British Expeditionary Force order of battle (1940)

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

First Expeditionary Force

General Headquarters (GHQ)

GHQ, British Expeditionary Force Headquarters Troops
  • Intelligence Section Intelligence Corps
  • General Headquarters Signals, Royal Signals
  • 2nd Wireless Company, Royal Signals
    • 100th Special Wireless Section (Providing support for GHQ)
    • 101st Special Wireless Section (Providing support for I Corps)
    • 102nd Special Wireless Section (Providing support for II Corps)
    • 103rd Special Wireless Section (Providing support for III Corps)
  • 1st Air Formation Signals, Royal Signals
  • 2nd Air Formation Signals, Royal Signals
  • 1st Air Liaison Signals Section Royal Signals
  • 4th Air Liaison Signals Section Royal Signals
  • 6th Air Liaison Signals Section Royal Signals
  • 7th Air Liaison Signals Section Royal Signals
  • 12th (The Prince of Wales's) Royal Lancers
  • 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
  • 7th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment (Machine-Guns)
  • 14th Battalion The City of London Royal Fusiliers (company size) - garrison unit
  • 8th Battalion The Duke of Cambridge's Own Middlesex Regiment (Machine-Guns)
  • 9th Overseas Defence Battalion The Prince of Wales's Own West Yorkshire Regiment - garrison unit
  • 6th (Argyllshire) Battalion Princess Louises's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Machine-Guns)
  • 6th Battalion The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (Pioneers)
  • 7th Battalion The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (Pioneers)
  • 8th Battalion The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (Pioneers)
  • 6th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment (Pioneers)
  • 5th Movement Control Group Royal Engineers
  • 2nd Advanced Medical Depot, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 4th Advanced Medical Depot, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 9th Field Hygiene Section, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 9th Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 11th Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 13th Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 4th Motor Ambulance Convoy, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 5th Motor Ambulance Convoy, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 6th Motor Ambulance Convoy, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 8th Motor Ambulance Convoy, Royal Army Medical Corps
  • 2nd Field Security Police Section Royal Military Police
  • 6th Field Security Police Section Royal Military Police
  • 30th Field Security Police Section Royal Military Police
  • 33rd Field Security Police Section Royal Military Police
  • Headquarters, G.H.Q. Troops, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 1st G.H.Q. Troops Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 2nd G.H.Q. Troops Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 3rd G.H.Q. Troops Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 1st Lines of Communication Railhead Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 2nd Lines of Communication Railhead Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 2nd Supply Personnel Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 3rd Petrol Depot, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 1st Troop Carrying Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 2nd Troop Carrying Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 3rd Troop Carrying Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 4th Troop Carrying Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 9th Troop Carrying Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 13th Troop Carrying Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 14th Troop Carrying Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 1st Motor Transport Works Services Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 2nd Motor Transport Works Services Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 3rd Motor Transport Works Services Company, Royal Army Service Corps
    • 4th Motor Transport Works Services Company, Royal Army Service Corps

1st Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade

Brigade manning armoured cars

  • 1st Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
  • 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry
  • 1st East Riding of Yorkshire Lancers

2nd Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade

Brigade manning armoured cars

1st Army Tank Brigade

Brigade manning infantry and cavalry tank

Commander Royal Artillery
  • Commander Royal Artillery
    • 1st Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 2nd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 4th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 58th (Suffolk) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 61st (Caernarvon and Debigh Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 63rd (Highland) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 1st Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 51st (Lowland) Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 1st Super-Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 2nd Super-Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 3rd Super-Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery

1st Anti-Aircraft Brigade

2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
  • 2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
    • 2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 60th (City of London) Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
    • 51st (Devon) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
    • 58th (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
  • 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
    • 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 2nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
    • 8th (Belfast) Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 79th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 37th (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Arillery
    • 174th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery

4th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
  • 4th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
    • 4th Anti-Aircraft Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 4th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 52nd (East Lancashire) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

5th Searchlight Brigade
  • 5th Searchlight Brigade

Commander Royal Engineers
  • Commander Royal Engineers under Major General Ridley Pakenham Pakenham-Walsh
    • 100th (Monmouthshire) Army Field Company, Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers
    • 101st (Monmouthshire) Army Field Company, Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers
    • 216th (1st London) Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
    • 228th (West Riding) Field Company, Royal Engineers
    • 242nd (Lowland) Field Company, Royal Engineers
    • 223rd (2nd London) Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
    • 109th Workshop and Park Company, Royal Engineers
    • 1st Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers
    • 2nd Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers
    • 19th Army Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers
    • 119th Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers
    • 135th Excavator Company, Royal Engineers
    • 1st Boring Section, Royal Engineers
    • 2nd Boring Section, Royal Engineers
    • 1st Anti-Gas Laboratory, Royal Engineers
    • 58th Chemical Warfare Company, Royal Engineers
    • 61st Chemical Warfare Company, Royal Engineers
    • 62nd Chemical Warfare Company, Royal Engineers
    • 1st Tunnelling Group, Royal Engineers
      • 170th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers
      • 171st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers
      • 172nd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers
      • 173rd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers

5th Infantry Division
  • 5th Infantry Division Headquarters and Employment Platoon, Royal Pioneer Corps under Major General Harold Franklyn [nb 1] [nb 1] [nb 1] [nb 1] [nb 1] [nb 1]
  • 5th Infantry Divisional Field Cash Office, Royal Army Pay Corps
  • 5th Divisional Signals, Royal Signals
  • 9th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment[1]
  • 5th Infantry Divisional Field Post Office, Royal Engineers
  • 9th Mobile Bath Unit, Royal Army Ordnance Corps[nb 1]
  • 5th Infantry Divisional Provost Company, Corps of Military Police
  • 13th Infantry Brigade
    • 13th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 2nd Battalion, The Scottish (Cameronian) Rifles
    • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
    • 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Edinburgh's Own Wiltshire Regiment
    • 13th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • 17th Infantry Brigade
    • 17th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers
    • 2nd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
    • 6th (Morayshire) Battalion, The Duke of Albany's Seaforth Highlanders (The Ross-shire Buffs)
    • 17th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • Commander Royal Artillery, 5th Division
    • Commander Royal Artillery, 5th Division HQ
    • 9th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 91st (4th London) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 92nd (5th London) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 52nd (6th London) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • Commander Royal Engineers, 5th Division
  • Commander Royal Army Service Corps, 5th Division
  • Commander Royal Army Medical Corps, 5th Division

I Corps

Corps Headquarters Troops

I Corps Artillery Troops
  • I Corps Artillery Troop
I Corps Commander Royal Artillery
I Corps Commander Medium Artillery
  • Commander Corps Medium Artillery, I Corps
    • 27th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 98th (Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 3rd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 5th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 63rd (Highland) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 1st Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 3rd Super-Heavy Battery, Royal Artillery

1st Infantry Division
  • 1st Infantry Division Headquarters and Employment Platoon under Major General Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander
  • 1st Infantry Divisional Field Cash Office, Royal Army Pay Corps
  • 1st Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals
  • 13th/18th Royal Hussars[nb 2]
  • 2nd Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment (Machine-Guns)[nb 1]
  • 4th (City of Aberdeen) Battalion Gordon Highlanders (Machine-Guns)[nb 1]
  • 1st Infantry Divisional Field Post Office, Royal Engineers
  • 1st Mobile Bath Unit, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
  • 1st Company, Corps of Military Police
  • 1st (Guards) Infantry Brigade
    • 1st (Guards) Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards
    • 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards
    • 2nd Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment
    • 1st Guards Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • 2nd Infantry Brigade
    • 2nd Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 1st Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
    • 2nd Battalion The Prince of Wales's North Staffordshire Regiment
    • 6th (Banffshire) Battalion Gordon Highlanders
    • 2nd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • 3rd Infantry Brigade
    • 3rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment
    • 2nd Battalion The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters)
    • 1st Battalion The King's Shropshire Light Infantry
    • 3rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • Commander Royal Artillery, 1st Division
    • 1st Infantry Divisional Artillery HQ
    • 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 19th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 67th (South Midland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 21st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • Commander Royal Engineers, 1st Division
  • Commander Royal Army Service Corps, 1st Division
  • Commander Royal Army Medical Corps, 1st Division

2nd Infantry Division
  • 2nd Infantry Division Headquarters and Employment Platoon under Major General Henry Charles Loyd
  • 2nd Infantry Divisional Field Cash Office, Royal Army Pay Corps
  • 2nd Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals
  • 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards[nb 2]
  • 2nd Battalion, The Manchester Regiment (Machine-Guns)[nb 1]
  • 2nd Infantry Divisional Field Post Office, Royal Engineers
  • 2nd Mobile Bath Unit, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
  • 2nd Company, Corps of Military Police
  • 4th Infantry Brigade
    • 4th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots Regiment
    • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment
    • 8th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers
    • 4th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • 5th Infantry Brigade
    • 5th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 7th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment
    • 2nd Battalion, The Dorsetshire Regiment
    • 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own (Cameron) Highlanders
    • 5th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • 6th Infantry Brigade
    • 6th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 1st Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers
    • 1st Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's Royal Berkshire Regiment
    • 2nd Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
    • 6th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • Commander Royal Artillery, 2nd Division
  • Commander Royal Engineers, 2nd Division
  • Commander Royal Army Service Corps, 2nd Division
  • Commander Royal Army Medical Corps, 2nd Division

48th (South Midland) Infantry Division
  • 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division Headquarters and Employment Platoon under Major General Augustus Francis Andrew Nicol Thorne
  • 48th (South Midland) Divisional Field Cash Office, Royal Army Pay Corps
  • 48th (South Midland) Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals
  • 4th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment[nb 1]
  • 48th (South Midland) Divisional Field Post Office, Royal Engineers
  • 14th Mobile Bath Unit, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
  • 48th (South Midland) Divisional Provost Company, Corps of Military Police
  • 143rd Infantry Brigade
    • 143rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
    • 7th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
    • 8th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
    • 143rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • 144th Infantry Brigade
    • 144th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
    • 5th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment
    • 8th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment
    • 144th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • 145th Infantry Brigade
    • 145th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 2nd Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment
    • 1st (Buckinghamshire) Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
    • 4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
    • 145th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • Commander Royal Artillery, 48th Division
  • Commander Royal Engineers, 48th Division
  • Commander Royal Army Service Corps, 48th Division
  • Commander Royal Army Medical Corps, 48th Division

II Corps

II Corps Artillery Troops
II Corps Commander Royal Artillery
  • II Corps Commander, Royal Artillery
    • 60th (North Midland) Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 88th (2nd West Lancashire) Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 53rd (London) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 59th (4th West Lancashire) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 53rd (The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
II Corps Commander Medium Artillery

3rd Infantry Division
  • 3rd Infantry Division
    • 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters and Employment Platoon under Major General Bernard Montgomery
    • 3rd Infantry Divisional Field Cash Office, Royal Army Pay Corps
    • 3rd Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals
    • 2nd Battalion The Duke of Cambridge's Own Middlesex Regiment[nb 2]
    • 7th Battalion The Duke of Cambridge's Own Middlesex Regiment[nb 2]
    • 3rd Infantry Divisional Field Post Office, Royal Engineers
    • 3rd Mobile Bath Unit, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
    • 3rd Infantry Divisional Provost Company, Corps of Military Police
    • 7th (Guards) Infantry Brigade
      • 7th (Guards) Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signal Section, Royal Signals
      • 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
      • 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards
      • 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
      • 7th (Guards) Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
    • 8th Infantry Brigade
      • 8th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signal Section, Royal Signals
      • 1st Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment
      • 2nd Battalion, The Duke of York's Own West Riding Regiment
      • 4th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's Royal Berkshire Regiment
      • 8th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
    • 9th Infantry Brigade
      • 9th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signal Section, Royal Signals
      • 2nd Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment
      • 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers
      • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Ulster Regiment
      • 9th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
    • Commander Royal Artillery, 3rd Division
    • Commander Royal Engineers, 3rd Division
    • Commander Royal Army Service Corps, 3rd Division
    • Commander Royal Army Medical Corps, 3rd Division

4th Infantry Division
  • 4th Infantry Division
    • 4th Infantry Division Headquarters and Employment Platoon under Major General Dudley Johnson
    • 4th Infantry Divisional Field Cash Office, Royal Army Pay Corps
    • 4th Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals
    • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers[nb 3]
    • 4th Infantry Divisional Field Post Office, Royal Engineers
    • 13th Mobile Bath Unit, Royal Army Medical Corps
    • 4th Infantry Divisional Provost Company, Corps of Military Police
    • 10th Infantry Brigade
      • 10th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
      • 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
      • 6th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment
      • 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
      • 10th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
    • 11th Infantry Brigade
      • 11th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
      • 2nd Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers
      • 1st Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment
      • 5th (Huntingdonshire) Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
      • 11th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
    • 12th Infantry Brigade
      • 12th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
      • 2nd Battalion, The Royal City of London Fusiliers
      • 1st Battalion, The South Lancashire Regiment
      • 6th (Perthshire) Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
      • 12th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
    • Commander Royal Artillery, 4th Division
    • Commander Royal Engineers, 4th Division
    • Commander Royal Army Service Corps, 4th Division
    • Commander Royal Army Medical Corps, 4th Division

50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Division
  • 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Division
    • 50th Infantry Division Headquarters and Employment Platoon under Major General Giffard Martel
    • 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Divisional Field Cash Office, Royal Army Pay Corps
    • 50th (Norhumbrian) Divisional Signals, Royal Signals
    • 4th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers—Divisional motorcycle reconnaissance unit
    • 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Divisional Field Post Office, Royal Engineers
    • unknown #, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
    • 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Divisional Provost Company, Corps of Military Police
    • 25th Infantry Brigade
      • 25th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
      • 2nd Battalion, The Essex Regiment
      • 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Fusiliers
      • 7th (Southwark) Battalion, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment
    • 150th Infantry Brigade
      • 150th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
      • 4th Battalion, The Duke of York's Own East Yorkshire Regiment
      • 4th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)
      • 5th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)
    • 151st Infantry Brigade
      • 151st Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
      • 6th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
      • 8th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
      • 9th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
    • Commander Royal Artillery, 50th Division
      • 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Divisional Royal Artillery HQ
      • 72nd (Northumbrian) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
      • 74th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
      • 65th (Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • Commander Royal Engineers, 50th Division
    • Commander Royal Army Service Corps, 50th Division
    • Commander Royal Army Medical Corps, 50th Division

III Corps

III Corps Headquarters, Troops

Commander Royal Artillery, III Corps
Commander Royal Artillery, III Corps
  • III Corps Royal Artillery HQ
  • 5th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Field)
  • 97th (Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • 56th (Highland) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • 54th (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Commander Medium Artillery, III Corps
  • III Corps Medium Artillery HQ
  • 139th (4th London) Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • 65th (8th London) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • 69th (West Riding) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • 52nd (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery

Commander Royal Engineers, III Corps

42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division
  • 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division
    • 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division Headquarters and Employment Platoon under Major General William Holmes
    • 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Divisional Field Cash Office, Royal Army Pay Corps
    • 42nd (East Lancashire) Divisional Signals, Royal Signals
    • 7th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment[nb 2]
    • 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Divisional Field Post Office, Royal Engineers
    • 10th Mobile Bath Unit, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
    • 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Divisional Provost Company, Corps of Military Police
    • 125th Infantry Brigade
      • 125th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
      • 5th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers
      • 6th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers
      • 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment
      • 125th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
    • 126th Infantry Brigade
      • 126th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
      • 5th Battalion, The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
      • 1st Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment
      • 5th (Cumberland) Battalion, The Border Regiment
      • 126th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
    • 127th Infantry Brigade
      • 127th Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
      • 4th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment
      • 5th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
      • 1st Battalion The Highland Light Infantry
      • 127th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
    • Commander Royal Artillery, 42nd Division
      • 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Divisional Royal Artillery HQ
      • 52nd (Manchester) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
      • 53rd (Bolton) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
      • 56th (The King's Own) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • Commander Royal Engineers, 42nd Division
    • Commander Royal Army Service Corps, 42nd Division
    • Commander Royal Army Medical Corps, 42nd Division

44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division
  • 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division Headquarters and Employment Platoon under Major General Edmund Osborne
  • 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Divisional Field Cash Office, Royal Army Pay Corps
  • 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals
  • 8th Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge's Own Middlesex Regiment[nb 2]
  • 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Divisional Field Post Office, Royal Engineers
  • 11th Mobile Bath Unit, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
  • 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Divisional Provost Company, Corps of Military Police
  • 131st Infantry Brigade
    • 131st Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 2nd Battalion, The Royal East Kent Regiment (Buffs)
    • 5th Battalion, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment
    • 6th (Bermondsey) Battalion, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment
    • 131st Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • 132nd Infantry Brigade
    • 132nd Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
    • 4th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
    • 5th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
    • 132nd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • 133rd Infantry Brigade
    • 133rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signals Section, Royal Signals
    • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment
    • 4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment
    • 5th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment
    • 133rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
  • Commander Royal Artillery, 44th Division
    • 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Divisional Royal Artillery HQ
    • 57th (Home Counties) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 58th (Sussex) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 65th (8th London) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    • 57th (East Surrey) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  • Commander Royal Engineers, 44th Division
  • Commander Royal Army Service Corps, 44th Division
  • Commander Royal Army Medical Corps, 44th Division

Saar Force

(Major General Victor Fortune)

On 10 May 1940, this force, which was really just the 51st Division reinforced by various small units, was part of the Colonial Army Corps of the French Third Army in front of the Maginot Line.

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

  • Lothians and Border Horse
  • 7th Battalion The Northumberland Fusiliers (Machine-Guns)
  • 1st Battalion Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment (Machine-Guns)
  • 7th Battalion The Royal Norfolk Regiment (Pioneers)
  • 6th Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers (Pioneers)
  • Sound Ranging and Survey Troop - detached from 3rd Survey Regiment RA
  • 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (Field)
  • 51st (Midland) Medium Regiment Royal Artillery
  • 385/97 Army Field Battery Royal Artillery
  • 213th (North Midland) Army Field Company Royal Engineers
  • Topographic Section from 19th Army Field Survey Company Royal Engineers
  • 22nd Animation Transportation Company Royal Indian Army Service Corps
  • Sub-Division from III Corps Ammunition Park Royal Army Service Corps
  • F Section from III Corps Petrol Park Royal Army Service Corps
  • 10th Army Field Workshop Royal Army Ordnance Corps
  • 10th Salvage Unit

51st (Highland) Infantry Division

Major General V. M. Fortune

Formations undergoing training and performing labour duties

12th (Eastern) Infantry Division

Major-General R. L. Petre[nb 4][3]

23rd (Northumbrian) Infantry Division[nb 4]

Major General W. N. Herbert

46th (West Riding) Infantry Division[nb 4]

Major General H. O. Curtis

HQ Lines of Communication British Expeditionary Force

(Major General Philip de Fonblanque)[4]

3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade

Units arriving in France after 10 May 1940

1st Armoured Division

Major General R. Evans[nb 5]

Air Component
Air Vice-Marshal Charles Blount[7] (Data from Jackson 1974 unless indicated.)[8]
  • 85 Squadron: Hurricane (fighter)
  • 87 Squadron: Hurricane (fighter)
  • 607 Squadron: Gladiator (fighter, converting to Hurricane May 1940)
  • 615 Squadron: Gladiator (fighter, converting to Hurricane May 1940)
    • 3 Squadron: Hurricane (fighter; reinforcement, May 1940)
    • 79 Squadron: Hurricane (fighter; reinforcement, May 1940)
    • 504 Squadron: Hurricane (fighter; reinforcement, May 1940)
  • From 22 (Army Co-operation) Group[7]
  • 81 Squadron: Blenheim I (strategic reconnaissance)[7]
  • 57 Squadron: Blenheim I (strategic reconnaissance)[7]
  • 53 Squadron: Blenheim IV (bomber)
  • 59 Squadron: Blenheim IV (bomber)
  • 2 Squadron: Lysander (army co-operation)
  • 4 Squadron: Lysander (army co-operation)
  • 13 Squadron: Lysander (army co-operation)
  • 16 Squadron: Lysander (army co-operation)
  • 26 Squadron: Lysander (army co-operation)

Second Expeditionary Force

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

52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division

Major General J. S. Drew

See also

Notes
  1. Attached from I Corps.
  2. Attached from G.H.Q. Troops.
  3. Attached from II Corps Troops
  4. Although this division participated in the Battle of France, it was not adequately prepared for battle by May 1940. The division only had a skeleton headquarters staff, no organic artillery formations and few support units. Only a third of the infantry had received minimal training. The battalions lacked a carrier platoon and their full complement of heavy weapons.
  5. The 1st Armoured Division arrived in France between 15–21 May. The division fought south of the Somme River and never linked up with the main body of the Expeditionary Force.
  6. Detached from 1st Armoured Division on 21 May 1940 and dispatched to defend Calais.[5]
  7. Detached from 3rd Armoured Brigade and attached to the 30th Infantry Brigade. The regiment was sent to defend Calais on 21 May 1940.
  8. The QVR was sent, without their vehicles, to defend Calais on 21 May 1940 and attached to the 30th Infantry Brigade.[5]
  9. The 20th (Guards) Infantry Brigade was dispatched from the United Kingdom to defend Boulogne on 21 May 1940.[6]

Footnotes
  1. Attached from III Corps
  2. http://aotn.dvrdns.org:5000/pkg/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/france.html
  3. Ellis 2004, p. 21.
  4. "HQ Lines of Communication British Expeditionary Force". Orders of Battle Military Unit Database. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16.
  5. Glover, Michael (1985). The Fight for the Channel ports: Calais to Brest 1940, a Study in Confusion. London: L. Cooper. ISBN 978-0-43618-210-5.
  6. Ellis 2004, p. 154.
  7. Baughen 2016, p. 52.
  8. Jackson 1974, p. 136.

References
  • Baughen, G. (2016). The RAF in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain: A Reappraisal of Army and Air Policy 1938–1940. Stroud: Fonthill Media. ISBN 978-1-78155-525-5.
  • Ellis, Major L. F. (2004) [1953]. Butler, J. R. M. (ed.). The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940. History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series (repr. Naval & Military Press, Uckfield ed.). HMSO. ISBN 978-1-84574-056-6. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  • Jackson, R. (1974). Air War over France 1939–40 (1st ed.). London: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-7110-0510-5.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.