IX Corps (United Kingdom)
| IX Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active | World War I and World War II |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Type | Corps |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Frederick Stopford Julian Byng Alexander Hamilton-Gordon Walter Braithwaite John Crocker Brian Horrocks |
The British IX Corps was an army corps formation that existed during World War I and World War II.
World War I
The IX Corps was originally formed in England in 1915 in readiness to make a new landing at Suvla during the Battle of Gallipoli. Headquarters was formed at the Tower of London[1][2] Command of the corps was given to Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Stopford.[1] His handling of the corps during the August Offensive warranted his replacement after only 9 days with Lieutenant-General Julian Byng.
During the Gallipoli campaign the corps comprised the following divisions:[3]
- 10th (Irish) Division
- 11th (Northern) Division
- 13th (Western) Division
- 53rd (Welsh) Division
- 54th (East Anglian) Division
- 2nd Mounted Division
- IX Corps Signals was provided by London District Signals, Royal Engineers[2][4]
Following the British evacuation of Gallipoli, the corps was moved to France in 1916,[1] where it was commanded by Alexander Hamilton-Gordon until he was relieved in 1918. After severe losses during the Battle of the Lys in April 1918 the corps was moved south to a quiet sector to reform. This sector was the unlucky target of the next German offensive, the Third Battle of the Aisne in May–June 1918, causing further losses to IX Corps.
At the time of the Armistice the IX Corps was part of the Fourth Army.
World War II
IX Corps saw active service in Algeria and Tunisia during World War II as part of First Army. It was disbanded after the end of the Tunisia Campaign.[5]
General Officers Commanding
- Lieutenant General Frederick Stopford[7] (17 June–16 August 1915)
- Major-General H. de B. De Lisle (acting) (16–24 August 1915)
- Lieutenant General Julian Byng[8] (24 August 1915 – 8 February 1916)
- Lieutenant General Alexander Hamilton-Gordon[9] (20 June 1916 – 10 September 1918)
- Lieutenant General Walter Braithwaite[10] (from 13 September 1918)
- Lieutenant General Ridley Pakenham-Walsh (7 June 1941 - 17 November 1941)
- Lieutenant General Edwin Morris (18 November 1941 - 31 January 1942)
- Lieutenant General Francis Nosworthy (1 February 1942 - 11 September 1942)
- Lieutenant General John Crocker (12 September 1942 - 29 May 1943)
- Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks (29 May 1943 - 3 June 1943)
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The British Corps of 1914-1918 at Long, Long Trail
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Becke, pp. 185–91.
- ↑ 6 August 1915 Suvla Bay landings at Royal Munster Fusiliers website
- ↑ Lord & Watson, p. 184.
- ↑ IX Corps at British Military History
- ↑ Army Commands at Colin Mackie's website
- ↑ Frederick Stopford at First World War Biography
- ↑ Julian Byng at First World War Biography
- ↑ Hamilton-Gordon at Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- ↑ Walter Braithwaite at First World War Biography
References
- Maj A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 4: The Army Council, GHQs, Armies, and Corps 1914–1918, London: HM Stationery Office, 1944/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-43-6.
- Cliff Lord & Graham Watson, Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920–2001) and its Antecedents, Solihull: Helion, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-92-2.