Brontekst bekijken van 51st (Highland) Division

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Highland Division<br />51st (Highland) Division<br />51st (Highland) Infantry Division<br />51st/52nd (Scottish) Division
| image                         = WW1 British 51stDivision.svg
| image_size                    = 175px
| caption                       = The [[Divisional insignia of the British Army|insignia]] of the 51st (Highland) Division, during the First World War.
| dates                         = August 1908 – March 1919<br />1920–1946<br/>1950–1968
| country                       = United Kingdom
| branch                        = [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]]
| type                          = [[Infantry]]
| size                          = [[Division (military)|Division]]
| nickname                      = First World War:<br />*Harper's Duds<br />*Ladies from Hell<br />Second World War:<br />*Highway Decorators
| battles                       = First World War:<br />*[[Battle of the Somme|Battle of the Somme (1916)]]<br />*[[Battle of Arras (1917)]]<br />*[[Battle of Passchendaele|Third Battle of Ypres (1917)]]<br />*[[Battle of Cambrai (1917)]]<br />*[[German spring offensive|German Spring Offensive]]<br />*[[Hundred Days Offensive]]<br />Second World War:<br />*[[Battle of France]]<br />*[[Second Battle of El Alamein]]<br />*[[Allied invasion of Sicily]]<br />*[[Operation Overlord|Normandy Campaign]]<br />*[[Operation Veritable]]<br />*[[Operation Plunder]]
| notable_commanders            = First World War:<br />[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[George Harper (British Army officer)|George Harper]]<br />Second World War: [[Victor Fortune]]<br />[[Alan Cunningham]]<br />[[Neil Ritchie]]<br />[[Douglas Wimberley]]<br />[[Tom Rennie]]
| garrison                      = [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]]
| garrison_label                = Peacetime HQ
}}

The '''51st (Highland) Division''' was an [[infantry]] [[Division (military)|division]] of the [[British Army]] that fought on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] in France during the [[World War I|First World War]] from 1915 to 1918. The division was raised in 1908, upon the creation of the [[Territorial Force]], as the Highland Division and later 51st (Highland) Division from 1915. The division's insignia was a stylised 'HD' inside a red circle. Early doubts about the division's performance earned it the nickname of "Harper's Duds" after the name of its commander, [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[George Harper (British Army officer)|George Harper]] although they would go on to gain a fearsome reputation with the Allies and Germans.

The division was renamed the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division and fought during the [[World War II|Second World War]] as part of the [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] after the Territorial Force was disbanded in 1920. In June 1940, the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division was attached to French 10th Army and after a fighting retreat from the Somme the greater part of the division was forced to surrender, having been cut off at St Valery-en-Caux on the Channel coast. In North Africa, the reconstituted Highland Division was nicknamed the "''Highway Decorators''" in reference to the 'HD' insignia that adorned road signs along their axis of advance.

By December 1947, the formation amalgamated with [[52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division]] to become 51st/52nd Scottish Division,<ref name=watson>Graham Watson, [http://www.orbat.com/site/history/library-new/1946-1990/britishempire/ta47.html The Territorial Army, 1947] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205080733/http://www.orbat.com/site/history/library-new/1946-1990/britishempire/ta47.html |date=5 December 2013 }}, v1.0, 10 March 2002.</ref> but, by March 1950, 51st Division and 52nd Division had been recreated as separate formations.<ref name="Beckett 2008, 178">Beckett 2008, 178.</ref> 51st (Highland) Division finally disbanded in 1968.

==Formation==
The [[Territorial Force]] (TF) 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 (Great Britain)|Volunteer Force]], the [[Honourable Artillery Company]] and the [[Yeomanry]]. On formation, the TF contained 14 [[infantry]] [[division (military)|divisions]] and 14 mounted yeomanry [[brigade]]s.<ref>{{harvnb|Westlake|1992|p=3}}</ref> One of the divisions was the Highland Division.<ref name=Conrad>{{cite web | url=http://marksrussianmilitaryhistory.info/BRIT14.html | title=The British Army, 1914 | last=Conrad | first=Mark | year=1996 | access-date=27 February 2015}}</ref> In peacetime, the divisional [[Headquarters#Military|headquarters]] was at 2 Charlotte Street in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]].<ref name=Conrad/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WbbNDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT44|title=The Territorials, 1908–1914: A Guide for Military and Family Historians|first= Ray|last= Westlake|publisher=Pen & Sword|year=2011|isbn=978-1848843608}}</ref>

==First World War==
The First World War doubts were the result of the way in which the division was initially plundered in late 1914 to early 1915, during a period of great strain on the [[Regular army|Regular Army]] troops of the original [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF), serving on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]. In August 1914, upon mobilization, the division's infantry element had comprised 12 battalions in 3 regimentally-named brigades: the [[152nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|Seaforth and Cameron Brigade]], the [[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|Gordon Highlanders Brigade]] and the [[154th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Brigade]]. A crisis on the Western Front in late 1914 saw increasing numbers of individual TF battalions being seconded to Regular Army formations on the Western Front. The first TF formation to be plundered in this way was the [[56th (London) Infantry Division|1st London Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/56th-1st-london-division/|title=56th (1st London) Division|publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>

By early 1915, the Highland Division had lost six of its 12 pre-war Highland infantry battalions to Regular divisions. When TF divisions were finally ordered overseas as complete formations in their own right in early 1915, the Highland Division was only at half-strength and in no shape to be sent abroad at that time. Only by the last-minute addition of two [[Black Watch|Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)]] battalions<ref>History of the 51st Highland Division 1914-1918, Frederick William Brewsher.</ref> and the [[164th (North Lancashire) Brigade|North Lancashire Brigade]] from the [[55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division|West Lancashire Division]] was the division, now numbered as the '''51st (Highland) Division''', considered numerically complete and was rushed to the Western Front in May 1915 to help stem the latest German onslaught during the [[Second Battle of Ypres]]. Obviously, the lack of familiarity amongst these newly introduced disparate units hampered division efficiency and the division could only fare moderately in the [[Winter operations 1914&ndash;1915|further actions]] at [[Battle of Festubert|Festubert]] and [[Givenchy-en-Gohelle|Givenchy]]. [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Sir Douglas Haig]], then commanding the [[First Army (United Kingdom)|British First Army]], and later to command the entire BEF, commented that the 51st was, at the time of Festubert, "''practically untrained and very green in all field duties"''. Moved to the quiet Somme front in the late summer of 1915, the division, now under the command of [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[George Harper (British Army officer)|George Harper]], had yet to satisfy the expectations of those expecting the familiar Highland flair– this was the period of ''Harper's Duds''.<ref name=robbins>[https://books.google.com/books?id=iyVZn5aTrpIC&dq=General+Sir+George+Harper&pg=PA63 British generalship on the Western Front 1914-18: defeat into victory By Simon Robbins, Page 63] Taylor & Francis, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-415-40778-6}}</ref>

[[File:The Battle of the Somme, July-november 1916 Q4507.jpg|thumb|right|Prisoners taken in Beaumont Hamel, France, during the [[Battle of the Ancre]], by the 51st (Highland) Division, 13 November 1916.]]

The situation was only resolved when, in January 1916, the Lancashire Brigade (by then renumbered the 154th (3rd Highland) Brigade and later became the [[164th (North Lancashire) Brigade]]) left the division and their place was filled by original Highland battalions released by the regular divisions and by battalions of the [[Black Watch|Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)]] not originally in the division. Given the chance to show their mettle in July 1916, during the [[Battle of the Somme]], they assaulted [[High Wood]], which they attacked forcefully in the midst of a murderous field of fire without shelter. Though they failed to take the position, they had shown the fighting spirit expected of Highlanders. The division's reputation grew and they were chosen to capture the notorious fortress village of [[Beaumont-Hamel]] in [[Capture of Beaumont-Hamel|November 1916]], towards the end of the Somme offensive. The 51st were "''Harper's Duds''" no longer. Legend has it the Germans came to know them as "''The Ladies From Hell''".<ref name=robbins/>

[[File:The Battle of Cambrai, November-december 1917 Q6278.jpg|thumb|left|Men of the 1/4th Battalion, [[Gordon Highlanders]], crossing a trench, Ribecourt, France, 20 November 1917.]]

By 1917, the 51st was considered a leading assault division and was handed more and more difficult tasks, throughout the year, from [[Battle of Arras (1917)|Arras]] in April/May to the combined tank-infantry [[Battle of Cambrai (1917)|assault at Cambrai]] in November.<ref name=trail/>

By early 1918, the division, as with numerous others in the BEF at the time, was below-strength due to losses in 1917 and the tired survivors were given a quiet part of the front line to hold. Unfortunately, the Germans had by chance chosen that location as one of the focal points for their [[Kaiserschlacht]], the last great German [[Operation Michael|assault on the West]] in March 1918, intended to win the war before the [[American Expeditionary Force]] could arrive in great numbers. The neighbouring [[Portuguese Expeditionary Corps]] bore the brunt of the initial German assault. When Portuguese troops started to retire from their positions and ran across the 51st's positions, they were mistaken for Germans in the poor visual conditions and the 51st opened fire on them, causing casualties. The under-strength 51st was also pushed back, but eventually held as the German offensive ebbed and flowed. The remains of the division survived the Spring battles and received replacements in time for Haig's [[Hundred Days Offensive|Allied offensives]] of August 1918 onward, which saw the war coming to an end on [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|11 November 1918]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grande-guerre.org/?p=1063|title=The Armistice Agreement |date= 11 November 1918|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109095042/http://grande-guerre.org/?p=1063 |access-date= 13 February 2014|archive-date=9 January 2014 }}</ref>

[[File:The Hundred Days Offensive, August-november 1918 Q7012.jpg|thumb|right|Battle of the Scarpe. Capture of the Greenland Hill by the 51st Division. Daylight patrol of the 1/6th Battalion, [[Seaforth Highlanders]], working forward towards Hausa and Delbar Woods. North-east of Roeux, 29 August 1918. Troops firing into a dug-out in a deserted German trench to dislodge any remaining Germans.]]

During 1918, members of the division were painted by the [[war artist]] [[Frederick Farrell]], in France.<ref>{{Cite web| title = The 51st (Highland) division; war sketches |year=1920 |first1=Neil |last1=Munro |work = Internet Archive| access-date = 9 May 2015| url = https://archive.org/details/51sthighlanddivi00farr}}</ref>

==Inter-war period==
At the end of the First World War, the Territorial Force was stood down. It was reconstituted as the Territorial Army in 1921, resulting in the creation of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division.<ref>Saunders and Cornish, p. 128.</ref>

==Second World War==
[[File:51 inf div -vector.svg|thumb|right|The divisional insignia worn following 1940.]]

===France 1940===
Major-General [[Victor Fortune]] took command of the division in 1937. In common with the rest of the British Army at the time, training and equipment had been insufficient in the years after World War 1. In 1938, after Chamberlain's visit to Munich, the decision had been taken to double the size of the Territorial Army, and the Highland Division had made good progress with this recruitment by the spring of 1939.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RJLHDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT14|title=Monty's Highlanders: 51st Highland Division in the Second World War|first= Patrick|last= Delaforce|publisher=Pen and Sword|year=2006|isbn= 978-1844155125}}</ref>

The issue of equipment and the associated training remained a problem. For example: two years of regular army infantry training was compressed into 3 months; some mortar units had no experience with live ammunition until they got to the firing ranges in France; [[Universal Carrier|Bren gun]] carrier crews only received their equipment in the summer of 1939, leaving little time for training in operating and tactics.<ref name=David/>

With the situation regarding [[Nazi Germany]] deteriorating and the threat of war on the rise, the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division was mobilised on 24 August 1939. In preparation for joining the BEF in France, the division travelled from Scotland to [[Aldershot]], where it received final equipping and training. All units had arrived at Aldershot by 16 September 1939. The men were required to wear the standard British Army battledress of the day. The [[War Office]] had decided that [[kilts]] were not suited to modern mechanised warfare and did not provide protection in the event of a gas attack. Thus the men were required to hand in their kilts before embarking for France.<ref name=David/>

In mid-January 1940 the division departed from [[Southampton]] and disembarked at the French port of [[Le Havre]].<ref>Delaforce, p. 10.</ref> On 28 January it came under command of [[I Corps (United Kingdom)|I Corps]] of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF), under [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[Michael Barker (British Army officer)|Michael Barker]]. His command also included the [[History of the British 1st Division during the World Wars|1st]] and [[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Infantry Division]]s, both [[Regular army|Regular Army]] formations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Flanders/UK-NWE-Flanders-I.html |title=The War in France and Flanders 1939-40, Appendix I |last=Ellis|first=Major L. F.|publisher=UK Military Series}}</ref>

In February and March the 51st Division underwent a major reorganisation as per policies of the BEF. Some of the division's units were replaced by Regular Army formations. This was done with the intention of strengthening inexperienced Territorial divisions. The 23rd Field Regiment of the [[Royal Artillery]], a Regular Army unit, replaced the [[1st Forfarshire Artillery Volunteers#76th (Highland) Field Regiment|76th (Highland) Field Regiment]], Royal Artillery, as one example of the changes made. The 76th (Highland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery was transferred to the [[3rd Division (United Kingdom)|3rd Infantry Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/51_Infantry_Division__1939_.pdf|title=51 Infantry Division 1939|work=British Military History|access-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923195007/http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/51_Infantry_Division__1939_.pdf|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 22 April 1940 the 51st Division was detached from the rest of the BEF to come under command of the [[Third Army (France)|French Third Army]]. The division was stationed in front of the [[Ouvrage Hackenberg]] fortress of the [[Maginot Line]].<ref>Mary, Tome 3, p. 99.</ref>

[[File:The British Army in France 1940 F4729.jpg|thumb|right|Men of the 7th Battalion, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]], marching in [[Millebosc]], [[France]], 8 June 1940.]]

With the [[Battle of France|German invasion of France and the low countries]] on 10 May 1940 the BEF advanced into Belgium to meet the advancing German forces. Stationed to the south in front of the Maginot Line, the 51st Division was not a part of the force involved [[Battle of Dunkirk|in Belgium]], and was thus not involved in the [[Dunkirk evacuation]]. In response to the German advance it was pulled back to form a defensive line along the [[River Somme|Somme]], where it was attached to the [[Tenth Army (France)|French Tenth Army]]. With the withdrawal of Allied forces at Dunkirk, the Germans turned their attention to the south.<ref>Bond, p. 45.</ref>

On 5 June they began their second offensive. The 51st was tasked with holding a line four times longer than that which would normally be expected of a division. Sustained attacks over 5–6 June caused heavy losses, particularly among the 7th Battalion, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]], where the main weight of the German attack fell. The Argylls' losses were the worst they had suffered in their history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/allied/battalion.php?pid=796|title=7th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders|publisher=Wartime Memories Project|access-date=4 June 2016}}</ref> The other battalions of the [[154th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|154th Brigade]] were enveloped. The remnant of the 154th Brigade was forced to retire to the west.<ref name=bmh>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/docs-france-norway-1940-british-forces-south-river-somme/|title=British forces south of the river Somme|work=British Military History|access-date=15 April 2018}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the [[152nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|152nd]] and [[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|153rd Brigade]]s, along with the [[9th Army Corps (France)|French 9th Corps]], under Lieutenant General Marcel Ihler, were cut off from the main Allied forces, and had to withdraw toward [[Le Havre]] for a possible evacuation by sea. The 154th Brigade was detached to form "[[Arkforce (1940)|Arkforce]]" and tasked with maintaining an open line of communication with Le Havre. As the force moved back toward the coast German forces reached the coast area near [[Saint-Valery-en-Caux]] first, cutting off the line of retreat to Le Havre. The French and British force pulled back into Saint Valery-en-Caux.<ref name=bmh/>

With steep cliffs overlooking the small harbour, the Germans had a ready line of fire to use against any attempts to withdraw. General Fortune could not hold out much longer, and realized their last chance was to be pulled off in the dark on the night of 11/12 June, but no ships came. (The [[Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth]], Admiral [[William James (Royal Navy admiral)|William James]], had assembled ships for the evacuation but daytime evacuation was impossible and on the final night fog meant that the ships could not communicate and co-ordination would be impossible.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://51hd.co.uk/accounts/action_off_st_valery|title=Action off Saint-Valery-en-Caux|publisher=Museum of the Royal Regiment of Scotland |access-date=26 May 2020}}</ref> On the morning of 12 June the French forces surrendered, followed 30 minutes later by the British. Major-General Fortune was one of the most senior British officers to be taken [[Prisoner of war|prisoner]] in the war.<ref name=bmh/>

After the war was over, General Fortune was knighted by [[George VI|King George VI]] for his work in promoting the welfare of his men while in captivity: despite failing health, he had resisted repatriation.<ref name=Valery>{{cite web|url=http://www.gengriz.co.uk/lothians.htm |title=Heroes of St. Valery|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref> From the British point of view, the defeat of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division was the end of the Allied resistance during the Battle of France.<ref name=Valery/>

More than 10,000 members of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division were taken prisoner at St Valery.<ref name="David">Saul David, ''Churchill's Sacrifice of the Highland Division, France 1940'', {{ISBN|1-85753-378-X}}</ref> They were marched to Germany, via Belgium, following the route over which the Germans had advanced against them. The officers were separated from the men, for most of whom the initial destination was [[Stalag XX-A]] at [[Toruń]], about {{convert|120|mi}} northwest of [[Warsaw]]. Some were loaded into canal barges for part of their journey, but all eventually travelled by train in cattle wagons. There were some notable escapes, mostly in the early stages of the march. Of the 290 British Army POW escapers who had returned to Britain by the end of June 1941, 134 were members of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division.<ref name=David/>

As other camps were brought into operation, a large proportion of the POWs were transferred&nbsp;– most to [[Stalag XX-B]] at [[Malbork]] and [[Stalag 344]] at [[Lambinowice]], but with small numbers in many other camps.{{efn|A search of the British Prisoners of War database for East Surrey Regiment POWs (2nd/6th attached to the 51st in the closing days of the campaign) gives 133 in [[Stalag 344]], 98 in [[Stalag XX-B]], 52 in [[Stalag VII-A]], 52 in [[Stalag VIII-B]], 50 in [[Stalag XX-A]] and smaller numbers in other camps. The same process can be carried out with the unit name of any other unit captured at St Valery with broadly similar results. The search cannot precisely identify those captured at St Valery, but is broadly indicative of the position.}}<ref>{{cite web|title=UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945|url=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1601|website=Ancestry UK|access-date=5 February 2018|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Early in 1945, the [[Red Army|Russian Army]] had advanced close to these camps, so the POWs were involved in the [[The March (1945)|''Long March'']]. Some groups from [[Stalag XX-A]] marched around {{convert|450|mi}} in the depths of winter to Stalag XIB/357 at [[Bad Fallingbostel]] on the [[Lüneburg]] Heath, north of [[Hanover]]. Others had similar journeys in severe winter conditions, affected by shortages of food and shelter, with many suffering from dysentery and frostbite.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Nicholl|first1=John|last2=Rennell|first2=Tony|title=The Last Escape The Untold Story of Allied Prisoners of War in Germany 1944–45|date=2003|publisher=Penguin|location=London|isbn=9780141003887|edition=Kindle}}</ref>

In 1942 French General [[Charles de Gaulle]], in a speech, claimed "I can tell you that the comradeship in arms experienced on the battlefield of [[Abbeville]] in May and June 1940 between the French armoured division which I had the honour to command and the valiant 51st Highland Division under General Fortune played its part in the decision which I took to continue fighting on the side of the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] unto the end, no matter what the course of events."<ref>Delaforce, p. 21.</ref>

On 12 June 2010, veterans of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division attended a commemorative ceremony for the 70th Anniversary of the battle at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux.<ref>[http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2010/June/2010-06-11-06.htm Council supports Saint Valery en Caux Battle commemorations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305235407/http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2010/June/2010-06-11-06.htm |date=5 March 2012 }} The Highland Council, 11 June 2010.</ref>

===Reformation===
In August 1940, the [[9th (Highland) Infantry Division]] (the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division's 2nd Line Territorial Army duplicate, which it had helped form) was re-designated as the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. As part of this, the [[26th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|26th]] and [[27th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|27th Infantry Brigade]]s were re-designated the [[152nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|152nd]] and [[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|153rd Infantry Brigade]]. The [[28th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|28th Infantry Brigade]] was merged with the severely understrength [[154th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|154th Infantry Brigade]].<ref>Delaforce, pp. 21–23.</ref>

[[File:A soldier of the 7th Battalion, The Black Watch, cuts through barbed wire during training at Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands, 20 April 1941. H9025.jpg|thumb|right|A soldier of the 7th Battalion, [[Black Watch]], cuts through [[barbed wire]] during training at [[Sumburgh, Shetland|Sumburgh]] in the [[Shetland Islands]], [[Scotland]], 20 April 1941.]]

The first [[general officer commanding]] (GOC) of the new incarnation of the division was Major-General [[Alan Cunningham]], who, in October 1940, was sent to the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Middle East]]. He was replaced by Major-General [[Neil Ritchie]]. Almost two years of home defence and training duties followed on the south coast of England and northeast coast of Scotland against a potential [[Operation Sea Lion|German invasion]], which never arrived.<ref>Salmond, pp. 19–25.</ref><ref>Gorle, pp. 10–16.</ref>

In June 1941, Major-General Ritchie was sent to the Middle East and Major-General [[Douglas Wimberley]], who had served with the original 51st (Highland) Division during the First World War and more recently commanded the 152nd Brigade, assumed command.<ref>Delaforce, pp. 22–23.</ref> With the arrival of Wimberley as GOC, strenuous training for future operations overseas began. By June 1942, the division was ordered to prepare for service overseas.<ref>Spiers et al, p. 572.</ref>

===The Mediterranean and Middle-East===
[[File:The British Army in North Africa 1943 E21969.jpg|thumb|left|The band of 51st Highland Division plays in the main square in Tripoli during a review by General Montgomery, 28 January 1943. Two Humber Mk III armoured cars can be seen in the foreground.]]

Arriving in [[North African Campaign|North Africa]] in August 1942, the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division experienced its first fighting at the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]] (October–November), sustaining some 2,000 casualties. It then played a major part in ''Operation Lightfoot'', where it was in the centre of the Northern Push, between the [[9th Division (Australia)|9th Australian Division]] and the [[2nd New Zealand Division]]. It faced the [[21st Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|German 21st Panzer Division]] and some Italian units. Initially unsuccessful during Lightfoot, the [[land mine|minefields]] it cleared were key in achieving a breakout during ''Operation Supercharge''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://51hd.co.uk/accounts/op_supercharge|title=Operation Supercharge|publisher=Museum of the Royal Regiment of Scotland|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>

[[File:The British Army in Tunisia 1943 NA1053.jpg|thumb|right|Men of the 5th/7th Battalion, [[Gordon Highlanders]], on patrol in [[Wadi Zessar]], [[Tunisia]], 10 March 1943.]]

Subsequently, the division was involved in many battles of the [[Tunisian Campaign]], including the [[battle of Wadi Akarit]], in early April 1943, and took part in the frontal assault on strongpoints guarded by deep minefields, where it was on the far right of the line. The [[Commanding officer|Commanding Officer]] (CO) of the 7th Battalion, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]], [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Lorne MacLaine Campbell]], was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his leadership during the battle. The war in North Africa ended on 13 May 1943 with the surrender of almost 250,000 [[Axis powers|Axis]] soldiers as [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]] (POWs). Throughout the fighting in North Africa the division served under the command of the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]], under [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Bernard Montgomery]].<ref>Spiers et al, p. 573.</ref>

Later the 51st Division had a rest to absorb replacements for the heavy losses, in both manpower and [[materiel]], suffered in North Africa and began training in [[amphibious warfare]]. In July, the division took part in the [[Allied invasion of Sicily]], codenamed [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Operation Husky]], suffering comparatively light casualties in the short campaign, which lasted for 38 days. Towards the end of the campaign in early August, the division was withdrawn from combat and held in reserve for the [[Allied invasion of Italy]]. Although the 51st Division as a whole did not take part in the invasion, some of the division's artillery helped support [[Operation Baytown]], the Eighth Army's crossing of the [[Strait of Messina]] in Sicily to the Italian "toe" at [[Reggio Calabria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalhampshireregiment.org/about-the-museum/timeline/salerno-landings-9th-september-1943/|title=The Invasion of Italy and the Salerno Landings – September 1943|publisher=Royal Hampshire Regiment|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>

[[File:The British Army in Sicily 1943 NA4306.jpg|thumb|left|Men of the 2nd Battalion, [[Seaforth Highlanders]] advance along a road near [[Noto]], [[Sicily]], 11 July 1943.]]

The division was then recalled from the Eighth Army and returned to the United Kingdom, on the wishes of the Army's old commander, General Montgomery, together with the veteran [[7th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured]] and [[50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division]]s, to prepare for the opening of the [[Western Front (World War II)|Second Front]] in June 1944. Montgomery commented on the 51st "''Of the many fine divisions that served under me in the Second World War, none were finer than the Highland Division''"<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LXPDCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT65|title=Scotland on the Frontline: A Photo History of Scottish Forces 1939-45|first= Chris |last=Brown|publisher=The History Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0752464787}}</ref> and later ''"It was the only infantry division in the armies of the British Empire that accompanied me during the whole of the long march from Alamein to Berlin''."<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RJLHDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT9|title=Monty's Highlanders: 51st Highland Division in the Second World War|first= Patrick |last=Delaforce|publisher=Pen and Sword|year=2006|isbn= 978-1844155125}}</ref>

When a group of recuperating wounded soldiers of the 51st returned from their North African hospital to rejoin the division in Sicily, they were instead split up and ordered to various units and formations, mainly the [[46th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|British 46th Infantry Division]] which had suffered heavy casualties during the [[Allied invasion of Italy|Salerno landings]], totally unrelated to the 51st Division or its component regiments. Some soldiers of the division regarded this as administrative high-handedness and refused to follow these orders, and the result was the [[Salerno Mutiny]]. The mutineers were distributed to various units regardless, while ringleaders were sentenced to death (the sentences were later commuted and finally quashed).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cabarfeidh.com/mutiny%20salerno.htm|title=The Salerno Mutiny of 1943|access-date=2007-06-28|date=August 2003|work=History Magazine|publisher=BBC|first=Roy|last=Bainton|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904002439/http://www.cabarfeidh.com/mutiny%20salerno.htm|archive-date=4 September 2006}}</ref>

===Battle of Normandy===
[[File:The British Army in the United Kingdom 1939-45 H35960.jpg|thumb|right|General Sir Bernard Montgomery, the newly appointed commander of the [[21st Army Group]], inspects officers and men of the 5/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders at [[Beaconsfield]], [[Buckinghamshire]], February 1944.]]

Most of the 51st [[Invasion of Normandy|landed in Normandy]] as part of [[Operation Overlord]] on 7 June 1944, a day after [[Normandy landings|D-Day]], as part of [[I Corps (United Kingdom)|British I Corps]], under [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[John Crocker]]. After spending a brief period supporting the [[3rd Canadian Division|3rd Canadian Infantry Division]], it was sent across the [[Orne (river)|River Orne]], and spent two months supporting the [[6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)|6th Airborne Division]] in its [[bridgehead]]. During this period it fought many difficult actions at places such as [[Battle of Bréville|Bréville]] (11–12 June) and [[Colombelles]] (11 July).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bjmh.gold.ac.uk/article/download/773/895/|title=Why did 51st Highland Division Fail? A case-study in command and combat effectiveness|first=Anthony|last=King|publisher=University of Warwick|page=46|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>

The 51st (Highland) Infantry Division's performance in Normandy was, overall, considered disappointing,<ref name=king>{{cite journal|title=Why did 51st Highland Division Fail? A case-study in command and combat effectiveness |url=http://bjmh.gold.ac.uk/article/view/773|journal=British Journal for Military History|first=Anthony |last=King|date=November 2017|volume=4|issue=1|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> particularly by General Montgomery, now the [[Commander-in-chief|Commander-in-Chief]] (C-in-C) of the Allied land forces in Normandy, who stated in a telegram to [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke|Sir Alan Brooke]], the [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] (CIGS, the professional head of the British Army), that the division "''had failed every mission it was given''".<ref>Doherty, p. 167.</ref> This led to the replacement of its GOC, Major-General [[Charles Bullen-Smith]]; his dismissal is not mentioned in the Divisional Official History nor formation accounts.<ref name=king/> His successor was Major-General [[Tom Rennie]], who had served with the division in France, North Africa and Sicily before being elevated to command of the [[3rd (United Kingdom) Division|British 3rd Infantry Division]] for the Normandy invasion, which he commanded until being wounded soon after D-Day, but had now recovered.<ref>Delaforce, p. 145.</ref>

[[File:The British Army in Normandy 1944 B5289.jpg|thumb|left|Men of either the 1st or 5/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders advance into [[Bénouville, Calvados|Benouville]] on the Caen canal soon after arrival in [[Normandy]], [[France]], 7 June 1944.]]

On 1 August 1944 the division, along with the rest of British I Corps, became part of the newly activated [[First Canadian Army|Canadian First Army]]. The division fought alongside this army in ''[[Operation Totalize]]'', before advancing to [[Lisieux]]. It then continued east over the [[Seine|River Seine]] and headed, on General Montgomery's orders<ref>Doherty, p. 184.</ref> for [[Saint-Valéry-en-Caux]], the scene of the division's surrender in June 1940. The division's massed pipes and drums played in the streets of the town, and a parade included veterans of the 1940 campaign in France who were with the 51st Division in 1944.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://51hd.co.uk/history/valery|title=Return to St Valéry September 1944|publisher=Museum of the Royal Regiment of Scotland|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>

A similar event occurred at [[Dieppe, Seine-Maritime|Dieppe]] when it was liberated by the [[2nd Canadian Division|2nd Canadian Infantry Division]]. Leaving Saint Valéry, the 51st Division was engaged in ''[[Operation Astonia]]'', the battle for the French port of [[Le Havre]], in September 1944.<ref>Delaney, pp. 161–166.</ref>

===After Normandy===
[[Image:World War II memorials Dinxperlo.jpg|thumb|200px|Memorials in Dutch village of [[Dinxperlo]] honouring the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division for liberating it]]

After the capture of the town of Le Havre, the division went on to take part in [[Operation Pheasant]] in October 1944, finally passing into reserve and garrisoning the [[Meuse|Meuse River]] during the [[Battle of the Bulge]], now as part of [[XXX Corps (United Kingdom)|XXX Corps]], under [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] [[Brian Horrocks]]. It was not involved in heavy fighting during the early stages of the battle and was deployed as a stopgap in case the Germans broke through.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://51hd.co.uk/history/ardennes|title=Ardennes - Battle of the Bulge: December 1944-January 1945|publisher=Museum of the Royal Regiment of Scotland|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>

[[File:The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 B14454.jpg|thumb|right|Men of the 2nd Battalion, [[Seaforth Highlanders]] and [[Churchill tank]]s in the [[Klever Reichswald|Reichswald forest]], Germany, 10 February 1945.]]

In January 1945, the division, along with the rest of XXX Corps, helped to cut off the northern tip of the German salient, linking up with the [[84th Division (United States)|U.S. 84th Infantry Division]] at Nisramont on 14 January.<ref>Delaforce, pp. 196–197.</ref> Following this, the division was involved in [[Operation Veritable]], the clearing of the [[Rhineland]]. In late March the 51st took part in Operation Turnscrew<ref>Tim Saunders 2008 "Operation Varsity", p. 61, accessed 10 September 2020.</ref> within the framework of [[Operation Plunder]], the crossing of the [[Rhine|River Rhine]], near the town of Rees, where the GOC, Major General Tom Rennie, was killed by enemy mortar fire. He was replaced by Major General [[Gordon MacMillan]], a very highly experienced and competent commander who had previously been the GOC of the [[49th (West Riding) Infantry Division]].<ref>MacMillan 2013, p. 91.</ref>

The division [[Western Allied invasion of Germany|advanced through Germany]] and ended the war in the [[Bremerhaven]] area of [[Northern Germany]]. During the North-West Europe campaign the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division had suffered a total of 19,524 battle casualties.<ref>Salmond, p. 273.</ref>

==Post War==
A related formation, the 51st (Scottish) Division, was reformed in the Territorial Army after the Second World War. Beckett 2008 says that Territorial Army units that were in suspended animation were formally reactivated on 1 January 1947, though no personnel were assigned until commanding officers and permanent staff had been appointed in March and April 1947.<ref>Beckett 2008, 169.</ref> By December 1947, the formation amalgamated with [[52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division]] to become 51st/52nd Scottish Division,<ref name=watson/> but, by March 1950, 51st Division and 52nd Division had been recreated as separate formations.<ref name="Beckett 2008, 178"/>

From December 1955, the division was placed on a lower establishment, for home defence purposes only.<ref>Beckett 2008, 180.</ref> On 1 May 1961, the division was merged with Highland District to become 51st Highland Division/District.<ref>Beckett 2008, 183, 185, and regiments.org (archive), [https://web.archive.org/web/20070612214832/http://www.regiments.org/formations/uk-cmdarmy/uk-d-sHd.htm Highland], 1905–1995.</ref> 51st (Highland) Division was disbanded in 1968.<ref name=commands/>

==Legacy==
A specific [[51st (Highland) Division Monument (Beaumont-Hamel)|memorial to the 51st division]] created by the sculptor [[George Henry Paulin]] exists at the [[Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial]] site on the Somme.<ref>Salmond, pp. 270–271.</ref>

A further memorial in the form of a sculpture by [[Alan Herriot]] was unveiled in May 1995 on the North Inch in [[Perth, Scotland]]. As well as commemorating 50 years of peace in Europe, the sculpture depicts a Highlander being greeted by a young Dutch girl during the liberation of the Netherlands by the 51st.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://51hd.co.uk/memorials/north_inch_memorial|title=North Inch Memorial|publisher=Museum of the Royal Regiment of Scotland|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>

===Music===
* "The 51st (Highland) Division's Farewell to Sicily", a folk song written by [[Hamish Henderson]], a former officer who served in the 51st Division during the Sicilian campaign. It has been recorded by a number of folk singers, including [[Dick Gaughan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/51st-highland-divisions-farewell-sicily/|title=The 51st Highland Division's Farewell to Sicily|first=Hamish |last=Henderson|publisher=Scottish Poetry Library|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>
* "The Beaches of St. Valery", performed by the [[Battlefield Band]]. Written by [[Davy Steele]], it tells the story of the 51st Division's struggle to reach Saint-Valéry-en-Caux in 1940 only to find that no ships had been sent to evacuate them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7INre6oo9es |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/7INre6oo9es| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=The Beaches of St. Valery|publisher=Battlefield Band|access-date=24 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* "The Old Boys", performed by the Scottish group [[Runrig]], who sing in both English and [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]]. The song which first appeared on the album Recovery (1981) and was reprised on Protera (2003) speaks of the declining numbers of Gaelic speaking members of the 51st who fought at St Valery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iQCOge3vMA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/9iQCOge3vMA| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=The Old Boys|publisher=Runrig |access-date=24 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* "Farewell, 51st, farewell!", a folk song written by [[Andy Stewart (musician)|Andy Stewart]], about scrapping of the 51st Division, but indicates that they will never be forgotten, as the lyrics say "On the glory road of fame, there is honour tae your name. Farewell 51st, Farewell."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmMs-NqGa3Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/cmMs-NqGa3Q| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Farewell, 51st, farewell!|publisher=Andy Stewart|access-date=24 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* "The 51st Highland Division", a 4/4 march composed by Pipe Major Donald Mac leod.<ref>Queen's Own Highlanders Caber Feidh collection of bagpipe music (Book 2), Patterson's Publications, London.</ref>
* "The 51st Highland Division Farewell", a 2/4 march composed by Dr. Charles Bannatyne.<ref>Logan's Complete Collection of Highland Bagpipe Music, Tutor Number Eight.</ref>
* "The 51st Highland Division at Wadi Akarit", a 2/4 march composed by W. Mac Donald.<ref>Queen's Own Highlanders standard settings of bagpipe music, Patterson's Publications, London.</ref>

===Dance===
* "[[Reel of the 51st Highlanders|The Reel of the 51st Division]]" was devised in the Laufen PoW camp by officers captured at St Valery. It was the very first modern [[Scottish Country Dance]] published by the [[Royal Scottish Country Dance Society]]. The original tune written in Laufen has been superseded by the traditional reel "The Drunken Piper" and the dance was re-cast from its original form involving a longwise set of ten men to the more usual four couple set. The original ten-man version is still danced in some parts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electricscotland.com/music/wardance.htm |title=History of the 51st Country Dance|publisher=Electric Scotland|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>

===In the media===
On 15 July 2018, [[Channel 4]] broadcast a documentary called 'Dunkirk: The Forgotten Heroes'<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/dunkirk-the-forgotten-heroes|title=Dunkirk: The Forgotten Heroes|publisher=[[Channel 4]]|access-date=15 July 2018}}</ref> In a review, in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', the programme was given four stars out of five and called "a terrific documentary that told the sad story of the men left behind".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2018/07/15/dunkirk-forgotten-heroes-reviewa-terrific-documentary-told-sad/|title=Dunkirk: The Forgotten Heroes, review: a terrific documentary that told the sad story of the men left behind|last=O'Donovan|first=Gerard|date=15 July 2018|access-date=15 July 2018|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>

==Victoria Cross recipients==
===First World War===
* [[Sergeant]] [[William Gosling (VC)|William Gosling]], [[Royal Field Artillery]], 3rd Wessex Brigade
* [[Private (rank)|Private]] [[George McIntosh]], 1/6th Battalion, [[Gordon Highlanders]]
* Sergeant [[Alexander Edwards]], 1/6th Battalion, [[Seaforth Highlanders]]
* [[Lance corporal|Lance Corporal]] [[Robert McBeath]], 1/5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
* Sergeant [[John Meikle]], 4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
* [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|Lieutenant]] [[William Davidson Bissett]], 1/6th Battalion, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]]

===Second World War===
* [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Lorne MacLaine Campbell]], 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

==General officers commanding==
{{See also|General officer commanding}}
The following officers commanded the division at various times:<ref name=commands>{{cite web|url=https://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201860-.pdf|title=Army Commands|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref> 
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: left; border-spacing: 2px; border: 1px solid darkgray;"
!Appointed
!General officer commanding
|-
|April 1908
|[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Forbes MacBean (British Army officer, born 1857)|Forbes MacBean]]
|-
|March 1911
|Major-General [[Charles Woollcombe|Charles L. Woollcombe]]
|-
|3 March 1914
|Major-General [[Colin Mackenzie (British Army officer)|Colin J. Mackenzie]]
|-
|23 August 1914
|Brigadier-General [[Duncan Alwyn Macfarlane]]
|-
|27 August 1914
|Major-General [[Richard Bannatine-Allason]]
|-
|24 September 1915
|Major-General [[George Harper (British Army officer)|George M. Harper]]
|-
|11 March 1918
|Brigadier-General [[Louis Oldfield]]
|-
|16 March 1918
|Major-General [[George Carter-Campbell|George T. C. Carter-Campbell]]
|-
|June 1919
|Major-General [[Ewen Sinclair-Maclagan|Ewen G. Sinclair-Maclagan]]
|-
|June 1923
|Major-General [[Archibald Ritchie (British Army officer)|Sir Archibald B. Ritchie]]
|-
|June 1927 
|Major-General [[William Montgomerie Thomson|Sir William M. Thomson]]
|-
|June 1931
|Major-General [[Sir James Burnett, 13th Baronet|Sir James L.G. Burnett]]
|-
|June 1935
|Major-General [[Douglas Brownrigg|W. Douglas S. Brownrigg]]
|-
|January 1938
|Major-General [[Victor Fortune]]
|-
|August 1940
|Major-General [[Alan Cunningham|Sir Alan Cunningham]]
|-
|October 1940
|Major-General [[Neil Ritchie|Sir Neil M. Ritchie]]
|-
|June 1941
|Major-General [[Douglas Wimberley|Douglas N. Wimberley]]
|-
|August 1943
|Major-General [[Charles Bullen-Smith|D. Charles Bullen-Smith]]
|-
|July 1944
|Major-General [[Tom Rennie|Thomas G. Rennie]]
|-
|March 1945
|Major-General [[Gordon MacMillan|Gordon H. MacMillan]]
|-
|May 1945
|Major-General [[James Cassels (British Army officer)|A. James H. Cassels]]
|-
|11 January 1947
|Major-General [[Colin Muir Barber|Colin M. Barber]]<ref>{{cite journal|date=1946|title=Army Notes|journal=Royal United Services Institution|volume=92:566|issue=566|page=298|doi=10.1080/03071844709434007}}</ref>
|-
|May 1949
|Major-General [[Keith Arbuthnott, 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott|R. Keith Arbuthnott]]
|-
|November 1952
|Major-General [[James Scott-Elliot]]
|-
|March 1956
|Major-General [[Edward Colville|Edward C. Colville]]
|-
|March 1959
|Major-General [[Frederick Graham (British Army officer)|Frederick C. C. Graham]]
|-
|March 1962
|Major-General [[Derek Lang|Derek B. Lang]]
|-
|April 1964
|Major-General [[Ian Robertson (British Army officer)|Ian A. Robertson]]
|-
|February 1966
|Major-General [[Edward Maitland-Makgill-Crichton]]
|}

==Order of battle==
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; background:transparent;"
!colspan= | 51st (Highland) Division<ref>Becke, pp. 101–107.</ref><ref name=trail>{{cite web|url=https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/51st-highland-division/ |title=51 Division |publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
|colspan="2" |
; '''[[152nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|152nd (1st Highland) Brigade]]''' :
* 1/5th ([[Sutherland]] and [[Caithness]]) Battalion, [[Seaforth Highlanders]]
* 1/6th ([[Morayshire]]) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
* 1/8th ([[Argyllshire]]) Battalion, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]] (''from 154th Bde. April 1915'')
* 1/4th Battalion, [[Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders]] (''until February 1915'')
* 1/6th ([[Renfrewshire]]) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (''from 154th Bde. April 1915 to June 1915'')
* 1/6th ([[Banff, Scotland|Banff]] and [[Donside]]) Battalion, [[Gordon Highlanders]] (''from June 1916'')

; '''[[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|153rd (2nd Highland) Brigade]]''' :
* 1/6th Battalion, [[Black Watch]]
* 1/7th ([[Fife]]) Battalion, Black Watch
* [[Shetland]] Companies, Gordon Highlanders
* 1/4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders (''until February 1915'')
* 1/5th ([[Buchan]] and [[Formartine]]) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders (''until February 1918'')
* 1/7th ([[Deeside]] Highland) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders (''until October 1918'')

; '''[[154th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|154th (3rd Highland) Brigade]]''' :
The original brigade comprised the following battalions until April 1915 when some of the battalions moved to the 152nd Brigade:
* 1/6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
* 1/7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
* 1/8th (Argyllshire) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
* 1/9th ([[Dunbartonshire]]) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Between 18 April 1915 and January 1916, the brigade was replaced by the [[Territorial Force]] battalions of the [[164th (North Lancashire) Brigade]] from the [[55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division|55th (West Lancashire) Division]].
* 1/4th Battalion, [[King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)]]
* 1/8th ([[Liverpool Irish]]) Battalion, [[King's Regiment (Liverpool)]]
* 2/5th Battalion, [[Lancashire Fusiliers]]
* [[Preston Rifles|1/4th Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)]]
* 1/6th Battalion, [[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)]]

After early 1916, the brigade contained the following battalions:
* 1/4th (Ross Highland) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
* 1/4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
* 1/9th (Highlanders) Battalion, [[Royal Scots]]
* 1/7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

'''Artillery'''
* [[1st Aberdeenshire Artillery Volunteers#1/I Highland Brigade|I Highland Brigade]], [[Royal Field Artillery]] (''numbered CCLV (I Highland) Brigade on 15 May 1916'')
** 1st Aberdeen Battery
** 2nd Aberdeen Battery
** 3rd Aberdeen Battery
** I Highland Brigade Ammunition Column
* [[1st Forfarshire Artillery Volunteers#1/II Highland Brigade|II Highland Brigade]], RFA (''numbered CCLVI (II Highland) Brigade on 19 May 1916'')
** Forfarshire Battery
** Fifeshire Battery
** Dundee Battery
** II Highland Brigade Ammunition Column
* [[1st Renfrew and Dumbarton Artillery Volunteers#1/III Highland Brigade|III Highland (Howitzer) Brigade]], RFA (''numbered CCLVIII (III Highland) Brigade on 17 May 1915; broken up 21 August 1916'')
** 1st Renfrew (Howitzer) Battery
** 2nd Renfrew (Howitzer) Battery
** III Highland (Howitzer) Brigade Ammunition Column
* [[1st Fife Artillery Volunteers|Highland (Fifeshire) Heavy Battery]], [[Royal Garrison Artillery]] (''until 5 May 1915'')
* [[1st Midlothian Artillery Volunteers|I Lowland Brigade]] RFA (''joined 10 November 1915 from Forth Defences; renumbered CCLVII on 15 May 1916, changed to CCLX on 3 June 1916; broken up 28 January 1917'')<ref>Becke, p. 111.</ref>
** 1st Edinburgh Battery
** 2nd Edinburgh Battery
** Midlothian Battery
** I Lowland Brigade Ammunition Column

After reorganisation in August 1916 and January 1917:
* CCLV Brigade, RFA
** A, B, C, D (H) Batteries
* CCLVI Brigade, RFA
** A, B, C, D (H) Batteries

'''Engineers'''<ref>[http://orbat.com/site/uk_orbats/files/6/RE%20World%20War%20I.pdf Richard A. Rinaldi, ''Royal Engineers, World War I'' at Orbat.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124134241/http://orbat.com/site/uk_orbats/files/6/RE%20World%20War%20I.pdf |date=24 January 2014 }}</ref>
* 1st Highland Field Company, [[Royal Engineers]] (''renumbered 400th (1st Highland) Field Company 3 February 1917'')
* 2/2nd Highland Field Company, RE (''raised after outbreak of war; renumbered 404th (2/2nd Highland) Field Company 3 February 1917'')
* [[1st Durham Engineers|3rd Durham Field Company]], RE (''joined 19 September 1915; transferred to [[7th Division (United Kingdom)|7th Division]] 30 January 1916'')
* 2nd Highland Field Company, RE (''transferred from 7th Division 31 January 1916; renumbered 401st (2nd Highland) Field Company 3 February 1917'')

'''Pioneers'''
* 1/8th Battalion Royal Scots (''transferred from 7th Division 19 August 1915'')
|}
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; background:transparent;"
!colspan= | 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (1939–1940)<ref>Joslen, p. 83.</ref><ref>Doherty, pp. 277–78</ref>
|-
|colspan="2" |
'''[[152nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|152nd Infantry Brigade]]''' (''captured 12 June 1940'')<ref name="Joslen, p. 337">Joslen, p. 337.</ref>
* 4th Battalion, [[Seaforth Highlanders]]
* 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders ''(left 3 March 1940)''
* 4th Battalion, [[Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders]]
* 152nd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 28 January 1940)''
* 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders ''(from 30 March 1940)''

'''[[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|153rd Infantry Brigade]]''' (''captured 12 June 1940'')<ref>Joslen, p. 339.</ref>
* 4th Battalion, [[Black Watch|Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)]]
* 5th Battalion, [[Gordon Highlanders]]
* 6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders ''(left 7 March 1940)''
* 153rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 18 November 1939)''
* 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders ''(from 7 March 1940)''
* 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) ''(from 5 June 1940)''

'''[[154th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|154th Infantry Brigade]]''' (''escaped 15 June 1940'')<ref>Joslen, p. 340.</ref>
* 6th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) (''left 4 March 1940'')
* 7th Battalion, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]]
* 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
* 154th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 18 November 1939)''
* 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) ''(from 4 March, left 5 June 1940)''

'''Divisional Troops'''
* [[1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry]] ''(Reconnaissance regiment, left 29 March 1940)''
* [[1st Lothians and Border Horse]] ''(Divisional cavalry regiment from 29 March, captured 12 June 1940'')
* [[1st Aberdeenshire Artillery Volunteers#75th (Highland) Field Regiment|75th (Highland) Regiment]], [[Royal Artillery]] ''(escaped with Arkforce 15 June 1940)''
* [[1st Forfarshire Artillery Volunteers#76th (Highland) Field Regiment|76th (Highland) Regiment]], Royal Artillery (''left 5 March 1940'')
* [[1st Renfrew and Dumbarton Artillery Volunteers#77th (Highland) Field Regiment|77th (Highland) Regiment]], Royal Artillery (''left 19 February 1940'')
* 17th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery ''(from 19 February, escaped with Arkforce 15 June 1940)''
* 23rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery ''(from 5 March 1940, captured 12 June 1940)''
* [[1st Argyll and Bute Artillery Volunteers#51st (West Highland) A/T Regiment|51st (West Highland) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery]] ''(captured 12 June 1940)''
* 236th (City of Aberdeen) Field Company, [[Royal Engineers]] ''(captured 12 June 1940)''
* 237th (City of Dundee) Field Company, Royal Engineers ''(captured 12 June 1940)''
* 238th (County of Renfrewshire) Field Company, Royal Engineers ''(left 29 February 1940)''
* 26th Field Company, Royal Engineers ''(from 28 February, captured 12 June 1940)''
* 239th (City of Aberdeen) Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
* 51st (Highland) Divisional Signals Regiment, [[Royal Corps of Signals]]
Also attached were the following:
* 1st Battalion, [[Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment]], [[Middlesex Regiment]] (''Machine Gun Battalion'')
* [[List of Royal Northumberland Fusiliers battalions in World War II#7|7th Battalion]], [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers]] (''Machine Gun Battalion'')
* 7th Battalion, [[Royal Norfolk Regiment]] (''Pioneers'')
* 6th Battalion, [[Royal Scots Fusiliers]] (''Pioneers'')
|}
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; background:transparent;"
!colspan= | 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (1941–1945)<ref>Joslen, p. 83.</ref>
|-
|colspan="2" |
'''152nd Infantry Brigade''' (formerly [[26th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|26th Infantry Brigade]])<ref name="Joslen, p. 337"/>
* 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
* 4th/5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders ''(left 4 April 1941)''
* 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders ''(left 23 August 1940)''
* 5th Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
* 152nd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 1 September 1940, became A Squadron 51st Battalion, [[Reconnaissance Corps]] February 1941)''<ref name = Recce>[https://archive.today/20121223182743/http://www.recce.adsl24.co.uk/regts/51st.htm 51st (H) Recce Regiment at Reconnaissance Corps website.]</ref>
* 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders ''(from 5 April 1941)''

'''153rd Infantry Brigade''' (formerly [[27th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|27th Infantry Brigade]])<ref>Joslen, p. 274.</ref>
* 5th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
* 7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders ''(left 7 November 1939)''
* 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders ''(left 2 September 1940)''
* 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
* 153rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 1 September 1940, became B Squadron 51st Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps February 1941)''<ref name = Recce/>
* 5th/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders ''(from 21 October 1940)''

'''154th Infantry Brigade''' (formerly [[28th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|28th Infantry Brigade]])<ref>Joslen, pp. 275, 340.</ref>
* 7th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) ''(left 21 August 1945)''
* 7th/10th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders ''(became 7th Battalion 30 September 1942)''
* 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders ''(left 22 September 1941)''
* 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders ''(left 4 September 1940)''
* 154th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 1 September 1940, became C Squadron 51st Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps February 1941)''<ref name = Recce/>)''
* 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) ''(from 24 October 1940)''

'''Divisional Troops'''
* [[Reconnaissance_Corps#Units|51st Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps]] ''(formed from 14th Battalion, [[Highland Light Infantry]], and brigade anti-tank companies January 1941, became 51st (Highland) Reconnaissance Regiment 6 June 1942, reverted to 14th HLI 14 January 1943)''<ref name = Recce/><ref>Frederick, p. 259.</ref>
* [[2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry]] ''(joined as reconnaissance regiment, 20 January 1944)''
* 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment ''(from 20 November 1941, joined as Machine Gun Battalion, became Support Battalion 10 December 1943, reverted to MG Battalion 28 February 1944)''
* [[1st Aberdeenshire Artillery Volunteers#126th (Highland) Field Regiment|126th (Highland) Field Regiment]], Royal Artillery
* [[1st Forfarshire Artillery Volunteers#127th (Highland) Field Regiment|127th (Highland) Field Regiment]], Royal Artillery
* [[1st Renfrew and Dumbarton Artillery Volunteers#128th (Highland) Field Regiment|128th (Highland) Field Regiment]], Royal Artillery
* [[1st Argyll and Bute Artillery Volunteers#61st (West Highland) A/T Regiment|61st (West Highland) Anti-Tank Regiment]], Royal Artillery
* [[40th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery]] ''(from 1 May 1942)''
* 274th Field Company, Royal Engineers
* 275th Field Company, Royal Engineers
* 276th Field Company, Royal Engineers
* 239th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
* 16th Bridging Platoon, Royal Engineers ''(formed 19 December 1943)''
* 51st (Highland) Divisional Signals Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals
*13 Field Security Section, [[Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)|Intelligence Corps]]<ref>{{Cite book|title=Forearmed: A History of the Intelligence Corps|last=Clayton|first=Anthony|publisher=Brasseys|year=1993|page=264}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom}}
* [[List of British divisions in World War I]]
* [[List of British divisions in World War II]]
* [[British Army Order of Battle (September 1939)]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|2}}
* Becke, Maj A. F.,(2007) ''History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56)'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1935/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, {{ISBN|1-847347-39-8}}.
* Beckett, Ian F. W. (2008) 'Territorials: A Century of Service,' published by DRA Printing of 14 Mary Seacole Road, The Millfields, Plymouth PL1 3JY on behalf of TA 100, {{ISBN|978-0-9557813-1-5}},
* {{cite book |title=The History of the 51st (Highland) Division 1914–1918 |last=Bewsher |first=F. W. |year=1921 |publisher=Blackwood |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/historyof51sthig00bews |access-date=14 September 2014 |edition=N & M Press 2001 |isbn=1-84342-108-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Bond|first=Brian|title=The Battle for France & Flanders: Sixty Years On|publisher=Pen and Sword|year=2001|isbn=978-0850528114}}
* Delaforce, Patrick, (2007) ''Monty's Highlanders: The Story of the 51st Highland Division'' Pen & Sword, {{ISBN|1-84415-512-9}}
* {{cite book|last= Delaney
|first= Douglas E. |title=Corps Commanders: Five British and Canadian Generals at War, 1939-45|publisher=UBC Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0774820905}}
* Doherty, Richard, (2006) ''None Bolder: The History of the 51st Highland Division in the Second World War'' Spellmount, {{ISBN|1-86227-317-0}}
* J.B.M. Frederick, ''Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978'', Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
* Gorle, Richmond (2011) "The Quiet Gunner" Alamein to the Rhine with the Scottish Divisions, Pen and Sword {{ISBN|978-1-84884-540-4}}
* Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, ''Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990, ISBN 0-948130-03-2/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6.
* King, Anthony (2017) 'Why did 51st Highland Division Fail? A case-study in command and combat effectiveness', ''British Journal for Military History'', Vol. 4, No.1.
* Linklater, Eric (1942) ''The Highland Division''. HMSO, No ISBN.
* Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. (2003) ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 3.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, {{ISBN|2-913903-88-6}} {{in lang|fr}}
*{{cite book|last1=MacMillan|first1=George|last2=MacMillan|first2=John|last3=MacMillan|first3=Judy|last4=MacMillan|first4=David|last5=MacMillan|first5=Andrew|title=General Sir Gordon MacMillan of MacMillan and Knap, KCB KCVO CBE DSO MC LLD: The Babe, (1897–1986)|publisher=FastPrint Publishing, Peterborough |year=2013 |isbn= 978-178035-577-1}}
* {{cite book|last1=Saunders|first1=Nicholas|last2=Cornish|first2=Paul|title=Contested Objects: Material Memories of the Great War|publisher=Routledge|year=2009|isbn=978-0415450706}}
* Salmond, J. B. (1953) ''The Story of the 51st Highland Division''. Wm Blackwood & Sons, No ISBN.
* {{cite book|first1=Edward M.|last1= Spiers|first2=Jeremy |last2=Crang |first3=Matthew |last3=Strickland |first4=Jeremy A. |last4=Crang|title=A Military History of Scotland Hardcover|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0748633357}}
* Swaab, Jack (2005) "Field of Fire: Diary of a Gunner Officer". Sutton Publishing, {{ISBN|0-7509-4275-4}}
* {{cite book| last = Westlake | first = Ray| year = 1992| title = British Territorial Units 1914–18| volume = 245 | series = Men-at-Arms Series | publisher = Osprey| isbn = 978-1-85532-168-7}}

===External links===
* [http://www.51hd.co.uk/ The Official Website of the 51 Highland Division]
* [http://www.1914-1918.net The British Army in the Great War: The Long, Long Trail]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vs47x/The_Forgotten_51st/#recommendSource=radio_episode_page The Forgotten 51st]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/71/a3541871.shtml The Forgotten Heroes of World War 2 by Robert Beesley]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131013175603/http://www.laird.org.uk/Scots/51st_Division_at_St_Valery.htm Remember the 51st (Highland) Division at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081220184054/http://orbat.com/ Orbat.com]
* [http://www.normandythenandnow.com/the-last-battle/ Timeline history of 1940 surrender with photos of the memorial at Veules-les-Roses]
{{refend}}
{{British Army Divisions}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:51 Infantry Division}}
[[Category:Infantry divisions of the British Army in World War I]]
[[Category:Infantry divisions of the British Army in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of Scotland]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1908]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1961]]
[[Category:1908 establishments in the British Empire]]