British Expeditionary Force
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The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the British army sent to France and Belgium in World War I and British Forces in Europe from 1939 - 1940 during World War II. The BEF was established by Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane following the Boer War in case Britain ever needed to deploy quickly a force to take part in an overseas war.
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World War I
Before the war and at the immediate beginning of the war there was some debate in British military circles as to the best strategy in a war with Germany. Although plans had been drawn up as early as 1905 for transporting divisions rapidly to Europe, the so-called navalists favoured a strictly naval confrontation with Germany, leaving land fighting to the French. However, in the end it was decided to send a BEF to France and Belgium.
On the outbreak of World War I, the BEF was sent to Belgium under the command of General Sir John French. The BEF was composed of four regular infantry divisions, rising later to seven infantry and three cavalry divisions. It suffered heavy casualties in its first battle at Mons, but helped to halt the German advance at the First Battle of the Marne.
In December 1914, the British Expeditionary Force was divided into the First and Second Armies, with a third and fourth created later in the war. Although the term British Expeditionary Force strictly refers only to the forces sent initially to France in 1914, the name is often used of the British Army in France and Flanders throughout the First World War.
World War II
Following the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the British Expeditionary Force was sent to the Franco-Belgian border. By May 1940, when German attacks began, it consisted of ten infantry divisions in three corps, a tank brigade and an RAF detachment of about 500 aircraft. Commanded by General Lord Gort, although constituting only a tenth of the defending Allied force it sustained heavy losses during the German advance and the remainder were evacuated from Dunkirk in June, leaving much of their equipment behind.
Order of Battle (WWII)
I Corps - (Lieutenant General M.G.H. Barker)
- 1st Infantry Division (Major-General H. R. L. G. Alexander)
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 2nd Field Regiment, RA
- 19th Field Regiment, RA
- 24th Field Regiment, RA
- 21st Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
- HQ Royal Engineers
- 17th Field Company, RE
- 23rd Field Company, RE
- 26th Field Company, RE
- 6th Field Park Company, RE
- Divisional Headquarters
- 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
- 2 Battalion Cheshire Regiment [Machine Gun]
- 1st Divisional Signals
- 1st Infantry Brigade (Guards')
- 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards
- 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards
- 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment
- 1st Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 2nd Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Loyal Regiment
- 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment
- 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders
- 2nd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 3rd Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment
- 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters
- 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry
- 3rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 2nd Infantry Division - (Major-General H. C. Lloyd)
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 10th Field Regiment, RA
- 16th Field Regiment, RA
- 18th Field Regiment, RA
- HQ Royal Engineers
- 5th Field Company, RE
- 11th Field Company, RE
- 38th Field Company, RE
- 21st Field Park Company, RE
- Divisional Headquarters
- 4th/7th Royal Dragoons Guards
- 2/Manchester Regiment [Machine Gun]
- 2nd Divisional Signals
- 4th Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Royal Scots
- 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment
- 1/8th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
- 4th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 5th Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
- 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment
- 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
- 5th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 6th Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
- 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry
- 6th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division) - (Major-General A. F. A. N. Thorne)
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 67th Field Regiment, RA
- 68th Field Regiment, RA
- 99th Field Regiment, RA
- 53rd Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
- HQ Royal Engineers
- 224th Field Company, RE
- 225th Field Company, RE
- 226th Field Company, RE
- 227th Field Park Company, RE
- 143rd Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
- 5th Battalion Royal Warwick's
- 1/7th Battalion Royal Warwick's
- 144th Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Royal Warwick's
- 5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
- 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
- 145th Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
- 4th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
- 1st (Buckinghamshire Battalion) The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
- HQ Royal Artillery
II Corps - (Lieutenant-General A. F. Brooke)
- 3rd Infantry Division - (Major-General B. L. Montgomery)
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 7th Field Regiment, RA
- 23rd Field Regiment, RA
- 33rd Field Regiment, RA
- 20th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
- HQ Royal Engineers
- 246th Field Company, RE
- 248th Field Company, RE
- 253rd Field Company, RE
- 15th Field Park Company, RE
- Divisional Headquarters
- 15th/19th King's Royal Hussars
- 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment [Machine Gun]
- 3rd Divisional Signals
- 7th Guards' Brigade
- 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards
- 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards
- 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
- 7th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 8th Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment
- 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
- 4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
- 8th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 9th Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
- 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers
- 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles
- 9th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 4th Division - (Major-General D. G. Johnson)
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 17th Field Regiment, RA
- 22nd Field Regiment, RA
- 30th Field Regiment, RA
- 14th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
- HQ Royal Engineers
- 7th Field Company, RE
- 9th Field Company, RE
- 59th Field Company, RE
- 18th Field Park Company, RE
- Divisional Headquarters
- 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards <! Iniskilling not a typo>
- 2nd Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers [Machine Gun]
- 10th Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
- 2nd Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
- 6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment
- 10th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 11th Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment
- 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
- 11th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 12th Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment
- 6th Battalion Black Watch
- 12th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division - (Major-General G. Le Q. Martel)
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 72nd Field Regiment, RA
- 74th Field Regiment, RA
- HQ Royal Engineers
- 232nd Field Company, RE
- 505th Field Company, RE
- 235th Field Park Company, RE
- Divisional Headquarters
- 4/Royal Northumberland Fusiliers [Machine Gun]
- 150th Infantry Brigade
- 4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
- 4th Battalion Green Howards
- 5th Battalion Green Howards
- 151st Infantry Brigade
- 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
- 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
- 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
- 25th Infantry Brigade
- 1/7th Battalion Queen's Royal Regiment
- 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment
- 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers
- HQ Royal Artillery
III Corps - (Lieutenant-General Sir R. F. Adam)
- 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division - (Major-General W. G. Holmes)
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 51st Field Regiment, RA
- 52nd Field Regiment, RA
- 53rd Field Regiment, RA
- 56th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
- HQ Royal Engineers
- 200th Field Company, RE
- 201st Field Company, RE
- 202nd Field Company, RE
- 203rd Field Park Company, RE
- 125th Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Border Regiment
- 5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
- 6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
- 126th Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment
- 5th Battalion King's Own Royal Regiment
- 5th Battalion Border Regiment
- 127th Infantry Brigade
- 4th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment
- 5th Battalion Manchester Regiment
- 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division - (Major-General E. A. Osborne)
- HQ Royal Artillery
- 57th Field Regiment, RA
- 58th Field Regiment, RA
- 65th Field Regiment, RA
- 57th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA
- HQ Royal Engineers
- 208th Field Company, RE
- 209th Field Company, RE
- 210th Field Company, RE
- 211th Field Park Company, RE
- 131st Infantry Brigade
- 2nd. Battalion The Buffs
- 5th Battalion The Queen's
- 6th Battalion The Queen's
- 132nd Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
- 4th Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
- 5th Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
- 133rd Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
- 4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
- 5th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
- HQ Royal Artillery
G.H.Q. Reserve
- 5th Infantry Division - (Major-General H. E. Franklyn)
- 13th Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion The Cameronians
- 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
- 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment
- 17th Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers
- 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
- 6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders
- 13th Infantry Brigade
- 12th Infantry Division - (Major-General R. L. Petre)
- 35th Infantry Brigade
- 2/5th Battalion Queen's Royal Regiment
- 2/6th Battalion The Queen's Royal Regiment
- 2/7th Battalion The Queen's Royal Regiment
- 36th Infantry Brigade
- 5th Battalion The Buffs
- 6th Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
- 7th Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
- 37th Infantry Brigade
- 2/6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment
- 6th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
- 7th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
- 35th Infantry Brigade
- 23rd Infantry Division - (Major-General A. E. Herbert)
- 69th Infantry Brigade
- 5th Battalion East Yorks
- 6th Battalion Green Howards
- 7th Battalion Green Howards
- 70th Infantry Brigade
- 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
- 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
- 1st Battalion The Tyneside Scottish
- 69th Infantry Brigade
- 46th Infantry Division - (Major-General H. C. Curtis)
- 137th Infantry Brigades
- 2/5th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment
- 2/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment
- 2/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment
- 138th Infantry Brigade
- 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
- 274th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
- 6th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment
- 139th Infantry Brigade
- 2/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment
- 2/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters
- 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters
- 137th Infantry Brigades
- 51st Infantry Division - (Major-General V. M. Fortune)
- 152nd Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders
- 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders
- 4th Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
- 153rd Infantry Brigade
- 4th Battalion Black Watch
- 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders
- 5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders
- 154th Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Black Watch
- 7th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
- 8th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
- 152nd Infantry Brigade
- 1st Armoured Division - (Major-General R. Evans)
- 2nd Armoured Brigade
- Queen's Bays
- 9th Royal Lancers
- 10th Royal Hussars
- 3rd Armoured Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Royal Tank Corps
- 3rd Battalion Royal Tank Corps
- 5th Battalion Royal Tank Corps
- 1st Support Group
- 101st L.A.A. Anti-Tank Regiment
- 20th Guards Brigade
- 2nd Battalion Irish Guards
- 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards
- 30th Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps
- 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade
- 1st Battalion Queen Victoria Rifles
- 2nd Armoured Brigade
- 52nd Infantry Division - (Major-General J. S. Drew)
- 155th Infantry Brigade
- 7/9th Battalion Royal Scots
- 4th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers
- 5th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers
- 156th Infantry Brigade
- 4/5th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers
- 6th Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
- 7th Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
- 157th Infantry Brigade
- 1st Battalion Glasgow Highlanders
- 5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry
- 6th Battalion Highland Light Infantry
- 155th Infantry Brigade