48th (South Midland) Division

48th (South Midland) Division
Active	World War I 1908 - June 1919 World War II 1939 - 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Territorial Force
Type	Infantry
Engagements	Battle of the Somme (1916) Third Battle of Ypres

The British 48th (South Midland) Division was a Territorial Force division. Originally called the 'South Midland Division', it was redesignated as the 48th Division in 1915.

Unit history

1914 - 1918

The division was sent to France in March 1915 and served on the Western Front and in Italy during the First World War. It took part in the Battle of the Somme (1916), the Battle of Pozières and the Third Battle of Ypres.

1939 - 1945

The Division was still a 1st Line Territorial Army division of the British Army during the Second World War .

In 1940 the division was sent to France to join the British Expeditionary Force . It was involved in the short battle and the retreat from Dunkirk.

After returning from France the division did not serve outside the United Kingdom for the duration of the war. It was reduced to a Reserve Division in 1944.

It does not appear to have been reformed in the Territorial Army after the Second World War.

World War I formation

143rd Brigade (Warwickshire) 

• 1/5th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
• 1/6th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
• 1/7th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
• 1/8th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment (until September 1918)

144th Brigade (Gloucester and Worcester) 

• 1/4th (City of Bristol) Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment
• 1/6th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment
• 1/7th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment
• 1/8th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment (until September 1918)

145th Brigade (South Midland) 

• 1/5th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment (until September 1918)
• 1/4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
• 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
• 1/4th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)

Pioneers 

• 1/5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment

World War II formation

Infantry

• 143rd Infantry Brigade
  • 1st Bn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
  • 5th Bn. The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
  • 1/7th Bn. The Royal Warwickshire Regiment

• 144th Infantry Brigade
  • 5th Bn. The Gloucestershire Regiment
  • 2nd Bn. The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
  • 8th Bn. The Worcestershire Regiment

• 145th Infantry Brigade
  • 4th Bn. The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
  • 4th Bn. The Gloucestershire Regiment
  • 1st Bn. Buckinghamshire Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

Support Units

• 48th Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps (Later 43rd Recon Regt. RAC)
• 1st Lothian and Border Horse
• 67th Field Regiment RA
• 68 Field Regiment RA
• 99 Field Regiment RA
• 53 Anti-Tank Regiment RA
• 48th(South Midlands)Division Royal Signals TA
• 224 Field Company RE
• 225 Field Company RE
• 226 Field Company RE
• 227 Field Park Company RE
• 48th(South Midlands) Divisional Royal Army Service Corps Territorial Army
• Headquarters - CRASC (Commander Royal Army Service Corps)
• 515 Ammunition Company RASC TA
• 517 Petrol Company RASC TA
• 518 Supply Company RASC TA

Commanders

• October 1941 Major-General Arthur Grassett
• December 1941 Major-General Hayman Hayman-Joyce
• February 1961 Major-General John Worsley

See also

• List of British divisions in WWI
• British Divisions in World War II
• British Army Order of Battle - September 1939