I Corps (United Kingdom)

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I Corps
Active World War I, World War II, 1951-1994
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Type Field corps

The British I Corps is a military formation.

It has a long history, and was in existence as an active formation in the British Army for longer than any other corps.

[edit] World Wars I and II

During World War I it was part of the original British Expeditionary Force, under the command of Sir Douglas Haig, and remained on the Western Front throughout the war.

During World War II, its first assignment was to the British Expeditionary Force where it was commanded by General Dill. Along with virtually the whole of that force, it was evacuated from Dunkirk after the Germans broke through Allied lines. I Corps then remained in the United Kingdom until the landings in Normandy for Operation Overlord. It was assigned to Second Army in 21st Army Group for most of the campaign in France, the Low Countries and Germany, under the command of Lieutenant General Crocker.

[edit] British Army of the Rhine

After the defeat of Germany, 21st Army Group became the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), and I Corps was transformed into a corps district, with an administrative, rather than combat, role. It was disbanded in 1947.

However, in October 1951 the corps was reactivated to become the principal combat element of the BAOR, with its HQ based in Bielefeld. In March 1952, following the reactivation of 6th Armoured Division, its component formations were:

In a following 1958-60 reorganisation the Corps was formed into three mixed armour/infantry divisions including five brigade groups, which were in 1965 brought together into three centralised divisions. With the end of National Service manpower across the whole of BAOR dropped from around 77,000 to 55,000.

In the late 1970s the Corps was reorganised as four small five battle group armoured divisions plus a roughly brigade sized infantry 'Field Force'. It then comprised:

Following the 1981-3 reorganisation, the Corps consisted of 1st and 4th Armoured Divisions, which would have manned the front line against the anticipated attack by the Soviet 3rd Shock Army, plus in an in-depth, reserve role the 3rd Armoured Division and finally the 2nd Infantry Division which was tasked with rear-area security.

With the end of the Cold War, I (BR) Corps was redesignated in 1992 as a NATO Rapid Reaction Corps under SACEUR and renamed as Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps. HQ ARRC moved to Rheindahlen in 1994.

[edit] References and Sources

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