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Information About

12th Eastern Division United Kingdom




  dates ''' 1919 <br/>''' World War II ''': 1939–1940
  country United Kingdom
  branch New Army
  type Infantry
  battles Battle Of Epehy



UNIT HISTORY

The 12th (Eastern) Division, was one of the Kitchener's Army Division s raised from volunteers by Lord Kitchener . It fought on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War . One of its most notable actions was the Battle Of Epehy .

In World War I the division's insignia was the " Ace Of Spades ".


Second World War

The Division was reformed as a second line Territorial Army formation just before the start of the Second World War, a duplicate of the 44th Home Counties Division .
As such it contained mostly half trained units, some of whom had not even fired their rifles. In April 1940 the 12th Infantry, along with the 23rd Infantry and 46th Infantry Divisions , were sent as Pioneer units to France . They were all under-equipped and did not have their signal, Royal Artillery or administrative units with them.

When the German attacks began on May 10 1940 only every third battalion had done a week's training. As a result the 12th Infantry suffered heavy casualties during the Battle Of France and the subsequent retreat to and evacuation from Dunkirk .

As a result of its high proportion of casualties (the 36th Infantry Brigade having been over run and destroyed on May 20 1940 ) the 12th Infantry Division was disbanded on July 11 1940 .


STRUCTURE WORLD WAR I

; 35th Brigade :





STRUCTURE WORLD WAR II

(In France 1940)


35th Infantry Brigade





SEE ALSO



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