53rd (Welsh) DIVISION

1939-1945

DIVISIONAL FLASH

LOCATIONS SERVED

September 1939 - A First Line Territorial division in the UK.
May 1942- Re-organised as a mixed Division.
October 1943 - Reorganised as an  Infantry Division.

United Kingdom: 3.9.39 - 21.6.44
At Sea: 21.6.44 - 27.6.44
NW Europe: 27.6.44 - 31.8.45

BATTLES & ENGAGEMENTS

1944

25 June - 2 July: The Odon
4 July - 18 July: Caen
30 July - 9 August: Mont Pincon
7 August - 22 August: Falaise
17 September - 27 September: The Nederrijn

1945

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

BRIGADES

   

158 Infantry Bde
3.9.39 - 22.10.39 & 3.4.40 - 31.8.45

4 RWF (until 3.8.44)
6 RWF (until 3.8.44)
7 RWF (until 26.4.45 & 14.6.45 - 31.8.45)
1 East Lancs (from 4.8.44)
1/5 Welch (from 4.8.44)
2 SWB (from 26.4.45)

159 Infantry Bde
3.9.39 - 17.5.42

4 KSLI
3 Monmouths
1 Herefords

160 Infantry Bde
3.9.39 - 17.12.39 & 3.4.40 - 31.8.45

4 Welch
1/5 Welch (until 3.8.44)
2 Monmouths
6 RWF (from 4.8.44)

31 Tank Bde
17.5.42 - 10.9.43

2nd London Irish Rifles
1st Royal Irish Fusiliers

71 Infantry Bde
18.10.43 - 31.8.45

1 East Lancs (until 3.8.44)
1 HLI (until 17.8.45)
1 OBLI
4 RWF (from 4.8.44)
1 Norfolk (from 17.8.45)

DIVISIONAL TROOPS

RAC

53 Recce Regt: 1.1.44 - 31.8.45

RE

244 Fd Coy: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45
245 Fd Coy: 3.9.39 - 8.10.39
282 Fd Coy: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45
555 Fd Coy: 30.12.39 - 31.8.45

285 Fd Pk Coy: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45

22 Br Pl: 1.10.43 - 31.8.45

SIGS

53 Div: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45

RA

81 Fd Regt: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45
83 Fd Regt: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45
133 Fd Regt: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45

71 ATK Regt: 31.10.40 - 11.4.41 & 20.6.41 - 31.8.45
63 ATK Regt: 12.4.41 - 20.6.41

116 LAA Regt: 3.4.42 - 2.12.44
25 LAA Regt: 1.12.44 - 31.8.45


INFANTRY

MG Bns

5 Cheshires: 11.11.41 - 1.10.42
1 Manchesters: 28.2.44 - 31.8.45

RECCE

53 Bn: 1.1.42 - 5.6.42
53 Regt: 6.6.42 - 31.12.43

SUPPORT BN

1 Manchesters: 1.10.43 - 27.2.44


 
 
 

DIVISIONAL COMMANDERS

3.9.39
Maj-Gen B.T. Wilson

29.7.41
Maj-Gen G.C.Bucknall

12.9.42
Maj-Gen R.K.Ross

16.2.45
Brig M.Erlington (Acting)

10.3.45
Maj-Gen R.K.Ross

27.5.45
Brig G.F.C.Coleman (Acting)

3.6.45
Maj-Gen R.K.Ross

26.8.45
Brig G.F.C.Coleman (Acting)

 

NOTES

VICTORIA CROSS

Major T.Watkins
1/5 Bn Welch Regiment
Date: 16 August 1944
Place: Barfour, Normandy, France

BOOKS

A.D. Bolland. Team spirit : the administration of an infantry division during "Operation Overlord" : France-Holland-Belgium-Germany, June 1944-May 1945 (Aldershot : Gale & Polden 1948)

C.N. Barclay. The History of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the Second World War (London : William Clowes 1956)

P.Delaforce. Red Crown and Dragon : 53rd Welsh Division in North-West Europe, 1944-1945 (London : Tom Donovan Publishing 1996)

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