53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division
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| 53rd (Welsh) Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | World War I, 1908 - 1919? World War II |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Territorial Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Engagements | World War I: * Battle of Gallipoli * First Battle of Gaza World War II: * Battle of Normandy * Battle of Falaise * Battle of the Bulge * Operation Veritable |
The British 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division was a Territorial Army division. During the First World War the division fought at Gallipoli and in the Middle East. It was again a territorial army formation in World War II, fighting in Western Europe.
Contents |
[edit] Unit history
[edit] World War I
The division landed at Suvla on August 9.
On March 26, 1917, the 53rd Division bore the brunt of the First Battle of Gaza where the three brigades, along with the 161st Brigade of the 54th Division, had to advance across exposed ground, withstanding shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire, to capture the Turkish fortifications. Despite gaining the advantage towards the end of the day, the British commander called off the attack so that the division's casualties, close to 3,500, were suffered in vain.
[edit] World War II
The 53rd Division was a territorial army formation at the beginning of World War II. It was part of the landing force at Normandy on June 25, 1944, where it was under XII Corps and took part in the heavy fighting in the Bocage. It played a critical part in the Battle of Falaise. In October it was employed in The Netherlands, liberating the city of 's-Hertogenbosch in four days of heavy fighting from October 24. It was one of the British divisions that took part in the Battle of the Bulge. It was later sent north to take part in Operation Veritable. It stayed in Western Europe until the end of the war. It was disbanded to reform the 2nd Infantry Division in Germany in early 1947.
The Division was reactivated in 1947 but disbanded finally by 1968.
[edit] Formation
The division comprised three infantry brigades. Some original battalions were detached early in World War I to reinforce other divisions.
- 158th (North Wales) Brigade
- 1/5th (Flintshire) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
- 1/6th (Caernarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
- 1/7th (Merioneth and Montgomery) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
- 1/1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment
- 159th (Cheshire) Brigade
- 1/4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
- 1/5th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (until February 1915)
- 1/7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
- 2/5th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (until April 1915)
- 2/6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (until April 1915)
- 1/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment
- 1/5th Battalion, Welsh Regiment
- 2/4th Battalion, Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment
- 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
- 2/4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment
- 2/10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
- 1/1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (until February 1915)
- 1/3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (until February 1915)
[edit] World War II Order of Battle
- 71st Brigade
- 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (Until 26 August 1944)
- 1st Battalion, Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
- 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
- 4th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (From 26 August 1944)
- 158th Brigade
- 4th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (Until 26 August 1944)
- 6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (Until 26 August 1944)
- 7th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
- 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment (From 26 August 1944)
- 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (From 26 August 1944)
- 160th (Welsh Border) Brigade
- 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
- 4th Battalion, Welch Regiment (Until 26 August 1944)
- 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment
- 6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (From 26 August 1944)
- 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment
- 53rd Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps
- 81st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 83rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 133rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 71st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 244th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 282nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 555th Field Company, Royal Engineers
