5th Division (United Kingdom)

5th Division 5th Infantry Division 5th Division
Insignia of the 5th Division
Active	1810–1815 1906–1922 1929–1947 1958–1959 1968–1971 1995–2012
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Part of	Land Forces
Garrison/HQ	Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (1995–2012)
Nickname(s)	The Globe Trotters The Gypsies The Fighting Fifth
Engagements	Peninsula War Battle of Bussaco Battle of Sabugal Siege of Almeida (1811) Battle of Badajoz (1812) Battle of Salamanca Battle of Vitoria Siege of San Sebastian Battle of Nivelle Battle of the Nive Waterloo Campaign Battle of Quatre Bras Battle of Waterloo First World War Battle of Mons Battle of Le Cateau First Battle of Ypres Second Battle of Ypres (13th Brigade) Battle of the Somme Battle of Passchendaele Battle of Vimy Ridge Battle of Épehy Second World War Operation Husky Italian Campaign North West Europe Campaign
Commanders
Notable commanders	Thomas Picton Herbert Plumer Thomas Morland Harold Franklyn Richard Hull
Insignia
Identification symbol	1914–1918
Identification symbol	1939–1945

The 5th Infantry Division was a regular army infantry division of the British Army. It was established by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington for service in the Peninsular War, as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army, and was active for most of the period since, including the First World War and the Second World War and was disbanded soon after. The division was reformed in 1995 as an administrative division covering Wales and the English regions of West Midlands, East Midlands and East. Its headquarters were in Shrewsbury. It was disbanded on 1 April 2012.

The 5th Division during the Peninsular War under the command of General James Leith was present at most of the major engagements including the Battle of Bussaco, the Battle of Sabugal, the Siege of Almeida, the Battle of Badajoz, the Battle of Salamanca, the Battle of Vitoria, the Siege of San Sebastian, the Battle of Nivelle and the Battle of the Nive.

The Division was also present during the Waterloo Campaign first seeing action at the Battle of Quatre Bras then at the Battle of Waterloo under the command of Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton.