List of commanders of the British 3rd Division
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Article ImagesThe 3rd Division is an infantry division of the British Army and was first formed in 1809. The division is commanded by a general officer commanding (GOC), who receives orders from a level above him in the chain of command, and then uses the forces within the division to undertake the mission assigned. In addition to directing the tactical battle in which the division is involved, the GOC oversees a staff and the administrative, logistical, medical, training, and discipline concerns of the division.[1] Since its founding, the division has had 69 permanent GOCs over a history that has spanned more than 200 years.
3rd Division 3rd Infantry Division 3rd Armoured Division 3rd (United Kingdom) Division 3rd (United Kingdom) Mechanised Division | |
---|---|
Thomas Picton, the commanding officer of the 3rd Division for the majority of the Peninsular War | |
Active | Raised and disbanded numerous times between 1809 and the present |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Engagements | Napoleonic Wars Crimean War Second Boer War First World War Second World War Iraq War |
Website | Official website Division's twitter account |
Commanders | |
Current commander | James Martin |
Prior to 1809, the British Army did not use divisional formations. As the British military grew in size during the Napoleonic Wars, the need arose for such an implementation in order to better organise forces for administrative, logistical, and tactical reasons. The 3rd Division was formed on 18 June 1809 by Lieutenant-General Arthur Wellesley, and served in the Peninsular War (part of the Napoleonic Wars).[1] The division's first commanding officer, Major-General John Mackenzie, was killed in action at the Battle of Talavera in 1809.[2] After the Peninsular War ended in 1814, the division was disbanded only to be re-raised the following year when the War of the Seventh Coalition broke out. The division then fought at the Battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo, and then marched into France where it became part of the subsequent British army of occupation.[3] The division was broken-up, once more, in 1817. It was next raised for service in the Crimean War (1853–1856).[4] The division was next formed to take part in the Second Boer War, in 1899. When the need for divisions subsided, the following year, the division was disbanded to provide garrisons for various static locations.[5]
In 1902, a new 3rd Division was formed as a permanent standing formation and not raised for a particular crisis. During the 20th century, the division fought in the First and Second World Wars. Major-General Hubert Hamilton, the division's first commander during the First World War, was killed in action in 1914. During the Second World War, the division played a prominent role in the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in 1944. During that campaign, Major-General Tom Rennie was wounded in action.[6] Following the Second World War, the division took part in the Suez Crisis, and was deployed to Cyprus in 1964, during raising tensions in the ongoing dispute over the island.[7][8] In 1977, the division was converted into an armoured formation, and was deployed to Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine. The division became a mechanised infantry formation in 1992 and was moved to the UK. During the mid-1990s, the division took part in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina).[9] In the 21st century, the division undertook deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.[10][11] As of late 2021, Major General James Martin commands the division.[12]
General officer commanding
- ^ In 2015, Brigadier General Mike Tarsa, a United States Army officer, was assigned to the division as a deputy commander. He was the first American to hold such a position.[103] In 2016, he was replaced by Brigadier General Doug Crissman.[104] Brigadier General Matthew J. Van Wagenen followed in April 2018.[105]
- ^ a b Haythornthwaite 2016, The Divisional System.
- ^ a b Reid 2004, p. 47.
- ^ Oman 1930, p. 513; Siborne 1900, pp. 173, 489, 748, 783.
- ^ Ross-of-Bladensburg 1896, pp. 48–50; Barthorp 1980, p. 155.
- ^ Creswicke 1900a, Chart of Staff Appointments Made at the Commencement of the War; Creswicke 1900b, p. 185; Dunlop 1938, pp. 72–74.
- ^ Dunlop 1938, pp. 218–219; Becke 1935, p. 45; Joslen 2003, pp. 43–44.
- ^ a b Lord & Watson 2003, p. 29.
- ^ "No. 41172". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 September 1957. p. 5327.
- ^ Isby 1988, pp. 331–332; McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, pp. 215, 242; Tanner 2014, p. 50.
- ^ a b Tanner 2014, p. 52.
- ^ "Operation Telic Roulement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 27 November 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "No. 63503". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 October 2021. p. 18465.
- ^ Reid 2004, pp. 47–48.
- ^ a b c Reid 2004, pp. 48–51.
- ^ Reid 2004, pp. 48–51; Oman 1914, p. 353.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 242; Reid 2004, pp. 48–51; Oman 1914, p. 353.
- ^ a b McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 242; Reid 2004, pp. 48–51.
- ^ McGuigan & Burnham 2017, p. 238.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 242; Reid 2004, pp. 48–51; McGuigan & Burnham 2017, p. 238.
- ^ Reid 2004, pp. 48–51; Oman 1930, p. 513.
- ^ Weller 2010, p. 34; Siborne 1900, pp. 489, 783.
- ^ Siborne 1900, p. 489.
- ^ Wellington 1863, pp. 534–535.
- ^ McGuigan & Burnham 2017, pp. 59–60.
- ^ Ross-of-Bladensburg 1896, pp. 48–50, 59–60.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 242; Barthorp 1980, p. 155.
- ^ "No. 21584". The London Gazette. 18 August 1854. p. 2566.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 242; Demchak 2011, p. 127; McGuigan 2001, p. 74.
- ^ "No. 21822". The London Gazette. 30 November 1855. p. 4538.
- ^ Creswicke 1900a, Chart of Staff Appointments Made at the Commencement of the War; Dunlop 1938, pp. 72–74.
- ^ "No. 27126". The London Gazette. 13 October 1899. p. 6180.
- ^ Creswicke 1900b, p. 185; Creswicke 1901, p. 138; McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 48.
- ^ "No. 27188". The London Gazette. 1 May 1900. p. 2760.
- ^ Dunlop 1938, pp. 218–219; Lord & Watson 2003, p. 29.
- ^ "War Office, Monthly Army List, July 1903". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 7., "War Office, Monthly Army List, May 1904". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 7A., "War Office, Monthly Army List, May 1905". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 8., "War Office, Monthly Army List, May 1906". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 8., and "War Office, Monthly Army List, March 1907". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 8. and"No. 27676". The London Gazette. 13 May 1904. p. 3083.
- ^ "War Office, Monthly Army List, March 1907". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 18a., and "War Office, Monthly Army List, May 1907". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 18a.
- ^ "No. 28381". The London Gazette. 3 June 1910. p. 3883.
- ^ "No. 28838". The London Gazette. 9 June 1914. p. 4536.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 242; Becke 1935, p. 45.
- ^ a b c Becke 1935, p. 45.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 68; Becke 1935, p. 45; Lord & Watson 2003, p. 30.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, pp. 68, 242; Lord & Watson 2003, p. 30.
- ^ "No. 31666". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 November 1919. p. 14790.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 242.
- ^ "No. 32737". The London Gazette. 11 August 1922. p. 5961. and "No. 33184". The London Gazette. 20 July 1926. p. 4798.
- ^ "No. 33184". The London Gazette. 20 July 1926. p. 4798. and "No. 33607". The London Gazette. 20 May 1930. p. 3153.
- ^ "No. 33609". The London Gazette. 27 May 1930. p. 3327. and "No. 33885". The London Gazette. 22 November 1932. p. 7433.
- ^ "No. 33887". The London Gazette. 29 November 1932. p. 7588. and "No. 34096". The London Gazette. 16 October 1934. p. 6553.
- ^ "No. 34098". The London Gazette. 23 October 1934. p. 6711. and "No. 34278". The London Gazette. 28 April 1936. p. 2697.
- ^ "No. 34281". The London Gazette. 5 May 1936. p. 2896.
- ^ "No. 34347". The London Gazette. 8 December 1936. p. 7917. and "No. 34660". The London Gazette. 29 August 1939. p. 5914.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 242; Joslen 2003, pp. 43–44.
- ^ "No. 34347". The London Gazette. 8 December 1936. p. 7917.
- ^ a b c d e f g Joslen 2003, p. 43.
- ^ a b Joslen 2003, pp. 43–44.
- ^ Joslen 2003, pp. 43–44; Scarfe 2006, pp. xxviii–xxix.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 135; Lord & Watson 2003, p. 30; Joslen 2003, p. 43.
- ^ "Army Notes". Royal United Services Institution. 92 (565): 143. 1946. doi:10.1080/03071844709423998.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 242; Lord & Watson 2003, p. 30.
- ^ a b Lord & Watson 2003, p. 30.
- ^ "No. 39110". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1951. p. 49.
- ^ "No. 39561". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 May 1952. p. 3061. and "No. 40136". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 March 1954. p. 1951.
- ^ "No. 40136". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 March 1954. p. 1951., "No. 41028". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 March 1957. p. 1791., and "No. 41172". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 September 1957. p. 5327.
- ^ "No. 41028". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 March 1957. p. 1791. and "No. 41858". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 October 1959. p. 6928.
- ^ "No. 41858". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 October 1959. p. 6928. and "No. 42491". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 October 1961. p. 7579.
- ^ "No. 42491". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 October 1961. p. 7579. and "No. 42777". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 September 1962. p. 7121.
- ^ "No. 42777". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 September 1962. p. 7121. and "No. 43404". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1964. p. 6787.
- ^ "No. 43404". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1964. p. 6787. and "No. 44002". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1966. p. 6453.
- ^ "No. 44002". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1966. p. 6453. and "No. 44625". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 June 1968. p. 7344.
- ^ "No. 44625". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 June 1968. p. 7344. and "No. 45133". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 June 1970. p. 6933.
- ^ "No. 45133". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 June 1970. p. 6933. and "No. 45718". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 July 1972. p. 7975.
- ^ "No. 45718". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 July 1972. p. 7975. and "No. 46349". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 September 1974. p. 7896.
- ^ "No. 46349". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 September 1974. p. 7896. and "No. 46928". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 1976. p. 8100.
- ^ Isby 1988, pp. 331–332.
- ^ "No. 46928". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 1976. p. 8100. and "No. 47709". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 December 1978. p. 14914.
- ^ "No. 47709". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 December 1978. p. 14914. and "No. 48386". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 December 1980. p. 16704.
- ^ "No. 48386". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 December 1980. p. 16704. and "No. 49156". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 November 1982. p. 14270.
- ^ "No. 49156". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 November 1982. p. 14270. and "No. 49926". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 November 1984. p. 15317.
- ^ "No. 49926". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 November 1984. p. 15317. and "No. 50868". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 March 1987. p. 3931.
- ^ "No. 50868". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 March 1987. p. 3931. and "No. 51386". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 June 1988. p. 7164.
- ^ "No. 51386". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 June 1988. p. 7164. and "No. 52186". The London Gazette. 18 June 1990. p. 10745.
- ^ "No. 52186". The London Gazette. 18 June 1990. p. 10745.
- ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, pp. 215, 242; Lord & Watson 2003, p. 31.
- ^ "No. 52891". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 April 1992. p. 6631. and "No. 53645". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 April 1994. p. 5799.
- ^ Tanner 2014, p. 50.
- ^ "No. 53690". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1994. p. 8294.
- ^ Heyman 1997, p. 42.
- ^ "No. 54459". The London Gazette. 8 July 1996. p. 9225.
- ^ "No. 55378". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 January 1999. p. 587.
- ^ "No. 56028". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 November 2000. p. 12798.
- ^ Stewart 2013, p. 79.
- ^ "No. 57025". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 August 2003. p. 10041.
- ^ "The Report of the Iraq Inquiry" (PDF). The House of Commons/The National Archives. 2016. p. 240. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "Operation Telic Roulement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 27 November 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2021., "Iraq Roulement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2021., "Afghanistan Troop Levels". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2021., and "Afghanistan Troop Levels: Spring 2011 Roulement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "No. 57686". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 June 2005. p. 8373.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Sir Richard Shirreff to become Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR)". Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- ^ Bailey, Iron & Strachan 2013, p. xvi.
- ^ "No. 58497". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 October 2007. p. 15669.
- ^ "No. 59120". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 July 2009. p. 11615.
- ^ "No. 59803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 June 2011. p. 10701.
- ^ "No. 60484". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 April 2013. p. 7975.
- ^ "No. 61225". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 May 2015. p. 8746.
- ^ "British Army Welcome First US General To Join The Ranks". British Forces Broadcasting Service. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "General Officer Assignments". United States Department of Defense. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "General Officer Assignments". United States Department of Defense. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "No. 61786". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 December 2016. p. 26344.
- ^ "No. 62545". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 January 2019. p. 1407.
- ^ "No. 62947". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2020. p. 5503.
- ^ "No. 63503". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 October 2021. p. 18465.
- ^ "The Regiment warmly congratulates Major General Olly Brown on his recent promotion and appointment as GOC 3 (UK) Div on 1 July 2024". Royal Anglian Regiment. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
- Bailey, Jonathan; Iron, Richard; Strachan, Hew, eds. (2013). British Generals in Blair's Wars. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-1-40943-737-6.
- Barthorp, Michael (1980). The Armies of Britain, 1485–1980. London: National Army Museum. OCLC 252418281.
- Becke, Archibald Frank (1935). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1: The Regular British Divisions. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. OCLC 929528172.
- Creswicke, Louis (1900a). South Africa and the Transvaal War. Vol. II. Edinburgh: T. C. & E. C. Jack. OCLC 154231374.
- Creswicke, Louis (1900b). South Africa and the Transvaal War. Vol. IV. Edinburgh: T. C. & E. C. Jack. OCLC 154231374.
- Creswicke, Louis (1901). South Africa and the Transvaal War. Vol. VI. Edinburgh: T. C. & E. C. Jack. OCLC 154231374.
- Demchak, Chris C. (2011). Wars of Disruption and Resilience: Cybered Conflict, Power, and National Security. Athens, Georgia: The University of Georgia Press. ISBN 978-0-82034-137-8.
- Dunlop, John K. (1938). The Development of the British Army 1899–1914. London: Methuen. OCLC 59826361.
- Haythornthwaite, Philip (2016). Picton's Division at Waterloo. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-78159-102-4.
- Heyman, Charles (1997). The British Army Pocket Guide 1997/1998. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 978-0-85052-539-7.
- Isby, David C. (1988). "Developments in the Front-Line States: The United Kingdom". In Simon, Jeffrey (ed.). NATO-Warsaw Pact Force Mobilization. Washington: National Defense University Press. pp. 317–352. OCLC 18522267.
- Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
- Lord, Cliff; Watson, Graham (2003). The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920–2001) and its Antecedents. West Midlands: Helion. ISBN 978-1-874622-07-9.
- McGuigan, Ron (2001). 'Into Battle!' British Orders of Battle for the Crimean War, 1854–56. Bowdon, Cheshire: Withycut House. ISBN 978-1-89924-402-7.
- McGuigan, Ron; Burnham, Robert (2017). Wellington's Brigade Commanders: Peninsula & Waterloo. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-47385-079-8.
- McNish, Robin; Messenger, Charles; Bray, Paul (2000). Iron Division: The History of the 3rd Division 1809–2000 (3rd ed.). Salisbury, Wiltshire: Headquarters 3 (UK) Division. ISBN 978-0-71102-820-3.
- Oman, Charles (1914). A History of the Peninsular War. Vol. V Oct. 1811 – Aug. 31, 1812. Oxford: Clarendon Press. OCLC 185228609.
- Oman, Charles (1930). A History of the Peninsular War. Vol. VII August 1813 – April 14, 1814. Oxford: Oxford University Press. OCLC 185228609.
- Reid, Stuart (2004). Wellington's Army in the Peninsula 1809–14. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-517-4.
- Ross-of-Bladensburg, John Foster George (1896). A History of the Coldstream Guards from 1815 to 1895. London: A.D. Inness & Co. OCLC 1152610342.
- Scarfe, Norman (2006) [1947]. Assault Division: A History of the 3rd Division from the Invasion of Normandy to the Surrender of Germany. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Spellmount. ISBN 978-1-86227-338-2.
- Siborne, William (1900). The Waterloo Campaign (5th ed.). Westminster: Archibald Constable and Co. OCLC 672639901.
- Stewart, Andrew (2013). "Chapter 6: Southern Iraq 2003–2004: Multi-National Command". In Bailey, Jonathan; Iron, Richard; Strachan, Hew (eds.). British Generals in Blair's Wars. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Publishing. pp. 79–89. ISBN 978-1-40943-737-6.
- Tanner, James (2014). The British Army since 2000. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78200-593-3.
- Weller, Jac (2010) [1992]. Wellington at Waterloo. Barnsley: Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-84832-586-9.
- Wellington, Arthur (1863). Wellesley, Arthur Richard (ed.). Supplementary Despatches, Correspondence, and Memoranda of Field Marshal Arthur Duke of Wellington, K.G. Vol. 10: Waterloo, the Campaign in France and the Capitulation of Paris by a Military Convention with the Allied British and Prussian Armies, March to July, 1815. London: John Murray. OCLC 60466521.