35142 SCOTTISH BLACK WATCH OFFICER & SOLDIER WWII

During World War II, several dozen divisions were formed as part of the British Army, and at the end of the war they served in its ranks about 2.9 million people. Of course, this one of the most important armies of the Second World War was fought by its officers' corps. A significant part of British senior officers from 1939-1945 graduated Royal Military Academy, Woolwich or Royal Military College, Sandhurst. They were - most often - well prepared for their role on the battlefield, but often proved to be too conservative on the battlefield and acted too methodically. Examples include the planning and conduct of the counterattack at Arras in May 1940 or the fighting in the Caen area in summer 1944. At the same time, however, the British officer corps was able to learn, as evidenced by the lessons learned from the battles with Rómmel's troops in the desert in 1941-1942. He was also able to carry out very successful offensive operations - a perfect example is Operation Compass at the turn of 1940/1941 led by General Richard O'Connor. She considered herself the most outstanding senior British commander of World War II - more or less deservedly - field marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, but it is also worth mentioning, for example, Generals Dempsey, Horrocks and Hobart.During World War II, the British Army formed a total of 43 infantry divisions. At the start of the war, the division's staff numbered approximately 13,800 officers and soldiers, while in 1944 this number increased to approximately 18,300 people. This significant change in the number of employees resulted primarily from the increase in various types of support units, and not the increase in the number of infantrymen themselves. In 1944, the British infantry division consisted of three infantry brigades, each with its own headquarters, a staff platoon, 3 infantry battalions, and engineering divisions. It is worth adding that a single infantry battalion had approx. 780 officers and soldiers and had numerous support units (e.g. a mortar platoon or a reconnaissance platoon). The division also included a de facto artillery brigade with five artillery regiments (including one anti-tank and one AA), a battalion of machine guns and mortars, as well as reconnaissance, communication and sapper units. An important element increasing the mobility of the British infantry division was its full motorization. The British infantryman's primary rifle was the Lee Enfield No.1 or No.4 rifle. As machine weapons, among others, Sten submachine guns, Bren manual machine guns and Vickers machine guns were used. The most commonly used anti-tank weapons were the 40 and 57 mm 2- and 6-pounder cannons, and later also the 76-mm 17-pounder cannons. In turn, the main armament of the field artillery was a very successful howitzer Ordnance QF 25-pounder.