The 56th (London) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army, which served under several different titles and designations. It was raised in 1908 upon the creation of the Territorial Force, as the 1st London Division. The division, now the 56th (1/1st London) Division, served in the trenches of the Western Front during the Great War and was disbanded shortly after the end of the end of the war. Now reformed as part of the Territorial Army, the division saw active service in the Second World War in Tunisia and Italy. The division was disbanded again in April 1946 and reformed as an armoured formation, the 56th (London) Armoured Division, before final disbandment in 1961.
The division's insignia in the First World War was the sword symbolising the martyrdom of Paul the Apostle from the coat of arms of the City of London; in the Second World War the insignia was changed to a black cat.
The 1st London Division was created on the formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army in 1908. Its pre-war formation was:
1st London Infantry Brigade
1st (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), T.F.
2nd (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), T.F.
3rd (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), T.F.
4th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), T.F.
2nd London Infantry Brigade
5th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade), T.F.
6th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (City of London Rifles), T.F.
7th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (City of London), T.F
8th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), T.F.
3rd London Infantry Brigade
9th Battalion, London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles), T.F.
10th Battalion, London Regiment (Paddington Rifles to 1912, then replaced by the Hackney Rifles), T.F.
11th Battalion, London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles), T.F.
12th Battalion, London Regiment (The Rangers). T.F.
Support Units
1st City of London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, T.F.
2nd County of London Brigade, R.F.A, T.F
3rd County of London Brigade, R.F.A., T.F.
4th County of London Brigade, R.F.A., T.F.
1st London Field Company Royal Engineers, T.F.
2nd London Field Coy., R.E., T.F.
2nd County of London Yeomanry, T.F.
On the outbreak of the conflict, the Division's pre-war establishment units were mobilised individually, rather than in their divisional formation and were initially used for garrison duty overseas in Malta or as reinforcements for other divisions on the Western Front. In January 1916, the Division was re-constituted as a fighting formation in the Abbeville district in France, and numbered the 56th (1/1st London) Division, so numbered as it was the last 1st Line TF division to serve overseas. For the remainder of the war, the Division saw action on the Western Front, taking part in all of the major campaigns and seeing severe fighting. It was demobilised in May 1919.
167th (1st London) Brigade
1/1st Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) (left May 1915, rejoined February 1916)
1/2nd Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) (left February 1915)
1/3rd Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) (left May 1915, rejoined February 1916, left January 1918)
1/4th Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) (left January 1915)
1/7th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) (from February 1916)
1/8th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) (from February 1916)
4th Battalion, Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment) (from October to November 1917)
167th Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps (formed 22 March 1916, moved to 56th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps 1 March 1918)
167th Trench Mortar Battery (formed 14 June 1916)
168th (2nd London) Brigade
1/5th Battalion, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) (left November 1914)
1/6th Battalion, London Regiment (City of London Rifles) (left November 1914)
1/7th Battalion, London Regiment (left November 1914)
1/8th Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) (left November 1914)
1/4th Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) (previously 1st London Bde; rejoined February 1916)
1/12th Battalion, London Regiment (The Rangers (British regiment)) (from February 1916 to January 1918)
1/13th Battalion, London Regiment (The Kensingtons) (from February 1916)
1/14th Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish) (from February 1916)
168th Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps (formed 16 March 1916, moved to 56th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps 1 March 1918)
168th Trench Mortar Battery (formed 13 June 1916)
169th (3rd London) Brigade
1/9th Battalion, London Regiment (Queen Victoria's) (left November 1914, rejoined February 1916, left February 1918)
1/10th Battalion, London Regiment (Paddington Rifles) (left April 1915)
1/11th Battalion, London Regiment (Hackney) (left April 1915)
1/12th Battalion, London Regiment (The Rangers) (left December 1914)
1/2nd Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) (from February 1916)
1/5th Battalion, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade) (from February 1916)
1/16th Battalion, London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles) (from February 1916)
169th Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps (formed 17 March 1916, moved to 56th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps 1 March 1918)
169th Trench Mortar Battery (formed 17 June 1916)
Divisional Troops
1/5th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (joined as divisional pioneer battalion February 1916)
193rd Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps (joined 24 December 1916, moved to 56th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps 1 March 1918)
56th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (formed 1 March 1918)
Royal Artillery
280th (1/1st London) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, T.F.
281st (1/2nd London) Brigade, R.F.A., T.F.
282nd (1/3rd London) Brigade, R.F.A., T.F.
283rd (1/4th London) Brigade, R.F.A., T.F.
56th Divisional Ammunition Column, T.F.
Royal Engineers
416th (1/1st Edinburgh) Field Company (joined in April 1916 from Egypt)
512nd (2/1st London) Field Coy
513rd (2/2nd London) Field Coy
Royal Army Medical Corps
2/1st London Field Ambulance
2/2nd London Field Ambulance
2/3rd London Field Ambulance
The Territorial Force was disbanded after the war but started to reform in early 1920 and was later renamed the Territorial Army and the division was reformed, as the 56th (1st London) Infantry Division, with much the same composition as before the First World War.
However, between the wars, the division saw many changes as many of its units were transferred and converted into other roles, eventually leading to the division being reorganised as a motorised infantry division and renamed as The London Division, after the 47th (2nd London) Infantry Division was disbanded and converted into 1st Anti-Aircraft Division. After the 47th Division, the London Division absorbed many of the units from the former 47th Division.
At the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, the division was mobilised as motorized infantry under the title of the 1st London Division. It was reorganised as an infantry division in June 1940 and renamed the 56th (London) Infantry Division on 18 November 1940. The divisional insignia during the Second World War was changed to an outline of a black cat in a red background. The cat stood for Dick Whittington's cat, a symbol of London.
The division remained in the United Kingdom during the Battle of France, moving to the Middle East in November 1942, where it served in Iraq and Palestine, until moving to Egypt in March 1943 and thence forward to Libya and the front, in April. This involved the division, commanded by Major-General Eric Miles, travelling some 2,300 miles (3,700 km) by road, a notable achievement and testament to the organization of the division and the ability of its mechanics and technicians. The division, minus the 168th Brigade, fought in the final stages of the Tunisian Campaign, where it suffered heavy casualties, including its commander, Major-General Miles, who had been in command since October 1941. He was replaced by Major-General Douglas Graham.
The division sat out the Allied invasion of Sicily and moved to Italy in September 1943, where they fought in the landings at Salerno under the command of the British X Corps. During this time the 201st Guards Brigade joined the division, to replace the 168th Brigade which returned to the division in October, although the 201st remained attached until January 1944. The 56th Division then crossed the Volturno Line in October and took part in the fighting around the Bernhardt Line. In January 1944, the 56th Division, now commanded by Major-General Gerald Templer, saw service in the Battle of Monte Cassino, serving there until February 1944 and participated in the Anzio Campaign until relieved in March.
After being withdrawn to Egypt at the end of March, the division, under Major-General John Whitfield, returned to Italy in July 1944, where it took part in the Battles along the Gothic Line and remained there until after Victory in Europe Day. During the fighting of 1944 and 1945, some of the infantry battalions that suffered heavy casualties were disbanded, to make up for an acute manpower shortage. The division also took part in Operation Grapeshot, the Allied offensive which ended the war in Italy.
After crossing the Volturno in October 1943, the division entered the town of Calvi Vecchia. Their attempts to radio the Fifth Army to cancel a planned bombing on the town failed. As a last resort, the 56th released an American homing pigeon, named G.I. Joe, which carried a message that reached the allies just as the planes were being warmed up. The attack was called off and the town was saved from the planned air assault.
The 56th Infantry Division was constituted as follows during the war:
[167th (1st London) Brigade|1st London Infantry Brigade]]
became 167th (London) Infantry Brigade 18 November 1940
8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (disbanded 23 September 1944)
9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
1st Battalion, London Irish Rifles (Royal Ulster Rifles) (from 3 September 1939, left 4 November 1940, rejoined from 23 September 1944 onwards)
1st London Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (formed 11 May 1940)
167th (London) Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (disbanded 8 January 1941)
15th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (from 9 November 1940, left 13 February 1941)
7th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (from 14 February 1941, left 23 September 1944)
1st Battalion, London Scottish (Gordon Highlanders) (from 23 September 1944)
2nd London Infantry Brigade
became 168th (London) Infantry Brigade 18 November 1940, detached from division between 8 April 1943 and 17 October 1943, left 26 September 1944
1st Battalion, Queen's Westminsters (King's Royal Rifle Corps) (left 4 November 1940)
1st Battalion, London Scottish (Gordon Highlanders) (left 23 September 1944)
1st Battalion, London Rifle Brigade (Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)) (left 30 November 1940)
2nd London Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (formed 7 February 1940)
168th (London) Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (disbanded 7 April 1941)
1st Battalion, London Irish Rifles (Royal Ulster Rifles) (from 4 November 1940, left 23 September 1944)
18th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (from 5 November 1940, left 15 February 1941)
10th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (from 15 February 1941, disbanded 15 May 1944)
1st Battalion, Welch Regiment (from 17 May, left 26 September 1944)
3rd London Infantry Brigade
left 6 October 1939
1st Battalion, The Rangers
1st Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles
2nd Battalion, The Rangers
2nd Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles
35th Infantry Brigade
from 8 July 1940, became 169th (London) Infantry Brigade 28 November 1940
2/5th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment
2/6th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment
2/7th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment
35th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Regiment (formed 2 October 1940)
169th (London) Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (disbanded 7 April 1941)
201st Guards Brigade
from 23 July, left 17 September 1943
6th Battalion, Grenadier Guards
3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards
24th Guards Brigade
from 10 March 1945
5th Battalion, Grenadier Guards (disbanded 28 March 1945)
2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards
1st Battalion, Scots Guards
1st Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
Divisional Troops
1st Battalion, Queen Victoria's Rifles (Motorcycle Battalion, left 21 May 1940)
1st Battalion, Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment (Machine Gun Battalion, from 11 November 1941, left 20 May 1942)
6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (Machine Gun Battalion, from 12 January 1943)
56th Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps (formed 1 January 1941, became 56th Regiment 6 June 1942, detached 15 August 1942)
44th Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps (from 8 March 1943, became 44th Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps 1 January 1944)
64th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
90th (City of London) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (left 18 March 1943)
113th (Home Counties) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (from 9 July 1940)
65th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (from 23 April 1943)
67th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (from 1 July 1940)
100th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (from 3 February 1942, disbanded 9 November 1944)
220th Field Company, Royal Engineers
501st Field Company, Royal Engineers (from 8 September 1939, left 18 March 1943, rejoined 13 October 1943)
221st Field Company, Royal Engineers (from 3 July 1940)
42nd Field Company, Royal Engineers (from 9 July 1943, left 3 January 1944)
223rd Field Park Company, Royal Engineers (left 30 September 1939)
563rd Field Park Company, Royal Engineers (from 15 January 1940)
1st London Divisional Signals Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals (56th (London) Division Signals Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals)
Enfidaville – 19 April 1943 – 29 April 1943
Tunis – 5 May 1943 – 12 May 1943
Salerno – 9 September 1943 – 18 September 1943
Capture of Naples – 22 September 1943 – 1 October 1943
Volturno Crossing – 12 October 1943 – 15 October 1943
Monte Camino – 5 November 1943 – 9 December 1943
Garigliano Crossing – 17 January 1944 – 31 January 1944
Anzio – 22 January 1944 – 22 May 1944
Gothic Line – 25 August 1944 – 22 September 1944
Coriano – 3 September 1944 – 15 September 1944
Rimini Line – 14 September 1944 – 21 September 1944
Lamone Crossing – 2 December 1944 – 13 December 1944
Argenta Gap – 12 April 1945 – 21 April 1945
In 1946, the 56th Division was demobilised then re-constituted as the 56th (London) Armoured Division, T.A. The new formation included the 22nd Armoured Brigade and the 168th (Lorried) Infantry Brigade, with the Inns of Court and City Yeomanry acting as the divisional reconnaissance unit. The divisional artillery comprised:
1st Regiment, Honourable Artillery Company, Royal Horse Artillery
263rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (6th London)
290th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (City of London)
624th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (Royal Fusiliers)
G Locating Battery, Honourable Artillery Company
On 20 December 1955, the Secretary of State for War informed the House of Commons that the armoured divisions and the 'mixed' division were to be converted to infantry. The 56th Division was one of the eight divisions placed on a lower establishment for home defence only. The territorial units of the Royal Armoured Corps were reduced to nine armoured regiments and eleven reconnaissance regiments by amalgamating pairs of regiments and the conversion of four RAC units to infantry.
On 20 July 1960, a further reduction of the T.A. was announced in the House of Commons. The Territorials were to be reduced from 266 fighting units to 195. The reductions were carried out in 1961, mainly by the amalgamation of units. On 1 May 1961, the T.A. divisional headquarters were merged with regular army districts and matched with Civil Defence Regions, to aid the mobilisation for war. The division ceased to exist as an independent entity and was linked to London District.
The 4th Battalion, Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment was formed in 1961, by the amalgamation of the 6th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment and the 23rd London Regiment, with a Battalion HQ and HQ Company at Kingston upon Thames. It formed part of 47th (London) Infantry Brigade (56th London Division/District). An echo of the 56th Division emerged again from 1987–1993, when the public duties battalions in the London District were grouped as the 56th Infantry Brigade.
Commanders
Major-General Alfred E. Codrington: March 1908-December 1909
Major-General Arthur H. Henniker-Major: December 1909 – February 1912
Major-General William Fry: February 1912 – January 1915
Major-General C. P. Amyatt Hull: February 1916 – July 1917
Major-General W. Douglas Smith: July–August 1917
Major-General Frederick A. Dudgeon: August 1917 – April 1918
Major-General Sir C. P. Amyatt Hull: May 1918 – June 1919
Major-General Sir Cecil E. Pereira: June 1919 – June 1923
Major-General Sir Geoffrey P. T. Feilding: June 1923 – June 1927
Major-General Hubert Isacke: June 1927 – June 1931
Major-General Winston Dugan: June 1931 – June 1934
Major-General Percy R. C. Commings: June 1934 – June 1938
Major-General Claude F. Liardet: June 1938 – January 1941
Major-General Montagu G. N. Stopford: January–October 1941
Major-General Eric G. Miles: October 1941 – May 1943
Major-General Douglas A. H. Graham: May–October 1943
Major-General Gerald W. R. Templer: October 1943 – July 1944
Major-General John Y. Whitfield: July 1944 – September 1946
Major-General Gerald L. Verney: September 1946 – September 1948
Major-General Robert H. B. Arkwright: September 1948 – August 1949
Major-General Harold E. Pyman: August 1949 – April 1951
Major-General Richard W. Goodbody: April 1951 – March 1954
Major-General David Dawnay: March 1954 – April 1957
Major-General Robert N. H. C. Bray: April 1957 – March 1959
Major-General Cecil M. F. Deakin: March 1959 – 1960
