8th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)


The 8th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that was active in both the First and Second World Wars. The division was first formed in October 1914 during the First World War, initially consisting mainly of soldiers of the Regular Army and served on the Western Front throughout the war, sustaining many casualties, before disbandment in 1919. The division was reactivated in Palestine, under the command of Major-General Bernard Montgomery, in the late 1930s in the years running up to the Second World War before being disbanded in late February 1940. It was briefly reformed in Syria in an administrative role during 1942–43.

History

Second Boer War

During the Second Boer War, an 8th division was active in South Africa from early 1900 until the war ended in 1902. It was under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Rundle, and included a brigade division of Royal Artillery, one squadron of cavalry, one company of Royal Engineers, one company of Army Service Corps, a field hospital, and the following infantry brigades and battalions:

First World War

The 8th Division was a Regular Army division that was formed by combining battalions returning from outposts in the British Empire at the outbreak of the First World War. Major-General Francis Davies took command on 19 September 1914. The division moved to France in November, 1914, following the First Battle of Ypres. The division fought on the Western Front for the duration of the war, taking part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, the Battle of Aubers Ridge, both in 1915, the Battle of the Somme, in 1916, and the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.

Order of battle

The division had the following organisation:
; 23rd Brigade
; 24th Brigade
Between October 1915 and July 1916, the 24th Brigade swapped with the 70th Brigade from the 23rd Division.
; 25th Brigade
; 70th Brigade
The 70th Brigade was from the 23rd Division and was attached to the 8th Division between 18 October 1915, and 15 July 1916, swapping with the 24th Brigade.
; Artillery
; Engineers
; Pioneers

Second World War

The 8th Infantry Division was never a full-strength formation during the Second World War. In 1939 it was based in Palestine and consisted of two infantry brigades. Due to the needs of defence against German and Italian forces these units were sent to places of need and reformed as different formations. Although it had infantry it had no divisional troops due to the shortage of artillery and engineers in the Middle East. Its units were dispersed and the division was disbanded on 28 February 1940.
On 2 June 1942, the division headquarters was reformed as the 8th Division following the redesignation of the 5th Cavalry Brigade. The division, in name only, was composed of administration units and intended to provide internal security within Syria, under the command of the Ninth Army. On 3 September the divisional headquarters role was taken by the headquarters of 89 Sub-Area, Ninth Army. In this second incarnation R.A.C. units from Ninth Army were attached. The division Headquarters were disbanded on 31 October 1943.

Order of battle 1939

The division had the following order of battle in 1939:

General Officers Commanding

Commanders included:
;First World War
;Second World War
  • 1938–1939 Major-General Bernard Montgomery
  • 1939–1940 Major-General Reade Godwin-Austen
  • 2 June 1942 – 2 September 1942 Brigadier C. E. L. Harris
  • 3 September 1942 – 31 October 1943 Colonel R. K. Jago