein, it was initially deployed in the south, where it was to attack the Italian Folgore (Airborne) Division, supported by elements of the British 7th Armoured Division. Since it was understrength, owing to the loss of one of its brigades (the 150th), the 1st Free French Brigade and 1st Greek Brigade were attached to it for the battle. It was then transferred north to take part in Operation Supercharge.

The division fought in Tunisia, where it assaulted the Wadi Akrit position, and then was involved in the Sicily landings of 1943, where it landed at Avola. The 168th Infantry Brigade was attached from the 56th Infantry Division during this campaign.

[edit] Northwest Europe

On 19 October 1943 the division was withdrawn to Britain for reforming and training before landing on Gold Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, with the 231st Infantry Brigade (previously an independent unit formed from regular troops stationed on Malta) permanently attached, and the 56th Infantry Brigade temporarily attached (eventually, the 56th would be transferred to the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division. It was considered to have performed very well in Normandy; in fact, out of the three divisions that were veterans of the desert (the others being 7th Armoured Division and 51st Highland), it was considered to have performed the best. It was one of the driving forces behind the British advance, and was exhausted by the end of the battle. It later played a minor role in Operation Market Garden, where the 231st Brigade was detached to help support the advance of Guards Armoured. The division stayed in northwest Europe until December 1944, when it was again returned to Britain, this time for the remainder of the war, and was converted into a training division. At the end of the war, it was sent to Norway, and converted into British Ground Forces, Norway.

[edit] Commanders

  • Maj. Gen. G. Le Q Martel
  • Maj. Gen. W. H. Ramsden
  • Maj. Gen. J. S. Nichols
  • Maj. Gen. S. C. Kirkman
  • Maj. Gen. D. A. H. Graham
  • Maj. Gen. L. O. Lynne

[edit] Order of Battle

[edit] 69th Infantry Brigade

Main article: 69th Infantry Brigade

[edit] 150th Infantry Brigade

Main article: 150th Infantry Brigade

(this brigade overrun in North Africa and not re-formed)

[edit] 151st Infantry Brigade

Main article: 151st Infantry Brigade

[edit] 168th Infantry Brigade

(temporarily attached during the invasion of Sicily)

[edit] 231st Infantry Brigade

Main article: 231st Infantry Brigade

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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