56th (LONDON) DIVISION

1939-1945

DIVISIONAL FLASH

LOCATIONS SERVED

September 1939 - A First Line Territorial Army Division (1st London Division) organised as a Motor Division.

June 1940 - Reorganised as an Infantry Division.

18 November 1940 - Redesignated 56th (London) Division.


United Kingdom: 3.9.39 - 25.8.42
At Sea: 25.8.42 - 4.11.42
Iraq: 4.11.42 - 24.3.43
Palestine: 25.3.43 - 28.3.43
Egypt: 29.3.43 - 4.4.43
Libya: 5.4.43 - 19.4.43
North Africa: 19.4.43 - 26.5.43
Libya: 27.5.43 - 31.8.43
At Sea: 1.9.43 - 9.9.43
Italy: 9.9.43 - 28.3.44
At Sea: 28.3.44 - 2.4.44
Egypt: 3.4.44 - 11.7.44
At Sea: 11.7.44 - 17.7.44
Italy: 17.7.44 - 31.8.45

BATTLES & ENGAGEMENTS

1943

19 April - 29 April: Enfidaville
5 May - 12 May: Tunis
9 September - 18 September: Salerno
22 September - 1 October: Capture of Naples
12 October - 15 October: Volturno Crossing
5 November - 9 December: Monte Camino


1944

17 January - 31 January: Garigliano Crossing
22 January - 22 May: Anzio
25 August - 15 September: Gothic Line
3 September - 15 September: Coriano
14 September - 21 September: Rimini Line
2 December - 13 December: Lamone Crossing

1945

13 April - 21 April: Argenta Gap

 

 

BRIGADES

   

1 London Infantry Bde
3.9.39 - 18.11.40
167 (London) Infantry Bde
18.11.40 - 31.8.45

8 Royal Fus (until 23.9.44)
9 Royal Fus
1 London Irish Rifles (3.9.39 - 4.11.40 & 23.9.44 - 31.8.45)
1 London Inf Bde Atk Coy (11.5.40 - 27.11.40)
167 (London) Inf Bde ATK Coy (28.11.40 - 8.1.41)
15 Royal Fus (9.11.40 - 13.2.41)
7 Oxf Bucks L I (14.2.41 - 23.9.44)
1 London Scottish (from 23.9.44)

2 London Infantry Bde
3.9.39 - 18.11.40
168 (London) Bde
18.11.40 - 8.4.43 & 17.10.43 - 26.9.44 (1)

1 Queen's Westminsters (until 4.11.40)
1 London Scottish (until 23.9.44)
1 London Rifle Brigade (until 30.11.40)
2 Lon Inf Bde Atk Coy (7.2.40 - 27.11.40)
1 London Irish Rifles (4.11.40 - 23.9.44)
18 Royal Fus (5.11.40 - 15.2.41)
10 Royal Berks (15.2.41 - 15.5.44)
168 (Lon) Inf Bde Sp Coy (19.5.43 - 27.5.44)
1 Welch (17.5.44 - 26.9.44)

35 Infantry Bde
8.7.40 - 27.11.40
169 (London) Bde
28.11.40 - 31.8.45

2/5 Queens
2/6 Queens (until 25.3.44 & 2.6.44 - 31.8.45)
2/7 Queens
35 Inf Bde Atk Coy (2.10.40 - 27.11.40)
169 (Lon) Inf Bde Atk Coy (28.11.40-7.4.41)

201 (Guards) Infantry Bde
23.7.43 - 17.10.43

3 Coldstream Gds
6 Grenadier Guards


43 Indian Infantry Bde
25.9.44 - 7.10.44

24 (Guards) Infantry Bde
10.3.45 - 31.8.45

1 Scots Gds
5 Grenadier Gds (until 28.3.45)
2 Coldstream Gds
1 Buffs

(1) Brigade reduced to a cadre September 1944; disbanded in Italy 1.1.45

DIVISIONAL TROOPS

RAC

44 Recce Regt: 1.1.44 - 16.2.44 & 2.6.44 - 31.8.45

RE

220 Fd Coy: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45
501 Fd Coy: 8.9.39 - 18.3.43 & 13.10.43 - 31.8.45
221 Fd Coy: 3.7.40 - 31.8.45
42 Fd Coy: 9.7.43 - 3.1.44

223 Fd Pk Coy: 3.9.39 - 30.9.39
563 Fd Pk Coy: 15.1.40 - 31.8.45


SIGS

1 Lon Div: 3.9.-39 - 17.11.40
56 Div: 18.11.40 - 31.8.45

RA

64 Fd Regt: 3.9.39 - 31.8.45
90 Fd Regt: 3.9.39 - 18.3.43
113 Fd Regt: 9.7.40 - 31.8.45
65 Fd Regt: 23.4.43 - 31.8.45

67 ATK Regt: 1.7.40 - 31.8.45

100 LAA Regt: 3.2.42 - 9.11.44


INFANTRY

M/C Bn

1 QVR: 3.9.39 - 21.5.40

MG Bns

1 Kensingtons: 11.11.41 - 20.5.42
6 Cheshire: 12.1.43 - 31.8.45

RECCE

56 Bn: 8.1.41 - 5.6.42
56 Regt: 6.6.42 - 15.8.42
44 Regt: 8.3.43 - 31.12.43


 
 
 

DIVISIONAL COMMANDERS

3.9.39
Maj-Gen C.F.Liardet

27.1.41
Maj-Gen M.G.N.Stopford

8.10.41
Maj-Gen E.G.Miles (wounded 5.5.43)

5.5.43
Brig J.C.A.Birch (Acting)

7.5.43
Maj-Gen D.A.H.Graham

10.10.43
Brig L.O.Lyne (Acting)

15.10.43
Maj-Gen G.W.R.Templer (1)

25.7.44
Maj-Gen J.Y.Whitfield

3.7.45
Brig M.D.Erskine (Acting)

7.8.45
Maj-Gen J.Y.Whitfield


 (1) Commanded 1st Division in addition from 8.2.44 - 22.2.44
 

NOTES

VICTORIA CROSS

Pte G.A.Mitchell VC
1 Bn London Scottish
Date: 23/24 January 1944
Place: Near Minturno, Italy


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