42nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)
military unit
The 42nd Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army raised during the Second World War.
History
War Service
The division was formed in late 1941 by converting the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division. The 42nd Division was a 1st Line Territorial Army (TA) infantry formation that saw service in the Battle of France and was evacuated at Dunkirk in June 1940. The division was converted on 1 November 1941 into an armoured division. The division's first commander was Major-General Miles C. Dempsey.
However, the division was not posted overseas and its divisional headquarters was disbanded on 17 October 1943; the division's infantry was assigned to the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division and its armour to the 79th Armoured Division.
General Officer Commanding
Two men served as the General Officer Commanding of the 42nd Armoured Division:
Major-General Miles Dempsey: November 1941-December 1942
Major-General John Aldam Aizlewood: December 1942-October 1943
Order of battle
10th Armoured Brigade
108th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (Lancashire Fusiliers)
109th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (Lancashire Fusiliers)
143rd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (Lancashire Fusiliers)
13th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
On 1 November 1941, the 10th Armoured Brigade was converted from the 125th Infantry Brigade, of three battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers, and was attached to the 42nd Armoured Division. It comprised the 108 RAC (previously 1/5th Battalion), 109 RAC (1/6th Battalion) and 143 RAC (9th Battalion). On 25 July 1942, the brigade was converted again into the 10th Tank Brigade and finally disbanded on 25 November 1943. The 10th Armoured Brigade did not see active service as a unit and was broken up in late 1943.
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