570:
431:
177:
28:
52:
69:
224:
585:, commanding XXX Corps, considered that at this stage of the war, 52nd (L) Division was one of the best in Second Army because it still retained a number of the original personnel (which was a consequence of its late arrival in the theatre). From 20 to 26 April XXX Corps closed in on Bremen against stubborn resistance. The division then had to control rioting and looting in the chaotic city.
254:. The training culminated in Exercise Goliath II, which lasted for three weeks in October 1943 under harsh conditions. After this the division was considered by some to be the 'toughest, fittest and hardest in the British Army'. Although the training was genuine, the division also played a significant role in
409:
fought their way over a narrow causeway with massive artillery support and secured a precarious bridgehead. When the exhausted
Canadians were withdrawn the Commander, Royal Artillery (CRA), of 52nd (L) Division, Brigadier L.B.D. Burns, took command of the operation with an improvised HQ known as
550:. 15th (S) Division had over 700 guns of all types on call when the bombardment began at 23.30 on 23 March. The infantry set off across the river in amphibious vehicles at 02.00 on 24 March, and made rapid progress inland to link up with the airborne troops who landed during the morning (
410:'Burnfor'. A second lodgement on Walcheren was achieved by infantry of 157th Bde using stormboats and then wading across soft mud. Meanwhile, on 1 November a seaborne assault had been carried out on the west end of Walcheren Island, and 52nd (L) Division's
486:(AOP) spotter aircraft were able to fly and supplemented the artillery's forward observation officers (FOOs) in bringing down effective fire throughout the operations. When the fighter-bombers were able to fly, the artillery also carried out 'Applepie'
321:
had secured landing strips north of the town. However, the failure of Market Garden meant that 52nd (L) Division was never used in this role. Instead, it was sent by sea to reinforce 21st Army Group fighting its way through the
151:
remaining with that formation for its whole existence. It served in Home Forces for most of the war, undergoing training in mountain warfare and air-portable operations before eventually going into action at sea level in the
1100:
422:) behind artillery support 'on a vast scale' from across the Scheldt. Thereafter 52nd (L) Division's brigades fanned out across the island and mopped up the remaining defenders by 8 November.
1095:
370:
without opposition on 19 October. Early on 26 October the division carried out an amphibious assault across the western
Scheldt to outflank the German defence line on the
554:). 52nd (L) Division began crossing on 25 March, its leading units coming under the command of 15th (S) Division as they mopped up the bridgehead and linked up with
1090:
213:
482:
axis. Every village was defended, and the thawing ground turned to mud. Next day 157th Bde reinforced the attack. Snow showers grounded most aircraft, but the
1038:, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990, ISBN 0-948130-03-2/ Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6.
490:
suppression fireplans to protect them. The Roer bridgehead was cleared by 26 January, and 52nd (L) Division was the first to base itself in a German town.
514:. This began on 8 February, and 52nd (L) Division was sent to reinforce it on 12 February. Moving down the bank of the Maas the division captured
471:
402:
555:
318:
459:
458:. The Germans were well dug-in and supported by artillery. 52nd (L) Division joined in on 18 January, advancing on two axes: 155th Bde with
1070:
543:
209:
148:
103:
569:
467:
430:
411:
344:
317:. When Market Garden was launched on 17 September 1944, 52nd (L) Division was scheduled to be airlifted to Arnhem as soon as
240:
406:
542:) and was not involved in the initial assault. However, its guns took part in the initial 'Pepperpot' bombardment before
443:
263:
247:
558:. Second Army then began a rapid advance across Germany. Part of 52nd (L) Division cleaned up pockets of Germans round
538:
Although 52nd (L) Division was holding the Rhine bank, it was designated as a follow-up formation for the crossing (
305:
was given the go-ahead. This was to use three parachute divisions to seize an 'airborne carpet' of bridges ahead of
547:
294:
1007:
Mark Frost, ' "Everyone
Thought I was Finished": The Remarkable Comeback of Lieutenant-General Sir Neil Ritchie',
362:
into use for the Allies. The leading elements of the division relieved the
Canadians in their bridgehead over the
601:
267:
592:
the units of 21st Army Group were engaged in occupation duties, disarming German troops and administering the
597:
593:
363:
302:
251:
563:
255:
217:
201:
375:
153:
113:
1036:
Orders of Battle, United
Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945
522:. However, by 3 March the division was making good progress through the wooded country south west of
483:
499:
447:
419:
351:
279:
161:
157:
121:
117:
1060:
1015:
Stephen Ashley Hart, 'The
Forgotten Liberator: The 1939–45 Career of General Sir Andrew Thorne',
519:
451:
347:
283:
236:
1052:, Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1948/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2014, ISBN 978-1-78331-085-2.
176:
990:, London: HM Stationery Office, 1968/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-59-9.
979:, London: HM Stationery Office, 1962/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-58-0.
551:
539:
515:
503:
259:
93:
577:
As Second Army raced forwards, 52nd (L) Division was switched to XXX Corps for the attack on
232:
1074:
359:
355:
306:
275:
136:
82:
68:
27:
1024:
605:
582:
527:
391:
379:
371:
57:
1084:
559:
271:
984:
History of the Second World War, United
Kingdom Military Series: Victory in the West
973:
History of the Second World War, United
Kingdom Military Series: Victory in the West
968:
439:
243:
189:
140:
72:
282:
to divert German attention away from the genuine Allied plans to invade
Normandy (
223:
196:, on 9 December 1942, with 192, 193 and 194 Field Batteries, each composed of two
438:
52nd (L) Division remained under
Canadian command, holding the line south of the
1056:
323:
298:
415:
367:
193:
289:
This pretence was kept up for some time after the Normandy invasion began on
479:
398:
387:
383:
314:
205:
181:
463:
144:
1014:
700:
475:
608:
got under way. 186th Field Regiment was disbanded on 7 November 1945.
589:
578:
340:
310:
246:
took command of the division in September, following his return from
165:
1066:
The Victory Campaign – The Operations in North-West Europe 1944–1945
1004:, Vol II, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-009-X.
568:
523:
511:
507:
429:
290:
222:
197:
175:
997:, Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
526:. On 9 March after a stiff fight it cleared the Haus Loo fort at
156:. It then took part in the fighting in the Rhineland (Operations
487:
386:
landed 20 minutes later, and by the end of the day had captured
378:). Allied artillery accurately bombarded the landing beaches at
301:. A number of such operations were planned and cancelled before
262:, designed to convince the German high command that a mythical '
1068:, Ottawa: Queen's Printer & Controller of Stationery, 1960.
1043:
Operation Fortitude: The Greatest Hoax of the Second World War
455:
293:(6 June 1944). In August 1944 the division was transferred to
1062:
Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War
546:
passed through 52nd (L) Division to lead the assault for
1050:
The History of the Fifteenth Scottish Division 1939–1945
442:, until 4 December, when it moved east to join British
382:
from 04.30, the infantry brought by landing craft from
343:
on 15 October and under a directive issued next day by
231:
Since May 1942 52nd (L) Division had been training in
573:
25-pounders moving up to cross the Rhine, March 1945.
530:, one of the last German outposts west of the Rhine.
1101:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
1017:
Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research
1009:
Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research
109:
99:
88:
78:
63:
45:
37:
20:
518:, but found itself held up by the old shell-proof
1096:Military units and formations established in 1942
474:and most of the available artillery attacked the
434:25-pounders in action in North West Europe, 1944.
1045:, London: Collins, 2011, ISBN 978-0-00-739587-3.
390:. Over the following days the Germans evacuated
1011:, Winter 2020, Vol 98, No 395, pp. 379–97.
208:gun tractors. The newly formed regiment joined
1002:Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978
995:Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978
678:
676:
239:. This training reached high intensity after
8:
600:. 52nd (L) Division continued doing duty in
848:Stacey, pp. 482, 490, 494, 508, 514–5, 521.
622:
620:
562:while the rest of the division crossed the
1019:, Autumn 2001, Vol 79, No 319, pp. 233–49.
657:
655:
653:
651:
649:
647:
645:
184:gun tractor on exercise in Scotland, 1941.
168:. It was disbanded at the end of the war.
691:Levine, pp. 191–3, 211–2, 216–7, 222–3.
616:
446:. In January 1945 Second Army launched
1091:Field regiments of the Royal Artillery
466:to clear the Echterbosch woods, while
212:on 27 December, effectively replacing
17:
795:Stacey, pp. 403–8, 412, 414–6, 421–2.
397:The next objective was the island of
7:
470:supported by specialist armour from
274:was gathering in Scotland to invade
227:52nd (Lowland) Division's insignia.
498:First Canadian Army next launched
366:, and then went forward to occupy
14:
544:15th (Scottish) Infantry Division
354:for the operations to clear the
210:52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division
149:52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division
67:
50:
26:
41:9 December 1942–7 November 1945
1:
407:5th Canadian Infantry Brigade
839:, pp. 264–7, 271, 274, 276.
755:Stacey, p. 388, Appendix E.
188:The regiment was formed at
1117:
295:First Allied Airborne Army
278:. This was developed into
773:Stacey, pp. 397–8, 401–2.
602:British Army of the Rhine
405:of 52nd (L) Division and
280:Operation Fortitude North
258:deception plans, such as
204:(a total of 24) towed by
172:Mobilisation and training
164:), and then the drive to
32:Royal Artillery cap badge
25:
1073:21 December 2020 at the
1031:, London: Collins, 1960.
764:Ellis, pp. 106–7, 111–3.
626:Frederick, pp. 487, 540.
135:was a unit of Britain's
21:186th Field Regiment, RA
598:Allied-occupied Germany
339:The division landed at
303:Operation Market Garden
216:which had been sent to
104:52nd (Lowland) Division
977:The Battle of Normandy
604:for some months while
574:
472:79th Armoured Division
450:to eliminate a German
435:
403:157th Infantry Brigade
297:and began training in
228:
185:
988:The Defeat of Germany
572:
556:6th Airborne Division
433:
420:Operation Infatuate I
376:Operation Vitality II
350:, it was assigned to
319:1st Airborne Division
299:airlanding operations
226:
220:some months earlier.
214:78th (Lowland) Fd Rgt
202:Mk II 25-pounder guns
179:
154:Battle of the Scheldt
114:Battle of the Scheldt
1048:Lt-Gen H.G. Martin,
1034:Lt-Col H.F. Joslen,
945:Horrocks, pp. 262–5.
484:air observation post
418:on the south shore (
358:and bring the vital
133:186th Field Regiment
927:Buckley, pp. 292–3.
870:Martin, pp. 274–85.
813:Buckley, pp. 265–8.
711:Buckley, pp. 247–8.
670:Buckley, pp. 247–9.
506:between the Rivers
500:Operation Veritable
494:Operation Veritable
448:Operation Blackcock
426:Operation Blackcock
352:First Canadian Army
180:25-pounder gun and
143:. It was formed in
122:Operation Veritable
118:Operation Blackcock
1000:J.B.M. Frederick,
993:J.B.M. Frederick,
804:Stacey, pp. 435–6.
733:Joslen, pp. 344–5.
575:
564:Dortmund–Ems Canal
520:Bleijenbeek Castle
454:south west of the
436:
284:Operation Overlord
237:Grampian Mountains
229:
186:
786:, pp. 113–9, 123.
682:Horrocks, p. 264.
661:Joslen, pp. 85–6.
552:Operation Varsity
540:Operation Plunder
260:Operation Tindall
127:
126:
1108:
982:Maj L.F. Ellis,
955:
952:
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703:
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689:
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671:
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659:
640:
633:
627:
624:
460:8th Armoured Bde
233:mountain warfare
71:
56:
54:
53:
30:
18:
1116:
1115:
1111:
1110:
1109:
1107:
1106:
1105:
1081:
1080:
1079:
1075:Wayback Machine
1041:Joshua Levine,
963:
958:
954:Stacey, p. 622.
953:
949:
944:
940:
935:
931:
926:
922:
913:
909:
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896:
892:Martin, p. 294.
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614:
536:
496:
428:
360:Port of Antwerp
356:Scheldt Estuary
337:
332:
307:21st Army Group
276:Occupied Norway
174:
137:Royal Artillery
130:
120:
116:
83:Field artillery
51:
49:
33:
12:
11:
5:
1114:
1112:
1104:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1083:
1082:
1078:
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1053:
1046:
1039:
1032:
1025:Brian Horrocks
1021:
1012:
1005:
998:
991:
980:
964:
962:
959:
957:
956:
947:
938:
936:Ellis, p. 316.
929:
920:
907:
894:
885:
872:
863:
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841:
828:
815:
806:
797:
788:
775:
766:
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748:
735:
726:
713:
704:
693:
684:
672:
663:
641:
639:, Appendix IV.
628:
615:
613:
610:
606:demobilisation
583:Brian Horrocks
535:
532:
495:
492:
427:
424:
414:had landed at
392:South Beveland
380:Hoedekenskerke
372:Beveland Canal
336:
333:
331:
328:
252:Western Desert
173:
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111:
107:
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58:United Kingdom
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23:
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13:
10:
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921:
918:, pp. 309–11.
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561:
557:
553:
549:
545:
541:
533:
531:
529:
525:
521:
517:
513:
509:
505:
502:to clear the
501:
493:
491:
489:
485:
481:
477:
473:
469:
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461:
457:
453:
449:
445:
441:
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389:
385:
381:
377:
373:
369:
365:
364:Leopold Canal
361:
357:
353:
349:
346:
345:Field Marshal
342:
334:
329:
327:
325:
320:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
296:
292:
287:
285:
281:
277:
273:
272:Andrew Thorne
269:
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261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
242:
241:Major-General
238:
234:
225:
221:
219:
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195:
191:
183:
178:
171:
169:
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155:
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146:
142:
138:
134:
129:Military unit
123:
119:
115:
112:
108:
105:
102:
98:
95:
91:
87:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
66:
62:
59:
48:
44:
40:
36:
29:
24:
19:
16:
1065:
1061:
1049:
1042:
1035:
1028:
1016:
1008:
1001:
994:
987:
983:
976:
972:
950:
941:
932:
923:
915:
910:
905:, pp. 305–6.
902:
897:
888:
880:
875:
866:
858:
853:
844:
836:
831:
826:, pp. 241–7.
823:
818:
809:
800:
791:
783:
778:
769:
760:
751:
743:
738:
729:
721:
716:
707:
696:
687:
666:
636:
631:
594:British Zone
587:
576:
537:
497:
437:
401:. Troops of
396:
338:
288:
244:Neil Ritchie
230:
218:North Africa
190:Auchterarder
187:
141:World War II
139:(RA) during
132:
131:
100:Part of
73:British Army
15:
1064:, Vol III:
1057:C.P. Stacey
1029:A Full Life
1023:Lt-Gen Sir
444:Second Army
324:Netherlands
313:across the
264:Fourth Army
248:Eighth Army
147:and joined
110:Engagements
1085:Categories
986:, Vol II:
969:L.F. Ellis
961:References
560:Ibbenbüren
504:Reichswald
456:River Roer
440:River Waal
368:Aardenburg
348:Montgomery
309:as far as
194:Perthshire
975:, Vol I:
883:, p. 293.
861:, p. 285.
581:. Lt-Gen
548:XII Corps
480:Heinsberg
468:156th Bde
412:155th Bde
399:Walcheren
388:Oudelande
384:Terneuzen
315:Nederrijn
162:Veritable
158:Blackcock
94:Batteries
1071:Archived
746:, p. 84.
637:Normandy
516:Afferden
464:Susteren
462:through
416:Flushing
266:' under
200:of four
145:Scotland
916:Germany
914:Ellis,
903:Germany
901:Ellis,
881:Germany
879:Ellis,
859:Germany
857:Ellis,
837:Germany
835:Ellis,
824:Germany
822:Ellis,
784:Germany
782:Ellis,
744:Germany
742:Ellis,
724:, p. 30
722:Germany
720:Ellis,
635:Ellis,
534:Germany
476:Sittard
452:salient
335:Scheldt
330:Service
268:General
250:in the
235:in the
46:Country
590:VE Day
588:After
579:Bremen
341:Ostend
311:Arnhem
256:Allied
198:troops
166:Bremen
64:Branch
55:
38:Active
701:Hart.
612:Notes
528:Alpen
524:Weeze
512:Rhine
291:D Day
1055:Col
967:Maj
510:and
508:Maas
488:Flak
270:Sir
206:Quad
182:Quad
160:and
89:Size
79:Role
596:of
286:).
192:in
1087::
1059:,
1027:,
971:,
675:^
644:^
619:^
566:.
394:.
326:.
92:3
478:–
374:(
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