46th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)

For the equivalent formation in World War I, see 46th (North Midland) Division.
46th Infantry Division

Formation sign of the 46th Infantry Division
Active Second World War
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Territorial Army
Type Infantry
Engagements Battle of France
Tunisia Campaign
Italian Campaign

The 46th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army, part of the Territorial Army, and saw service during World War II; it was raised in 1939 as the 2nd Line duplicate of the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division and drew men primarily from the North Midlands and the West Riding areas of England. The 46th Infantry Division was part of the British Expeditionary Force sent to France in 1940. It was assigned as a labour and training unit, but ended up fighting in the retreat to Dunkirk and the evacuation to Britain. In 1942, it was decided to reorganise the division as a 'mixed' division and thus, on 20 July 1942, the 137th Infantry Brigade left the division to begin its conversion to armour as the 137th Armoured Brigade. The following month, there was a change of plan; the division was to remain as an infantry division and the 128th Infantry Brigade was assigned to it. From 17 January 1943, it was part of the British First Army in Tunisia and from there it fought through the Italian Campaign with both the US Fifth Army and the British Eighth Army. In 1945, the division was sent with Scobie's III Corps to re-occupy Greece.

The formation sign worn by members of the division bore a Sherwood Forest oak tree.[1]

Second World War Order of Battle

137th Infantry Brigade (20 July 1942 converted into 137th Armoured Brigade)

138th Infantry Brigade

139th Infantry Brigade

128th Infantry Brigade (from 15 August 1942 onwards)

Divisional troops

See also

References

  1. ↑ Imperial War Museum website; badge, formation, 46th (North Midland and West Riding) Infantry Division
  2. ↑ this started the war as the 1/9th Battalion. With the conversion of the 2/9th to the 88th A/Tk Regt RA in November 1941, the 1/9th was redesignated
  3. ↑ redesignated 46th Regt, Recce Corps on 6 June 1942; then 46th Recce Regt RAC on 1 Jan 1944

External links