British Expeditionary Force order of battle (1940)

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This is the British Expeditionary Force order of battle on 9 May 1940, the day before the German forces initiated the Battle of France

Contents

[edit] G.H.Q. reserve

[edit] I Corps

Lieutenant General M.G.H. Barker

  • Corps Troops
    • HQ Royal Artillery
      • 27th Army Field Regiment, RA
      • 98th Army Field Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q. Troops]
      • 115th Army Field Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q. Troops]
      • 140th Army Field Regiment, RA
      • 1st Medium Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q. Troops]
      • 3rd Medium Regiment, RA
      • 5th Medium Regiment, RA
      • 61st Medium Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q. Troops]
      • 63rd Medium Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q. Troops]
      • 1st Heavy Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q. Troops]
      • 3rd Super Heavy Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q. Troops]
      • 52nd Light Antiaircraft Regiment, RA
      • 2nd Light Antiaircraft Battery, RA
      • 1st Survey Regiment, RA
    • HQ Royal Engineers
      • 102nd Army Field Company, RE
      • 107th Army Field Company, RE
      • 221st Army Field Company, RE
      • 105th Corps Field Park Company, RE
      • 13th Corps Field Survey Company, RE
    • 4th Battalion The Cheshire Regiment [Machine Gun]
    • 6th Battalion The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders [Machine Gun] [From G.H.Q. Troops]
    • 6th Battalion The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) [Pioneer] [From G.H.Q. Troops]
    • 7th Battalion The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) [Pioneer] [From G.H.Q. Troops]

[edit] II Corps

Lieutenant-General A. F. Brooke

  • Corps Troops
    • HQ Royal Artillery
      • 2nd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 32nd Army Field Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 60th Army Field Regiment, RA
      • 88th Army Field Regiment, RA
      • 2nd Medium Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 4th Medium Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 53rd Medium Regiment, RA
      • 58th Medium Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 59th Medium Regiment, RA
      • 51st Heavy Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 2nd Super Heavy Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 53rd Light Antiaircraft Regiment, RA
      • 2nd Survey Regiment, RA
    • HQ Royal Engineers
      • 222nd Army Field Company, RE
      • 234th Army Field Company, RE
      • 240th Army Field Company, RE
      • 108th Corps Field Park Company, RE
      • 14th Corps Field Survey Company, RE
    • 8th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment (Machine Gun)
    • 4th Battalion The Gordon Highlanders (Machine Gun)
    • 8th Battalion The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) [Pioneer] [From G.H.Q.Troops]
    • 9th Battalion The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) [Pioneer] [From G.H.Q.Troops]

[edit] III Corps

Lieutenant-General Sir R. F. Adam

  • Corps Troops
    • HQ Royal Artillery
      • 5th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
      • 97th Army Field Regiment (less one battery), RA
      • 139th Army Field Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 56th Medium Regiment, RA
      • 65th Medium Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 69th Medium Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 52nd Heavy Regiment, RA [From G.H.Q.Troops]
      • 54th Light Antiaircraft Regiment, RA
      • 3rd Survey Regiment, RA
    • HQ Royal Engineers
      • 214th Army Field Company, RE
      • 217th Army Field Company, RE
      • 293rd Corps Field Park Company, RE
      • 514th Corps Field Survey Company
    • 1st/9th Battalion The Manchester Regiment [Machine Gun]
    • 1st/6th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment [Pioneer] [From G.H.Q.Troops]

[edit] Saar Force

(Major-General V. M. Fortune)

On 10 May 1940 this force was part of the Colonial Army Corps of the French 3rd Army in front of the Maginot Line.

Units attached to the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division in April 1940 to form Saar Force

  • 1st Lothians and Border Horse [Divisional Cavalry] [From G.H.Q Troops]
  • 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (less one battery) [From G.H.Q Troops]
  • 97th Field Regiment (one battery), RA [From III Corps]
  • 51st Medium Regiment, RA [From III Corps]
  • 213th Field Company, RE [From III Corps]
  • 7th Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers [Machine Gun] [From III Corps]
  • 1st Battalion Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment, The Middlesex Regiment [Machine Gun] [From III Corps]
  • 7th Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment [Infantry Sappers] [From G.H.Q Troops]
  • 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers [Infantry Sappers] [From G.H.Q Troops]

[edit] Troops in France performing labour duties and undergoing training

[Although they all participated in the Battle of France, these three divisions were not adequately prepared to fight in May 1940. Each one had no artillery, only a skeletal divisional HQ, and few support units. Only a third of the battalions had had even the most minimal of training, and each battalion lacked the carrier platoon and the full complement of heavy weapons (machine guns {Partially}, antitank rifles, and mortars) found in active British infantry battalions.]

[edit] Line of Communication Troops

  • Royal Artillery
    • 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
      • 2nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA
      • 8th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA
      • 79th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA
      • 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RA
  • Royal Engineers
    • 104th Army Troops Company, RE
    • 106th Army Troops Company, RE
    • 110th Army Troops Company, RE
    • 212th Army Troops Company, RE
    • 218th Army Troops Company, RE
  • Unbrigaded Infantry Battalions [Companies and even platoon detachments of these battalions were stationed at various bases in the rear areas]

[edit] Units arriving in France after 10 May 1940

The following units were sent to France during the second week of June 1940 in an unsuccessful attempt to form a second British Expeditionary Force, which was to be commanded by Lieutenant-General A. F. Brooke. All units were evacuated in late June 1940 during Operation Ariel.


[edit] See also

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