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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
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| 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 =
| branch =
| type = [[Infantry]]
| size = [[Division (military)|Division]]
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}}
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 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 been 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.
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The First World War doubts were the result of the way in which the division was initially plundered in late 1914 to early 1915, during a period of great strain on the [[Regular army|Regular Army]] troops of the original [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF), serving on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]. In August 1914, upon mobilization, the division's infantry element had comprised 12 battalions in 3 regimentally-named brigades: the [[152nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|Seaforth and Cameron Brigade]], the [[153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|Gordon Highlanders Brigade]] and the [[154th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Brigade]]. A crisis on the Western Front in late 1914 saw increasing numbers of individual TF battalions being seconded to Regular Army formations on the Western Front. The first TF formation to be plundered in this way was the [[56th (London) Infantry Division|1st London Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/56th-1st-london-division/|title=56th (1st London) Division|publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=19 May 2020}}</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 [[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 1914–1915|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 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
[[File:The Battle of the Somme, July-november 1916 Q4507.jpg|thumb|right|Prisoners taken in Beaumont Hamel, France, during the [[Battle of the Ancre]], by the 51st (Highland) Division, 13 November 1916.]]
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.]]
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With the situation regarding [[Nazi Germany]] deteriorating and the threat of war on the rise, the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division was mobilised on 24 August 1939. In preparation for joining the BEF in France, the division travelled from Scotland to [[Aldershot]], where it received final equipping and training. All units had arrived at Aldershot by 16 September 1939. The men were required to wear the standard British Army battledress of the day. The [[War Office]] had decided that [[kilts]] were not suited to modern mechanised warfare and did not provide protection in the event of a gas attack. Thus the men were required to hand in their kilts before embarking for France.<ref name=David/>
In mid-January 1940 the division 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 [[
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>
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As other camps were brought into operation, a large proportion of the POWs were transferred – most to [[Stalag XX-B]] at [[Malbork]] and [[Stalag 344]] at [[Lambinowice]], but with small numbers in many other camps.{{efn|A search of the British Prisoners of War database for East Surrey Regiment POWs (2nd/6th attached to the 51st in the closing days of the campaign) gives 133 in [[Stalag 344]], 98 in [[Stalag XX-B]], 52 in [[Stalag VII-A]], 52 in [[Stalag VIII-B]], 50 in [[Stalag XX-A]] and smaller numbers in other camps. The same process can be carried out with the unit name of any other unit captured at St Valery with broadly similar results. The search cannot precisely identify those captured at St Valery, but is broadly indicative of the position.}}<ref>{{cite web|title=UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945|url=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1601|website=Ancestry UK|access-date=5 February 2018|url-access=subscription }}</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)|''
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>
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|Major-General [[Charles Woollcombe|Charles L. Woollcombe]]
|-
|3 March 1914
|Major-General [[Colin Mackenzie (British Army officer)|Colin J. Mackenzie]]
|-
|23 August 1914
|Brigadier-General [[Duncan Alwyn Macfarlane]]
|-
|27 August 1914
|Major-General [[Richard Bannatine-Allason]]
|-
|24 September 1915
|Major-General [[George Harper (British Army officer)|George M. Harper]]
|-
|11 March 1918
|Brigadier-General [[Louis Oldfield]]
|-
|16 March 1918
|Major-General [[George Carter-Campbell|George T. C. Carter-Campbell]]
|-
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|-
|11 January 1947
|Major-General [[Colin Muir Barber|Colin M. Barber]]<ref>{{cite journal|date=1946|title=Army Notes|journal=Royal United Services Institution|volume=92
|-
|May 1949
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* 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders ''(left 23 August 1940)''
* 5th Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
* 152nd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 1 September 1940,
* 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders ''(from 5 April 1941)''
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* 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders ''(left 2 September 1940)''
* 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
* 153rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 1 September 1940,
* 5th/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders ''(from 21 October 1940)''
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* 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders ''(left 22 September 1941)''
* 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders ''(left 4 September 1940)''
* 154th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company ''(formed 1 September 1940,
* 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) ''(from 24 October 1940)''
'''Divisional Troops'''
* [[Reconnaissance_Corps#Units|51st Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps]] ''(formed from 14th Battalion, [[Highland Light Infantry]], and brigade anti-tank companies January 1941, became 51st (Highland) Reconnaissance Regiment 6 June 1942, reverted to 14th HLI 14 January 1943)''<ref name = Recce/><ref>Frederick, p. 259.</ref>
* [[2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry]] ''(
* 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment ''(from 20 November 1941, joined as Machine Gun Battalion, became Support Battalion 10 December 1943, reverted to MG Battalion 28 February 1944)''
* [[1st Aberdeenshire Artillery Volunteers#126th (Highland) Field Regiment|126th (Highland) Field Regiment]], Royal Artillery
* [[1st Forfarshire Artillery Volunteers#127th (Highland) Field Regiment|127th (Highland) Field Regiment]], Royal Artillery
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==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom
* [[List of British divisions in World War I]]
* [[List of British divisions in World War II]]
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==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|2}}
* 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 |title=The History of the 51st (Highland) Division 1914–1918 |last=Bewsher |first=F. W. |year=1921 |publisher=Blackwood |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/historyof51sthig00bews |access-date=14 September 2014 |edition=N & M Press 2001 |isbn=1-84342-108-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Bond|first=Brian|title=The Battle for France & Flanders: Sixty Years On|publisher=Pen and Sword|year=2001|isbn=978-0850528114}}
*{{cite book|last=Campbell|first=Colin|title=The 51st (Highland) Division in the Great War: Engine of Destruction|publisher=[[Pen and Sword Books]]|year=2019|isbn=978-1526747037}}
* Delaforce, Patrick, (2007) ''Monty's Highlanders: The Story of the 51st Highland Division'' Pen & Sword, {{ISBN|1-84415-512-9}}
* {{cite book|last= Delaney
|first= Douglas E. |title=Corps Commanders: Five British and Canadian Generals at War, 1939-45|publisher=UBC Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0774820905}}
* Doherty, Richard, (2006) ''None Bolder: The History of the 51st Highland Division in the Second World War'' Spellmount, {{ISBN|1-86227-317-0}}
* J.B.M. Frederick, ''Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978'', Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
* Gorle, Richmond (2011) "The Quiet Gunner" Alamein to the Rhine with the Scottish Divisions, Pen and Sword {{ISBN|978-1-84884-540-4}}
* Lt-Col H.F. 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 & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6.
* King, Anthony (2017)
* Linklater, Eric (1942) ''The Highland Division''. HMSO, No ISBN.
* Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. (2003) ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 3.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, {{ISBN|2-913903-88-6}} {{in lang|fr}}
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* {{cite book| last = Westlake | first = Ray| year = 1992| title = British Territorial Units 1914–18| volume = 245 | series = Men-at-Arms Series | publisher = Osprey| isbn = 978-1-85532-168-7}}
===External links===
* [http://www.51hd.co.uk/ The Official Website of the 51 Highland Division]
* [http://www.1914-1918.net The British Army in the Great War: The Long, Long Trail]
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081220184054/http://orbat.com/ Orbat.com]
* [http://www.normandythenandnow.com/the-last-battle/ Timeline history of 1940 surrender with photos of the memorial at Veules-les-Roses]
{{refend}}
{{British Army Divisions}}
{{Authority control}}
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