54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division

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54th (East Anglian) Division
Active World War I
1908 - 1919?
Country United Kingdom
Branch Territorial Force
Type Infantry
Size Division
Engagements Battle of Gallipoli
First Battle of Gaza

The British 54th (East Anglian) Division was a Territorial Army division. During the First World War the division fought at Gallipoli and in the Middle East.

Contents

[edit] Unit History

[edit] World War I

The division landed at Suvla on August 10.

During the First Battle of Gaza, on March 26, 1917, the 161st Brigade and divisional artillery were in reserve while the 53rd Division carried out the main attack. These reserves were committed as the battle progressed resulting in the British gaining a foothold in the Turkish defences but the British commander called off the attack as night fell. In the Second Battle of Gaza, the 4th and 5th Battalions of the Norfolk Regiment sustained 75% casualties (about 1,200 men)[1]

[edit] World War II

During the Second World War the 54th (East Anglian) Division remained in the United Kingdom as a local defence formation until it was disbanded and broken up on 14th December 1943 . Its component units would take part in the Normandy campaign as support units.

[edit] Formation

The division comprised three infantry brigades:

161st (Essex) Brigade 
  • 1/4th Battalion, The Essex Regiment
  • 1/5th Battalion, The Essex Regiment
  • 1/6th Battalion, The Essex Regiment
  • 1/7th Battalion, The Essex Regiment
162nd (East Midland) Brigade 
163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade 

[edit] Battles

[edit] References

  1. ^ Eastern Daily Press, "Sunday" section May 5, 2007

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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