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54th Division (British)

54th (East Anglian) Division Army Territorial Army Formed 1908 Demobilised British First World War divisions Previous Next 53rd (Welsh) 55th (West Lancs)

The British 54th (East Anglian) Division was a Territorial Army division. During the First World War the division fought at Gallipoli and in the Middle East.

Unit History

World War I

The division landed at Suvla on August 10.

During the First Battle of Gaza, on March 26, 1917, the 161st Brigade and divisional artillery were in reserve while the 53rd Division carried out the main attack. These reserves were committed as the battle progressed resulting in the British gaining a foothold in the Turkish defences but the British commander called off the attack as night fell.

World War II

Formation

The division comprised three infantry brigades:

161st (Essex) Brigade 

• 1/4th Battalion, The Bedford Regiment
• 1/4th Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
• 1/10th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment
• 1/11th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment

163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade 

• 1/4th Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment
• 1/5th Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment
• 1/5th Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment
• 1/8th (Isle of Wight) Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment

Battles

• Battle of Gallipoli
  • Battle of Sari Bair
• First Battle of Gaza - 161st Brigade and artillery