51st (Highland) Infantry Division
| 51st (Highland) Division | |
|---|---|
_Division.jpg) formation patch as worn after 1940 |
|
| Active | 1939-1945 World War II |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Territorial Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Nickname | The Highway Decorators |
| Engagements | Battle of France Battle of El Alamein Sicily Landings Normandy Campaign Battle of the Bulge Operation Veritable Operation Plunder |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Alan Cunningham Neil Ritchie Douglas Wimberley Tom Rennie |
|
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For the First World War unit, see 51st (Highland) Division (World War I).
The 51st (Highland) Infantry Division was a British Territorial Army division that fought during the Second World War. The division was nicknamed the "Highway Decorators" in reference to the 'HD' insignia which adorned road signs along their axis of advance.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Overview
The 51st Division commanded by Major-General Victor Fortune formed part of the British Expeditionary Force at the start of World War II. With the capture of two of its brigades in France the division effectively ceased to exist. The 9th (Highland) Infantry Division was renumbered as the 51st and subsequently served in the North Africa campaign. From there it went to Sicily before returning to France as part of the invasion of Northern Europe.
[edit] France 1940
After three years of training under Major General Fortune's command, the 51st Infantry Division departed from Southampton and disembarked at Le Havre in mid-January 1940.[1] It was stationed in front of the Ouvrage Hackenberg fortress of the Maginot Line and had thus escaped being encircled with the rest of the BEF at Dunkirk. It was then pulled back to a new line roughly along the River Somme, where it was attached to the French Tenth Army. For some time, it was forced to hold a line four times longer than that which would normally be expected of a division.The Div was attacked very heavily over the 5/6 June with the major attack initially falling on the 7th Bn Argyl and Sutherland highlanders before the other Bns of the 154 Bde we enveloped. The Argyls lost heavily the worst day in their history. being overwhelmed the Bde was forced to retire to the west. During this period, the 154th Brigade was detached to form "Arkforce" and was able to escape the German drive into central France and Normandy. However, the 152nd and 153rd Brigades were trapped at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux, and surrendered on 12 June, along with the Division's commander. General Fortune was one of the most senior British officers taken prisoner in World War II. He was knighted by King George VI after the war.[2] From the British point of view, the defeat of the 51st Division was the end of the Allied resistance during the battle of France.[2]
Subsequently most were held at Stalag XX-A at Toruń, around 120 miles (190 km) NW of Warsaw. In early 1945 they took part in the Long March, marching around 450 miles (720 km) in the depths of winter to Stalag XIB/357 at Bad Fallingbostel on the Lüneburg Heath, north of Hanover.
On 12 June 2010, Veterans of the 51st Highland Division attended a commemorative ceremony for the 70th Anniversary of the battle at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux.[3]
[edit] A Division Reborn
In August 1940, the British 9th (Highland) Infantry Division, a 2nd Line Territorial Army duplicate of the 51st Division, was converted into the new 51st Division, with the 26th and 27th Brigades redesignated as 152nd and 153rd Brigades, and the 28th being merged with the severely under strength 154th Brigade. Two years of home defence followed on the south coast of England and north-east coast of Scotland.[4]
[edit] The Mediterranean
Arriving in North Africa in June 1942, the new 51st Highland Division experienced its first battle at El Alamein (October–November 1942). It then played a major part in Operation Lightfoot, where it was in the center of the Northern Push, between the Australian 9th Division and the 2nd New Zealand Division. It faced the 21st Panzer Division and some Italian units. Initially unsuccessful during Lightfoot, the minefields it cleared were key in achieving a breakout during Operation Supercharge. It was involved in the battle at Wadi Akarit, Tunisia in early April 1943, and took part in the frontal assault on strongpoints guarded by deep minefields, where it was on the far right of the line. The battalion commander of the 7th Argylls, Lt Col Lorne Campbell, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his leadership during the battle. Later, the division took part in the invasion of Sicily and later, the invasion of Italy. It was then recalled from the 8th Army in Italy, on the wishes of the 8th Army's ex-commander, General Bernard Law Montgomery, together with 7th Armoured Division and 50th (Northumbrian) Division, to prepare for the invasion of North-West Europe. Montgomery later commented "Of the many fine divisions that served under me in the Second World War, none were finer than the Highland division."
[edit] Salerno Mutiny
When a group of recuperating wounded soldiers of the 51st returned from their North African hospital to rejoin the division in Italy, they were split up instead and ordered to various units and formations totally unrelated to the 51st Division or its component regiments. Some soldiers of the division regarded this as administrative high-handedness and refused to follow these orders. The mutineers were distributed to various units regardless, while ringleaders were sentenced to death.
[edit] Battle of Normandy
The 51st Division landed in Normandy on 7 June, as part of I Corps. After spending a brief period supporting 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, it was sent across the Orne River, and spent two months supporting the 6th Airborne Division in its bridgehead. During this period it fought many difficult actions at places such as Breville (11–12 June) and Colombelles (11 July). Its performance in Normandy was, overall, considered disappointing, particularly by General Montgomery, who stated in a telegram to Field Marshal Brooke that the division "had failed every mission it was given".[5] This led to the replacement of its Normandy commander, Major-General D.C. Bullen-Smith, with Major-General Tom Rennie, who had served with the division in France, North Africa and Sicily before being elevated to command of 3rd Infantry Division for the Normandy invasion.[6]
On 1 August 1944 the division, along with the rest of I Corps, became part of the newly-activated First Canadian Army. The division fought alongside this army in Operation Totalize, before advancing to Lisieux. It then continued east over the river Seine and headed, on Montgomery's order[7] for Saint-Valéry-en-Caux, the scene of the division's surrender in June 1940. The division 's massed pipes and drums played in the streets of the town, and a parade included veterans of the 1940 campaign were with the 51st in 1944. A similar event occurred at Dieppe when it was liberated by the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division.
[edit] After Normandy
Leaving St Valery, 51st Division was engaged in Operation Astonia, the battle for Le Havre. After the successful capture of the town, the division went on to take part in the Battle of the Scheldt in October 1944, finally passing into reserve and garrisoning the Meuse during the Battle of the Bulge, now as part of XXX Corps. It was not involved in heavy fighting during the early stages of the battle and was deployed as a stopgap in case the Germans broke through. In January 1945 the division, along with the rest of XXX Corps, helped to cut off the northern tip of the German salient, linking up with the US 84th Infantry Division at Nisramont on 14 January.[8] Following this, the division was involved in Operation Veritable, the clearing of the Rhineland and the later Rhine crossings, ending the war in the Bremerhaven area of Northern Germany. During the North-West Europe campaign 51st (Highland) Division had suffered a total of 19,524 battle casualties [9]
[edit] Orders of Battle
[edit] 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, 1939-1940 [10]
- 2nd Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders (regular army)
- 4th Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders
- 4th Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
- 4th Battalion, The Black Watch
- 1st Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders (regular army)
- 5th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders
- 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (regular army)
- 7th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
- 8th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Divisional Support Units
- 1st Lothians & Border Yeomanry
- 75th (Highland) Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 76th (Highland) Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 77th (Highland) Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 51st (West Highland) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 236th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 237th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 238th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 1st Battalion, The Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment (The Middlesex Regiment) (Machine Gun)
- 7th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers(Machine Gun)
- 7th Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment (Infantry Sappers)
- 6th Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers (Infantry Sappers)
[edit] 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, 1940-1945[11]
- 152nd Infantry Brigade (formerly 26th Infantry Brigade)
- 2nd Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders
- 5th Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders
- 5th Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
- 153rd Infantry Brigade (formerly 27th Infantry Brigade)
- 5th Battalion, The Black Watch
- 1st Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders
- 5/7th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders
- 154th Infantry Brigade (formerly 28th Infantry Brigade)
- 1st Battalion, The Black Watch
- 7th Battalion, The Black Watch
- 7th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Divisional Support Units
- 1st/7th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment
- 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
- 126th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 127th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 128th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 61st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 274th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 275th Field Company, Royal Engineers
- 276th Field Company, Royal Engineers
[edit] Commanders [12]
- Maj.Gen. Victor Fortune: 1937 - 12 June 1940 (Captured)
- Maj.Gen. Sir Alan Cunningham: 7 August 1940 - 7 October 1940
- Maj.Gen. Sir Neil Ritchie: 7 October 1940- 11 June 1941
- Maj.Gen. Douglas Wimberley: 11 June 1941 - 8 August 1943
- Maj.Gen. D.C.Bullen-Smith: 8 August 1943 - 26 July 1944
- Maj.Gen. Tom Rennie: 26 July 1944 - 23 March 1945 (Killed in Action)
- Maj.Gen. Gordon MacMillan: 23 March 1945 - 28 May 1945
- Maj.Gen. James Cassels: 28 May 1945 - March 1946
[edit] Cultural references
[edit] Music
- "The 51st (Highland) Division's Farewell to Sicily", a folk song written by Hamish Henderson, a former officer who served in the 51st Division during the Sicilian campaign. It has been recorded by a number of folk singers, including Dick Gaughan.
- "The Beaches of St. Valery", performed by the Battlefield Band. Written by Davy Steel, it tells the story of the 51st Division's struggle to reach Saint-Valéry-en-Caux in 1940 only to find that no ships had been sent to evacuate them.
- "The Old Boys", performed by the Scottish group Runrig, who sing in both English and Gaelic. The song which first appeared on the album Recovery (1981) and was reprised on Protera (2003) speaks of the declining numbers of Gaelic speaking members of the 51st who fought at St Valery.
- "Farewell, 51st, farewell!", a folk song written by Andy Stewart, about scrapping of the 51st Division, but indicates that they will never be forgotten, as the lyrics say "On the glory road of fame, there is honour tae your name. Farewell 51st, Farewell."
[edit] Dance
- "The Reel of the 51st Division" was written in the Laufen PoW camp by soldiers captured at St Valery. It was the very first modern Scottish Country Dance published by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. The original tune written in Laufen has been superseded by the traditional reel "The Drunken Piper" and the dance was re-cast from its original form involving a longwise set of ten men to the more usual four couple set. The original ten-man version is still danced in some parts.
The dance was published in the first post-World War II edition (Book Thirteen) of "The Scottish Country Dance Book".
[edit] Notes
- ^ Delaforce, p.10
- ^ a b Heroes of St. Valery
- ^ Council supports Saint Valery en Caux Battle commemorations The Highland Council, 11 June 2010
- ^ Salmond, pp.19-25
- ^ Doherty, p.167
- ^ Delaforce, p.145
- ^ Doherty, p.184
- ^ Delaforce, pp.196-7
- ^ Salmond, p.273
- ^ url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=1443&Tab=Oob; Doherty, pp.277-78
- ^ url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=1443&Tab=Oob
- ^ See Salmond, The Story of the 51st Highland Division
[edit] See also
[edit] Bibliography
- Delaforce, Patrick, Monty's Highlanders: The Story of the 51st Highland Division Pen & Sword, 2007. ISBN 1-84415-512-9
- Doherty, Richard, None Bolder: The History of the 51st Highland Division in the Second World War Spellmount, 2006. ISBN 1-86227-317-0
- Salmond, J.B. The Story of the 51st Highland Division. Wm Blackwood & Sons, 1953. No ISBN.
- Linklater, Eric The Highland Division. HMSO, 1942. No ISBN.
[edit] External links
- The Forgotten 51st
- www.51hd.co.uk - The Official Website of the 51 Highland Division
- Heroic and overlooked involvement in Dunkirk evacuation
- The Forgotten Heroes of World War 2 by Robert Beesley
- Remember the 51st (Highland) Division at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux
