12th (Eastern) Infantry Division

12th (Eastern) Infantry Division
Active	First World War: August 1914–22 March 1919 Second World War: 1939–1940
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	New Army
Type	Infantry
Engagements	Battle of Epehy

British Army Infantry Divisions (1914–present)
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The 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division was a division raised by the British Army during the First World War. It was disbanded during the Second World War due to the number of casualties that it took.

Formation and First World War

The 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division, was one of the Kitchener's Army divisions raised from volunteers by Lord Kitchener. It was formed within Eastern Command as a result of Army Order No. 324 of 21 August 1914, as part of the K1 wave of divisions. It fought on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War. One of its most notable actions was the Battle of Epehy.

In the First World War, the division's insignia was the Ace of Spades.

Second World War

The Division was reformed as a second line Territorial Army formation just before the start of the Second World War, a duplicate of the 44th (Home Counties) Division. As such it contained mostly half trained units, some of whom had not even fired their rifles. In April 1940 the 12th Infantry, along with the 23rd (Northumbrian) Division and 46th (North Midland) Divisions, were sent as pioneer units to France. They were all under-equipped and did not have their signals, Royal Artillery or administrative units with them.

When the German attacks began on May 10, 1940 only every third battalion had done a week's training. As a result the 12th Infantry suffered heavy casualties during the Battle of France and the subsequent retreat to and evacuation from Dunkirk .

As a result of its high proportion of casualties (the 36th Infantry Brigade having been severely mauled on May 20, 1940) the 12th Infantry Division was disbanded on July 11, 1940. However, two of its constituent brigades, the 36th Infantry Brigade and the 35th Infantry Brigade would see service later in the war, the 35th as 169th Infantry Brigade, with the 56th (London) Division, and the 36th with the 78th Infantry Division

First World War structure

• 35th Brigade
  • 7th The Norfolk Regiment
  • 7th The Suffolk Regiment
  • 9th The Essex Regiment
  • 5th Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)
  • 1/1st Battalion, The Cambridgeshire Regiment
• 36th Brigade
  • 8th Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
  • 9th Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
  • 7th The Royal Sussex Regiment
  • 11th The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
• 37th Brigade
  • 6th The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
  • 6th Royal East Kent Regiment
  • 7th The East Surrey Regiment
  • 6th The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
• Pioneers
  • 12th The Northamptonshire Regiment

Second World War Order of Battle

France 1940

• 35th Infantry Brigade
  • 2/5th The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
  • 2/6th The Queen's Royal Regiment
  • 2/7th The Queen's Royal Regiment
• 36th Infantry Brigade
  • 5th Royal East Kent Regiment
  • 6th The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
  • 7th The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
• 37th Infantry Brigade
  • 6th The Royal Sussex Regiment
  • 2/6th The East Surrey Regiment
  • 7th The Royal Sussex Regiment

The 37th Infantry Brigade was a duplicate of the 133rd Infantry Brigade, and was re-created on 7 October 1939. In France it was nearly completely destroyed fighting the German invasion. It was reorganised as the 7th Infantry Brigade (Guards) on 8 December 1941.

From 7 October 1939 to 25 October 1939 5th Battalion Royal East Kents (The Buffs) was also part of 37 Infantry Brigade.

See also

• List of British divisions in WWI
• List of British divisions in WWII
• British Army Order of Battle - September 1939

External links

• Source for level of Training of 12th Inf.Div.
• 12 (Eastern) Infantry Division at Orders of Battle.com^?