After the war the division was identified as the Imperial Strategic Reserve, and moved to the Middle East. The division was disbanded by March 1919, and was not reformed in the Second World War. The 59th Division was an infantry division of the British Army during World War I. It will be based in York and will be known as HQ 6 Division, with a core of 55 Service personnel, drawn from existing structures. The Division reformed in Egypt on 17 February 1941, under the command of Major-General John Evetts. [3] Then on 23 April 1943 the War Office authorised the formation of a second British airborne division. [9] The Division effectively ceased to exist. Their final airborne mission was followed in March 1945, Operation Varsity, the second Allied airborne assault over the River Rhine. It was reformed as 6th (United Kingdom) Division from Force Troops Command in August 2019. [5], It was withdrawn on 25 July, shortly before the final assault on the hill. Each searchlight site was equipped with AA LMGs. [13] Des Browne said 'In order to meet these temporary demands we have decided to augment the forces’ command structure, and will temporarily establish an additional 2-Star deployable HQ. The brigade transferred to the 24th Division in October 1915, swapping with the 71st Brigade. [6], By September the division was part of IX Corps and took part in the Battle of Épehy, participating in the general attack on St Quentin and The Quadrilateral (not the same as the position of the same name attacked at the Somme (see above)) that began on 18 September and ended with the Quadrilateral's capture on the 25th. Official website; The British Army in the Great War: The 6th Division; A Short History of the 6th Division … It was reformed as 6th (United Kingdom) Division from Force Troops Command in August 2019. Originally an independent brigade before being attached to the division, the 19th Brigade moved to the 27th Division in May, 1915 and was not replaced, reducing the division to the standard three infantry brigades. The 46th Division was an infantry division of the British Army, part of the Territorial Force, that saw service in the First World War. [27] The three divisions east of the Orne now became I Corps, and when issuing his orders Lieutenant General John Crocker, aware that the 6th Airborne had almost no artillery, vehicles or engineer equipment, did not expect them to advance very quickly. [7], The 6th Division embarked for France on 8 and 9 September. [13] Des Browne said 'In order to meet these temporary demands we have decided to augment the forces’ command structure, and will temporarily establish an additional 2-Star deployable HQ. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1960. [10], 6 Division 3 Nov 39 – 11 Mar 40 & 10 – 17 Jun 40, 6 Division 29 Mar – 30 May 40 & 10 Jul – 9 Oct 41, On 26 July 2007 the Secretary of State for Defence announced that a new 'HQ 6 Division' would reform to direct the International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command South in Afghanistan. [7], The division's last two major assaults of the war were in October. It was first established by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington for service in the Peninsular War as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army and was active for most of the period since, including the First World War and the Second World War. [7], On 11 July 1940 (shortly before the Battle of Britain began), 6 AA Division's guns were deployed as follows[3], During the London Blitz of Autumn 1940 to Spring 1941, the division was assigned to I AA Corps and was constituted as follows:[4][8], 6 AA Bde covering Essex airfields – recently returned from the Norwegian Campaign, 28 AA Brigade covering Thames, Chatham and Dover, In March 1941, 6 AA Division formed 12th Anti-Aircraft Z Regiment, Royal Artillery equipped with Z Battery rocket projectiles. It was formed in late 1914/early 1915 as a 2nd Line Territorial Force formation raised as a duplicate of the 46th Division. [8] At the same time several officers who were all combat veterans from the 1st Airborne Division, were posted to the division as brigade and battalion commanders. 73rd Division was a short-lived infantry division of the British Army during World War I. [7], The 6th Division embarked for France on 8 and 9 September. 11 Group Operations Room at Uxbridge. During the Second World War the division did not fight as a complete formation. The modern division was reformed on 1 February 2008, as a … On 25 March the division was withdrawn to the Ypres Salient again as part of the Second Army. [15], The new divisional headquarters, Headquarters 6th (United Kingdom) Division, marked its formation with a parade and flag presentation in York 5 August 2008. The 6th Division is an infantry division of the British Army. The modern division was reformed on 1 February 2008, as a deployable two star Headquarters for service in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick.