51st (Highland) Division: Difference between revisions

| unit_name = Highland Division<br />51st (Highland) Division<br />51st (Highland) Infantry Division<br />51st/52nd (Scottish) Division

| image_size = 175px

| caption = The [[Divisional insignia of the British Army|insignia]] of the 51st (Highland) Division, during the First World War.

| dates = August 1908 – March 1919<br />1920–1946<br/>1950–1968

| country ={{flag| United Kingdom}}

| branch=[[Image:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] = [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]]

| type = [[Infantry]]

| size = [[Division (military)|Division]]

| nickname = First World War:<br />*Harper's Duds<br />*Ladies from Hell<br />Second World War:<br />*Highway Decorators

| battles = First World War:<br />*[[Battle of the Somme|Battle of the Somme (1916)]]<br />*[[Battle of Arras (1917)]]<br />*[[Battle of Passchendaele|Third Battle of Ypres (1917)]]<br />*[[Battle of Cambrai (1917)]]<br />*[[SpringGerman spring Offensiveoffensive|German Spring Offensive]]<br />*[[Hundred Days Offensive]]<br />Second World War:<br />*[[Battle of France]]<br />*[[Second Battle of El Alamein]]<br />*[[Allied invasion of Sicily]]<br />*[[Operation Overlord|Normandy Campaign]]<br />*[[Operation Veritable]]<br />*[[Operation Plunder]]

| notable_commanders = First World War:<br />[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[George MontagueHarper (British Army officer)|George Harper]]<br />Second World War: [[Victor Fortune]]<br />[[Alan Cunningham]]<br />[[Neil Ritchie]]<br />[[Douglas Wimberley]]<br />[[Tom Rennie]]

| garrison = [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]]

| garrison_label = Peacetime HQ

The '''51st (Highland) Division''' was an [[infantry]] [[Division (military)|division]] of the [[British Army]] that fought on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] in France during the [[World War I|First World War]] from 1915 to 1918. The division was raised in 1908, upon the creation of the [[Territorial Force]], as the Highland Division and later 51st (Highland) Division from 1915. The division's insignia was a stylised 'HD' inside a red circle. Early doubts about the division's performance earned it the nickname of "Harper's Duds" after the name of its commander, [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[George Montague Harper (British Army officer)|George Harper]] although they would go on to gain a fearsome reputation with the Allies and Germans.

The division was renamed the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division and fought during the [[World War II|Second World War]] as part of the [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] after the Territorial Force was disbanded in 1920. In June 1940, the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division was attached to French 10th Army and after a fighting retreat from the Somme the greater part of the division was forced to surrender, having beingbeen cut off at St Valery-en-Caux on the Channel coast. In North Africa, the reconstituted Highland Division was nicknamed the "''Highway Decorators''" in reference to the 'HD' insignia that adorned road signs along their axis of advance.

By December 1947, the formation amalgamated with [[52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division]] to become 51st/52nd Scottish Division,<ref name=watson>Graham Watson, [http://www.orbat.com/site/history/library-new/1946-1990/britishempire/ta47.html The Territorial Army, 1947] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205080733/http://www.orbat.com/site/history/library-new/1946-1990/britishempire/ta47.html |date=5 December 2013 }}, v1.0, 10 March 2002.</ref> but, by March 1950, 51st Division and 52nd Division had been recreated as separate formations.<ref name="Beckett 2008, 178">Beckett 2008, 178.</ref> 51st (Highland) Division finally disbanded in 1968.

The [[Territorial Force]] (TF) was formed on 1 April 1908 following the enactment of the [[Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907]] (7 Edw.7, c.9) which combined and re-organised the old [[Volunteer Force (Great Britain)|Volunteer Force]], the [[Honourable Artillery Company]] and the [[Yeomanry]]. On formation, the TF contained 14 [[infantry]] [[division (military)|divisions]] and 14 mounted yeomanry [[brigade]]s.<ref name=Westlake3>{{harvnb|Westlake|1992|p=3}}</ref> One of the divisions was the '''Highland Division'''.<ref name=Conrad>{{cite web | url=http://marksrussianmilitaryhistory.info/BRIT14.html | title=The British Army, 1914 | last=Conrad | first=Mark | year=1996 | access-date=27 February 2015}}</ref> In peacetime, the divisional [[Headquarters#Military|headquarters]] was at 2 Charlotte Street in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]].<ref name=Conrad/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WbbNDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT44|title=The Territorials, 1908–1914: A Guide for Military and Family Historians|first= Ray|last= Westlake|publisher=Pen & Sword|year=2011|isbn=978-1848843608}}</ref>

By early 1915, the Highland Division had lost six of its 12 pre-war Highland infantry battalions to Regular divisions. When TF divisions were finally ordered overseas as complete formations in their own right in early 1915, the Highland Division was only at half-strength and in no shape to be sent abroad at that time. Only by the last-minute addition of two Lowland[[Black Watch|Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)]] battalions<ref>History of the 51st Highland Division 1914-1918, Frederick William Brewsher.</ref> and the [[164th (North Lancashire) Brigade|North Lancashire Brigade]] from the [[55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division|West Lancashire Division]] was the division, now numbered as the '''51st (Highland) Division''', considered numerically complete and was rushed to the Western Front in May 1915 to help stem the latest German onslaught during the [[Second Battle of Ypres]]. Obviously, the lack of familiarity amongst these newly introduced disparate units hampered division efficiency and the division could only fare moderately in the [[Winter operations 1914&ndash;1915|further actions]] at [[Battle of Festubert|Festubert]] and [[Givenchy-en-Gohelle|Givenchy]]. [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Sir Douglas Haig]], then commanding the [[First Army (United Kingdom)|British First Army]], and later to command the entire BEF, commented that the 51st was, at the time of Festubert, "''practically untrained and very green in all field duties"''. Moved to the quiet Somme front in the late summer of 1915, the division, now under the command of [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[George Montague Harper (British Army officer)|George Harper]], had yet to satisfy the expectations of those expecting the familiar Highland flair– this was the period of ''Harper's Duds''.<ref name=robbins>[https://books.google.com/books?id=iyVZn5aTrpIC&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=General+Sir+George+Harper&sourcepg=bl&ots=l1nc1s31FC&sig=Uv_u2giOSQ4pCPt50YdGjVUU9Ug&hl=en&ei=aqXTSsKQMtCrjAfVron7Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=General%20Sir%20George%20Harper&f=falsePA63 British generalship on the Western Front 1914-18: defeat into victory By Simon Robbins, Page 63] Taylor & Francis, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-415-40778-6}}</ref>

The situation was only resolved when, in January 1916, the Lancashire Brigade (by then renumbered the 154th (3rd Highland) Brigade and later became the [[164th (North Lancashire) Brigade]]) left the division and their place was filled by original Highland battalions released by the regular divisions and by battalions of the [[Black Watch|Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)]] not originally in the division. Given the chance to show their mettle in July 1916, during the [[Battle of the Somme]], they assaulted [[High Wood]], which they attacked forcefully in the midst of a murderous field of fire without shelter. Though they failed to take the position, they had shown the fighting spirit expected of Highlanders. The division's reputation grew and they were chosen to capture the notorious fortress village of [[Beaumont-Hamel]] in [[Capture of Beaumont-Hamel|November 1916]], towards the end of the Somme offensive. The 51st were "''Harper's Duds''" no longer. Legend has it the Germans came to know them as "''The Ladies From Hell''".<ref name=robbins/>

[[File:The Battle of Cambrai, November-december 1917 Q6278.jpg|thumb|left|Men of the 1/4th Battalion, [[Gordon Highlanders]], crossing a trench, Ribecourt, France, 20 November 1917.]]

[[File:The Hundred Days Offensive, August-november 1918 Q7012.jpg|thumb|right|Battle of the Scarpe. Capture of the Greenland Hill by the 51st Division. Daylight patrol of the 1/6th Battalion, [[Seaforth Highlanders]], working forward towards Hausa and Delbar Woods. North-east of Roeux, 29 August 1918. Troops firing into a dug-out in a deserted German trench to dislodge any remaining Germans.]]

At the end of the First World War, the Territorial Force was stood down. It was reconstituted as the Territorial Army in 1921, resulting in the creation of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division.<ref>Saunders and Cornish, p. 128.</ref>

In mid-January 1940 the Divisiondivision departed from [[Southampton]] and disembarked at the French port of [[Le Havre]].<ref>Delaforce, p. 10.</ref> On 28 January it came under command of [[I Corps (United Kingdom)|I Corps]] of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF), under [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[Michael Barker (British Army officer)|Michael Barker]]. His command also included the [[1stHistory Infantryof the British 1st Division (Unitedduring Kingdom)the World Wars|1st]] and [[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Infantry Division]]s, both [[Regular army|Regular Army]] formations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Flanders/UK-NWE-Flanders-I.html |title=The War in France and Flanders 1939-40, Appendix I |last=Ellis|first=Major L. F.|publisher=UK Military Series}}</ref>

In February and March the 51st Division underwent a major reorganisation as per policies of the BEF. Some of the division's units were replaced by Regular Army formations. This was done with the intention of strengthening inexperienced Territorial divisions. The 23rd Field Regiment of the [[Royal Artillery]], a Regular Army unit, replaced the [[1st Forfarshire Artillery Volunteers#76th (Highland) Field Regiment|76th (Highland) Field Regiment]], Royal Artillery, as one example of the changes made. The 76th (Highland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery was transferred to the [[3rd Division (United Kingdom)|3rd Infantry Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/51_Infantry_Division__1939_.pdf|title=51 Infantry Division 1939|work=British Military History|access-date=17 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923195007/http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/51_Infantry_Division__1939_.pdf|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 22 April 1940 the 51st Division was detached from the rest of the BEF to come under command of the [[Third Army (France)|French Third Army]]. The division was stationed in front of the [[Ouvrage Hackenberg]] fortress of the [[Maginot Line]].<ref>Mary, Tome 3, p. 99.</ref>

[[File:The British Army in France 1940 F4729.jpg|thumb|right|Men of the 7th Battalion, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]], marching in [[Millebosc]], [[France]], 8 June 1940.]]

With the [[Battle of France|German invasion of France and the low countries]] on 10 May 1940 the BEF advanced into Belgium to meet the advancing German forces. Stationed to the south in front of the Maginot Line, the 51st Division was not a part of the force involved [[Battle of Dunkirk|in Belgium]], and was thus not involved in the [[Dunkirk evacuation]]. In response to the German advance it was pulled back to form a defensive line along the [[River Somme|Somme]], where it was attached to the [[Tenth Army (France)|French Tenth Army]]. With the withdrawal of Allied forces at Dunkirk, the Germans turned their attention to the south.<ref>Bond, p. 45.</ref>

Early in 1945, the [[Red Army|Russian Army]] had advanced close to these camps, so the POWs were involved in the [[The March (1945)|''Long March of 1945'']]. Some groups from [[Stalag XX-A]] marched around {{convert|450|mi}} in the depths of winter to Stalag XIB/357 at [[Bad Fallingbostel]] on the [[Lüneburg]] Heath, north of [[Hanover]]. Others had similar journeys in severe winter conditions, affected by shortages of food and shelter, with many suffering from dysentery and frostbite.<ref name="Last Escape">{{cite book|last1=Nicholl|first1=John|last2=Rennell|first2=Tony|title=The Last Escape The Untold Story of Allied Prisoners of War in Germany 1944–45|date=2003|publisher=Penguin|location=London|isbn=9780141003887|edition=Kindle|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=58ZeRRn479QC&q=Nichol,+John%3B+Rennell,+Tony+(2003).+The+Last+Escape+The+Untold+Story+of+Allied+Prisoners+of+War+in+Germany+1944%E2%80%9345+(Kindle+ed.).+London:+Penguin}}</ref>

In 1942 French General [[Charles de Gaulle]], in a speech, claimed "I can tell you that the comradeship in arms experienced on the battlefield of [[Abbeville]] in May and June 1940 between the French armoured division which I had the honour to command and the valiant 51st Highland Division under General Fortune played its part in the decision which I took to continue fighting on the side of the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] unto the end, no matter what the course of events."<ref>Delaforce, p. 21.</ref>

On 12 June 2010, veterans of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division attended a commemorative ceremony for the 70th Anniversary of the battle at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux.<ref>[http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2010/June/2010-06-11-06.htm Council supports Saint Valery en Caux Battle commemorations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305235407/http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2010/June/2010-06-11-06.htm |date=5 March 2012 }} The Highland Council, 11 June 2010.</ref>

In August 1940, the [[9th (Highland) Infantry Division]] (the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division's 2nd Line Territorial Army duplicate, which it had helped form) was re-designated as the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division. As part of this, the [[26th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|26th]] and [[27th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|27th Infantry Brigade]]s were re-designated the [[152nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|152nd]] and [[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|153rd Infantry Brigade]]. The [[28th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|28th Infantry Brigade]] was merged with the severely understrength [[154th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|154th Infantry Brigade]].<ref>Delaforce, ppp. 21-2321–23.</ref>

[[File:A soldier of the 7th Battalion, The Black Watch, cuts through barbed wire during training at Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands, 20 April 1941. H9025.jpg|thumb|right|A soldier of the 7th Battalion, [[Black Watch]], cuts through [[barbed wire]] during training at [[Sumburgh, Shetland|Sumburgh]] in the [[Shetland Islands]], [[Scotland]], 20 April 1941.]]

The first [[general officer commanding]] (GOC) of the new incarnation of the division was Major-General [[Alan Cunningham]], who, in October 1940, was sent to the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Middle East]]. He was replaced by Major-General [[Neil Ritchie]]. Almost two years of home defence and training duties followed on the south coast of England and northeast coast of Scotland against a potential [[Operation Sea Lion|German invasion]], which never arrived.<ref>Salmond, pp.&nbsp; 19–25.</ref><ref>Gorle, pp.&nbsp; 10–16.</ref>

In June 1941, Major-General Ritchie was sent to the Middle East and Major-General [[Douglas Wimberley]], who had served with the original 51st (Highland) Division during the First World War and more recently commanded the 152nd Brigade, assumed command.<ref>Delaforce, ppp. 22-2322–23.</ref> With the arrival of Wimberley as GOC, strenuous training for future operations overseas began. By June 1942, the division was ordered to prepare for service overseas.<ref>Spiers et al, p. 572.</ref>

[[File:The British Army in Tunisia 1943 NA1053.jpg|thumb|right|Men of the 5th/7th Battalion, [[Gordon Highlanders]], on patrol in [[Wadi Zessar]], [[Tunisia]], 10 March 1943.]]

Subsequently, the division was involved in many battles of the [[Tunisian Campaign]], including the [[battle of Wadi Akarit]], in early April 1943, and took part in the frontal assault on strongpoints guarded by deep minefields, where it was on the far right of the line. The [[Commanding officer|Commanding Officer]] (CO) of the 7th Battalion, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]], [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Lorne MacLaine Campbell]], was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his leadership during the battle. The war in North Africa ended on 13 May 1943 with the surrender of almost 250,000 [[Axis powers|Axis]] soldiers as [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]] (POWs). Throughout the fighting in North Africa the division served under the command of the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]], under [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Bernard Montgomery]].<ref>Spiers et al, p. 573.</ref>

When a group of recuperating wounded soldiers of the 51st returned from their North African hospital to rejoin the division in Sicily, they were instead split up and ordered to various units and formations, mainly the [[46th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|British 46th Infantry Division]] which had suffered heavy casualties during the [[Allied invasion of Italy|Salerno landings]], totally unrelated to the 51st Division or its component regiments. Some soldiers of the division regarded this as administrative high-handedness and refused to follow these orders, and the result was the [[Salerno Mutiny]]. The mutineers were distributed to various units regardless, while ringleaders were sentenced to death (the sentences were later commuted and finally quashed).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cabarfeidh.com/mutiny%20salerno.htm|title=The Salerno Mutiny of 1943|access-date=2007-06-28|date=August 2003|work=History Magazine|publisher=BBC|first=Roy|last=Bainton|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904002439/http://www.cabarfeidh.com/mutiny%20salerno.htm|archive-date=September 4, September 2006}}</ref>

[[File:The British Army in Normandythe United Kingdom 19441939-45 B5289H35960.jpg|thumb|leftright|MenGeneral ofSir eitherBernard Montgomery, the 1stnewly orappointed 5/7thcommander Battalion,of the [[Gordon21st HighlandersArmy Group]], advanceinspects intoofficers [[Bénouville,and Calvados|Benouville]]men onof the Caen5/7th canalBattalion, soonGordon after arrivalHighlanders inat [[NormandyBeaconsfield]], [[FranceBuckinghamshire]], 7 JuneFebruary 1944.]]

Most of the 51st [[Invasion of Normandy|landed in Normandy]] as part of [[Operation Overlord]] on 7 June 1944, a day after [[Normandy landings|D-Day]], as part of [[I Corps (United Kingdom)|British I Corps]], under [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[John Crocker]]. After spending a brief period supporting the [[3rd Canadian Division|3rd Canadian Infantry Division]], it was sent across the [[Orne (river)|River Orne]], and spent two months supporting the [[6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)|6th Airborne Division]] in its [[bridgehead]]. During this period it fought many difficult actions at places such as [[Battle of BrevilleBréville|BrevilleBréville]] (11–12 June) and [[Colombelles]] (11 July).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bjmh.gold.ac.uk/article/download/773/895/|title=Why did 51st Highland Division Fail? A case-study in command and combat effectiveness|first=Anthony|last=King|publisher=University of Warwick|page=46|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>

The 51st (Highland) Infantry Division's performance in Normandy was, overall, considered disappointing,<ref name=king>{{cite webjournal|title=Why did 51st Highland Division Fail? A case-study in command and combat effectiveness |url=http://bjmh.gold.ac.uk/article/view/773|publisherjournal=British Journal for Military History|first=Anthony |last=King|date=November 2017|volume=4|issue=1|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> particularly by General Montgomery, now the [[Commander-in-chief|Commander-in-Chief]] (C-in-C) of the Allied land forces in Normandy, who stated in a telegram to [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke|Sir Alan Brooke]], the [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] (CIGS, the professional head of the British Army), that the division "''had failed every mission it was given''".<ref>Doherty, p. 167.</ref> This led to the replacement of its GOC, Major-General [[Charles Bullen-Smith]]; his dismissal is not mentioned in the Divisional Official History nor formation accounts.<ref name=king/> His successor was Major-General [[Tom Rennie]], who had served with the division in France, North Africa and Sicily before being elevated to command of the [[3rd Division (United Kingdom) Division|British 3rd Infantry Division]] for the Normandy invasion, which he commanded until being wounded soon after D-Day, but had now recovered.<ref>Delaforce, p. 145.</ref>

In January 1945, the division, along with the rest of XXX Corps, helped to cut off the northern tip of the German salient, linking up with the [[84th Division (United States)|U.S. 84th Infantry Division]] at Nisramont on 14 January.<ref>Delaforce, pp.&nbsp;196–7 196–197.</ref> Following this, the division was involved in [[Operation Veritable]], the clearing of the [[Rhineland]]. In late March the 51st took part in Operation Turnscrew<ref>Tim Saunders 2008 "Operation Varsity", p. 61, accessed 10 SeptSeptember 2020.</ref> within the framework of [[Operation Plunder]], the crossing of the [[Rhine|River Rhine]], near the town of Rees, where the GOC, Major General Tom Rennie, was killed by enemy mortar fire. He was replaced by Major General [[Gordon MacMillan]], a very highly experienced and competent commander who had previously been the GOC of the [[49th (West Riding) Infantry Division]].<ref>MacMillan 2013, p. 91.</ref>

The division [[Western Allied invasion of Germany|advanced through Germany]] and ended the war in the [[Bremerhaven]] area of [[Northern Germany]]. During the North-West Europe campaign the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division had suffered a total of 19,524 battle casualties.<ref>Salmond, p. 273.</ref>

A specific [[51st (Highland) Division Monument (Beaumont-Hamel)|memorial to the 51st division]] created by the sculptor [[George Henry Paulin]] exists at the [[Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial]] site on the Somme.<ref>Salmond, ppp. 270–271.270-271</ref>

* "The Beaches of St. Valery", performed by the [[Battlefield Band]]. Written by [[Davy Steele]], it tells the story of the 51st Division's struggle to reach Saint-Valéry-en-Caux in 1940 only to find that no ships had been sent to evacuate them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7INre6oo9es |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/7INre6oo9es| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=The Beaches of St. Valery|publisher=Battlefield Band|access-date=24 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

* "The Old Boys", performed by the Scottish group [[Runrig]], who sing in both English and [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]]. The song which first appeared on the album Recovery (1981) and was reprised on Protera (2003) speaks of the declining numbers of Gaelic speaking members of the 51st who fought at St Valery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iQCOge3vMA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/9iQCOge3vMA| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=The Old Boys|publisher=Runrig |access-date=24 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

* "Farewell, 51st, farewell!", a folk song written by [[Andy Stewart (musician)|Andy Stewart]], about scrapping of the 51st Division, but indicates that they will never be forgotten, as the lyrics say "On the glory road of fame, there is honour tae your name. Farewell 51st, Farewell."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmMs-NqGa3Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/cmMs-NqGa3Q| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Farewell, 51st, farewell!|publisher=Andy Stewart|access-date=24 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

* "The 51st Highland Division", a 4/4 march composed by Pipe Major Donald Mac leod.<ref>Queen's Own Highlanders Caber Feidh collection of bagpipe music (Book 2), Patterson's Publications, London.</ref>

* "The 51st Highland Division Farewell", a 2/4 march composed by Dr. Charles Bannatyne.<ref>Logan's Complete Collection of Highland Bagpipe Music, Tutor Number Eight.</ref>

* "The 51st Highland Division at Wadi Akarit", a 2/4 march composed by W. Mac Donald.<ref>Queen's Own Highlanders standard settings of bagpipe music, Patterson's Publications, London.</ref>

{{seeSee also|General officer commanding}}

|3 March 1914

|Major-General [[Colin John Mackenzie (British Army officer)|Colin J. Mackenzie]]

|23 August 1914

|24 September 1915

|Major-General [[George Montague Harper (British Army officer)|George M. Harper]]

|16 March 1918

|Major-General [[George Carter-Campbell|George T. C. Carter-Campbell]]

|Major-General [[Colin Muir Barber|Colin M. Barber]]<brref><small>(GOC{{cite Highlandjournal|date=1946|title=Army District)Notes|journal=Royal United Services Institution|volume=92|issue=566|page=298|doi=10.1080/03071844709434007}}</smallref>

|Major-General [[Frederick Graham (British Army officer)|Frederick C. C. Graham]]

!colspan= | 51st (Highland) Division<ref name = Becke>Becke, pp. 101–7101–107.</ref><ref name=trail>{{cite web|url=https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/51st-highland-division/ |title=51 Division |publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>

!colspan= | 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (1939-19401939–1940)<ref>Joslen, p. 83.</ref><ref>Doherty, pp.&nbsp; 277–78</ref>

!colspan= | 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (1941-19451941–1945)<ref>Joslen, p. 83.</ref>

* 152nd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 1 September 1940, disbandedbecame 14A DecemberSquadron 51st Battalion, [[Reconnaissance Corps]] February 1941)''<ref name = Recce>[https://archive.today/20121223182743/http://www.recce.adsl24.co.uk/regts/51st.htm 51st (H) Recce Regiment at Reconnaissance Corps website.]</ref>

* 153rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 1 September 1940, disbandedbecame 1B JanuarySquadron 51st Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps February 1941)''<ref name = Recce/>

* 154th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 1 September 1940, disbandedbecame 2C JanuarySquadron 51st Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps February 1941)''<ref name = Recce/>)''

* [[2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry]] ''(Reconnaissancejoined as reconnaissance regiment, from 20 January 1944)''

*13 Field Security Section, [[Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)|Intelligence Corps]] <ref>{{Cite book|title=Forearmed: A History of the Intelligence Corps|last=Clayton|first=Anthony|publisher=Brasseys|year=1993|pagespage=264}}</ref>

{{Portal|United Kingdom|War|World War I|World War II}}

{{notelistNotelist}}

* Becke, Maj A. F.,(2007) ''History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56)'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1935/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, {{ISBN|1-847347-39-8}}.

* Beckett, Ian F. W. (2008) 'Territorials: A Century of Service,' published by DRA Printing of 14 Mary Seacole Road, The Millfields, Plymouth PL1 3JY on behalf of TA 100, {{ISBN|978-0-9557813-1-5}},

* {{cite book|last= Delaney

* Joslen, Lt-Col H.F. (2003) [1st pub. HMSO:1960].Joslen, ''Orders of Battle:, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945.'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990, ISBN 0-948130-03-2/Uckfield: Naval and& Military Press., 2003, {{ISBN|978- 1-84342843424-47474-1}}6.

* King, Anthony (2017) ''Why did 51st Highland Division Fail? A case-study in command and combat effectiveness'', ''British Journal for Military History'', Vol. 4, No.1.

* Salmond, J. B. (1953) ''The Story of the 51st Highland Division''. Wm Blackwood & Sons, No ISBN.

* Swaab, Jack (2005) "Field of Fire: Diary of a Gunner Officer". Sutton Publishing, {{ISBN|0-7509-4275-4}}

===External links===