23rd (Northumbrian) Division
| 23rd (Northumbrian) Division | |
|---|---|
_Division_formation_sign.svg)
23rd (Northumbrian) Division formation sign
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| Active | 2 October 1939 – 30 June 1940 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Allegiance | British Crown |
| Branch |
 British Army
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| Type | Motorised Infantry |
| Size | Division (two Brigades) |
| Engagements | |
The 23rd (Northumbrian) Division was a Territorial Army formation raised in 1939 as the 2nd line duplicate of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. Intended to be a motorised infantry division, as was its 1st line counterpart, it saw active service in World War II in the Battle of France in 1940, before being disbanded later that year after suffering heavy losses.
The units that were to become the 23rd Division were first formed at cadre level (25 officers and men) in their parent formations in March 1939 on the doubling of the Territorial Army. These units were embodied on 1 September but continued to be administered by their parent units until the Brigade and Division headquarters were formed on 2 October. Like the 50th Division the 23rd was a two brigade motorised infantry division with the 69th (5th East Yorkshires, 6th and 7th Green Howards) and 70th (10th, 11th and 12th Durham Light Infantry) Brigades. Although issued rifles, there was little training aside from drill parade, and most of the time was spent guarding locations in the North East of England. On 22 April 1940 the Division was shipped to France.
Along with two other divisions, the 12th (Eastern) and 46th Infantry Division, it joined the British Expeditionary Force as a labour and training division. The division travelled to France without any of its artillery, a much reduced signals detachment without radios, few administration units and a reduced rear echelon (R.A.S.C. and R.A.M.C.). The infantry had only its rifles, and for each battalion, 14 Bren light machine guns, less than 10 Boys anti tank rifles and a few 2" mortars. There were no carriers and a limited amount of impressed civilian transport. Few men had been trained in the use of the Bren gun and some had still not been trained in the use of their rifles. The division was moved to the region around St Pol to build airstrips, this was to be inter-spaced with continued military training.
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