1st Commonwealth Division

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The 1st Commonwealth Division was the name given, after July 1951, to Commonwealth land forces in the Korean War. The division was a multinational unit that was part of British Commonwealth Forces Korea.

The division was preceded by the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade, which was the initial parent formation of Commonwealth army units in Korea. The brigade arrived in August 1950. The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) became part of the brigade in September, as did the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), in February 1951.The brigade was re-constituted as 28th Commonwealth Brigade in April 1951.

In November 1950 the brigade had been joined by 29th Independent Infantry Brigade, and in May 1951 by 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade: In July 1951 these units were combined to form 1st Commonwealth Division.

British and Canadian Army units dominated the 1st Commonwealth Division numerically. Australian Army infantry and New Zealand Army artillery units were also involved. The division was deactivated in 1954 as part of the demobilisation of forces in Korea in the aftermath of the war.

1 Commanding officer
2 Divisional artillery commanding officer
3 Order of battle
4 Notes

[edit] Commanding officer

Major General James Cassels, July 28, 1951 - September 7, 1952
Major General Michael Alston-Roberts-West, September 7, 1952-1953

[edit] Divisional artillery commanding officer

Brigadier William Pike July 1951-1952
Brigadier G. Gregson 1952

[edit] Order of battle

Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Commonwealth Division
- 1st Commonwealth Division Signals, July 1951-July 1953
- 45th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, July-November 1951
- 11th (Sphinx) Battery, Royal Artillery, July-November 1951
- 170th Light Battery, Royal Artillery, July-November 1951
- 14th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, November 1951-December 1952
- 120th Light AA Battery, Royal Artillery, October 1951-December 1952
- 42nd Light AA Battery, Royal Artillery, November 1951-February 1952
- 61st Light Field Regiment, January 1952-July 1953
- 20th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, December 1952-July 1953
- 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery, July 1951-July 1953
- 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, July 1951-May 1952
- 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, May 1952-April 1953
- 81st Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, April 1953-July 1953
- 1903 Independent Air Observation Post Flight, Royal Artillery, July 1951-July 1953
- 28th Field Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, July 1951-July 1953
- 64th Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers, July 1951-July 1953
- 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, July 1951-December 1951
- C Squadron, 7th Royal Tank Regiment, July 1951-October 1951
- 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, December 1951-December 1952
- 1st Royal Tank Regiment, December 1952-July 1953
- 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, April 1952-March 1953
  - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, February 1951-April 1952
  - 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment
  - 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, October 1951-November 1952
  - 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, July 1951-November 1952
  - 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, March 1953-July 1953
  - 1st Battalion, Le Royal 22^e Régiment, April 1952-April 1953
  - 2nd Battalion, Le Royal 22^e Régiment, July 1951-April 1952
  - 3rd Battalion, Le Royal 22^e Régiment, April 1953-July 1953
- 28th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, July 1951-August 1952
  - 1st Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry, July 1951-September 1952
  - 1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, August 1952-July 1953
  - 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, September 1952-July 1953
  - 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), July 1951-July 1953^[1]
  - 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR), June 1952-March 1953
  - 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR), April 1953-July 1953
- 29th Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, July 1951-October 1951^[2]
  - 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment, July 1951-November 1951^[3]
  - 1st Battalion, The Royal Ulster Rifles, July 1951-October 1951^[4]
  - 1st Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment, October 1951-September 1952
  - 1st Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment, October 1952-June 1952
  - 1st Battalion, The Welch Regiment, November 1951-November 1952
  - 1st Battalion, The Black Watch, June 1952-July 1953
  - 1st Battalion, The King's Regiment (Liverpool), September 1952-July 1953
  - 1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, September 1952-July 1953
  - 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots, July 1953

[edit] Notes

^ From September 1950 to July 1951 3rd RAR was part of 27th British Commonwealth Brigade
^ From November 1950 to July 1951,1stRNF was part of 29th Independent Infantry Brigade
^ From November 1950 to July 1951,1st Glosters was part of 29th Independent Infantry Brigade
^ From November 1950 to July 1951,1stRUR was part of 29th Independent Infantry Brigade