87-685: The Home Counties Division was an infantry division of the Territorial Force , part of the British Army , that was raised in 1908. As the name suggests, the division recruited in the Home Counties , particularly Kent , Middlesex , Surrey and Sussex . At the outbreak of the First World War , it accepted liability for overseas service and was posted to India in 1914 to relieve Regular Army units for service on
174-537: A lorried infantry unit. The division started the Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 4 November) with two brigades. It was still in XIII Corps, with the 7th Armoured Division and 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division . The corps was on the southern flank with the task of tying down Axis reserves while the main thrust was made in the north by XXX and X Corps . The division was further reduced when
261-748: A sidearm or ancillary weapons . Infantry with ranged or polearms often carried a sword or dagger for possible hand-to-hand combat. The pilum was a javelin the Roman legionaries threw just before drawing their primary weapon, the gladius (short sword), and closing with the enemy line. Modern infantrymen now treat the bayonet as a backup weapon, but may also have handguns as sidearms . They may also deploy anti-personnel mines, booby traps, incendiary, or explosive devices defensively before combat. Infantry have employed many different methods of protection from enemy attacks, including various kinds of armour and other gear, and tactical procedures. The most basic
348-628: A few exceptions like the Mongol Empire , infantry has been the largest component of most armies in history. In the Western world , from Classical Antiquity through the Middle Ages ( c. 8th century BC to 15th century AD), infantry are categorised as either heavy infantry or light infantry . Heavy infantry, such as Greek hoplites , Macedonian phalangites , and Roman legionaries , specialised in dense, solid formations driving into
435-512: A full suit of attack-proof armour would be too heavy to wear in combat. As firearms improved, armour for ranged defence had to be made thicker and heavier, which hindered mobility. With the introduction of the heavy arquebus designed to pierce standard steel armour, it was proven easier to make heavier firearms than heavier armour; armour transitioned to be only for close combat purposes. Pikemen armour tended to be just steel helmets and breastplates, and gunners had very little or no armour at all. By
522-417: A hundred meters wide and a dozen rows deep. Maintaining the advantages of heavy infantry meant maintaining formation; this became even more important when two forces with heavy infantry met in battle; the solidity of the formation became the deciding factor. Intense discipline and training became paramount. Empires formed around their military. The organization of military forces into regular military units
609-399: A problem. This can be avoided by having shield-armed soldiers stand close together, side-by-side, each protecting both themselves and their immediate comrades, presenting a solid shield wall to the enemy. The opponents for these first formations, the close-combat infantry of more tribal societies , or any military without regular infantry (so called " barbarians ") used arms that focused on
696-420: A result, 9th Middlesex was converted to 60th (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment , RA , the 4th Queen's to 63rd (Queen's) Searchlight Regiment, RA and 5th East Surreys to 57th ( East Surrey ) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA The latter remained part of the division. In the same year, the 59th (Home Counties)(Cinque Ports) Field Regiment, RA was converted to 75th (Home Counties)(Cinque Ports) Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA. It
783-440: A return to body armour for infantry, though the extra weight is a notable burden. In modern times, infantrymen must also often carry protective measures against chemical and biological attack, including military gas masks , counter-agents, and protective suits. All of these protective measures add to the weight an infantryman must carry, and may decrease combat efficiency. Early crew-served weapons were siege weapons , like
870-463: Is personal armour . This includes shields , helmets and many types of armour – padded linen , leather, lamellar , mail , plate , and kevlar . Initially, armour was used to defend both from ranged and close combat; even a fairly light shield could help defend against most slings and javelins, though high-strength bows and crossbows might penetrate common armour at very close range. Infantry armour had to compromise between protection and coverage, as
957-744: Is first noted in Egyptian records of the Battle of Kadesh ( c. 1274 BC ). Soldiers were grouped into units of 50, which were in turn grouped into larger units of 250, then 1,000, and finally into units of up to 5,000 – the largest independent command. Several of these Egyptian "divisions" made up an army, but operated independently, both on the march and tactically, demonstrating sufficient military command and control organisation for basic battlefield manoeuvres. Similar hierarchical organizations have been noted in other ancient armies, typically with approximately 10 to 100 to 1,000 ratios (even where base 10
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#17327727853081044-523: The 1/4th Queen's , the 1/4th and 2/4th Border, and the 1/4th QORWK took part in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919. The Territorial Force divisions and brigades were numbered in May 1915 in the order that they departed for overseas service, starting with the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division . The Home Counties Division should have been numbered as the 44th (Home Counties) Division , but as
1131-525: The 131st Brigade was attached to the 7th Armoured Division on 1 November, as a lorried infantry brigade after the 7th Motor Brigade was transferred to the 1st Armoured Division . The Battle of El Alamein was the last engagement of the 44th Division; it was disbanded on 31 January 1943. The 132nd and 133rd Brigade were dispersed, with the battalions ending up as British battalions in British Indian Army brigades. The 131st Brigade remained in
1218-608: The Cape of Good Hope . Less than three weeks after its arrival the division was ordered by General Sir Harold Alexander (replacing General Sir Claude Auchinleck on 13 August), the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), Middle East , to be sent forward to join the Eighth Army ( Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery ), at El Alamein . The 44th Division joined XIII Corps (Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks , commander of
1305-688: The IV Home Counties (H) Brigade, RFA , the Home Counties (Kent) Heavy Battery, the engineers, signals, ambulance and train units were all left behind and most were soon posted to other divisions on the Western Front . The division arrived at Bombay on 1–3 December 1914, with the Brecknockshire Battalion departing again on 9 December for Aden. The divisional commander, Major-General J.C. Young , accompanied
1392-1142: The Royal Dragoon Guards , Royal Lancers , and King's Royal Hussars . Similarly, motorised infantry have trucks and other unarmed vehicles for non-combat movement, but are still infantry since they leave their vehicles for any combat. Most modern infantry have vehicle transport, to the point where infantry being motorised is generally assumed, and the few exceptions might be identified as modern light infantry . Mechanised infantry go beyond motorised, having transport vehicles with combat abilities, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), providing at least some options for combat without leaving their vehicles. In modern infantry, some APCs have evolved to be infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), which are transport vehicles with more substantial combat abilities, approaching those of light tanks . Some well-equipped mechanised infantry can be designated as armoured infantry . Given that infantry forces typically also have some tanks, and given that most armoured forces have more mechanised infantry units than tank units in their organisation,
1479-738: The Second World War in Belgium , France and North Africa (notably in the Battle of El Alamein ) before again being disbanded in 1943. Once again, its component units continued to serve, in North Africa, Italy , North-West Europe , and Burma . The division was again reformed in the TA in 1947 before being merged with the Home Counties District in 1961, thus ending its separate existence. The Territorial Force (TF)
1566-795: The Signal Service ), Royal Army Medical Corps and the Army Service Corps . Two Army Troops battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment were also attached for training, but were not integral to the division. In peacetime, the divisional headquarters was in Hounslow in Middlesex. In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw.7, c.9) which brought the Territorial Force into being,
1653-519: The Western Front . On arrival in India it was effectively broken up, so it did not see active service as a complete formation. However, most of its constituent units did serve in active theatres , notably Mesopotamia from 1915 and in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919. Reformed in the Territorial Army (TA) in 1920 as the 44th (Home Counties) Division , the division saw active service in
1740-442: The ballista , trebuchet , and battering ram . Modern versions include machine guns , anti-tank missiles , and infantry mortars . Beginning with the development the first regular military forces, close-combat regular infantry fought less as unorganised groups of individuals and more in coordinated units, maintaining a defined tactical formation during combat, for increased battlefield effectiveness; such infantry formations and
1827-477: The districts , and the division became 44th (Home Counties) Division/District , thus ending the division's separate existence. Subsequently, redesignated as South Eastern District , it was used to form the 4th Division on 1 April 1995. Just before the outbreak of the First World War , the division commanded the following units: Home Counties Divisional Engineers Royal Army Medical Corps Home Counties Divisional Train, ASC The division commanded
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#17327727853081914-469: The 1800s with the invention of more accurate and powerful weapons. In English, use of the term infantry began about the 1570s, describing soldiers who march and fight on foot. The word derives from Middle French infanterie , from older Italian (also Spanish) infanteria (foot soldiers too inexperienced for cavalry), from Latin īnfāns (without speech, newborn, foolish), from which English also gets infant . The individual-soldier term infantryman
2001-416: The 2nd Line units were gradually grouped into large formations thereby forming the 2nd Line brigades and divisions. These 2nd Line units and formations had the same name and structure as their 1st Line parents. On 24 November, it was decided to replace imperial service (1st Line) formations as they proceeded overseas with their reserve (2nd Line) formations. A second reserve (3rd Line) unit was then formed at
2088-812: The 2nd Line. Throughout 1915, training was hampered by a lack of modern arms and equipment. Further complicating the situation, in July 1915, the 2nd Line units and formations became liable for overseas service and were extensively reorganized; the home service personnel were posted to home service units. Initially, the artillery were equipped with some obsolete French 90mm guns and the infantry with Japanese .256" rifles . Organisation in December 1915 after reorganization when all 2nd Line formations became liable for overseas service. 67th (2nd Home Counties) Divisional Engineers Royal Army Medical Corps 67th (2/1st Home Counties) Divisional Train, ASC Twice
2175-528: The 4th and 5th ( The Weald of Kent ) Battalions, Buffs were amalgamated as the 4th/5th Battalion in the same year. In this way, the division was able to incorporate two Army Troops battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment. The divisional artillery was reformed with three brigades: 1st Home Counties with 1–4 Sussex Batteries, 2nd Home Counties with 5–8 Sussex Batteries, and 3rd Home Counties with 1–4 Kent Batteries. These were renumbered in 1921 as
2262-518: The 57th (Home Counties), 58th (Home Counties) and 59th (Home Counties) Brigades, later 57th (Home Counties), 58th (Sussex) and 59th (Home Counties)( Cinque Ports ) Brigades. The division underwent a number of changes in the late 1930s. In 1936, it was decided to concentrate Vickers machine guns in specialised machine gun battalions. Rather than resurrecting the Machine Gun Corps , a number of line infantry regiments were converted instead;
2349-672: The 7th Armoured Division for the rest of the war, taking part in the rest of the North African Campaign, culminating in May 1943 with the surrender of almost 250,000 Axis soldiers as prisoners of war , the Allied invasion of Italy from September–November 1943 and in the North-West Europe campaign from June 1944 until Victory in Europe Day in May 1945. The Territorial Army (TA) was formally disbanded at
2436-527: The American all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment (ALICE). Infantrymen are defined by their primary arms – the personal weapons and body armour for their own individual use. The available technology, resources, history, and society can produce quite different weapons for each military and era, but common infantry weapons can be distinguished in a few basic categories. Infantrymen often carry secondary or back-up weapons, sometimes called
2523-539: The BEF in October 1917 (and were in turn among the few Militia battalions to see action). Meanwhile the organisation of the divisional artillery had been kept up to date with current BEF practice. The four 2nd line field brigades were numbered CCCXXXV (335) to CCCXXXVIII (338) in May 1916, when the batteries were designated A, B and C in each brigade (A (H) and B (H) in the howitzer brigade). Later that year CCCXXXVIII (H) Bde
2610-1035: The First World War, it had the following commanders until it was disbanded in the Middle East on 31 January 1943: When the division was re-established after the Second World War, it had the following commanders until 1 May 1961 when the Territorial Army divisional headquarters were merged with regular army districts: Infantry Infantry is a specialization of military personnel who engage in warfare combat . Infantry generally consists of light infantry , irregular infantry , heavy infantry , mountain infantry , motorized infantry , mechanized infantry , airborne infantry , air assault infantry , and naval infantry . Other types of infantry, such as line infantry and mounted infantry , were once commonplace but fell out of favor in
2697-620: The Middlesex Regiment was one of four regiments selected for conversion. The 7th and 8th Battalions were converted at the same time. They were replaced by the 22nd and 24th Battalions of the London Regiment , which from 1937 became the 6th ( Bermondsey ) and 7th ( Southwark ) Battalions of the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) . A major reorganisation in 1938 saw the TA divisions reduced from twelve to nine battalions. As
44th (Home Counties) Division - Misplaced Pages Continue
2784-507: The Swiss, English, Aragonese and German, to men-at-arms who went into battle as well-armoured as knights, the latter of which at times also fought on foot. The creation of standing armies —permanently assembled for war or defence—saw increase in training and experience. The increased use of firearms and the need for drill to handle them efficiently. The introduction of national and mass armies saw an establishment of minimum requirements and
2871-470: The TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service . Therefore, TF units were split into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. 2nd Line units performed
2958-443: The arms they used developed together, starting with the spear and the shield. A spear has decent attack abilities with the additional advantage keeping opponents at distance; this advantage can be increased by using longer spears, but this could allow the opponent to side-step the point of the spear and close for hand-to-hand combat where the longer spear is near useless. This can be avoided when each spearman stays side by side with
3045-566: The batteries were posted to Kamptee, Mhow (2), Jullundur , Multan , Ferozepore , and Jubbulpore (3). The battalions and batteries moved around the various garrison stations in India, Burma and Aden from time to time. For example, the 1/4th Buffs moved from Mhow to Aden in August 1915, to Bareilly in January 1916, and to Multan in July 1918 where it remained until the end of the war. The 1/4th KSLI went further afield; on arrival in India, it
3132-411: The carrying burden is spread across several infantrymen. In all, this can reach 25–45 kg (60–100 lb) for each soldier on the march. Such heavy infantry burdens have changed little over centuries of warfare; in the late Roman Republic, legionaries were nicknamed " Marius' mules " as their main activity seemed to be carrying the weight of their legion around on their backs, a practice that predates
3219-463: The distinction between mechanised infantry and armour forces has blurred. The first military forces in history were infantry. In antiquity , infantry were armed with early melee weapons such as a spear , axe , or sword , or an early ranged weapon like a javelin , sling , or bow , with a few infantrymen being expected to use both a melee and a ranged weapon. With the development of gunpowder , infantry began converting to primarily firearms . By
3306-678: The division accepted liability for service in India. It was joined by the 4th ( Cumberland and Westmorland ) Battalion, Border Regiment (from Carlisle ) and the 4th Battalion, King's (Shropshire Light Infantry) (from Shrewsbury ) to replace 7th and 8th Middlesex, and 1/1st Brecknockshire Battalion , South Wales Borderers (from Brecon ) as an extra battalion for garrison duties in Aden . The division sailed from Southampton on 30 October 1914 with 13 infantry battalions and 3 artillery brigades (nine batteries of four 15-pounder BLCs each, but without ammunition columns). The infantry brigade staffs,
3393-438: The division between June 1941 and March 1942) and fought at the Battle of Alam el Halfa (30 August – 7 September) where the 132nd Brigade was temporarily detached to the 2nd New Zealand Division and suffered nearly 700 casualties. On 8 September, the 133rd Brigade was detached from the division. It was briefly assigned to the 8th Armoured Division before being transferred to the 10th Armoured Division on 29 September as
3480-476: The division had already been broken up, this was merely a place holder. Likewise, the Surrey, Middlesex and Kent Brigades were only notionally numbered as 131st, 132nd and 133rd, respectively. In 1919, the remaining units in India were repatriated to England. The Territorial Force was effectively disbanded in 1919, but started to reform from 1 February 1920 as the units commenced recruiting. From 1 October 1921, it
3567-473: The division had completely changed, from 2nd Line TF to training and home service units. This was recognised by the abandonment of its Territorial subtitle ('Home Counties'). In February 1918, 200th Brigade was demobilised and replaced by 214th Special Brigade transferred from 71st Division . This brigade had been reorganised and filled with men of A1 medical category for overseas service, with additional units attached to it for service at Murmansk as part of
44th (Home Counties) Division - Misplaced Pages Continue
3654-793: The division recruited in the Home Counties , particularly Kent , Middlesex , Surrey and Sussex . It was composed of the Surrey , Middlesex and Kent Infantry Brigades (each of four battalions ), four artillery brigades of the Royal Field Artillery recruited in Sussex and Kent, a heavy battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (also recruited in Kent), plus support units of the Royal Engineers (including
3741-530: The division to India. On arrival, he handed over the units and returned to England, arriving on 22 December. He took command of the 2nd Line 2nd Home Counties Division on 20 January 1915. The division was effectively broken up on arrival in India in December 1914; the units reverted to peacetime conditions and were dispersed throughout India and Burma . The battalions were posted to Lucknow (2), Cawnpore , Fyzabad , Mhow , Kamptee , Jubbulpore , Jhansi , Dinapore , Fort William , Rangoon and Maymyo and
3828-870: The division was ordered to prepare for service in Ireland and once (in April 1917) to prepare to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France. However, none of these moves came off, and in the end three battalions left the division and went to France independently in June 1917 to reinforce the BEF: 3/4th Queen's, 3/4th Queen's Own West Kents, and 3/10th Middlesex. Initially these were attached to 1st South African Brigade in 9th (Scottish) Division but were then distributed to other divisions. They were among
3915-544: The end of May 1940 the division was evacuated from at Dunkirk after the German Army threatened to cut off and destroy the entire BEF from the French Army during the battles of France and Belgium . After returning to England the division, much reduced in manpower and woefully short of equipment and now under the command of Major-General Arthur Percival (who had taken command in late June 1940, until late March
4002-614: The end of the Second World War. TA units were reactivated on 1 January 1947, though no personnel were assigned until commanding officers and permanent staff had been appointed in March and April 1947. The division, under the command of Major-General Philip Gregson-Ellis , was reformed in 1947; it included the Northamptonshire Yeomanry , and 47th (London), 131st (Surrey) , and 133rd (Kent & Sussex) Infantry Brigades . On 1 May 1961, all ten TA divisions were merged with
4089-401: The end of the year, the division was extensively reorganized and lost its territorial identity; henceforth it was known as 67th Division . It served on home defence duties throughout the war, whilst recruiting, training and supplying drafts to overseas units and formations. It was twice warned to prepare to be transferred to Ireland, and in April 1917 for service on the Western Front , but in
4176-455: The enemy to prepare for the main forces' battlefield attack, protecting them from flanking manoeuvers , and then afterwards either pursuing the fleeing enemy or covering their army's retreat. After the fall of Rome, the quality of heavy infantry declined, and warfare was dominated by heavy cavalry , such as knights , forming small elite units for decisive shock combat , supported by peasant infantry militias and assorted light infantry from
4263-442: The eponymous Gaius Marius . When combat is expected, infantry typically switch to "packing light", meaning reducing their equipment to weapons, ammunition, and other basic essentials, and leaving other items deemed unnecessary with their transport or baggage train , at camp or rally point, in temporary hidden caches, or even (in emergencies) simply discarding the items. Additional specialised equipment may be required, depending on
4350-633: The event never left England. It was eventually disbanded in March 1919. In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 ( 7 Edw. 7 , c.9 ) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service . Therefore, TF units were split into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. 2nd Line units performed
4437-400: The existence of any organised military, likely started essentially as loose groups without any organisation or formation. But this changed sometime before recorded history ; the first ancient empires (2500–1500 BC) are shown to have some soldiers with standardised military equipment, and the training and discipline required for battlefield formations and manoeuvres: regular infantry . Though
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#17327727853084524-434: The expected duration of time operating away from their unit's base, plus any special mission-specific equipment. One of the most valuable pieces of gear is the entrenching tool —basically a folding spade —which can be employed not only to dig important defences, but also in a variety of other daily tasks, and even sometimes as a weapon. Infantry typically have shared equipment on top of this, like tents or heavy weapons, where
4611-543: The few 3rd Line TF battalions to see action during the war. They were replaced in their respective brigades of 67th Division by three Special Reserve (SR) or Militia battalions that had previously been a composite infantry brigade in Northern Command : 4th (Extra Reserve) Bn, North Staffordshire Regiment (200th), 4th (Extra Reserve) Bn, South Staffordshire Regiment (201st) and 1st (Service) Bn, Royal Guernsey Militia (202nd). These battalions also left to join
4698-472: The following units in the Second World War : 44th (Home Counties) Divisional Engineers Royal Corps of Signals Machine Gun Battalion Reconnaissance The division was reformed after the Second World War with the following units: The Home Counties Division had the following commanders, from formation in April 1908 to disembarkation in India: When the division was re-established after
4785-749: The following year), spent nearly two years on home defence, anticipating a German invasion which never occurred, travelling through the counties of Kent and Sussex and serving under I and XII Corps . On 29 May 1942, the division, now under the control of the War Office and commanded by Major-General Ivor Hughes , departed the United Kingdom to take part in the North African Campaign . It arrived in Cairo , Egypt on 24 July – the long journey being due to sailing via
4872-485: The home defence role, although in fact most of these were also posted abroad in due course. On 15 August 1915, TF units were instructed to separate home service men from those who had volunteered for overseas service (1st Line), with the home service personnel to be formed into reserve units (2nd Line). On 31 August, 2nd Line units were authorized for each 1st Line unit where more than 60% of men had volunteered for overseas service. After being organized, armed and clothed,
4959-647: The home defence role, although in fact most of these were also posted abroad in due course. The Home Counties Division formed the 2nd Home Counties Division in this manner with an identical structure. The division mobilised on the outbreak of the war. Early in September 1914, the division sent two battalions to Gibraltar to relieve regular battalions; 7th and 8th Middlesex left on 4 and 10 September respectively. On 22 September, India agreed to send 32 British and 20 Indian regular battalions to Europe in exchange for 43 partially trained TF battalions. Accordingly,
5046-889: The individual – weapons using personal strength and force, such as larger swinging swords, axes, and clubs. These take more room and individual freedom to swing and wield, necessitating a more loose organisation. While this may allow for a fierce running attack (an initial shock advantage) the tighter formation of the heavy spear and shield infantry gave them a local manpower advantage where several might be able to fight each opponent. Thus tight formations heightened advantages of heavy arms, and gave greater local numbers in melee. To also increase their staying power, multiple rows of heavy infantrymen were added. This also increased their shock combat effect; individual opponents saw themselves literally lined-up against several heavy infantryman each, with seemingly no chance of defeating all of them. Heavy infantry developed into huge solid block formations, up to
5133-422: The introduction of special troops (first of them the engineers going back to medieval times, but also different kinds of infantry adopted to specific terrain, bicycle, motorcycle, motorised and mechanised troops) culminating with the introduction of highly trained special forces during the first and second World War. Naval infantry, commonly known as marines , are primarily a category of infantry that form part of
5220-725: The lower classes. Towards the end of Middle Ages, this began to change, where more professional and better trained light infantry could be effective against knights, such as the English longbowmen in the Hundred Years' War . By the start of the Renaissance , the infantry began to return to a larger role, with Swiss pikemen and German Landsknechts filling the role of heavy infantry again, using dense formations of pikes to drive off any cavalry. Dense formations are vulnerable to ranged weapons. Technological developments allowed
5307-417: The main enemy lines, using weight of numbers to achieve a decisive victory , and were usually equipped with heavier weapons and armour to fit their role. Light infantry, such as Greek peltasts , Balearic slingers , and Roman velites , using open formations and greater manoeuvrability, took on most other combat roles: scouting , screening the army on the march, skirmishing to delay, disrupt, or weaken
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#17327727853085394-447: The main force of the army, these forces were usually kept small due to their cost of training and upkeep, and might be supplemented by local short-term mass-conscript forces using the older irregular infantry weapons and tactics; this remained a common practice almost up to modern times. Before the adoption of the chariot to create the first mobile fighting forces c. 2000 BC , all armies were pure infantry. Even after, with
5481-487: The mid 17th century began replacement of the pike with the infantry square replacing the pike square. To maximise their firepower, musketeer infantry were trained to fight in wide lines facing the enemy, creating line infantry . These fulfilled the central battlefield role of earlier heavy infantry, using ranged weapons instead of melee weapons. To support these lines, smaller infantry formations using dispersed skirmish lines were created, called light infantry, fulfilling
5568-595: The mission or to the particular terrain or environment, including satchel charges , demolition tools, mines , or barbed wire , carried by the infantry or attached specialists. Historically, infantry have suffered high casualty rates from disease , exposure, exhaustion and privation — often in excess of the casualties suffered from enemy attacks. Better infantry equipment to support their health, energy, and protect from environmental factors greatly reduces these rates of loss, and increase their level of effective action. Health, energy, and morale are greatly influenced by how
5655-644: The naval forces of states and perform roles on land and at sea, including amphibious operations , as well as other, naval roles. They also perform other tasks, including land warfare, separate from naval operations. Air force infantry and base defense forces are used primarily for ground-based defense of air bases and other air force facilities. They also have a number of other, specialist roles. These include, among others, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defence and training other airmen in basic ground defense tactics. Infentory 2nd Home Counties Division The 2nd Home Counties Division
5742-634: The need to provide experienced manpower for active service units. By early 1916 it had become obvious that it would not be possible to transfer the division to the Western Front as originally intended. Nevertheless, individual units of the division proceeded overseas on active service through the rest of the war. All three artillery brigades went to Mesopotamia in 1916 (III Home Counties) and 1917 (I and II Home Counties) and, likewise, so did 1/5th Queen's , 1/5th Buffs, 1/5th East Surrey , 1/9th Middlesex , 1/5th QORWK infantry battalions. In addition,
5829-515: The numbers from disbanded Regular brigades (the numbered batteries were former Provisional units of the TF). Farndale The remaining TF battalions were replaced during November 1917 by seven 'Graduated' infantry battalions of the Training Reserve (TR): 276th, 277th and 278th Bns (200th Bde), 281st and 282nd Bns (201st Bde), 284th and 286th Bn (202nd Bde). Thus by December 1917 the character of
5916-400: The others in close formation, each covering the ones next to him, presenting a solid wall of spears to the enemy that they cannot get around. Similarly, a shield has decent defence abilities, but is literally hit-or-miss; an attack from an unexpected angle can bypass it completely. Larger shields can cover more, but are also heavier and less manoeuvrable, making unexpected attacks even more of
6003-543: The peace headquarters of the 1st Line. The formation of the 2nd Home Counties Division was expedited as its parent Home Counties Division had been posted to India on 30 October 1914. As a result, the division was formed in November 1914 with the 2nd Surrey , 2nd Middlesex and 2nd Kent Brigades as a 2nd Line duplicate and concentrated around Windsor . Officers and men of the 1st Line infantry battalions and artillery brigades who did not go to India also joined
6090-499: The pre-war total of 208 battalions had to be reduced by 40. This was achieved by either converting certain battalions to other roles, usually artillery or engineers, or by amalgamating pairs of battalions within a regiment. The 44th (Home Counties) Division illustrated both of these processes: the 10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment was converted to the Home Counties Divisional Signals, RCS in 1921 and
6177-458: The raising of large numbers of light infantry units armed with ranged weapons, without the years of training expected for traditional high-skilled archers and slingers. This started slowly, first with crossbowmen , then hand cannoneers and arquebusiers , each with increasing effectiveness, marking the beginning of early modern warfare , when firearms rendered the use of heavy infantry obsolete. The introduction of musketeers using bayonets in
6264-1041: The same multiple roles as earlier light infantry. Their arms were no lighter than line infantry; they were distinguished by their skirmish formation and flexible tactics. The modern rifleman infantry became the primary force for taking and holding ground on battlefields as an element of combined arms . As firepower continued to increase, use of infantry lines diminished, until all infantry became light infantry in practice. Modern classifications of infantry have since expanded to reflect modern equipment and tactics, such as motorised infantry , mechanised or armoured infantry , mountain infantry , marine infantry , and airborne infantry . Beyond main arms and armour, an infantryman's "military kit" generally includes combat boots , battledress or combat uniform , camping gear , heavy weather gear, survival gear , secondary weapons and ammunition , weapon service and repair kits, health and hygiene items, mess kit , rations , filled water canteen , and all other consumables each infantryman needs for
6351-723: The soldier is fed, so militaries issue standardised field rations that provide palatable meals and enough calories to keep a soldier well-fed and combat-ready. Communications gear has become a necessity, as it allows effective command of infantry units over greater distances, and communication with artillery and other support units. Modern infantry can have GPS , encrypted individual communications equipment, surveillance and night vision equipment, advanced intelligence and other high-tech mission-unique aids. Armies have sought to improve and standardise infantry gear to reduce fatigue for extended carrying, increase freedom of movement, accessibility, and compatibility with other carried gear, such as
6438-464: The time of Napoleonic warfare , infantry, cavalry and artillery formed a basic triad of ground forces, though infantry usually remained the most numerous. With armoured warfare , armoured fighting vehicles have replaced the horses of cavalry, and airpower has added a new dimension to ground combat, but infantry remains pivotal to all modern combined arms operations. The first warriors, adopting hunting weapons or improvised melee weapons, before
6525-445: The time of the musket, the dominance of firepower shifted militaries away from any close combat, and use of armour decreased, until infantry typically went without wearing any armour. Helmets were added back during World War I as artillery began to dominate the battlefield, to protect against their fragmentation and other blast effects beyond a direct hit. Modern developments in bullet-proof composite materials like kevlar have started
6612-531: The tribal host assembled from farmers and hunters with only passing acquaintance with warfare and masses of lightly armed and ill-trained militia put up as a last ditch effort. Kushite king Taharqa enjoyed military success in the Near East as a result of his efforts to strengthen the army through daily training in long-distance running. In medieval times the foot soldiers varied from peasant levies to semi-permanent companies of mercenaries, foremost among them
6699-613: The weapon speciality; examples of infantry units that retained such names are the Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Grenadier Guards . Dragoons were created as mounted infantry , with horses for travel between battles; they were still considered infantry since they dismounted before combat. However, if light cavalry was lacking in an army, any available dragoons might be assigned their duties; this practice increased over time, and dragoons eventually received all
6786-452: The weapons and training as both infantry and cavalry, and could be classified as both. Conversely, starting about the mid-19th century, regular cavalry have been forced to spend more of their time dismounted in combat due to the ever-increasing effectiveness of enemy infantry firearms. Thus most cavalry transitioned to mounted infantry. As with grenadiers, the dragoon and cavalry designations can be retained long after their horses, such as in
6873-513: Was a 2nd Line Territorial Force division of the British Army in World War I . The division was formed as a duplicate of the 44th (Home Counties) Division in November 1914. As the name suggests, the division recruited in the Home Counties , particularly Kent , Middlesex , Surrey and Sussex . In August 1915, in common with all Territorial Force divisions, it was numbered as 67th (2nd Home Counties) Division . Between September 1917 and
6960-502: Was broken up and its batteries transferred to CCCXXXV and CCCXXXVI, becoming D (H) Bty in each case. In 1917 CCCXXXV Bde was broken up to bring A-C batteries of the other two brigades up to six guns instead of four. Finally on 19 November 1917 the two brigades left 67th Division and were shipped to Mesopotamia , where they became the divisional artillery for a newly-formed 18th Indian Division . These units in 67th Divisional Artillery were replaced by two newly-formed RFA brigades re-using
7047-613: Was formed on 1 April 1908 following the enactment of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw.7, c.9) which combined and re-organised the old Volunteer Force , the Honourable Artillery Company and the Yeomanry . On formation, the TF contained 14 infantry divisions and 14 mounted yeomanry brigades . One of the divisions was the Home Counties Division . As the name suggests,
7134-471: Was mobilised on 3 September 1939 on the outbreak of the Second World War . Initially in Southern and then Eastern Command , the division was sent overseas where it joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France on 1 April 1940 and was assigned to III Corps ( Lieutenant-General Ronald Forbes Adam ). It took part in the Battle of St Omer-La Bassée (23–29 May) during the retreat to Dunkirk . At
7221-510: Was not coined until 1837. In modern usage, foot soldiers of any era are now considered infantry and infantrymen. From the mid-18th century until 1881, the British Army named its infantry as numbered regiments "of Foot" to distinguish them from cavalry and dragoon regiments (see List of Regiments of Foot ). Infantry equipped with special weapons were often named after that weapon, such as grenadiers for their grenades , or fusiliers for their fusils . These names can persist long after
7308-399: Was not common), similar to modern sections (squads) , companies , and regiments . The training of the infantry has differed drastically over time and from place to place. The cost of maintaining an army in fighting order and the seasonal nature of warfare precluded large permanent armies. The antiquity saw everything from the well-trained and motivated citizen armies of Greece and Rome,
7395-628: Was posted to Rangoon, with a detachment in the Andaman Islands . On 6 February 1915 it was dispatched to Singapore to help to suppress a mutiny . In April, part of the battalion went to Hong Kong ; the battalion was replaced at Rangoon by the 2/4th Border Regiment. Thereafter, it returned to England via Colombo , Durban and Cape Town before landing at Plymouth on 27 July 1917. Two days later, it left Southampton for France to join 63rd (Royal Naval) Division . The units pushed on with training to prepare for active service, handicapped by
7482-478: Was renamed as the Territorial Army (TA). The division was reformed in 1920. One major change with the new TA had an effect on the number of infantry battalions. The original 14 divisions were reformed with the pre-war standard of three brigades of four battalions each, for a total of 168 battalions. Infantry were no longer to be included as Army Troops or part of the Coastal Defence Forces so
7569-462: Was replaced by 65th (8th London) Field Regiment, RA from the former 47th (2nd London) Division . By 1939 it became clear that a new European war was likely to break out, and the doubling of the Territorial Army was authorised, with each unit and formation forming a duplicate. The 44th (Home Counties) Division formed the 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division . The division, as the 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division ( Major-General Edmund Osborne ),
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