British Expeditionary Force order of battle (1940)

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This is the British Expeditionary Force order of battle on 9 May 1940, the day before the German forces initiated the Battle of France

[edit] General Headquarters

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief: General the Lord Gort
Chief of the General Staff: Lieutenant-General Sir H. R. Pownall
Adjutant-General: Lieutenant-General Sir W. D. S. Brownrigg
Quartermaster-General: Lieutenant-General W. G. Lindsell
Deputy Chief of the General Staff; Major-General P. Neame
Major-General Royal Artillery: Major-General S. R. Wason
Engineer in Chief: Major-General R. P. Packenham-Walsh

General Headquarters Troops (G.H.Q.)^{[nb 1]}
- Headquarters Troops
  - 1st Battalion Welsh Guards^{[nb 2]}
  - 9th Battalion The West Yorkshire Regiment^{[nb 3]}
  - 14th Battalion The Royal Fusiliers^{[nb 4]}
- 1st Army Tank Brigade
  - 4th (Battalion) Royal Tank Regiment - equipped with Infantry tanks, and light tanks
  - 7th (Battalion) Royal Tank Regiment
- 1st Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade
- HQ Royal Artillery
  - 1st Super Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 1st Anti-Aircraft Brigade
    - 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 6th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 85th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
    - 60th Anti-Aircraft Regiment
    - 51st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
    - 58th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
  - 4th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
    - 4th Anti-Aircraft Regiment
    - 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
  - 5th Searchlight Brigade
    - 1st Searchlight Regiment
    - 2nd Searchlight Regiment
    - 3rd Searchlight Regiment
- HQ Royal Engineers
  - 100th Army Field Company
  - 101st Army Field Company
  - 216th Army Field Company
  - 228th Field Company
  - 242nd Field Company
  - 223rd Field Park Company
  - 19th Army Field Survey Company
  - 58th Chemical Warfare Company
  - 61st Chemical Warfare Company
  - 62nd Chemical Warfare Company

5th Infantry Division^{[nb 6]} - Major-General Harold Franklyn
- HQ Royal Artillery
  - 9th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 91st Field Regiment, Royal Engineers
  - 52nd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- HQ Royal Engineers
  - 245th Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 252nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 254th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
- 13th Infantry Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion The Cameronians
  - 2nd Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
  - 2nd Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment
  - 13th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 17th Infantry Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers
  - 2nd Battalion The Northamptonshire Regiment
  - 6th Battalion The Seaforth Highlanders
  - 17th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

[edit] I Corps

Lieutenant General M.G.H. Barker

Corps Troops
- HQ Royal Artillery
  - 27th Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 98th Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 115th Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 140th Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 88th Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 1st Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 3rd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 5th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 61st Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 63rd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 1st Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 3rd Super Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 52nd Light Antiaircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 2nd Light Antiaircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
  - 1st Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery
- HQ Royal Engineers
  - 102nd Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 107th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 221st Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 105th Corps Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 13th Corps Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers
- 4th Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment (Machine Gun)
- 6th Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) (Machine Gun)^{[nb 7]}
- 6th Battalion, The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) (Pioneer)^{[nb 7]}
- 7th Battalion, The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) (Pioneer)^{[nb 7]}

1st Infantry Division - Major-General H. R. L. G. Alexander
- Divisional Troops
  - HQ Royal Artillery
    - 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 19th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 67th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 21st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - HQ Royal Engineers
    - 23rd Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 238th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 248th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 6th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) [Divisional Cavalry]^{[nb 7]}
  - 2nd Battalion The Cheshire Regiment (Machine Gun)^{[nb 8]}
  - 1st Divisional Signals
- 1st (Guards) Infantry Brigade
  - 3rd Battalion, The Grenadier Guards
  - 2nd Battalion, The Coldstream Guards
  - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Hampshire Regiment
  - 1st Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 2nd Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Charles Edward Hudson)
  - 1st Battalion, The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
  - 2nd Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)
  - 6th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders
  - 2nd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 3rd Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)
  - 2nd Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
  - 1st Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry
  - 3rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

2nd Infantry Division - Major-General H. C. Loyd
- Divisional Troops
  - HQ Royal Artillery
    - 10th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 16th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 99th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 13th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - HQ Royal Engineers
    - 5th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 11th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 38th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 21st Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards [Divisional Cavalry]^{[nb 7]}
  - 2nd Battalion, The Manchester Regiment (Machine Gun)^{[nb 8]}
  - 2nd Divisional Signals
- 4th Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)
  - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment
  - 1/8th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers
  - 4th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 5th Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
  - 2nd Battalion, The Dorsetshire Regiment
  - 7th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment
  - 5th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 6th Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers
  - 1st Battalion, The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)
  - 2nd Battalion The Durham Light Infantry
  - 6th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
48th (South Midland) Infantry Division - Major-General A. F. A. N. Thorne
- Divisional Troops
  - HQ Royal Artillery
    - 18th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 24th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 68th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 53rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - HQ Royal Engineers
    - 9th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 224th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 226th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 227th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 4th Battalion The Cheshire Regiment (Machine Gun)^{[nb 8]}
- 143rd Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
  - 5th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
  - 1/7th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
  - 143rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 144th Infantry Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
  - 5th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment
  - 8th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment
  - 144rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 145th Infantry Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment
  - 4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
  - 1st (Buckinghamshire) Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
  - 144th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

[edit] II Corps

Lieutenant-General A. F. Brooke

Corps Troops
- HQ Royal Artillery
  - 2nd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 32nd Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 60th Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 88th Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 2nd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 4th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 53rd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 58th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 59th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 51st Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 2nd Super Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 7]}
  - 53rd Light Antiaircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 2nd Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery
- HQ Royal Engineers
  - 222nd Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 234th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 240th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 108th Corps Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 14th Corps Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers
- 8th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) (Machine Gun)
- 4th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders (Machine Gun)
- 8th Battalion, The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) [Pioneer]^{[nb 7]}
- 9th Battalion, The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) [Pioneer]^{[nb 7]}

3rd Infantry Division - Major-General B. L. Montgomery
- Divisional Troops
  - HQ Royal Artillery
    - 7th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 3rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 76th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 20th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - HQ Royal Engineers
    - 17th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 248th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 253rd Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 15th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars (Divisional Cavalry)^{[nb 7]}
  - 1st/7th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) (Machine Gun)^{[nb 9]}
  - 2nd Battalion The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) (Machine Gun)^{[nb 9]}
  - 3rd Divisional Signals
- 7th Guards' Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Grenadier Guards
  - 2nd Battalion, The Grenadier Guards
  - 1st Battalion, The Coldstream Guards
  - 7th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 8th Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment
  - 2nd Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment
  - 4th Battalion, The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)
  - 8th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 9th Infantry Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment
  - 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers
  - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Ulster Rifles
  - 9th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

4th Infantry Division - Major-General D. G. Johnson
- Divisional Headquarters
  - HQ Royal Artillery
    - 22nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 30th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 77th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 14th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - HQ Royal Engineers
    - 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 59th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 225th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 18th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards (Divisional Cavalry)^{[nb 7]}
  - 2nd Battalion The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (Machine Gun)^{[nb 9]}
- 10th Infantry Brigade (Brig. Evelyn Barker)
  - 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
  - 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
  - 6th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment
  - 10th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 11th Infantry Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers
  - 1st Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment
  - 5th Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
  - 11th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 12th Infantry Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
  - 1st Battalion, The South Lancashire Regiment
  - 6th Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
  - 12th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Division - Major-General G. Le Q. Martel
- Divisional Troops
  - HQ Royal Artillery
    - 72nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 74th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 92nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 65th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - HQ Royal Engineers
    - 232nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 505th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 235th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 4th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers [Motorcycle]
- 150th Infantry Brigade
  - 4th Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of York's Own)
  - 4th Battalion, Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)
  - 5th Battalion, The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)
  - 150th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 151st Infantry Brigade
  - 6th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
  - 8th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
  - 9th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
  - 151st Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 25th Infantry Brigade
  - 1/7th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
  - 2nd Battalion, The Essex Regiment
  - 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Fusiliers
  - 25th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

[edit] III Corps

Lieutenant-General Sir R. F. Adam

Corps Troops
- HQ Royal Artillery
  - 5th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
  - 97th Army Field Regiment (less one battery), Royal Artillery
  - 139th Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery ^{[nb 7]}
  - 56th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 65th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery ^{[nb 7]}
  - 69th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery ^{[nb 7]}
  - 52nd Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery ^{[nb 7]}
  - 54th Light Antiaircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 3rd Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery
- HQ Royal Engineers
  - 214th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 217th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 293rd Corps Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 514th Corps Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers
- 1st/9th Battalion The Manchester Regiment (Machine Gun)
- 1st/6th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment [Pioneer]^{[nb 7]}

42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division - Major-General W. G. Holmes
- HQ Royal Artillery
  - 52nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 53rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 56th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- HQ Royal Engineers
  - 200th Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 201st Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 250th Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 208th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
- 125th Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment
  - 5th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers
  - 6th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers
  - 125th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 126th Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment
  - 5th Battalion, The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
  - 5th Battalion, The Border Regiment
  - 126th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 127th Infantry Brigade
  - 4th Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment
  - 5th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
  - 1st Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
  - 127th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division - Major-General E. A. Osborne
- HQ Royal Artillery
  - 57th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 58th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 65th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 57th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- HQ Royal Engineers
  - 11th Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 208th Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 210th Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 211th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
- 131st Infantry Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
  - 5th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
  - 6th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
  - 131st Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 132nd Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
  - 4th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
  - 5th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
  - 132nd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 133rd Infantry Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment
  - 4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment
  - 5th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment
  - 133rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company

[edit] Saar Force

(Major-General V. M. Fortune)

On 10 May 1940 this force, which was really just the 51st Division reinforced by various small units, was part of the Colonial Army Corps of the French 3rd Army in front of the Maginot Line.

51st (Highland) Infantry Division - Major-General V. M. Fortune
- HQ Royal Artillery
  - 17th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 23rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 75th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 51st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- HQ Royal Engineers
  - 26th Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 236th Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 237th Field Company, Royal Engineers
  - 239th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
- 152nd Infantry Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders
  - 4th Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders
  - 4th Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
  - 152nd Infantry Brigade Antitank Company
- 153rd Infantry Brigade
  - 4th Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
  - 1st Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders
  - 5th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders
  - 153rd Infantry Brigade Antitank Company
- 154th Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
  - 7th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
  - 8th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
  - 154th Infantry Brigade Antitank Company

Units attached to the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division in April 1940 to form Saar Force

1st Lothians and Border Horse (Divisional Cavalry)^{[nb 7]}
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (less one battery)^{[nb 7]}
97th Field Regiment (one battery), Royal Artillery^{[nb 10]}
51st Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery^{[nb 10]}
213th Field Company, Royal Engineers^{[nb 10]}
7th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (Machine Gun)^{[nb 10]}
1st Battalion, The Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment (The Middlesex Regiment) (Machine Gun)^{[nb 10]}
7th Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment (Infantry Sappers)^{[nb 7]}
6th Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers (Infantry Sappers)^{[nb 7]}

[edit] Formations undergoing training and performing labour duties

12th (Eastern) Infantry Division^{[nb 11]} - Major-General R. L. Petre
- Divisional Troops
  - HQ Royal Engineers
    - 262nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 263rd Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 264th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 265th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
- 35th Infantry Brigade
  - 2/5th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
  - 2/6th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
  - 2/7th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
- 36th Infantry Brigade
  - 5th Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
  - 6th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
  - 7th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
- 37th Infantry Brigade
  - 2/6th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment
  - 6th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment
  - 7th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment

23rd (Northumbrian) Infantry Division ^{[nb 11]} - Major-General A. E. Herbert
- Divisional Troops
  - HQ Royal Engineers
    - 233rd Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 507th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 508th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 8th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (Motorcycle)
  - 9th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (Machine Gun)
- 69th Infantry Brigade
  - 5th Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of York's Own)
  - 6th Battalion, The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)
  - 7th Battalion, The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)
- 70th Infantry Brigade
  - 10th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
  - 11th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
  - 1st Battalion, The Tyneside Scottish

46th (North Midland) Infantry Division ^{[nb 11]} - Major-General H. O. Curtis
- Divisional Troops
  - HQ Royal Engineers
    - 270th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 271st Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 272nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 273rd Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
  - 2/7th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) (Machine Gun)
- 137th Infantry Brigades
  - 2/5th Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
  - 2/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)
  - 2/7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)
- 138th Infantry Brigade
  - 6th Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment
  - 274th Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
  - 6th Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment
- 139th Infantry Brigade
  - 2/5th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment
  - 2/5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
  - 9th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)

[edit] HQ Lines of Communication British Expeditionary Force

(Major-General P. de Fonblanque)^[2]

Royal Artillery
- 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
  - 2nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 8th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 79th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
Royal Engineers
- 104th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers
- 106th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers
- 110th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers
- 212th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers
- 218th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers
Unbrigaded Infantry Battalions [Companies and even platoon detachments of these battalions were stationed at various bases in the rear areas]
- 4th Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
- 14th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
- 12th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- 4th Battalion, The Border Regiment
- 1/5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)

[edit] Units arriving in France after 10 May 1940

1st Armoured Division^{[nb 12]} - Major-General R. Evans
- 2nd Armoured Brigade
- 3rd Armoured Brigade
  - 2nd Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment
  - 5th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment
- 1st Support Group
  - 101st Light Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
- 30th Infantry Brigade^{[nb 13]}
  - 3rd Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment ^{[nb 14]}
  - 2nd Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
  - 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
  - 1st Battalion, The Queen Victoria's Rifles (7th Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps) (Motorcycle)^{[nb 15]}

20th Independent Infantry Brigade (Guards)^{[nb 16]}
- 2nd Battalion, The Irish Guards
- 2nd Battalion, The Welsh Guards
- 20th Brigade Anti-Tank Company

[edit] Second Expeditionary Force

The following force was sent to France during the second week of June 1940 in an unsuccessful attempt to form a second British Expeditionary Force. This second formation was to be commanded by Lieutenant-General A. F. Brooke. All units were evacuated in late June 1940 during Operation Ariel.^{[citation needed]}

52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division - Major-General J. S. Drew
- Divisional Troops
  - HQ Royal Artillery
    - 70th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 71st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 78th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
    - 54th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
  - HQ Royal Engineers
    - 202nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 241st Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 554th Field Company, Royal Engineers
    - 243rd Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
- 155th Infantry Brigade
  - 7/9th Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)
  - 4th Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers
  - 5th Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers
- 156th Infantry Brigade
  - 4/5th Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers
  - 6th Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
  - 7th Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
- 157th Infantry Brigade
  - 1st Battalion, The Glasgow Highlanders
  - 5th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry
  - 6th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry

1st Canadian Infantry Brigade
- The Royal Canadian Regiment
- The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
- 48th Highlanders of Canada
- 1st Field Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery

[edit] See also

World War II portal

Order of battle for the Battle of France

[edit] Notes

Footnotes

^ G.H.Q. pool of troops was not a formation. Rather they were allocated, temporarily or permanently, by the General Headquarters to corps, divisions, or other formations, or were used for special purposes.
^ 1st Welsh Guards was General Headquarters defence battalion
^ 9th West Yorkshire Regiment was a garrison unit
^ 14th Royal Fusiliers was a garrison unit
^ The 12th Royal Lancers was equipped with Armoured Cars.
^ The 5th Infantry Division was transferred to III on 10 May. On 15 May the division was transferred to I Corps before reverting back to GHQ control on 19 May. The division was finally transferred to II Corps on 26 May where it remained with for the duration of the campaign.^[1]
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af Attached from G.H.Q. Troops
^ ^a ^b ^c Attached from I Corps
^ ^a ^b ^c Attached from II Corps
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Attached from III Corps
^ ^a ^b ^c Although this division participated in the Battle of France it was not adequately prepared for battle by May 1940. The division had only a skeleton headquarter staff, no organic artillery formations and few support units. Only a third of the infantry had received minimal training. Each battalion lacked their full complement of heavy weapons and their carrier platoon.^{[citation needed]}
^ The 1st Armoured Division arrived in France between 15 – 21 May.^{[citation needed]} The division fought south of the Somme River and never linked up with the main body of the Expeditionary Force.^{[citation needed]}
^ Detached from 1st Armoured Division on 21 May 1940 and dispatched to defend Calais.^{[citation needed]}
^ Detached from 3rd Armoured Brigade and attached to the 30th Infantry Brigade. The regiment was sent to defend Calais on 21 May 1940.
^ The QVR was sent, without their vehicles, to defend Calais on 21 May 1940 and attached to the 30th Infantry Brigade.^{[citation needed]}
^ The 20th (Guards) Infantry Brigade was dispatched from the United Kingdom to defend Boulogne on 21 May 1940.^{[citation needed]}

Citations

^ Ordersofbattle.com. "List of 5th Infantry Division’s parent formations.". http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=1448&Tab=Sup.
^ ordersofbattle.com. "HQ Lines of Communication British Expeditionary Force". http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=7846&Tab=App.

[edit] References

"Orders of Battle.com". http://www.ordersofbattle.com/.

[0] G.H.Q. pool of troops was not a formation. Rather they were allocated, temporarily or permanently, by the General Headquarters to corps, divisions, or other formations, or were used for special purposes.

[1] 1st Welsh Guards was General Headquarters defence battalion

[2] 9th West Yorkshire Regiment was a garrison unit

[3] 14th Royal Fusiliers was a garrison unit

[4] The 12th Royal Lancers was equipped with Armoured Cars.

[6] The 5th Infantry Division was transferred to III on 10 May. On 15 May the division was transferred to I Corps before reverting back to GHQ control on 19 May. The division was finally transferred to II Corps on 26 May where it remained with for the duration of the campaign.^[1]

[GHQ-7] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af Attached from G.H.Q. Troops

[ICorps-8] Attached from I Corps

[IICorps-9] Attached from II Corps

[IIICorps-10] Attached from III Corps

[traininglabour-11] Although this division participated in the Battle of France it was not adequately prepared for battle by May 1940. The division had only a skeleton headquarter staff, no organic artillery formations and few support units. Only a third of the infantry had received minimal training. Each battalion lacked their full complement of heavy weapons and their carrier platoon.^{[citation needed]}

[13] The 1st Armoured Division arrived in France between 15 – 21 May.^{[citation needed]} The division fought south of the Somme River and never linked up with the main body of the Expeditionary Force.^{[citation needed]}

[14] Detached from 1st Armoured Division on 21 May 1940 and dispatched to defend Calais.^{[citation needed]}

[15] Detached from 3rd Armoured Brigade and attached to the 30th Infantry Brigade. The regiment was sent to defend Calais on 21 May 1940.

[16] The QVR was sent, without their vehicles, to defend Calais on 21 May 1940 and attached to the 30th Infantry Brigade.^{[citation needed]}

[17] The 20th (Guards) Infantry Brigade was dispatched from the United Kingdom to defend Boulogne on 21 May 1940.^{[citation needed]}

[5] Ordersofbattle.com. "List of 5th Infantry Division’s parent formations.". http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=1448&Tab=Sup.

[12] rdersofbattle.com. "HQ Lines of Communication British Expeditionary Force". http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=7846&Tab=App.

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British Expeditionary Force order of battle (1940)

Contents

[edit] General Headquarters

[edit] I Corps

[edit] II Corps

[edit] III Corps

[edit] Saar Force

[edit] Formations undergoing training and performing labour duties

[edit] HQ Lines of Communication British Expeditionary Force

[edit] Units arriving in France after 10 May 1940

[edit] Second Expeditionary Force

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

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