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130-724: The equivalent U.S. units were called "beach battalions." After the Operation Torch landings, the need for a beach organisation became apparent for the larger planned operations. Beach Groups were formed in the UK and began to train in Scotland. In the Mediterranean, the equivalent organisations were called Beach Bricks and were formed in Egypt and trained at Kabrit. The Chief of Combined Operations Lord Louis Mountbatten described

260-476: A 'heavy protected mobility' battalion). The division also included the 101st Logistic Brigade , and could be supported by the 16 Air Assault Brigade as part of the reaction force. By 2016, the division had a strength of around 16,000 personnel. Further changes occurred following the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review , which resulted in Army 2020 Refine that was implemented in 2019. Army 2020 Refine saw

390-474: A French resistance fighter and anti-fascist monarchist, assassinated Darlan. (Bonnier de La Chapelle was arrested on the spot and executed two days later.) 3rd Infantry Division (United Kingdom) The 3rd (United Kingdom) Division , also known as The Iron Division, is a regular army division of the British Army . It was created in 1809 by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington , as part of

520-442: A concept of task forces or battlegroups. It was intended that the division could form up to five battlegroups, with each commanded by either an armoured regiment or an infantry battalion. These groups were to be formed for a specific task and allocated the required forces needed. The divisional commander ( general officer commanding (GOC)) would oversee these battlegroups, but early training showed this to be impractical. To compensate,

650-553: A counter-attack on the right flank (which was open because the rest of the army had not kept pace). The 3rd held their ground and pushed on with other divisions to capture the village of Arinez . The 3rd Division was also present at the Battle of Quatre Bras and the Battle of Waterloo in the Waterloo campaign under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Alten K.C.B. (Count Carl von Alten). The 3rd Division took part in

780-740: A coup in Algiers and despite the late alert raised in the Vichy forces, the Eastern Task Force met less opposition and were able to push inland and compel surrender on the first day. The success of Torch caused Admiral François Darlan , commander of the Vichy French forces, who was in Algiers, to order co-operation with the Allies, in return for being installed as High Commissioner , with many other Vichy officials keeping their jobs. Darlan

910-670: A move could be made it was sent to Belgium. It was intended that the division would be flown to the United States, from where it would join the assault on Japan . With the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War, the move was cancelled. The division remained in Europe until October 1945, when it left for the Middle East. After spending time in Egypt and undertaking internal security operations during

1040-475: A party of US Army Rangers directly onto the dock, to prevent the French destroying the port facilities and scuttling their ships. Heavy artillery fire prevented one destroyer from landing but the other was able to disembark 250 Rangers before it too was driven back to sea. The US troops pushed quickly inland and General Juin surrendered the city to the Allies at 18:00. It quickly became clear that Giraud lacked

1170-420: A private visit. Juin insisted on contacting Darlan and Murphy was unable to persuade either to side with the Allies. In the early morning, the local Gendarmerie arrived and released Juin and Darlan. On 8 November 1942, the invasion commenced with landings on three beaches—two west of Algiers and one east. The landing forces were under the overall command of Major-General Charles W. Ryder , commanding general of

1300-643: A rapid move on Tunis to catch Axis forces in North Africa from the west in conjunction with the British advance from Egypt . The Western Task Force encountered unexpected resistance and bad weather but Casablanca, the principal French Atlantic naval base, was captured after a short siege. The Center Task Force suffered some damage to its ships when trying to land in shallow water but the French ships were sunk or driven off; Oran surrendered after bombardment by British battleships. The French Resistance had begun

1430-486: A reinforced brigade, which came from different parent formations and were rotated through several deployments. The 3rd Division held operational control of the Multi-National Division until December 2003, when it passed command to other forces. The 3rd Division's headquarters undertook additional tours of Iraqi between July 2006 and January 2007 as well as in 2008, during these periods it also controlled

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1560-473: A signal unit, and the Royal Air Force provided for beach anti-aircraft defence. The complement of a Beach group or brick was up to 3,000 men. The beach commandos were composed of 76 officers and men, led by the one Principal Beach Master and three Beach Masters, who would land with the assaulting troops and have the following duties: Each commando, which was to control the landing area for a brigade,

1690-441: A sortie of French cruisers, destroyers, and submarines opposing the landings. A cruiser, six destroyers, and six submarines were destroyed by American gunfire and aircraft. The incomplete French battleship Jean Bart —which was docked and immobile—fired on the landing force with her one working gun turret until disabled by the 16-inch calibre American naval gunfire of USS Massachusetts , the first such heavy-calibre shells fired by

1820-536: A symbol of strength and resolution of the 3rd Division in the Four Years' War, can also suggest inflexibility and cruelty, rust and robots. The distinction of being British [in comparison to the 3rd Canadian Division ], on the other hand, is open to only one interpretation. It is the most suitable of all titles. There was only one 3rd British Division fighting in Europe, and from D-Day until the Germans were defeated

1950-498: The 79th Armoured Division : 22nd Dragoons ( Sherman Crab mine clearing tanks), Royal Engineers 77 and 79 Assault Squadrons of 5th Assault Regiment ( Churchill AVRE tanks for obstacle demolition). The division's own artillery were all self-propelled (the artillery field regiments with M7 Priest ; the anti-tank regiment: M10 tank destroyer ) and the SP field guns and RM Centaurs were able to fire from their landing craft during

2080-595: The 1981 Defence White Paper . It, like the Mason Review, aimed to balance the British military in line with the nation's financial resources and save manpower. Resultingly, the BAOR was restructured from four armoured divisions of two brigades, into a force of three divisions of three brigades. The division then comprised the 4th (based in Münster ), the 6th (Soest), and the 33rd Armoured Brigades ( Paderborn ). During

2210-485: The 1st Artillery Brigade , the 25th Engineer Group , and the 7th Air Defence Group all added to the division. In 2024, the 7th Air Defence Group was resubordinated to HQ ARRC . Under the 2021 Future Soldier programme , the division is organised as such: During the First World War, the division obtained the nickname "the ironsides" and "The Iron Division. Norman Scarfe , the divisional historian for

2340-526: The 2nd (National Communications) Brigade (Corsham), and the 43rd (Wessex) Brigade (Exeter). The 1st and 19th Brigades each contained a Challenger 1 tank-equipped armoured regiment, an armoured infantry battalion carried in Warrior tracked armoured vehicles , and two mechanised infantry battalions carried in Saxon armoured personnel carriers . In the event of a major emergency, as part of agreements between

2470-717: The 5th and 6th Infantry Brigades. During the First World War the 3rd Division was a permanently established Regular Army division that was amongst the first to be sent to France at the outbreak of the war as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The 3rd Division served on the Western Front in France and Belgium for four years, from 1914 to 1918. During this time, it was nicknamed "The Iron Division". Its first commander during

2600-558: The 7th Guards Brigade was transferred to help create the Guards Armoured Division , and, in November, the 37th Infantry Brigade Group joined the 3rd Division and was renumbered 7th Brigade with the following composition: The brigade anti-tank companies were disbanded during 1941 and 92nd (Loyals) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery , formerly the 7th Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) , joined

2730-647: The Allied invasion of Germany . For the campaign in Normandy, the division was commanded by Major-General Tom Rennie until he was wounded on 13 June 1944; Major-General 'Bolo' Whistler , a highly popular commander, took command on 23 June 1944. During the campaign in Normandy, two posthumous Victoria Crosses were awarded to units under its command. In August 1944, corporal Sidney Bates of 1st Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment and in March 1945 Private James Stokes of

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2860-778: The Anglo-Portuguese Army , for service in the Peninsular War , and was known as the Fighting 3rd under Sir Thomas Picton during the Napoleonic Wars . The division fought at the Battle of Waterloo , as well as during the Crimean War and the Second Boer War . As a result of bitter fighting in 1916, during the First World War , the division became referred to as the 3rd (Iron) Division, or

2990-550: The Anzio landings with D Company of 18th Durham Light Infantry as the infantry component. Denis Healey was a Beach Master for this operation. Formed around the 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry at Kabrit, it transferred to Algeria in July for training and then to Tunisia for more training with the 46th Infantry Division , whom it supported in the landings at Salerno on Uncle beach. Formed on 20 July 1943 at Kabrit in Egypt around

3120-589: The British Expeditionary Force (BEF). In May 1940, after several months of relative inactivity, the German Army launched its attack in the west which resulted in the BEF being split up from the French Army , evacuated from Dunkirk . Due to Montgomery's strict training regime, the 3rd Division suffered comparatively few casualties and earned a reputation as one of the best British divisions in France. During

3250-684: The British Mandate of Palestine . During the Second World War, the insignia became the "pattern of three" — a black triangle trisected by an inverted red triangle. The division was part of the Allied British and Portuguese forces that took part in the Peninsular War . It fought at the Battle of Bussaco in September 1810, the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro in May 1811 and the Battle of El Bodón in September 1811, before further combat at

3380-455: The Crimean War and fought in the Battle of Alma and the Siege of Sevastopol . It was under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Richard England . During the Second Boer War (1899–1902) the division began under the command of General Gatacre . In 1902 the army was restructured, and a 3rd Infantry division was established permanently at Bordon as part of the 1st Army Corps , comprising

3510-587: The Cyprus Emergency . The following year, the division was mobilised for Operation Musketeer , the attack on Egypt during the Suez Crisis . In the event of a successful invasion, the division would have severed as a follow-up formation and occupied Port Said . Only the divisional headquarters was dispatched, and the division was ultimately not deployed. In April 1959, the divisional headquarters moved from Colchester to Bulford. In 1961, elements of

3640-868: The George Medal . Two Australian beach groups were formed in June 1944, and saw action in the Borneo campaign in 1945. Supported the 9th Division in the landings at Brunei and Labuan . It was commanded by Colonel C. J. Cummings. Composition Supported the 9th Division in the Battle of Tarakan and the 7th Division in the Battle of Balikpapan . It was commanded by Colonel C. R. Hodgson. Composition Operation Torch [REDACTED]   United States [REDACTED]   United Kingdom [REDACTED]   Vichy France 1941 1942 1944 1945 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Operation Torch (8–16 November 1942)

3770-602: The Jewish insurgency , it was disbanded in June 1947. Sources differ on the specifics. The Imperial War Museum stated it was disbanded in Palestine while historians Lord and Watson stated the division first returned to the UK in April 1947 before being disbanded. However, they also note that at least one source (although not specified by the authors) claimed that the division was still active in Palestine until February 1948. With

3900-692: The Salisbury Plain Training Area . The restructured division then contained the 1st, 12th, and 20th Brigades. These were all renamed from "Mechanised" brigades to "Armoured Infantry" brigades, with each containing an armoured cavalry regiment for reconnaissance, an armoured regiment equipped with Challenger 2 main battle tanks , two armoured infantry battalions carried in Warriors, and one infantry battalion carried in Mastiff infantry mobility vehicles (this battalion being described as

4030-510: The Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812, the Siege of Badajoz in March 1812 and the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812. It also fought at the Siege of Burgos in September 1812 and the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813. It then pursued the French army into France and saw action at the Battle of the Pyrenees in July 1813, the Battle of Nivelle in November 1813 and the Battle of

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4160-585: The U.S. Navy anywhere in World War II. Many of her one-ton shells didn't explode, linked to poor detonators, and aircraft bombers sank the Jean Bart . Two U.S. destroyers were damaged. At Safi, the objective being capturing the port facilities to land the Western Task Force's medium tanks, the landings were mostly successful. The landings were begun without covering fire, in the hope that

4290-705: The invasion of Normandy , part of the larger Operation Overlord . For the assault landing, 3rd British Division was organised as a Division Group, with other formations temporarily under its command. These included 27th Armoured Brigade ( Sherman DD amphibious tanks of 13/18th Hussars, and the Sherman tanks of the Staffordshire Yeomanry and East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry) , 1st Special Service Brigade and No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando , with 5th Royal Marine Independent Armoured Support Battery ( Centaur IV close support tanks), and specialist units of

4420-517: The 1980s, the 33rd Armoured Brigade joined the 4th Armoured Division and in exchange the 3rd Armoured Division received the 19th Infantry Brigade (Colchester, England). During 1983, the 6th Armoured Brigade converted into the 6th Airmobile Brigade and maintained that role until 1988. The end of the 1980s saw the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. In July 1990,

4550-409: The 19th Mechanised Brigade was deployed to Basra , Iraq, to replace the 1st (UK) Armoured Division's 7th Armoured Brigade . This was followed by the divisional headquarters, which replaced the 1st (UK) Armoured Division on 11 July. The Multi-National Division (South-East) was subsequently formed to oversee all Multi-National Forces in southern Iraq. The British portion of this force was based around

4680-517: The 2nd Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry , both units part of the 185th Infantry Brigade. During the often intense fighting from Sword Beach to Bremen, the 3rd Division suffered 2,586 killed with over 12,000 wounded. Following the German surrender, the division moved towards central Germany. It was then ordered to Berlin, to become part of the Western Allied garrison, but before

4810-509: The 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. Following its reorganisation, the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division (also referred to as the 3rd (UK) Mechanised Division) was assigned to the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps , a newly formed NATO HQ that was administered by the UK. Around 8,400 strong, it comprised the 1st (Tidworth) and the 19th (Mechanised) Brigades (Catterick), in conjunction with the 5th (Airborne) Brigade (Aldershot),

4940-475: The 4th Brigade (joined the division in 2008) until April 2013; and the division's final deployment to Task Force Helmand came between April and October 2013, when then the 1st Brigade was dispatched. The task force was maintained until 2014, consisting of 1st Armoured Division units, when it was disbanded following the British withdrawal. In June 2003, following the initial stage of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and start of security and stabilisation responsibilities,

5070-558: The 5th Division ( 13th Infantry Brigade ) in the landings at Calabria on 3 September 1943 on George Beach. Formed on 1 April 1943 around 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders , the Brick supported the 17th Infantry Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division at George Beach (beach No. 44). On 27 July, the Highlanders were sent to the front line and the 1st Battalion Welch Regiment took their place from No. 34 Beach Brick. The Brick

5200-426: The 68th and 69th RAF Beach Units. This unit also sailed with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division from Britain and landed with them during the invasion of Sicily. It contained the 69th RAF Beach Unit. It was the reserve Beach group for Juno . Supported the 3rd Infantry Division on Sword , Queen beaches. No.6 Beach Group was the reserve for Sword. Supported the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division landed on Mike in

5330-482: The 7th Battalion Royal Marines . This unit was charged with training itself and then other units that were to form other Beach Bricks. It landed on Sicily supporting the 231st Infantry Brigade at Marzamemi. Formed around the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry , the Brick supported the 5th Infantry Division during the Sicily landings at Cassibile (beaches Nos. 45 and 46) south of Syracuse. The Brick again supported

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5460-536: The 9th Infantry Brigade, was commanded by Brigadier Bernard Montgomery . He assumed command of the 3rd Division shortly before Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939. The 3rd Infantry Division, under the command of Major-General Bernard Montgomery was sent overseas to France in late September 1939, just under a month after the outbreak of the Second World War . There the division became part of Lieutenant General Alan Brooke 's II Corps of

5590-521: The Agency was used by the Americans and British in planning the amphibious November 1942 Operation Torch landings in North Africa. Information gathering continued during the operation, the British and Americans sent teams who competed to collect intelligence information, an Abwehr coding machine, a different version of Enigma machines was captured in Algiers, it was found to have no plug board however

5720-503: The Allies could only make three landings and Eisenhower—who believed that any plan must include landings at Oran and Algiers—had two main options: either the western option, to land at Casablanca, Oran and Algiers and then make as rapid a move as possible to Tunis some 500 miles (800 km) east of Algiers once the Vichy opposition was suppressed; or the eastern option, to land at Oran, Algiers and Bône and then advance overland to Casablanca some 500 miles (800 km) west of Oran. He favored

5850-461: The Allies the next day. His forces surrounded the villa of General Charles Noguès , the Vichy-loyal high commissioner. However, Noguès telephoned loyal forces, who stopped the coup. In addition, the coup attempt alerted Noguès to the impending Allied invasion, and he immediately bolstered French coastal defenses. At Fedala, a small port with a large beach close to Casablanca, weather disrupted

5980-771: The American Consul Robert Daniel Murphy in Algiers . The French were former members of the Allies and the American troops were instructed not to fire unless they were fired upon. Suspicions were harbored that the Vichy French Navy would bear a grudge over the British Attack on Mers-el-Kébir near Oran in June 1940, to prevent French ships being taken by the Germans, which killed almost 1,300 French sailors. An assessment of

6110-699: The Americans, and the invasion as well. Because of divided loyalties among the groups on the ground their support was uncertain, and due to the need to maintain secrecy, detailed plans could not be shared with the French. Planners identified Oran, Algiers and Casablanca as key targets. Ideally there would also be a landing at Tunis to secure Tunisia and facilitate the rapid interdiction of supplies traveling via Tripoli to Erwin Rommel 's Afrika Korps forces in Italian Libya . The British proposed to achieve this by means of an airborne operation launched from Malta, as

6240-683: The Beach Groups and Bricks received the following awards during their service. This list is incomplete. During the Salerno landings, the Distinguished Service Order was awarded to Wing Commander Rowland George O.B.E., and the Military Cross was awarded to Major Cameron (18th Durham Light Infantry) and Flight Lieutenant John Dobbin, who organised the beaches and cleared vehicle congestion while under fire. During

6370-726: The British and American public, who regarded all Vichy French as Nazi collaborators and Darlan as one of the worst. Eisenhower insisted, however, that he had no real choice if his forces were to move on against the Axis in Tunisia, rather than fight the French in Algeria and Morocco. Though de Gaulle had no official power in Vichy North Africa, much of its population now publicly declared Free French allegiance, putting pressure on Darlan. On 24 December, Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle ,

6500-402: The British government announced Options for Change . This framework sought to restructure the British military based on the new strategic situation, allow for further cost saving measures to be enacted, and to reduce the BAOR by half. During September and October 1992, the division relocated from Germany to Bulford , Wiltshire where it was reorganised as a mechanized infantry division known as

6630-451: The Egyptian government abrogated the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936 , which was the basis for British troops to remain in the canal area. The ensuing political landscape saw increased animosity to the British presence, eventually resulting in an agreement to withdraw. The division departed for the UK during 1954, where it returned to Colchester and its role as the British Army's strategic reserve. March 1955 saw troops deployed to Cyprus, during

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6760-409: The French commander-in-chief in Algiers. These officers were willing to support the Allies but asked for a clandestine conference with a senior Allied General in Algeria. Major General Mark W. Clark —one of Eisenhower's senior commanders—was dispatched to Cherchell in Algeria aboard the British submarine HMS  Seraph and met with these Vichy French officers on 21 October 1942. With help from

6890-414: The French garrison in Tunisia would be too weak to resist. However, Marshall persisted in opposing the North African plan and the British proposal was vetoed, claiming Tunis was much too close to the Axis airfields in Sicily and Sardinia for any hope of success. A compromise would be to land at Bône in eastern Algeria, some 300 miles (480 km) closer to Tunis than Algiers. Limited resources dictated that

7020-465: The French vessels there. The Vichy French naval fleet broke from the harbor and attacked the Allied invasion fleet but its ships were all sunk or driven ashore. The commander of Reservist, Captain Frederick Thornton Peters , was awarded the Victoria Cross for valour in pushing the attack through Oran harbour in the face of point blank fire. French batteries and the invasion fleet exchanged fire throughout 8–9 November, with French troops defending Oran and

7150-418: The French would not resist at all. However, once French coastal batteries opened fire, Allied warships returned fire. By the time the 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment arrived, French snipers had pinned the assault troops (most of whom were in combat for the first time) on Safi's beaches. Most of the landings occurred behind schedule. Carrier aircraft destroyed a French truck convoy bringing reinforcements to

7280-423: The Iron Division or Ironsides. During the Second World War , the division (now known as the 3rd Infantry Division) fought in the Battle of France including a rearguard action during the Dunkirk Evacuation , and played a prominent role in the D-Day landings of 6 June 1944 . The division was to have been part of a proposed Commonwealth Corps , formed for a planned invasion of Japan in 1945–46, and later served in

7410-408: The Juno landing area. Composition Landed on Nan, in the Juno landing area. Composition Supported the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division landing on the King sector of the Gold , landing area. Composition Landed on the Jig beaches, within the Gold sector. Composition This unit landed with the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division on Sicily on 10 July 1943. The infantry component

7540-511: The Medical Corps was also tasked with the provision of drinking water for the troops. The Military Police (MPs) were to be used to control the flow of traffic on the beach and to guard and document the prisoners of war collected in the initial stages and brought back to the beach. These units also included RAF MPs . The pioneer companies were called on to perform many duties; construction of roads, air-fields and stores, mine clearance, collection and evacuation of wounded, collection and burial of

7670-403: The Mediterranean trained at Kibrit on the Great Bitter Lake on the Suez Canal. Formed in the UK, it sailed to Sicily with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division , landing on 10 July 1943. It contained the 68th RAF Beach Unit. Utilised again for the Salerno landings, and attached to the British 56th Infantry Division , landing on Rodger beach on 9 September 1943, for this operation it contained

7800-415: The Multi-National Division. Between April and November 2004, the division's 1st Mechanised Brigade was dispatched to Iraq under the oversight of the Multi-National Division; the 12th Mechanised Brigade was deployed between April and October 2005; the 19th Brigade between November 2006 and June 2007; the 1st Mechanized Brigade returned between June and December 2007; and the division's final deployment, under

7930-411: The Nive in December 1813. After that it fought at the Battle of Orthez in February 1814 and the Battle of Toulouse in April 1814. According to Picton, the fighting by the 3rd was so intense at the Battle of Vitoria, that the division lost 1,800 men (over one third of all Allied losses at the battle) having taken a key bridge and village, where they were subjected to fire by 40 to 50 cannons , and

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8060-422: The Normandy Landings, the following Beach Commandos of Nos 5 and 6 Beach Groups received Awards. Members of the Royal Navy beach signals sections won the following. On 8 June, a German fighter plane dropped a bomb on the petrol and ammunition depot on Sword, with the ensuing fire threatening to destroy large quantities of supplies. Men of 5 and 6 Beach Groups worked to save the supplies; seven of whom were awarded

8190-402: The Resistance, the Allies also succeeded in slipping French General Henri Giraud out of Vichy France on HMS Seraph —passing itself off as an American submarine —to Gibraltar, where Eisenhower had his headquarters, intending to offer him the post of commander in chief of French forces in North Africa after the invasion. However, Giraud would take no position lower than commander in chief of all

8320-465: The Soviets. In conducting their planning, Allied military strategists needed to consider the political situation on the ground in North Africa, which was complex, as well as external diplomatic political aspects. The Americans had recognized Pétain and the Vichy government in 1940, whereas the British did not and had recognized General Charles de Gaulle 's French National Committee as a government-in-exile instead, and agreed to fund them. North Africa

8450-419: The U.S. 34th Infantry Division . The 11th Brigade Group from the British 78th Infantry Division landed on the right hand beach; the US 168th Regimental Combat Team , from the 34th Infantry Division, supported by 6 Commando and most of 1 Commando, landed on the middle beach; and the US 39th Regimental Combat Team , from the US 9th Infantry Division, supported by the remaining 5 troops from 1 Commando, landed on

8580-556: The UK and Italy, the division could be reinforced by the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" . During the 1990s, the division deployed troops to Angola, the Falkland Islands, Kosovo, Northern Ireland as part of Operation Banner , and Rwanda. Most notably, in December 1995, following the signing of the Dayton Agreement , the division was the first British formation deployed as part of the Implementation Force to serve as peacekeepers in Bosnia and Herzegovina and remained through 1996. The British contribution to this force eventually came under

8710-461: The UN force was activated. On 1 April 1968, the Army Strategic Command was formed in the UK, with a goal of supporting NATO forces from as far north as Norway to as far south as Turkey; to provide internal security operations world-wide; and to undertake limited operations in conjunction with allies. The 3rd Division was assigned to this command, and from 1969 onwards was the primary British formation that would reinforce European-based NATO forces in

8840-447: The addition of the 52nd Infantry Brigade. By the late 2000s, the division comprised the 1st Mechanised Brigade (based at Tidworth), the 12th Mechnised Brigade (Aldershot), the 19th Light Brigade, and the 52nd Infantry Brigade (Edinburgh). In 2013, the 19th Brigade was disbanded leaving the division with just four brigades. The Strategic Defence and Security Review of 2010 outlined the Army 2020 plan. This project aimed to restructure

8970-489: The army from one optimized for the War in Afghanistan , to one that was more flexible and included the establishment of a "Reaction Force" and an "Adaptable Force". The latter would be based around the 1st (United Kingdom) Division, while the 3rd Division would serve as the basis for the Reaction Force. The division's new role required it to be held in a state of high readiness, ready to be deployed to undertake operations on short notice, and all its forces were concentrated around

9100-414: The assault, with 8 Brigade Group making the first landing, followed by 185 Brigade Group and 9 Brigade Group in succession during the morning and early afternoon. The 3rd Infantry Division fought through the Battle for Caen , in Operation Charnwood and Operation Goodwood . The division participated in the Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine and fought in the Netherlands and Belgium and later

9230-444: The authority to take command of the French forces. He preferred to wait in Gibraltar for the results of the landing. However, Darlan in Algiers had such authority. Eisenhower, with the support of Roosevelt and Churchill, made an agreement with Darlan, recognizing him as French "High Commissioner" in North Africa. In return, Darlan ordered all French forces in North Africa to cease resistance to the Allies and to cooperate instead. The deal

9360-458: The beach defenses. Safi surrendered on the afternoon of 8 November. By 10 November, the remaining defenders were pinned down, and the bulk of Harmon's forces raced to join the siege of Casablanca. At Port-Lyautey, the landing troops were uncertain of their position, and the second wave was delayed. This gave the French defenders time to organize resistance, and the remaining landings were conducted under artillery bombardment. A former French pilot of

9490-410: The dead, transport, guarding POWs and, where necessary, fight. The RASC was responsible for the transport and distribution of the supplies needed by the troops. The REME was tasked with keeping the beaches clear of disabled vehicles, including the removal of stranded landing craft. Repairable vehicles were repaired in place or at a vehicle park. The men used normal and specialised recovery vehicles for

9620-498: The decision removed the early capture of Tunis from the probable to only the remotely possible because of the extra time it would afford the Axis to move forces into Tunisia. In July 1941, Mieczysław Słowikowski (using the codename " Rygor "—Polish for "Rigor") set up " Agency Africa ", one of the Second World War's most successful intelligence organizations. His Polish allies in these endeavors included Lt. Col. Gwido Langer and Major Maksymilian Ciężki . The information gathered by

9750-496: The dismounted men of 8th Royal Tank Regiment . The brick was sent to Palestine in August, around plans for capture of Rhodes in late 1943. This was cancelled and the Brick transferred to the UK in early 1944. By this time, 8th Royal Tank Regiment had left the Brick and been re-equipped with tanks; 18th Durham Light Infantry took their place. For the Normandy landings, the Brick was in reserve for Gold. Composition (Normandy) Men of

9880-474: The division in March 1942. In June 1942, 3rd Infantry Division was reorganised as a 'Mixed' Division, with 33rd Tank Brigade replacing 7th Infantry Brigade. By early 1943, the experiment with 'mixed' divisions was abandoned, and division reverted to being an infantry formation, 33rd Tank Brigade being replaced by 185th Infantry Brigade . The 3rd British Infantry Division was the first British formation to land at Sword Beach on D-Day , 6 June 1944, as part of

10010-667: The division were dispatched to Kuwait to deter an Iraqi invasion; signals personnel were sent to assist with the British Cameroons referendum ; and other troops were sent to Kenya. Exercises in Libya followed in 1963, which also established the division in an air-portable role. Elements were dispatched to Cyprus, in February 1964, to support the forming United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus . That lasted until August, when

10140-405: The division's 12th Mechanised Brigade was deployed to serve as the core of Task Force Helmand; it was replaced by the division's newly added 52nd Infantry Brigade from October through to April 2008; the 19th Brigade deployed between April and October 2009; the 4th Mechanised Brigade undertook a tour between April and October 2010; the 12th Brigade returned between April and October 2021; followed by

10270-577: The divisional headquarters was increased to 750 men (wartime strength) and included two brigadiers. Each officer would command a flexible task force, which consisted of the battlegroups the GOC had formed. The division's task forces were named Task Force Echo and Task Force Foxtrot. These were not a reintroduction of a brigade command structure and had no administrative responsibilities. The approach intended to provide greater flexibility in tailoring forces to meet unforeseen events and allow for an overall reduction in

10400-554: The eastern option because of the advantages it gave to an early capture of Tunis and also because the Atlantic swells off Casablanca presented considerably greater risks to an amphibious landing there than would be encountered in the Mediterranean. The Combined Chiefs of Staff, however, were concerned that should Operation Torch precipitate Spain to abandon neutrality and join the Axis, the Straits of Gibraltar could be closed cutting

10530-509: The entire Allied force's lines of communication. They therefore chose the Casablanca option as the less risky since the forces in Algeria and Tunisia could be supplied overland from Casablanca (albeit with considerable difficulty) in the event of closure of the straits. The Morocco landings ruled out the early occupation of Tunisia. Marshall did convince the Allies to abandon the planned invasions of Madeira and Tangier in preparation for

10660-443: The evacuation Montgomery was promoted to temporary command of II Corps and Brigadier Kenneth Anderson took temporary control of the division before, in July, Major General James Gammell assumed command. For over a year after Dunkirk the composition of 3rd Division remained largely unchanged (except that the motorcycle battalion was converted into 3rd (RNF) Reconnaissance Regiment , Reconnaissance Corps ). Then, in September 1941,

10790-511: The event of the Cold War heating up. Under Operation Banner , the division also deployed troops to Northern Ireland for four-month tours of duty. During 1974, the division returned to Cyprus in response to the Turkish invasion . The 1975 Mason Review , a government white paper , outlined a new defence policy that removed the UK-based divisional-sized strategic reserve and also resulted in

10920-597: The first large-scale airborne assault carried out by the United States. The French colonies were aligned with Germany via Vichy France but the loyalties of the population were mixed. Reports indicated that they might support the Allies. The American General Dwight D. Eisenhower , supreme commander of the Allied forces in Mediterranean theater of the war , approved plans for a three-pronged attack on Casablanca (Western), Oran (Center) and Algiers (Eastern), then

11050-530: The first of a new series of UG convoys providing logistic support for the North African campaign. The Center Task Force, aimed at Oran, included the U.S. 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment , the U.S. 1st Infantry Division , and the U.S. 1st Armored Division —a total of 18,500 troops. They sailed from the United Kingdom and were commanded by Major General Lloyd Fredendall ,

11180-531: The functions of a beach group in late 1942: For this, a tri-service formation was created around an infantry battalion, added to this were smaller units from the Royal Engineers, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Pioneer Corps , Royal Army Service Corps and the Corps of Military Police . The Navy provided Royal Naval Beach Commandos and

11310-583: The ground. The planners assumed that if the leaders were given Allied military support they would take steps to liberate themselves, and the U.S. embarked on detailed negotiations under American Consul General Robert Murphy in Rabat with the French Liberation Movement. Since Britain was already diplomatically and financially committed to de Gaulle , it was clear that negotiations with the French Liberation Movement would have to be conducted by

11440-507: The guidance of the Multi-National Division (South-West) , which was administered by the 3rd Division for six months. Command then rotated to the 1st (UK) Armoured Division . During 1999, the 5th Airborne Brigade was converted into the 12th Mechanised Brigade (still based at Aldershot). The division's tanks were replaced by 165 Challenger 2s . By the early 2000s, the formation's strength ranged from 18–21,600, depending on

11570-405: The headquarters of the 19th Corps . Robert Murphy took some men and then drove to the residence of General Alphonse Juin , the senior French Army officer in North Africa. While they surrounded his house (making Juin a hostage) Murphy attempted to persuade him to side with the Allies. Juin was treated to a surprise: Admiral François Darlan —the commander of all French forces—was also in Algiers on

11700-499: The invading forces, a job already given to Eisenhower. When he was refused, he decided to remain "a spectator in this affair". The Allies organised three amphibious task forces to simultaneously seize the key ports and airports in Morocco and Algeria, targeting Casablanca , Oran and Algiers. Successful completion of these operations was to be followed by an eastwards advance into Tunisia. A Western Task Force (aimed at Casablanca)

11830-621: The landing phase, ground forces were to be commanded by U.S. Major General Charles W. Ryder , Commanding General (CG) of the 34th Division and naval forces were commanded by Royal Navy Vice-Admiral Sir Harold Burrough . U-boats , operating in the eastern Atlantic area crossed by the invasion convoys, had been drawn away to attack trade convoy SL 125 . Aerial operations were split into two commands, with Royal Air Force aircraft under Air Marshal Sir William Welsh operating east of Cape Tenez in Algeria, and all United States Army Air Forces aircraft under Major General Jimmy Doolittle , who

11960-566: The landings, which he maintained would lose the element of surprise and draw large Spanish military contingents in Spanish Morocco and the Canary Islands into the war. However, Harry Hopkins convinced President Franklin D. Roosevelt to agree to the general plan. Eisenhower told Patton that the past six weeks were the most trying of his life . In Eisenhower's acceptance of landings in Algeria and Morocco, he pointed out that

12090-503: The landings. The landing beaches again came under French fire after daybreak. Patton landed at 08:00, and the beachheads were secured later in the day. The Americans surrounded the port of Casablanca by 10 November, and the city surrendered an hour before the final assault was due to take place. Casablanca was the principal French Atlantic naval base after German occupation of the European coast. The Naval Battle of Casablanca resulted from

12220-444: The largest landing with 19,000 men), and Mehdiya- Port Lyautey ( Operation Goalpost ). Because it was hoped that the French would not resist, there were no preliminary bombardments. This proved to be a costly error as French defenses took a toll on American landing forces. On the night of 7 November, pro-Allied General Antoine Béthouart attempted a coup d'etat against the French command in Morocco, so that he could surrender to

12350-610: The left hand beach. The 36th Brigade Group from the British 78th Infantry Division stood by in floating reserve. Though some landings went to the wrong beaches, this was immaterial because of the lack of French opposition. All the coastal batteries had been neutralized by the French Resistance and one French commander defected to the Allies. The only fighting took place in the port of Algiers, where in Operation Terminal , two British destroyers attempted to land

12480-545: The men of the division deserved the honour of their name." The separation of traditions was also suggested by Lieutenant-Colonel T. F. Furnell, secretary of the Association of the 3rd (Iron) Division, who in a reunion speech to Second World War 3rd Division veterans stated "You of the 3rd British Division have more than lived up to the tradition of the Iron Division." The Imperial War Museum highlighted that while

12610-415: The minesweepers were clearing a path. Some delay and confusion, and damage to landing ships, was caused by the unexpected shallowness of water and sandbars; although periscope observations had been carried out, no reconnaissance parties had landed on the beaches to determine the local maritime conditions. This helped inform subsequent amphibious assaults—such as Operation Overlord —in which considerable weight

12740-472: The naval forces being commanded by Commodore Thomas Troubridge. Torch was, for propaganda purposes, a landing by U.S. forces, supported by British warships and aircraft, under the belief that this would be more palatable to French public opinion, than an Anglo-American invasion. For the same reason, Churchill suggested that British soldiers might wear U.S. Army uniforms , and No.6 Commando did so. ( Fleet Air Arm aircraft did carry US "star" roundels during

12870-725: The operation, and two British destroyers flew the Stars and Stripes . ) In reality, the Eastern Task Force—aimed at Algiers—was commanded by Lieutenant-General Kenneth Anderson and consisted of a brigade from the British 78th and the U.S. 34th Infantry Divisions , along with two British commando units ( No. 1 and No. 6 Commandos ), together with the RAF Regiment providing 5 squadrons of infantry and 5 Light anti-aircraft flights, totalling 20,000 troops. During

13000-612: The outbreak of the Korean War and the need for a divisional-sized strategic reserve based in the UK, the 3rd Infantry Division was reformed at Colchester, England, on 14 December 1950. In April 1951, the division helped form the signals regiment for the 1st Commonwealth Division , which served in the Korean War. In November, the entire formation was dispatched to Egypt to garrison the Suez Canal Zone . During this period,

13130-424: The oversight of the Multi-National Division, was made by the newly added 4th Mechanised Brigade between December 2007 and June 2008. On 1 January 2005, the 19th Mechanised Brigade was converted into the 19th Light Brigade. It then moved from Catterick to Northern Ireland in 2008. The following year, the 4th Mechanised Brigade moved from Germany and joined the division. This was followed, during April 2007, with

13260-439: The period 1943-1945, argued against a continuation of the nickname beyond the First World War. He wrote that while it was a complement to be associated with the term, it was a nickname "earned by quite different groups of units in quite different circumstances, not by the 3rd Division in its Assault form. ' Ironsides ' is surely another not entirely justifiable reference to East Anglia , where Cromwell did his recruiting; and Iron,

13390-605: The plan. Marshall and other U.S. generals advocated the invasion of northern Europe later that year, which the British rejected. After Prime Minister Winston Churchill pressed for a landing in French North Africa in 1942, Marshall suggested instead to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the U.S. abandon the Germany first strategy and take the offensive in the Pacific. Roosevelt said it would do nothing to help

13520-417: The port on board a US destroyer led her up the shallow river to take over the artillery battery, clearing the way to the air-base. With the assistance of carrier air support, the troops pushed ahead, and the objectives were captured. The Center Task Force was split between three beaches, two west of Oran and one east. Landings at the westernmost beach were delayed because of a French convoy which appeared while

13650-416: The post when Darlan was assassinated six weeks later. The Eisenhower/Darlan agreement meant that the officials appointed by the Vichy regime would remain in power in North Africa. No role was provided for Free France , which was supposed to be France's government-in-exile and had taken charge in other French colonies. That deeply offended Charles de Gaulle , the head of Free France. It also offended much of

13780-590: The restructure of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). With its role eliminated, the 3rd Division was disbanded. It was reformed in Soest , Germany, on 1 September 1977, as the 3rd Armoured Division. Its reformation increased the BAOR to four divisions, for the first time since the end of the 1950s. Each division consisted of two armoured regiments, three mechanised infantry battalions, and two artillery regiments. The Mason Review removed brigades and replaced them with

13910-566: The role played by the airborne forces in Operation Torch was minimal. As agreed at Cherchell, in the early hours of 8 November, the 400 mainly Jewish French Resistance fighters of the Géo Gras Group staged a coup in the city of Algiers. Starting at midnight, the force under the command of Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie and José Aboulker seized key targets, including the telephone exchange, radio station, governor's house and

14040-402: The run-in to the beach. In addition, 3rd Division had 101 Beach Sub-Area HQ and No. 5 and No. 6 Beach groups under command for the assault phase: these included additional engineers, transport, pioneers, medical services and vehicle recovery sections which would hold and manage the beach landing area after the initial assault. The 3rd Division's brigades were organised as brigade groups for

14170-464: The size of a division by 700 men. The task force concept was dropped by the end of the decade, having been deemed to have not met expectations. The division then comprised the 6th and the 33rd Armoured Brigades, with each made up of two mechanised infantry battalions and one armoured regiment. In 1981, John Nott , the Secretary of State for Defence for the government elected in 1979 , announced

14300-764: The source. Following the United States invasion of Afghanistan , in December 2001, the divisional headquarters was dispatched to Kabul as part of the International Security Assistance Force . It oversaw a multinational brigade until command was handed over to other NATO forces. From 2006 onwards, Task Force Helmand (based on a reinforced brigade) was formed to conduct stabilisation and counter-insurgency missions in Helmand Province . Between April and October 2007,

14430-552: The surrounding area stubbornly; bombardment by the British battleships brought about Oran's surrender on 10 November. Torch was the first major airborne assault carried out by the United States. The 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment , aboard 39 C-47 Dakotas , flew all the way from Cornwall in England, over Spain , to drop near Oran and capture airfields at Tafraoui and La Sénia , respectively 15 miles (24 km) and 5 miles (8 km) south of Oran. The operation

14560-433: The sympathies of the French forces in North Africa was essential, and plans were made to secure their cooperation, rather than resistance. German support for the Vichy French came in the shape of air support. Several Luftwaffe bomber wings undertook anti-shipping strikes against Allied ports in Algiers and along the North African coast. The operation was originally scheduled to be led by General Joseph Stilwell , but he

14690-482: The task, such as the BARV . The precise mix and number of units depended of the perceived need of each location. From spring 1942, on the formation of the beach commandos, training was begun at the shore establishment HMS Armadillo Ardentinny , with amphibious training on Loch Long . RAF units and other formations destined for the beach groups were trained at Gailes Camp near Irvine, North Ayrshire . Units formed in

14820-564: The territories as well as coastal artillery, 210 operational but out-of-date tanks and about 500 aircraft, half of which were Dewoitine D.520 fighters—equal to many British and U.S. fighters. These forces included 60,000 troops in Morocco, 15,000 in Tunisia, and 50,000 in Algeria. In addition, there were 10 or so warships and 11 submarines at Casablanca . The Allies believed that the Vichy French Armistice Army would not fight, partly because of information supplied by

14950-547: The three rotors had been changed to rotate 11, 15 and 19 times rather than once every 26 letters, plus a plate on the left acted as a fourth rotor. It was sent to the UK with 2 tons of paperwork for analysis. To gauge the feeling of the Vichy French forces, Murphy was appointed to the American consulate in Algeria. His covert mission was to determine the mood of the French forces and to make contact with elements that might support an Allied invasion. He succeeded in contacting several French officers, including General Charles Mast ,

15080-531: The unit's soldiers. When Adolf Hitler learned of Darlan's deal with the Allies, he immediately ordered the occupation of Vichy France and sent Wehrmacht troops to Tunisia . The American press protested, immediately dubbing it the "Darlan Deal", pointing out that Roosevelt had made a brazen bargain with Hitler's puppets in France. If a main goal of Torch had originally been the liberation of North Africa, hours later that had been jettisoned in favor of safe passage through North Africa. Giraud ended up taking over

15210-418: The units were men from the army and RAF. The infantry component was intended to be a fighting force if any pockets of resistance remained on the beach immediately after the landings. After the beach had been secured, the battalion was to provide manpower for any other tasks, for example 6th Battalion Border Regiment was split up as follows, As well as the treatment and dispatch of casualties back to Britain,

15340-570: The war, Major-General Hubert Hamilton , was killed by shellfire near Béthune in October 1914. The division served in many major battles of the war, including the Battle of Mons and the subsequent Great Retreat , and later the First Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Passchendaele . After the end of the First World War, the division was stationed in southern England where it formed part of Southern Command . In 1937, one of its brigades,

15470-485: Was an Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War . Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of securing victory in North Africa while allowing American armed forces the opportunity to begin their fight against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy on a limited scale. It was the first mass involvement of US troops in the European–North African Theatre and saw

15600-560: Was assassinated by a monarchist six weeks later and the Free French gradually came to dominate the government. The Allies planned an Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa , the territories of Morocco , Algeria and Tunisia , nominally in the hands of the Vichy French government. With British forces advancing from Egypt, this would eventually allow the Allies to carry out a pincer operation against Axis forces in North Africa. The Vichy French had around 125,000 soldiers in

15730-401: Was composed of American units, with Major General George S. Patton in command and Rear Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt heading the naval operations. This Western Task Force consisted of the U.S. 3rd and 9th Infantry Divisions , and two battalions from the U.S. 2nd Armored Division —35,000 troops in a convoy of over 100 ships. They were transported directly from the United States in

15860-399: Was given to pre-invasion reconnaissance. The U.S. 1st Ranger Battalion landed east of Oran and quickly captured the shore battery at Arzew . An attempt was made to land U.S. infantry at the harbour directly, in order to quickly prevent destruction of the port facilities and scuttling of ships. Operation Reservist failed, as the two Banff -class sloops were destroyed by crossfire from

15990-567: Was made on 10 November, and French resistance ceased almost at once. The French troops in North Africa who were not already captured submitted to and eventually joined the Allied forces. Men from French North Africa would see much combat under the Allied banner as part of the French Expeditionary Corps (consisting of 112,000 troops in April 1944) in the Italian campaign , where Maghrebis (mostly Moroccans) made up over 60% of

16120-801: Was marked by communicational and navigational problems owing to the anti-aircraft and beacon ship HMS Alynbank broadcasting on the wrong frequency. Poor weather over Spain and the extreme range caused the formation to scatter and forced 30 of the 37 air transports to land in the dry salt lake to the west of the objective. Of the other aircraft, one pilot became disoriented and landed his plane in Gibraltar . Two others landed in French Morocco and three in Spanish Morocco , where another Dakota dropped its paratroopers by mistake. A total of 67 American troops were interned by Franco 's forces until February 1943. Tafraoui and La Sénia were eventually captured but

16250-406: Was part of France's colonial empire and nominally in support of Vichy, but that support was far from universal among the population. Political events on the ground contributed to, and in some cases were even primary over, military aspects. The French population in North Africa were divided into three groups: American strategy in planning the attack had to take into account these complexities on

16380-561: Was reassembled with the Highlanders for the landings at Calabria, again with 17th Brigade, on How beach north of Torrente. The Brick was disbanded in November 1943. Formed on 1 June 1943 at Kabrit Egypt around the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment , the Brick supported the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division during the Sicily Landings at Avola. For the landings at Calabria, the Brick supported the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade on Fox beach north of Reggio de Calabria. The Brick supported

16510-589: Was reassigned after the Arcadia Conference revealed his vitriolic Anglophobia and skepticism over the operation. Lt. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was given command of the operation, and he set up his headquarters in Gibraltar . Senior U.S. commanders remained strongly opposed to the landings and after the western Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) met in London on 30 July 1942, General George Marshall and Admiral Ernest King declined to approve

16640-425: Was subdivided into a headquarters and three sub units (Beach Parties), each controlling a battalion landing area. The men wore army battledress with navy headgear. Nine beach commandos were formed for Operation Overlord , designated F, J, L, P, Q, R, S, T and W, the latter was composed of Canadians. The Royal Navy Beach Signals units were to provide communications between the beach and the offshore forces. Included in

16770-528: Was two companies of the 2/4th Hampshire Regiment . This unit also landed with the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division on Sicily on 10 July 1943. The unit was used again and landed at Salerno on Sugar beach, supporting the 56th Infantry Division. It contained two companies of the Hampshire Regiment and the RAF's 81st and 82nd Auxiliary Embarkation Units. Formed on 13 April 1943 at Kabrit in Egypt, around

16900-576: Was under the direct command of Major General Patton, operating west of Cape Tenez. P-40s of the 33rd Fighter Group were launched from U.S. Navy escort carriers and landed at Port Lyautey on 10 November. Additional air support was provided by the carrier USS  Ranger , whose squadrons intercepted Vichy aircraft and bombed hostile ships. The Western Task Force landed before daybreak on 8 November 1942, at three points in Morocco: Safi ( Operation Blackstone ), Fedala ( Operation Brushwood ,

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