Global InformationList of British corps in World War II information
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During the Second World War, the British Army created several field corps; these were formations that controlled multiple divisions in addition to artillery, engineers, and logistical units that would be used to support the divisions as needed. A corps itself was generally under the control of a higher formation such as a field army, an army group or a command.[1] During the war, the British military contained 16 field corps and three that were intended to control anti-aircraft units. The latter were not comparable in role to field corps that were intended to control divisions in combat; anti-aircraft units were assigned to control anti-aircraft formations within a designated area, which could cover hundreds or thousands of square miles. Through deception efforts, a further 11 corps existed within the British military structure. Twenty-seven real or fictitious corps were active during the war, although they did not all exist at the same time and there was overlap between notional and real corps.[a]
In 1939, at the start of the war, the British Army had only one field corps (I Corps); this was quickly followed by two more to help control infantry divisions that were assigned to the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Within the UK, a further six corps were formed in 1940, and two more were formed in the following years, the last being the I Airborne Corps in December 1943. XIII Corps was formed in 1941, and was the first British corps to be formed outside the UK.[b] Within the British military, corps were commanded by lieutenant-generals.[3]
The size and composition of a corps could vary depending on the mission assigned to it, as well as the tactical and strategic situation. The Western Desert Force, which was formed by re-designating a divisional headquarters, grew to a force of 36,000 men spread over one infantry and one armoured division as well as smaller units.[4] At the start of Operation Epsom, in Normandy in June 1944, VIII Corps was 57,000 men strong; it controlled logistical, administrative, engineer, and artillery assets, two infantry divisions, one armoured division, one armoured brigade, and one tank brigade. During the operation, its strength was increased to 65,000 men.[5][c] The next major operation in which the corps was involved, Operation Goodwood in Normandy in July 1944, saw a completely different order of battle. It consisted of three armoured divisions, in addition to logistical, administrative, engineer, and artillery forces, with a combined strength of 62,000 men.[6] British army corps did not only just control British forces. On the eve of the Second Battle of El Alamein, the Eighth Army contained three corps and was a multi-national force. XIII Corps contained British and French formations, X Corps contained only British troops, while XXX Corps consisted of Australian, British, Indian, New Zealand, and South African divisions.[7]
Unlike the other corps, the three anti-aircraft corps were static formations that administered the aerial defence of the UK. Each covered a different section of the UK and contained a different number of anti-aircraft divisions; five for I Anti-Aircraft Corps that covered the southern UK, four for II Anti-Aircraft Corps assigned to defend the Midlands, and three for III Anti-Aircraft Corps that administered those in the north.[8] As the war progressed, more resources were allocated to I Anti-Aircraft Corps as it defended vital regions of the country that were vulnerable to Luftwaffe attacks. In October 1942, all three corps were disbanded as part of a reorganization of the UK's aerial defences. The corps and divisions were replaced with seven groups that were intended to ease the command and control of the anti-aircraft formations, save manpower, balance out responsibility, and make the formations more flexible.[9]
- ^ Dear & Foot 2001, pp. 303–306.
- ^ Kirby et al. 1958, pp. 194, 454; Virk 1982, pp. 68, 112, 231, 247, 358, 360; Playfair et al. 2004, p. 403.
- ^ Playfair et al. 2004, p. 465.
- ^ Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 97, 260–261; French 2015, p. 202.
- ^ Jackson 2006, pp. 27, 40.
- ^ Jackson 2006, p. 84.
- ^ Playfair et al. 2004, pp. 7–8.
- ^ "No. 38149". The London Gazette. 16 December 1947. p. 5973. and "No. 38149". The London Gazette. 16 December 1947. p. 5974.
- ^ "No. 38149". The London Gazette. 16 December 1947. p. 5985.
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