51st (Highland) Division - Second World War

Second World War

51st (Highland) Division

Formation patch as worn after 1940
Active 1939-1945 World War II
Country United Kingdom
Branch Territorial Army
Type Infantry
Nickname The Highway Decorators
Engagements Battle of France
Battle of El Alamein
Sicily Landings
Normandy Campaign
Battle of the Bulge
Operation Veritable
Operation Plunder
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Alan Cunningham
Neil Ritchie
Douglas Wimberley
Tom Rennie
51st Highland Division (1940-1945)
Parent unit XXX Corps (1942-43, 1945)
I Corps (1944)
Components 152nd Infantry Brigade
153rd Infantry Brigade
154th Infantry Brigade

The 51st Division commanded by Major-General Victor Fortune formed part of the British Expeditionary Force at the start of World War II. With the capture of two of its brigades in France the division effectively ceased to exist. The 9th (Highland) Infantry Division was renumbered as the 51st and subsequently served in the North Africa campaign. From there it went to Sicily before returning to France as part of the invasion of Northern Europe.

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