| 78th Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–1945 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname(s) | Battleaxe Division |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Battle honours |
Monte Cassino Sicily |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Major General Vyvyan Evelegh Major General Charles Keightley |
The British 78th Infantry Division, also known as the Battleaxe Division, fought in the Second World War in North Africa and Italy.
History[]
The 78th was formed specifically for Operation Torch from regular British Army units, landing at Algiers in 1942. Thereafter it had a prominent role in the Tunisia Campaign, gaining a formidable reputation, then through the Allied invasion of Sicily, up the length of Italy, arriving in Austria for the end of the war. Units also saw action in Greece, Palestine, and Egypt. Notable engagements include in Tunisia Longstop Hill, in Sicily the Battle of Centuripe and in Italy the assaults on the Viktor Line (Battle of Termoli), the Barbara Line and the River Sangro (Gustav Line) as well as the Battle of Monte Cassino, the Trasimene Line, the Gothic Line and Battle of the Argenta Gap.
Commanding officers[]
- Maj.Gen. Vyvyan Evelegh (June 1942 – December 1943)
- Maj.Gen. Charles Keightley (December 1943 – August 1944)
- Maj.Gen. Donald Clunes Butterworth (August 1944 – October 1944)
- Maj.Gen. Keith Arbuthnott (October 1944 – 1945)
Composition[]
Order of battle from 1942 composed from units of Force 110.[1]
11th Infantry Brigade[]
- 2nd Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion The East Surrey Regiment
- 5th Battalion The Northamptonshire Regiment
36th Infantry Brigade[]
- 5th Battalion The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
- 6th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment
- 8th Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
- 7th battalion Royal West Kent Regiment
1st Infantry Brigade (Guards) (until March 1943)[]
- 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards
- 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards
- 2nd Battalion The Hampshire Regiment
38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade (from March 1943)[]
- 6th Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (until August 1944)
- 2nd Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (from August 1944)
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's)
- 2nd Battalion, The London Irish Rifles (Territorial Army)
Support units[]
56th Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps
1st Battalion, Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment (Machine gun battalion)
- 17th Field Regiment
- 132nd Field Regiment (Welsh)
- 138th (City of London) Field Regiment
- 64th (Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 49th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (until November 1944)
- 214th Field Company
- 237th Field Company
- 256th Field Company
- 281st Field Park Company
- 11th Field Ambulance
- 152nd Field Ambulance
- 217th Field Ambulance
- 47th Field Ambulance
Bibliography[]
- Ken Ford (1999). Battleaxe Division. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-1893-4.
- Ray, Cyril (1952). Algiers to Austria. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode. OCLC 6845975.
References[]
- ↑ Ford (1999), pp. 274–275.
External links[]
- British Army Regiments website
- 78 Infantry Division at Orders of Battle.com
- 78 Infantry Division 1944–45
The original article can be found at 78th Infantry Division (United Kingdom) and the edit history here.