43rd (Wessex) DIVISION

1939-1945

DIVISIONAL FLASH

LOCATIONS SERVED

September 1939 - A First Line Territorial division in the UK.
June 1942- Organised as a mixed Division.
September 1943 - Reorganised as an  Infantry Division.

United Kingdom: 3.9.39 - 17.6.44
At Sea: 17.6.44 - 24.6.44
NW Europe: 24.6.44 - 31.8.45

BATTLES & ENGAGEMENTS

1944

25 June - 2 July: The Odon
4 July - 18 July: Caen
18 July - 23 July: Bourguebus Ridge
30 July - 9 August: Mont Pincon
17 September - 27 September: The Nederrijn

1945

8 February - 10 March: The Rhineland
23 March - 1 April: The Rhine

BRIGADES

   

128 Infantry Bde
3.9.39 - 6.6.42

1/4 Hampshires
2/4 Hampshires 
5 Hampshires

129 Infantry Bde
3.9.39 - 31.8.45

4 Somerset Light Inf
4 Wiltshires
5 Wiltshires

130 Infantry Bde
3.9.39 - 31.8.45

7 Hampshires
4 Dorset
5 Dorset

25 Tank Bde
1.6.42 - 2.9.42

51 RTR
11 RTR
142 RAC
151 RAC

34 Tank Bde
3.9.42 - 10.9.43

147 RAC
153 RAC
151 RAC

214 Infantry Bde 
5.9.43 - 31.8.45

7 Wiltshires (until 11.9.42)
5 DCLI
7 Somerset Light Inf (from 12.9.42)
9 Somerset Light Inf (until 30.9.43)
1 Worcesters (from 30.9.43) 


DIVISIONAL TROOPS

RAC

43 Recce Regt: 1.1.44 - 31.8.45

RE

204 Fd Coy: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45
260 Fd Coy: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45
553 Fd Coy: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45

207 Fd Pk Coy: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45

13 Br Pl: 1.10.43 - 31.8.45

SIGS

43 Div: 3.9.-39 - 31.8.45

RA

94 Fd Regt: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45
112 Fd Regt: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45
141 Fd Regt: 3.9.39 - 8.6.42
179 Fd Regt: 9.6.42 - 31.8.45

59 ATK Regt: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45

110 LAA Regt: 23.3.42 - 31.8.45


INFANTRY

MG Bns

1/8 Middlesex: 18.11.41 - 1.10.42
8 Middlesex: 28.2.44 - 31.8.45

RECCE

48 Bn: 20.11.41 - 7.1.42
43 Bn: 8.1.42 - 5.6.42
43 Regt: 6.6.42 - 31.12.43

SUPPORT BN

8 Middlesex: 1.10.43 - 28.2.44


 
 
 

DIVISIONAL COMMANDERS

3.9.39
Maj-Gen Hon. A.N.Floyer-Acland

5.2..40
Maj-Gen A.E.Percival

22.4.40
Brig G.E.M.Whittuck (Acting)

29.4.40
Maj-Gen R.V.Pollock

28.2.41
Maj-Gen C.W.Allfrey

9.3.42
Maj-Gen G.I.Thomas

27.12.44
Brig S.B.Rawlins (Acting)

28.1.45
Maj-Gen G.I.Thomas

1.6.45
Brig H.Essame

14.6.45
Maj-Gen G.I.Thomas

19.6.45
Brig B.A.Coad

5.7.45
Maj-Gen G.I.Thomas

 
 

NOTES

VICTORIA CROSS

Nil.

BOOKS

Anon. The Wyvern in North West Europe : being a short history of the 43rd Wessex Division, 24 June 1944-8 May 1945 (Germany : 43rd Wessex Division 1945)

P.Delaforce. The Fighting Wessex Wyverns: From Normandy to Bremerhaven with the 43rd Wessex Division (Alan Sutton 1994)

H. Essame. The 43rd Wessex Division at War, 1944-1945 (London : William Clowes 1952)

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