59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division
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| 59th (Staffordshire) Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1908 |
| Branch | Territorial Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Caen in the Normandy Campaign |
The 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division was a 2nd Line Territorial Army unit of the British Army during the Second World War.
Contents |
[edit] History
The 59th Division was reconstituted on 21 August 1939 as a duplicate of the 55th (West Lancashire) Division. Having been kept in Britain until mid-1944, the division's lead units landed in Normandy as part of the Second Army on 26 June. It fought in this campaign until 18 August 1944 when, due to the severe casualties suffered by other British units, it was disbanded as the most junior of the divisions in Normandy and its men used as badly needed reinforcements for the rest of the Second Army.
[edit] Commanders
- Maj.Gen. J. Blakeston-Houston
- Maj.Gen. T.R. Eastwood
- Maj.Gen. F.V.B. Witts
- Maj.Gen. J.S. Steele
- Maj.Gen. W.P.A. Bradshaw
- Maj.Gen. L.O. Lynne
[edit] Order of Battle
This is the division's order of battle at the time of its disbandment on 18 August 1944.
[edit] 176th Infantry Brigade
- 7th Bn, The Royal Norfolk Regiment
- 7th Bn, The South Staffordshire Regiment
- 6th Bn, The North Staffordshire Regiment
[edit] 177th Infantry Brigade
- 5th Bn, The South Staffordshire Regt.
- 1/6th Bn, The South Staffordshire Regt.
- 2/6th Bn, The South Staffordshire Regt.
[edit] 197th Infantry Brigade
- 2/5th Bn, The Lancashire Fusiliers
- 5th Bn, The East Lancashire Regiment
- 1/7th Bn, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
[edit] Support Units
- 7th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
- 59th Recce Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps
- 61st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 110th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 116th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 68th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 509th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 510th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 257th Field Company, Royal Engineers
[edit] External links
- 59th Division History and Order of Battle
- 59 (Staffordshire) Infantry Division at Orders of Battle.com?
- British World War II Military Data Base
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