XI Corps (United Kingdom)
XI Corps was a corps-sized formation of the British Expeditionary Force, active during the First World War that served on the Western Front and in Italy. It was recreated as part of Home Forces defending the United Kingdom during the Second World War.
First World War
Western Front
XI Corps was formed in France on 29 August 1915 under Lieutenant-General Richard Haking. Its first serious engagement was the Battle of Fromelles, a diversion to the Somme offensive in which two untried divisions were launched into an ill-planned subsidiary attack in Flanders. It achieved nothing but cost thousands of casualties and caused great resentment in Australia.;Order of Battle at Fromelles
General Officer Commanding Lieutenant-General Richard Haking
XI Corps was one of two corps HQs moved to the Italian Front in November 1917.
;Order of Battle in Italy 1 December 1917
GOC Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Haking
Corps Troops:
- 1/1st King Edward's Horse
- HQ Corps Heavy Artillery Royal Garrison Artillery
- 11th Cyclist Battalion Army Cyclist Corps
- Corps Topographical Section Royal Engineers
- Signal Troops RE
- Corps Siege Park Army Service Corps
- Corps Ammunition Park Company
- 491 Company ASC, attached Corps Heavy Artillery
- 5th Mobile Workshop Army Ordnance Corps
- Area Employment Company
- Corps School
Return to the Western Front
Order of Battle 27 September 1918
Source:Corps Headquarters Command Staff
- GOC Lt-Gen Sir Richard Haking
- Brigadier-General, General Staff: Brig-Gen John Brind
- Deputy Adjutant & Quartermaster-General: Brigadier-General Arthur Green
- Assistant Director Ordnance Services, Lt Col Alfred Herbert, NZAOC
- Commander, Royal Artillery: Brig-Gen S.F. Metcalfe
- Commander, Heavy Artillery: Brig-Gen F.A. Twiss
- Commander, Engineers: Brig-Gen H.J.M. Marshall
Divisions attached to XI Corps
- 19th (Western) Division
- 47th (1/2nd London) Division
- 57th (2nd West Lancashire) Division
- 59th (2nd North Midland) Division
- 61st (2nd South Midland) Division
- 74th (Yeomanry) Division
Second World War
;Order of Battle Autumn 1940
- 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division
- 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division
- Royal Artillery
- * 147th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
- * 72nd Medium Regiment
General Officers Commanding
- 29 August – 4 September 1915 Major-General the Earl of Cavan
- 4 September 1915 – 13 August 1916 Lieutenant-General Richard Haking
- 13 August – 30 September 1916 Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Anderson
- 30 September 1916 – 1919 Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Haking
- July 1940 – November 1941 Lieutenant-General Hugh Massy
- November 1941 – March 1942 Lieutenant-General Noel Irwin
- March–September 1942 Lieutenant-General John Crocker
- September 1942 – April 1943 Lieutenant-General Gerard Bucknall
- April–July 1943 Lieutenant-General Gerald Templer
External sources
Category:Corps of the [British Army in World War I]
Category:Corps of the British Army in World War II
Category:Military units and formations of the [British Empire in World War II]
Category:Military units and formations established in 1915
Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1919
Category:Military units and formations established in 1940
Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1943