County Divisions - unit strengths/establishments?

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by Gary Kennedy, Jul 27, 2013.

  1. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    I'm looking for some info on the likely strength and unit organisation of these formations.

    Orders of Battle by Joslen provides pretty much all the detail available on these Divisions. They were mostly formed Feb 1941 (two at the end of 1940) for static defence duties of coast areas. There were no organic RA or RE, and seemingly no RASC or RAME units either. Any supporting arms had to be provided from Corps or GHQ level. Once the imminent danger of enemy invasion or incursion was felt to have passed the were all either disbanded or re-designated to other roles by the end of 1941.

    The County Divs were formed around three (in some cases fewer) Independent Infantry Brigades (Home), and that the Battalions under command could be 'new, holding or unbrigaded'.

    I was wondering if anyone had seen a description of the internal organisation of an Infantry Battalion within a County Division? I had thought that the Home Defence Battalion model would be the most likely, but having seen the War Establishments for these units I'm not so sure. Three to six Companies, each of four to six Platoons, seems OK, but the Platoons are shown with only rifles and there are no LMGs or atk weapons anywhere in the Bn organisation. Transport is minimal, so suits the static defence role, but the complete absence of Brens or Boys rifles has left me quite flummoxed.

    Anyone seen anything re the County Divs that could shed some light, such as a strength return of their principal firepower?

    Thanks,

    Gary
     
  2. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Gary

    Don't know anything about county divisions as described by yourself but the fact that most regiments had rifles only does not surprise me - we didn't have that many Brens or Boyes' a/t rifles in any case after we lost so much munitions at Dunkirk - don't forget that it took until 1944 to come up with the 17 pounder a/t gun in any volume..to say that we were unprepared for war in1939/40
    would be the understatement of the century...many Home Guard units had broom handles as their only weapon to fight an invader

    Cheers
     

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