54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 54th (East Anglian) Division


caption=
dates= World War I
1908 - 1919?
country= United Kingdom
allegiance=
branch= Territorial Force
type=Infantry
role=
size=Division
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Battle of Gallipoli
First Battle of Gaza
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

The British 54th (East Anglian) Division was a Territorial Army division. During the First World War the division fought at Gallipoli and in the Middle East.

Unit History

World War I

The division landed at Suvla on 10 August.

During the First Battle of Gaza, on 26 March 1917, the 161st Brigade and divisional artillery were in reserve while the 53rd Division carried out the main attack. These reserves were committed as the battle progressed resulting in the British gaining a foothold in the Turkish defences but the British commander called off the attack as night fell.In the Second Battle of Gaza, the 4th and 5th Battalions of the Norfolk Regiment sustained 75% casualties (about 1,200 men) ["Eastern Daily Press", "Sunday" section May 5, 2007]

World War II

During the Second World War the 54th (East Anglian) Division remained in the United Kingdom as a local defence formation until it was disbanded and broken up on 14 December 1943 . Its component units would take part in the Normandy campaign as support units.

Formation

The division comprised three infantry brigades:

; 161st (Essex) Brigade :
*1/4th Battalion, The Essex Regiment
*1/5th Battalion, The Essex Regiment
*1/6th Battalion, The Essex Regiment
*1/7th Battalion, The Essex Regiment

; 162nd (East Midland) Brigade :
*1/5th Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment
*1/4th Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
*1/10th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment
*1/11th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment

; 163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade :
*1/4th Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment
*1/5th Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment
*1/5th Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment
*1/8th (Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles) Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment

Battles

*Battle of Gallipoli
**Battle of Sari Bair
*First Battle of Gaza - 161st Brigade and artillery

References

ee also

*List of British divisions in WWI

External links

* [http://www.1914-1918.net/54div.htm The British Army in the Great War: The 54th (East Anglian) Division]