South Midland Division

South Midland Division 48th (South Midland) Division 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division 48th Infantry (Reserve) Division
Mike Chappell comments that starting in 1918 the white diamond "was painted on helmets ... with regimental badges superimposed" upon it.
Active	1908–1919 1920–1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Infantry, home defense, and training
Size	Division
Engagements	World War I * Battle of the Somme * Battle of Passchendaele * Italian Front World War II * Battle of Belgium * Battle of France
Commanders
Notable commanders	Robert Fanshawe Harold Walker Frank Roberts
Insignia
Identification symbol	Divisional insignia adopted following the Battle of France.

The 48th (South Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, part of the Territorial Force, originally raised in 1908. Originally called the South Midland Division, it was redesignated as the 48th (South Midland) Division in 1915. During the First World War, the division saw service on the Western Front before being transferred to the Italian Front in November 1917 and remaining there for the rest of the war.

Reformed in 1920 in the Territorial Army (TA) as the 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division, it saw active service in the Second World War with the British Expeditionary Force in Belgium and France before being evacuated from Dunkirk. It was converted into a training reserve division in late December 1942, remaining in that status for the rest of the war. The division was not reformed again. In both world wars the division raised a 2nd Line reserve division, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division in the Great War, and 61st Division in the Second World War.

In 1901, following lessons learned from the Second Boer War and diplomatic clashes with the growing German Empire, the United Kingdom sought to reform the British Army so it would be able to engage in European affairs if required. This task fell to Secretary of State for War, Richard Haldane who implemented several policies known as the Haldane Reforms. As part of these reforms, the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 created a new Territorial Force by merging the existing Yeomanry and Volunteer Force in 1908. This resulted in the creation of 14 Territorial Divisions, including the South Midland Division.