50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 50th (Northumbrian) Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | World War II |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Part of | XXX Corps |
| Engagements | Fall of France Arras Ypres-Comines Canal Dunkirk Mersa Matruh Akarit Battle of Gazala Second Battle of El Alamein Mareth Line Operation Husky D Day Invasion of Normandy Operation Perch Battle for Caen Operation Bluecoat Operation Pugilist Operation Market Garden Enfidaville Nederrijn |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
. |
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
In 1939 50th (Northumbrian) Motorised Division , part of Southern Command. In June 1940, it was reorganized as an Infantry Division and joined the British II Corps of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) over in Belgium. The Division was heavily committed during the withdrawal to Dunkirk, and also took part in the British counter-attack at Arras.
[edit] Order of Battle France 1940
50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division - (Major-General G. Le Q. Martel)
| 25th Infantry Brigade | 151st Infantry Brigade | 150th Infantry Brigade | Artillery | Engineers | Divisional Troops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st/7th Btn The Queen's Royal Regiment | 6th Btn,The Durham Light Infantry | 4th Btn The Green Howards | 72nd Field Regiment | 232nd Field Company | 4th Btn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
(Motorcycle Battalion) |
| 2nd Btn, The Essex Regiment | 8th Btn The Durham Light Infantry | 5th Btn The Green Howards | 74th Field Regiment | 505th Field Company | |
| 1st Btn, The Royal Irish Fusiliers | 9th Btn, The Durham light Infantry | 4th Btn, East Yorkshire Regiment | 92nd Field Regiment | 235th Field Park Company | |
| 25th Brigade
Anti-Tank Company |
151st Brigade
Anti-Tank Company |
150th Brigade
Anti-Tank Company |
65th,Anti-Tank Regiment | ||
[edit] Attack at Arras
A serious situation had developed to the South where the German spearheads had had pierced the Peronne – Cambrai gap and were threatening Boulogne and Calais , cutting the B.E.F.s lines of Communication and separating it from the main French Armies. A plan by General Weygand to close this gap included Frank Force consisting of the 5th and 50th Divisions and the 1st Army Tank Brigade. The British 5th Infantry Division was to hold the line of the river Scarpe to the East of Arras, while the other two formations attacked to the South of that city. During the afternoon of 21 May, the attack by the 50th Division and the 1st Tank Brigade was seen progressing South from Arras. This was to be the only large scale attack mounted by the B.E.F. during the campaign. The attack was supposed to be manned by two infantry divisions, comprising about 15,000 men. It was ultimately executed by just two infantry battalions, the 6th & 8th Battalions Durham Light Infantry supporting the 4th & 7th Royal Tank Regiment, totalling around 2,000 men, and reinforced by 74 tanks. The infantry battalions were split into two columns for the attack, which took place on 21 May. The right column initially made rapid progress, taking a number of German prisoners, but they soon ran into German infantry and SS, backed by air support, and took heavy losses. The left column also enjoyed early success before running into opposition from the infantry units of Erwin Rommel's 7th Panzer Division. French cover enabled British troops to withdraw to their former positions that night. Frankforce was over, and the next day the Germans regrouped and continued their advance. Frankforce took around 400 German prisoners and inflicted a similar number of casualties, as well as destroying a number of tanks. The operation had punched far beyond its weight - the attack was so fierce that 7th Panzer Division believed it had been attacked by five infantry divisions. The attack also made the German commanders nervous, and it may have been one of the factors for the surprise German halt on 24 May, that gave the BEF the slimmest of opportunities to begin evacuation from Dunkirk. Luckily most of the Division was fortunate enough to get out at Dunkirk, but had to leave all its equipment behind. On returning home it 150th Infantry Brigade and 151st Infantry Brigade was joined by the 69th Infantry Brigade from the now disbanded 23rd (Northumbrian) Division, and become part of IIX Corps, British Home Forces. It remained in Britain until 22 April 1941, when it was sent to North Africa .
[edit] Order of Battle Frankforce / Arras Attack
| Left Column | Right Column |
|---|---|
| 4th Royal Tank Regiment | 7th Royal Tank Regiment |
| 6th The Durham Light Infantry | 8th The Durham Light Infantry |
| 368th Bty,92nd Field Regiment,R.A. | 365th Bty,92nd Field Regiment,R.A. |
| 206th Bty,52nd Anti-Tank Regiment,R.A. | 260th Bty,65th Anti-Tank Regiment,R.A. |
| One platoon, 151st Brigade Anti-Tank Company | One platoon, 151st Brigade Anti-Tank Company |
| One Coy and One Scout Platoon, 4th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers,(Motor-cycle). | One Scout Platoon,4th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (Motor-cycle). |
[edit] North Africa
In April 1941 the Division was dispatched to the Middle East first via Cyprus, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and then into Libya as part of XIII Corps in the British Eighth Army which was one of the best-known formations in World War II.
Significant units that served in the desert with 50th (Northumbrian) Division , include the, British 7th Armoured Division ("The Desert Rats") , British 1st Armoured Division , British 10th Armoured Division , 51st (Highland) Division , Indian 4th Division , Australian 9th Division ,New Zealand 2nd Division and the 1st Free French Brigade.
In 1942, Rommel's Africa Corps broke through the Allies defensive line at Gazala and the 8th Army ordered them too abandon there positions.
[edit] Battle of Gazala
The "Gazala Line" was a series of occupied "boxes" each of brigade strength set out across the desert with minefields and wire watched by regular patrols between the boxes. The Free French were to the south at the Bir Hakeim box. The line was not equally staffed with a greater number of troops covering the coast leaving the south less protected.
By late May Rommel was ready. Facing him on the Gazala defences were 1st South African Division, nearest the coast, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division (on their left) and 1st Free French Brigade furthest left at Bir Hakeim. The British 1st and 7th Armoured Divisions waited behind the main line as a mobile counter-attacking force while 2nd South African Division formed a garrison at Tobruk and Indian 5th Infantry Division (which had arrived in April to relieve Indian 4th Infantry Division) were held in reserve.
27 May.Although first spotted by the 4th South African Armoured Car Regiment, at first light, the speed of the German advance was so swift that at about 8:30 am on the morning of 27th they overran the 7th Armoured Division HQ. This scattered the 7th Motor Brigade, capturing General Messervy, then commanding. He escaped later the next day. The 7th Motor Brigade , withdrew to the Retma Box, fifteen miles (24 km) east of Bir Hakheim, while 4th Armoured Brigade, fought all day to stem the attackers. The 4th Armoured Brigades, 'B' Echelon was then overrun and the 1st KRRC (kings Royal Rifle Corps) ,had to withdraw to the Retma Box and then on to El Duda. On the same day the 3rd (Indian) Motor Brigade, which was under the control of 7th Armoured Division was also overwhelmed and did not reform for some days. By the afternoon of the 27th, the German attack had shattered the 7th Armoured Division and they were in position to assault the 201st Guards Motor Brigade,in the Knightsbridge Box. Once again the British armour had been committed piecemeal, although in this case there was little other choice.
The Germans now attacked the Box at Retma, which was garrisoned by 9th KRRC, 2nd Rifle Brigade, 'C' Bty 4 RHA (Royal Horse Artillery) ,and a Rhodesian anti-tank unit. Accompanied by heavy artillery fire the Panzers swarmed in, swiftly overrunning the 9th KRRC, with the rest of the garrison then moving back to east of Bir El Gubi.The Germans now pushed their Panzers on to the north, moving behind the Gazala Boxes, but British resistance now stiffened. Thus unable to maintain their supply route round the south flank, the Germans cleared two paths through the minefield either side of the 150th Infantry Brigade Box and very heavy fighting took place in this area which was to become known as The Cauldron. 150th Brigade, with field and anti-tank artillery, held the Sidi Muftah box between the Trigh el Abd and Trigh Capuzzo, along which the enemy cut supply lines through the British minefields. The brigade kept the supply lines under artillery fire and, although it was unable to stop the flow of traffic, it made the route so ineffective that the enemy armoured divisions to the east of the minefields were reduced to a parlous state for petrol, ammunition and food. Their water ration was down to half a cup a man. Against this isolated brigade, the enemy committed parts of 15 Panzer, Trieste Motorised and 90 Light Divisions, supported finally by heavy bombing attacks.
Panzerarmee Afrika said in its daily battle report. "The encircled enemy, supported by numerous infantry tanks, again resisted most stubbornly" , ‘Each separate element within the fortress-like strengthened defences had to be fought for. The enemy suffered extraordinary heavy, bloody losses. Eventually the operation, which also caused considerable losses to our troops, ended in complete success
28 May 4th Armoured Brigade attacked a battle group of the German 90th Light Infantry Division.The 7th Armoured Brigade harried enemy positions near Bir El Gubi. The German 15th Panzer Division, came to halt near the Knightsbridge Box, being seriously low on fuel and ammunition.
29 May the German advance had stopped. The Germans started to open lanes through the British minefield, but they were engaged by artillery from Knightsbridge and the Guard. The Axis awaited the British counter attack in the open desert, east of Knightsbridge, with the British minefields and the Guards box still at their rear. The German plan was for the British tanks to waste themselves against a well dug-in anti-tank screen, but a sandstorm blew up and the British attack did not really develop, with the 4th Armoured Brigade not attacking until the evening to engage the German 90th Light Infantry Division again, near Bir- el Harmat ,(see Battle of Bir-el Harmat 2nd - 11th June).
30 May Rommel had been forced to concentrate his forces in a efensive position near the 150th Infantry Brigade , Box , as his original position was not tenable and various attacks took place all day.
31 May.By now the British thought they had Rommel cornered and he himself contemplated surrender, but the Italian Trieste Division managed to open a route through the minefield and get a supply column to him. As the British had not attacked in any real form, the Axis took the offensive again with a fierce assault on the 150th Infantry Brigade , Box, supported by Stukas, along with attacks on the French in the Bir Hakeim , Box.
1 June The 150th Infantry Brigade Box fell at noon, with the fighting now opening up between the Guards and the Bir Hacheim Boxes. The 7th Motor Brigade, continued operate in "Jock columns" in no-mans land, shooting up enemy positions and transport. Rommel now struck out of his defensive positions in the Cauldron, with the British putting in attack after attack. At this time Major- General Lumsden commanding 1st Armoured Division, attempted to a combine forces with what was left of 7th Armoured Division, but unfortunately this was not possible and a valuable chance to mount a coordinated counter-attack by both Armoured Divisions was lost.
2 June When General Ritchie counter-attacked the British attack was not coordinated, with many units attacking on their own and suffering heavy casualties as a result, particularly against the ant-tank screen.
A typical example of this was how the Axis would wait until the British tanks emerged from a protective smokescreen and then opened fire with anti-tanks, including 88 mm's.
Over the next few days most of the conflict centred around the Cauldron Area.
3 June 22nd Armoured Brigade , is attached to 7th Armoured Division to strengthen its tank forces.
5 June a whirling tank and anti-tank battle took place around the Cauldron.
6 June By the evening the British tank strength was reduced to 170 and when the Axis attacked again they scattered the 7th Armoured Division for the second time in ten days.
7 June By now the British forces were in some disarray, but somehow they resisted his fierce attacks on Bir Hacheim Box on 7th and 8th June.
9 June, The remainder of 4th Armoured Brigade leave the Knightsbridge Box and advance south to attempt to relieve the French at Bir Hacheim, but this attack faltered under the fire from 88 mm guns.
10 June By the evening the Germans finally broke into the Bir Hacheim Box and during that night the Free French withdraw, but leaving much of their equipment behind and although some 1,000 men fell prisoner, over 3,000 escaped to fight again. This left the Axis free to concentrate their attention on the other boxes of the Gazala Line.
12 June The 22nd Armoured and 4th Armoured with caught between the 15th Panzer Division and 21st Panzer Division and suffered badly.
13 June The Knightsbridge Box was cut off. However, the German and Italian forces were tired, but they did overrun the Scots Guards , before the 4th Armouredand 22nd Armoured could counter attack. They did attack in the afternoon, and lost 22 tanks and that night the Guards were able to withdraw from the Knightsbridge Box, in good order. This left the Gazala battlefield to the Axis.
[edit] Withdrawal from the Gazala Line
On 14 June Auchinlek authorised Ritchie to withdraw from the Gazala line. Stuck in boxes to the north of Knightsbridge, cut of by the Axis, who were swarming towards Tobruk.50th Northumbrian and 1st South African,were ordered to break out east while the 15th and 21st Panzer tried to cut them of. The defenders in the El Adem and two neighbouring boxes held firm and the 1st South African Division , was able to withdraw along the coastal road practically intact.[1] The road could not accommodate two divisions so the remaining two brigades of the 50th Northumbrian had to find an alternative. They could not retreat directly east because of the presence of the Axis armour so, instead, they attacked south west breaking through the lines of the Italian X Corps' Brescia and Pavia Divisions and headed south into the desert before turning east and heading back to friendly territory.[2] .Weary units of 7th Armoured Division managed to delay the German armour allowing most of the 50th Northumbrian to escape and the 1st South African Division, withdrawing along the coast road lost only its rearguard. By now most of the 8th Army , was in retreat to the El Alamein line.
15 June By the evening, the 4th Armoured Brigade was reduced to 24 Honeys and 12 Grants and they followed the South Africans east.
16 June At dawn they were back at Sidi Rezegh and El Adem.
17 June ,The 4th Armoured Brigade', along with the 9th Lancers , and 4th CLY attacked a force of 100 enemy tanks and after a fierce battle withdrew to the Egyptian border.
20 June The Axis went on to capture Tobruk on 20th June 1942, to complete the British defeat.
At the end of the Cauldron battles the Germans were reduced to about 44 tanks and with only 2,500 infantry still on their feet. The two Italian Divisions (Ariete and Trieste) had about the same number of infantry and just 14 tanks. Most of the Axis infantry and support troops were using capture British trucks as their own was worn out. General Auchinleck, took direct command of the 8th Army ,from General Ritchie, reversing the earlier decision to stand a Mersa Matruh and ordered a withdraw to the secure line between the Qattara Depression and El Alamein.
26 June Meanwhile, even in their depleted state the Germans and Italians still were advancing and launched another attack on the British rear.
27 June , Mersa Matruh fell. By now the Western Desert was a full of mixed up units all heading east, and with both sides using east others transport it was difficult for both air forces to know who to attack and mistakes were made by both sides. This retreat became known as the 'Gazala Gallop' .
1 July After attacking west througth the Italian Lines and then swinging east behind Rommels forces all the remaining units of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division were on or behind the Alamein Line.
50th Northumbrian did not take part in the first El Alamein, where it was held in reserve because it was understrength
[edit] Second Battle of El Alamein
The Battle of El Alamein is usually divided into five phases, consisting of the break-in (October 23-24), the crumbling (October 24-25), the counter (October 26-28), Operation Supercharge (November 1-2) and the breakout (November 3-7). No name is given to the period from October 29 to the 30th when the battle was at a standstill.
In the 2nd Battle of El Alamein, 5Oth (Northumbrian) Division , was initially deployed in the south, where it was to attack the Italian 185th Parachute Division Folgore , 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.
[edit] Operation Supercharge
This phase of the battle began on November 2 at 1 a.m., with the objective of destroying enemy armour, forcing the enemy to fight in the open, reducing the Axis stock of petrol, attacking and occupying enemy supply routes, and causing the disintegration of the enemy army. The intensity and the destruction in Supercharge were greater than anything witnessed so far during this battle. The objective of this operation was Tell el Aqqaqir along the Rahman Track, which was the base of the Axis defence.This attack started with a seven hour aerial bombardment focused on Tell el Aqqaqir and Sidi Abdel Rahman, followed by a four and a half hour barrage of 360 guns firing 15,000 shells. The initial thrust of Supercharge was to be carried out by 151st and 152nd Infantry Brigade supported by British 9th Armoured Brigade.
The infantry gained most of their objectives, but as with Operation Lightfoot , lanes could not be cleared through the minefields until night was almost over
[edit] Tunisia , Operation Pugilist
[edit] First assault on the Mareth Line
On 19 March 1943 XXX Corps of the British Eighth Army under General Bernard Montgomery now part of 18th Army Group , assaulted the Mareth Line. The 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, with difficulty, penetrated the Italian held line near Zarat. The terrain and heavy rain, however, prevented deployment of tanks and anti-tank guns and the 15th Panzer Division's counter-attack on 22 March recaptured much of the bridgehead.
Soon after, XXX Corps prepared a new attack towards Tallouf. The 4th Indian Infantry Division was detailed to make a night attack on 23 March around the left-hand end of the Line. This would coincide with the wide "left hook" manoeuver Montgomery was planning.
The division fought in Tunisia, where Montgomery launched his major attack, Operation Pugilist, against the Mareth Line in the night of 19 March/20 March 1943. Elements of the British 50th Infantry Division penetrated the line and established a bridgehead west of Zarat on 20 March/21 March, but a determined counterattack by 15th Panzer Division destroyed the pocket and established the line once again during 22 March.
[edit] Gabes
Both the Eighth Army and the U.S. II Corps continued their attacks over the next week, and eventually the 8th broke the lines and the DAK was forced to abandon Gabes and retreat to join the other Axis forces far to the north. On the night of 5 April, Wadi Akarit , was attacked and the "Tobruk" Battalion of the Italian San Marco Marines , was destroyed, although casualties among the 6th Green Howards had been severe; two senior officers, six senior NCO's and junior officers and one hundred and eighteen other ranks killed. [1]
"When we were about ten yards away we had reached the top of the slit trench and we killed any of the survivors," recalled British infantryman Bill Cheall of the 6th Green Howards, who had just seen his section leader shot down by a San Marco Marine. "It was no time for pussy footing, we were intoxicated with rage and had to kill them to pay for our fallen pal." [2]
German General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim later said of the San Marco Marines fighting abilities in Tunisia in 1943, that they were "the best soldiers I ever commanded". *[3]
Eighth Army's attack along the eastern coast of Tunisia ,lead eventually to the surrender of Axis forces in Africa. 250,000 men were taken prisoner, a number equal to that at Stalingrad.
[edit] Order of Battle Egypt & Tunisia
50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division ,Major General W. H. Ramsden
| 69th Infantry Brigade | 151st Infantry Brigade | 150th Infantry Brigade,(Destroyed at Gazala) | 1st Free French Brigade | 1st Greek Infantry Brigade | Artillery | Engineers | Divisional Troops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th Btn,The East Yorkshire Regiment | 6th Btn,The Durham Light Infantry | 4th Btn Green Howards | 2nd Btn The French Foreign Legion | 1st Greek Infantry Battalion | 74th Field Regiment | 233 Field Company | 2nd Btn,The Cheshire Regiment (MG Battalion) |
| 6th Btn,The Green Howards | 8th Btn The Durham Light Infantry | 5th Btn The Green Howards | 3rd Btn The French Foreign Legion | 2nd Greek Infantry Battalion | 90th Field Regiment | 501st Field Company | |
| 7th Btn, The Green Howards | 9th Btn, The Durham light Infantry | 4th Btn, East Yorkshire Regiment | 22nd,North African March Battalion | 3rd Greek Infantry Battalion | 124th Field Regiment | 505th Field Company | |
| One Btn,Fusiliers Marins | 1st Greek Artillery Battalion | 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment | 235th Field Park Company | ||||
| One Marine Infantry Battalion | 1st Greek Machine Gun Company | 25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment | |||||
| 17th Sappers Company | 1st Greek Engineer Company | ||||||
| 1st Artillery Regiment |
[edit] Battle of Sicily
After Tunisia the Division was involved in the Sicily landings of 1943,Eighth Army , The latter was to operate in the eastern sector, and had as its objectives the port of Syracuse and the airfield at Pachino. Its XIII Corps , (which included 50th (Northumbrian) Division) , was to land south of Cap Murro Di Porco with 5th Division on a two-brigade front, 50th (Northumbrian) Division on a one-brigade front. XXX Corps , would operate on three sides of Passero, where the British 231st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division would advance on a one brigade front, while Canadian 1st Division would do so on a two brigade front, next to the 40th and 41st Royal Marine , British Commando. XIII Corps , was to move on to the port and airfield at Augusta , thence to the airfields at Catania and Gerbini. XXX Corps would effect a junction with the right flank of U.S. Seventh Army . When it landed at Avola there objective was the hills above the landing beaches. The 168th (London) Infantry Brigade was attached from the 56th Infantry Division during this campaign.The British 151st Infantry Brigade was ordered to advance towards Primosole Bridge. The order was for the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry , to lead the way to the Simeto River on which the Primosole Bridge stood.Primosole Bridge was a key bridge on the Sicilian coast near Mount Etna which the British required intact to continue their drive along the coast. As part of the overall plan 3 British Commando battalion were to capture the Ponti di Malati , another bridge just north of Lentini , to enable the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and 4th Armoured Brigade to sweep north over both bridges and then on to Catania.1st and 2nd Parachute Regiment took the southern approaches, but 3rd Para lacked the numbers to secure the northern approach.Heavily outnumbered, the handful of Paras were forced to abandon the bridge after 24 hours, which was longer than the entire Brigade was supposed to hold it, and were saved from destruction by the arrival of 9th Durham Light Infantry. On 16 July 1943 at 01:30, after an artillery bombardment of an hour, the Durham Light Infantry 6th, 8th and 9th battalions of 151st Brigade launched another attack to secure Primosole Bridge. They captured the north end of the Bridge but tanks and infantry scheduled to cross immediately afterwards to establish a bridgehead failed to do so because of the failure of British wireless sets.Only when a War Office observer riding a bicycle crossed the bridge to 'observe' the battle and was able to report with news of the success of the DLI did the tanks get forward. However, the northern side of the bridge became a tank graveyard in which five Sherman tanks were knocked out. Meanwhile the infantry clung tenaciously to the small bridgehead established and fierce hand-to-hand fighting continued throughout the day .After Sicily the Division was then recalled from the 8th Army in Italy, on the wishes of the 8th Army's ex-commander, General Bernard Law Montgomery, together with 7th Armoured Division and 51st (Highland) Division, to prepare for the invasion of North-West Europe.
[edit] Salerno Mutiny
The invasion of Italy and the Salerno Landings was notable for The Salerno Mutiny was a mutiny by about 600 men of the British X Corps, who on 16 September , 1943 refused assignment to new units as replacements during the Allied invasion of Italy.It was, specifically, men from the British 51st (Highland) Division and the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, including some veterans of the war in North Africa. About 1500 of them had sailed from Tripoli, on the understanding that they were to join the rest of their units, based in Sicily. Instead, once aboard ship, they were told that they were being taken to Salerno, to join the 46th Division, fighting as part of Lieut.-General Mark Clark's U.S. Fifth Army. Many of the soldiers felt they had been deliberately misled.Matters were made worse by the total lack of organisation when they reached Salerno, leaving them angry and frustrated. Most of the soldiers, a thousand or so fresh recruits, were taken off to join new units, leaving 500 veterans, 300 of whom were moved to a nearby field. They were still there by 20 September , refusing postings to unfamiliar units. They were addressed by the commander of X Corps, Lieut.-General Richard McCreery, who admitted that a mistake had been made, and promised that they would rejoin their old units once Salerno was secure. The men were also warned of the consequences of mutiny in wartime.Of the three hundred in the field, 108 decided to follow orders, leaving a hard core of 192. They were all charged with mutiny under the Army Act, the largest number of men accused at any one time in all of British military history. The accused were shipped to Algeria, where the courts-martial opened towards the end of October. All were found guilty, and three sergeants were sentenced to death. The sentences were subsequently suspended, though the men faced constant harassment for the rest of their military careers
[edit] Order of Battle Sicily
British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division Commanded by Major-General S. C. Kirkman .
| 69th Infantry Brigade | 151st Infantry Brigade | 168th (London) Brigade | Artillery | Engineers | Divisional Troops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th Btn, The East Yorkshire Regiment | 6th Btn,The Durham Light Infantry | 10th Battalion,The Royal Berkshire Regiment | 74th Field Regiment | 233 Field Company | 44th Royal Tank Regiment(attached for landings) |
| 6th Btn,The Green Howards | 8th Btn The Durham Light Infantry | 1st Battalion, London Irish Rifles | 90th Field Regiment | 501st Field Company | 2nd Btn The Cheshire Regiment (MG Battalion) |
| 7th Btn, The Green Howards | 9th Btn, The Durham light Infantry | 1st Battalion, London Scottish Regiment | 124th Field Regiment | 505th Field Company | |
| 1st/7th Btn TheQueen's Royal Regiment | 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment | 235th Field Park Company | |||
| 25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
[edit] Operation Overlord
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.
[edit] Objectives
The 50th (Northumbrian)Infantry Division will establish a beachhead between Arromanches and Ver-sur-Mer and then head south towards Route Nationale 13 linking Caen with Bayeux. The first wave is made of the 231st and 69th Infantry Brigades. Once the initial assault is over and the beachhead established, the follow-up brigades the 56th and 151st will push inland to the south-west towards RN 13 supported by the tanks of the 8th Armoured Brigade. To the west, the 47 Royal Marine Commando's mission is to capture Port-en-Bessin and link-up with U.S. forces landed on Omaha Beach. The 50th Infantry Division will also meet up with Canadian troops coming from Juno Beach.
[edit] Gold Beach
Gold Beach was the Allied codename for the centre invasion beach during the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944. It lay between Omaha Beach and Juno Beach, was 8 km wide and divided into four sectors. From West to East they were Item, Jig, King, and Love.
The task of invading Gold Beach was given to the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division commanded by Major General Douglas Alexander Graham, and the British 8th Armoured Brigade of the British 2nd Army , under Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey. The beach was assaulted in multiple brigades of the 50th Infantry Division; on the West was the 231st Brigade, followed by the 56th Brigade, attached to this was a regiment of DD tanks from the The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers), the infantry assault battalions that attacked in the West were; the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment, and the 1st Battalion Dorset Regiment. On the East 69th Brigade, followed by 151st Brigade, again a regiment of DD tanks was attached, they were from the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, the infantry assault battalions that attacked in the East were; the 5th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, and the 6th Battalion The Green Howards. Their primary objective was to seize the town of Bayeux, the Caen-Bayeux road, and the port of Arromanches with the secondary objectives being to make contact with the Americans landing at Omaha Beach to the West and the Canadians landing at Juno Beach to the East. The 716th Static Infantry Division commanded by Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter, and elements of the 1st Battalion of the German 352nd Infantry Division commanded by Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiss, defended the Channel coast for the Germans.H-Hour for the Gold beach landing was set for 0725 hours,
At 0725 hours, the 50th (Northumbrian) Division assault landed Gold beach with the objective of taking the beach, then moving to Bayeux and making a rendezvous with the American troops at Omaha beach. The landing crafts were deployed seven miles (11 km) off the beach, compared to the American ones that were deployed 12 miles (19 km) off the beaches, this meant they had a shorter run in.
It was decided that the DD-tanks would go all the way up to shore instead of floating ashore and thus, the men had cover.The successful launch of almost every DD-tank onto the beach in fighting condition.
Company Sergeant-Major Stanley Hollis of the Green Howards was already a seasoned veteran when he landed on Gold Beach. His first action was the single handed capture of a pill box which had been bypassed by the first waves of troops. Later that day he led an assault to destroy German gun positions. For his action he was awarded the Victoria cross. He was the only soldier to earn that medal on D-Day.
The first battalion of the 50th Division to come ashore suffered heavy casualties, among them their CO and the second-in-command, because their higgins boat's grounded earlier than expected and they had to wade ashore.
The second group to storm the beach was the Commandos of the 4th Special Service Brigade. They took extreme casualties and only one of their landing crafts actually managed to reach the beach. But thanks to the Sherman DD , tanks, they eventually found cover.
No 47 Royal Marine Commando had the objective to reach Port en Bessin.(which was taken on 7 June). [4]
La Rivière held out until 1000 hours, and Le Hamel was in British hands by midafternoon. Meanwhile, 47 Royal Marine Commando passed south of Arromanches and Longues and pushed west to within a kilometre of Port-en-Bessin. The guns at Longues had by then been put out of action by the cruiser , HMS Ajax.The Division suffered 400 casualties while securing their beachhead.By midnight on the June 6, 1944 24,970 men had landed on Gold Beach, and had penetrated six miles (10 km) into occupied France. They fulfilled one of their secondary objectives by meeting up with the Canadians who had landed at Juno Beach , but failed in their primary objective of reaching the Caen-Bayeux road and in their secondary objective of meeting the Americans from Omaha Beach. However they had established a foothold into Fortress Europa that would ultimately be a stepping stone to victory.
[edit] Gold Beach Hour by Hour
- 06.00 Assault on beaches starts.
- Royal Engineers and 50th (Northumbrian) Division land on Gold. Objective: to capture Bayeux and Caen-Bayeux road, enabling Allies to use east-west roads and link with US troops from Omaha. Three beach exits cleared within an hour.
- 07.00 German radio broadcasts first report of landing.
- 08.20 Follow-up battalions and 47 Commando land on Gold.
- 09.00 General Eisenhower issues communiqué announcing start of invasion.
- 09.50 Fierce resistance at Le Hamel for troops breaking out of Gold Beach. Commandos make Port-en-Bessin to link with US forces. CSM Stan Hollis, 6th Green Howards, wins VC at Crépon.
- 10.50 Reserve brigades start landing on Gold; seven beach exits secured.
- 12.00 Winston Churchill reports landings to House of Commons.
- 13.35 German 352nd Division wrongly advises HQ that Allied assault repulsed. Message not corrected until 18.00.
- 14.15 Canadians from Canadian 3rd Division who landed on Juno beach links up with troops from Gold.
- 16.00 Le Hamel finally captured by troops from Gold. 231st Brigade moves on to Arromanches.
- 18.00 Canadian Scottish link with 50th Division at Creully.
- 20.30 56th and 151st Brigades from Gold now at outskirts of Bayeux and Caen-Bayeux road. Half an hour later they capture Arromanches.
- 22.00 Rommel returns to HQ from Germany. Montgomery sails for France.
The end of the longest day
Gold Beach: 25,000 troops landed, with fewer than 1,000 casualties. Bridgehead established, six miles (10 km) wide and deep, linking with Canadians at Juno.
[edit] Operation Perch
Operation Perch was the second attempt to capture Caen after the direct attack from Sword Beach on June 6 failed. 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division,XXX Corps, was ordered to strike south capture Bayeux, then Tilly-sur-Seulles following which the 7th Armoured Division would capture Villers-Bocage and Evrecy.[4][5]
51st (Highland) Infantry Division, I Corps, would support the offensive by capturing Cagny to the east of Caen[4][5]
Once these two thrusts were complete Operation Wild Oats would be given the green light and the 1st Airborne Division would be landed between the two divisions to close the gap and thus encircle the city.[4][5][6]
However the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division attack bogged down in front of Tilly-sur-Seulles which resulted in heavy fighting with the Panzer Lehr Division raging around the village from 8 June to 19 June 1944, when it finally fell and the German commander, Major General Fritz Bayerlein, ordered a retreat. This is known as the Battle of Tilly-sur-Seulles.
During the fighting 76 civilians from the village were killed, a tenth of the population of Tilly-sur-Seulles. The Panzer Lehr Division had 190 tanks at the start of the battle, of which 66 remained after the battle. In addition to the lost tanks, the Germans lost 5,500 men .
While the fighting at Tilly-sur-Seulles was raging, the American U.S. 1st Infantry Division opened up a 12km gap on the flank on the Panzer Lehr Division's flank.[7] This vulnerability in the German lines opened up an opportunity for the Allies to thrust forward with armoured units and turn the flank of the German defensive position. General Dempsey[8] ordered the 7th Armoured Division to capture Villers-Bocage and the high ground outside of the town with the intention that the appearance of British armour in the rear of the Panzer Lehr Division along with the high ground occupied would compel them to withdraw.[9]
This resulted in the Battle of Villers-Bocage, which took place on June 13. In fierce, close-range fighting the Germans succeeded in holding onto the town and securing their front.
[edit] Lingevres
With 50th (Northumbrian) Division unable to break through the Panzer Lehr defences, they attacked the towns and villages on the flank of Tilly near the town of Lingevres. These attacks were a success enabling the British infantry to eat away at the German defence line with one commander stating this was his best battalion action of the war.
[edit] Fall of Tilly-sur-Seulles
On 11 June the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry entered Tilly-sur-Seulles, while tanks of the 22nd Armoured Brigade were pulled back. The next day the British were pushed out of the town. After this failure General Montgomery attempted an envelopment manoeuvre through Livry toward Villers-Bocage on 13 June. On 15 June in the evening General Bayerlein mustered all tanks available to contain a counter-attack of the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division and 50th (Northumbrian)Infantry Division. On 16 June the 50th (Northumbrian)Infantry Division renewed the assault. After several hours of raging battle the 2nd Battalion The Essex Regiment of the 56th Infantry Brigade entered in Tilly-sur-Seulles, while the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and tanks of the 24th Lancers pierced west of the town and formed a hedgehog defence display. The next day the British liberated the ruins of Tilly-sur-Seulles. [10]after the town had been lost and recaptured 23 times before it was finally liberated.[11]. [5]
-
-
- The Division 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) Division) , 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.
-
After the German collapse, XXX Corps including 50th (Northumbrian) Division quickly advanced North-east and liberated both Antwerp and Brussels in Belgium. There the advance was halted because there was a shortage of fuel.
[edit] Order of Battle D Day
British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division Order of Battle D Day Commanding General : Major General Douglas Alexander Graham.
| 69th Infantry Brigade | 151st Infantry Brigade | 231st Infantry Brigade | 56th Infantry Brigade | 8th Armoured Brigade | Artillery | Engineers | Divisional Troops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th Btn,The East Yorkshire Regiment | 6th Btn,The Durham Light Infantry | 2nd Btn The Devonshire Regiment (swapped for 1/7th The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) in Dec 1944 | 2nd Btn The South Wales Borderers | 4th/7th Dragoon Guards | 74th Field Regiment | 233 Field Company | 2nd Btn The Cheshire Regiment (MG Battalion) |
| 6th Btn,The Green Howards | 8th Btn The Durham Light Infantry | 1st Btn The Hampshire Regiment | 2nd Btn The Gloucestershire Regiment | 24th Lancers,disbanded August 1944 | 90th Field Regiment | 501st Field Company | 47 Royal Marine,Commando |
| 7th Btn, The Green Howards | 9th Btn, The Durham light Infantry | 1st Btn The Dorsetshire Regiment | 2nd Btn The Essex Regiment | 13th/18th Hussars (from August 1944) | 124th Field Regiment | 505th Field Company | 61st Reconnaissace Regiment |
| The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers) | 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment | 235th Field Park Company | 6th Btn The Border Regiment | ||||
| 147 Field Regiment RA (Essex Yeomanry) | 25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment | 6th Assault Regiment | |||||
| 12th Bn (Queen's Westminsters) The King's Royal Rifle Corps |
[edit] Market Garden
Operation Market Garden (September 17, 1944–September 25, 1944) was an Allied military operation in World War II in the Netherlands and Germany.
[edit] Market
Market would employ three of the five divisions of the First Allied Airborne Army. The U.S. 101st Airborne Division, under Major General Maxwell D. Taylor, would drop in two locations just north of XXX Corps to take the bridges northwest of Eindhoven at Son and Veghel. The 82nd Airborne Division, under Brigadier General James M. Gavin, would drop northeast of them to take the bridges at Grave and Nijmegen, and the British 1st Airborne Division, under Major General Roy Urquhart, and the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade would drop at the extreme north end of the route, to take the road bridge at Arnhem and rail bridge at Oosterbeek.
[edit] Garden
Garden consisted primarily of XXX Corps and was initially spearheaded by the Guards Armoured Division, with the 43rd Wessex and 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division in reserve. with the 231st Infantry Brigade detached to help support the advance of Guards Armoured.
17 September 1944 at 13.30hrs the 50th Division watched as one of the largest air armadas of the war pass overhead. The division's field artillery 74th, 90th and 124th Fd Regts RA and the Morters of Cheshire Regiment took part in the opening barrage. At 14:35hrs the Sherman’s of the Irish Guards crossed the start line and despite heavy fighting reached Valkenswaard five miles (8 km) south of Eindhoven by dusk. The infantry of 231st Brigade were now called up to clear woods on the left of the Guards' advance. The following day 231st Brigade took over Valkenswaard , as the Guards advanced north through the bridgeheads at Zon , Vehgel and Grave and on to Nijmegen. There it took two days of severe fighting before the town and its great bridge was cleared.
22 September , 69th Brigade was in trouble when two battalions of infantry and a regiment of tanks cut the main Corps centre-line near Uden , eight miles (13 km) south of the bridge at Grave. The brigade was cut in half with East Yorkshires in the north while the Green Howards where in the south. Things were now so planed so when, the next day, the Germans attempted to strengthen their grip on the road by attacking Veghel , farther south, they were met with very warm reception. The American infantry, British tanks and artillery, working in an improvised but close co-operation, drove off the enemy with heavy losses it was a fine example of allied co-operation in the field. Rations were short because of the road congestion. 69th Brigade were forced to eat captured German rations witch were terrible the jam tasted like rubber, the margarine was rancid and the medical officers confirmed that the meat was all bad.
23 September ,151st and 231st Brigades were ordered to move north and east of Eindhoven to guard the right flank while 69th Brigade, with 124th Fd Regt RA continued onward towards Nijmegen. On arrival there they came under command of the Guards Armoured Division with the task of capturing Bremmel , a village north of the river. This the 5th East Yorks achieved on the 25 September ,, but the Germans were not happy at losing this village, and kept them under heavy artillery fire for days.
26 September the 6th Green Howards were ordered to occupy Halderen , but the infantry ran in to severe opposition, and failed to capture there objective. The 69th Brigade now attacked in the direction of Halderen continued throughout the 27 September. During the day the East Yorks gained some ground as they were supported by a quick barrage. The airborne troops farther north at Arnhem had by now been withdrawn. The attempt to reach them by land had clearly failed, and attempts to supply them by air had been only partially successful. Thus the final objective of Operation "Market Garden" Arnhem and the crossing of the Rhine defences had not been achieved.
30 September The whole of 50th Division was now tasked with guarding the bridge and bridgehead north of Nijmegen called the Island. The first serious German counter attack came when seventy tanks and the equivalent of an infantry division was unleashed on the division. 69th Brigade and 5th Guards Brigade were holding the line, while another attack was put in against 43rd Division across the Nederijn. The intensity of the attack on the 69th Brigade and the intensity of there defence can be judged by the fact that 124th Field Regiment RA fired a total of 12,500 25-pound shells during the action and 'B' Company of 2nd Cheshires fired 95,000 rounds of medium-machine-gun fire. For nearly two months static warfare was the norm on the Island. The forward troops rotated regularly. The great bridge at Nijmegen was under constant shellfire and journeys over it were made at full speed. The casualties in the battles on the island in early October had been severe: almost 900 including 12 officers and 111 ORs killed in action, 30 officers and 611 ORs wounded and another 114 missing.
[edit] Return to England
Early in November Field Marshal Montgomery made a speech to the division's officers in a cinema in Bourg Leopold. Most of 50th Division would return to England as a training division for reinforcements.
Since D-Day 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division , had suffered total casualties of 488 officers and 6,932 ORs, but had also assimilated 358 officers and 8,019 ORs. Many of these reinforcements were soon posted to other formations. 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] Victoria Cross Awards
[edit] Adam Wakenshaw VC
Adam Herbert Wakenshaw VC (9 June 1914-27 June 1942) Was 28 years old, and a private in the 9th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, On 27 June 1942 south of Mersa Matruh, Egypt, Private Wakenshaw was a member of a crew of a 2 pounder (907 g) anti-tank gun, when the enemy attacked, silencing the gun and killing or seriously wounded all the crew. Private Wakenshaw's left arm was blown off but he crawled back to his gun, loaded it with one arm and fired five more rounds with considerable effect. He was then blown away from the gun by an enemy shell and was again severely wounded, but he still managed to crawl back and was preparing to fire again when a direct hit on the ammunition killed him and destroyed the gun.
[edit] Derek Seagrim VC
Derek Anthony Seagrim VC (24 September 1903-6 April 1943) 39 year old, Derek Seagrim was made a Temporary Lieutenant Colonel in the 7th Bn., The Green Howards (Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), On 20/21 March 1943 at the Mareth Line, Tunisia, Lieutenant Colonel Seagrim's courage and leadership led directly to the capture of an important objective. When it appeared that the attack on the position would fail owing to the intensity of enemy fire, he placed himself at the head of his battalion and led them forward. He personally helped to place a scaling ladder over an anti-tank ditch and was the first across. Leading an attack on two machine-gun posts, he accounted for 20 of the enemy and when a counter-attack was launched next day he moved from post to post quite unperturbed, until it was defeated.
[edit] Eric Anderson VC
Eric Anderson (15 September 1915–6 April 1943 Was 27 years old, and a private in the 5th Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment, during the Second World War. On 6 April 1943 on the Wadi Akarit, Tunisia, when a company of The East Yorkshire Regiment had to withdraw temporarily behind the crest of a hill, Private Anderson, a stretcher-bearer, went forward alone through heavy fire to rescue the wounded. Three times he brought in wounded comrades, and was rendering first aid to a fourth when he was mortally wounded
[edit] Stanley Elton Hollis VC
Stanley Elton Hollis , VC (September 21, 1912 - February 8, 1972) He has the unique distinction of winning the only Victoria Cross awarded on D-Day (June 6, 1944). On June 6, 1944 in Normandy, France, Stanley Hollis 6th Battalion Green Howards , went with his company commander to investigate two German pill-boxes which had been by-passed as the company moved inland from the beaches. He rushed forward to the first pill-box, taking all but five of the occupants prisoner and then dealt with the second, taking 26 prisoners. Then he cleared a neighbouring trench. Later that day, he led an attack on an enemy position which contained a field gun and Spandau machine guns. After withdrawing he learned that two of his men had been left behind and told Major Lofthouse, his commanding officer, " I took them in. I will try to get them out." Taking a grenade from one of his men Hollis carefully observed the enemy's pattern of behaviour and threw it at the most opportune moment. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to prime the grenade but the enemy didn't know this and kept their heads down waiting for it to explode. By the time they realised their mistake Hollis was on top of them and had shot them.
[edit] Time Line
- British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division - Existing Territorial Army division at the start of the war, headquartered in Darlington. Organized as a motor division. Served in:-
- France and Belgium from 1.1940 until 6.1940.
- Egypt from 6.1941 until 7.1941 & 2.1942, from 6.1942 until 12.1942, & from 5.1943 until 9.1943.
- Cyprus from 7.1941 until 11.1941.
- Syria from 1.1942 until 2.1942.
- Libya from 2.1942 until 6.1942 & from 12.1943 until 3.1943 & from 4.1943 until 5.1943.
- North Africa from 3.1943 until 4.1943.
- Sicily from 7.1943 until 10.1943.
- Northwestern Europe from 6.1944 until 12.1944.
- Redesignated an Infantry (Reserve) Division in the U.K. 8.1945.
- Arrived in Norway and retitled HQ British Land Forces Norway.
[edit] Battles
Ypres-Comines Canal, Gazala, Mersa Matruh, El Alamein, Mareth, Akarit, Enfidaville, assaulted Sicily, assaulted Normandy, and in the Nederrijn
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Young, Desmond (1975). Rommel. Fontana.
- Anderson, Charles R.. Online Bookshelves WWII Campaigns: Tunisia 17 November 1942 to 13 May 1943. US Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 72-12.
Battle of Tilly-sur-Seulles Museum |last=| first=}}
- Major Clay, Ewart W. [1950] (2006). The Path of the 50th: 50th (Northumberland) Division. Military Library Research Service Ltd. ISBN 1-90569-639-6.
- David, Saul (2005). Mutiny at Salerno: An Injustice Exposed. London: Conway Maritime Press, 240 pages. ISBN 978-1-84486-019-7. “Fifty years on, Saul David became the first military historian to gain access to the court martial papers normally restricted for 75 years”
- Tilly-sur-Seulles in Normandy 1944.
- In the footsteps of the fallen – Northern Echo article on the Durham Light Infantry in Normandy.
- British D-Day Museum
- "Gold Beach" from Encyclopædia Britannica's Guide to Normandy 1944
- D-Day : Etat des Lieux : Gold Beach
- British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
[edit] External links
- 50 (Northumbrian) Infantry Division at Orders of Battle.com?
- http://www.britannica.com/dday/article-9389939
- http://www.war-experience.org/history/keyaspects/husky1943/pagethree.asp
- http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/husky/grandstrategy.aspx?p=3
- http://www.faithfuldurhams.com/primosole_bridge.htm
- http://www.routetovictory.info/50history.php
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/timeline/factfiles/nonflash/a1119926.shtml?sectionId=2&articleId=1119926
- http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Flanders/UK-NWE-Flanders-6.html
- http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=108&art_id=453&kb_cat_id=100
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1006606
- http://warchronicle.com/50th_div/historiantales_wwii/victorygold.htm
[edit] Footnotes
