XXII Corps (United Kingdom)

This article is about the United Kingdom Army unit. For other units of the same name, see XXII Corps.

The British XXII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I.

XXII Corps
XXII Corps formation badge.
Active	World War I
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Field corps
Part of	First Army
Engagements	World War I Battle of the Lys Second Battle of the Lys Second Battle of Arras Battles of the Hindenburg Line Final Advance in Picardy

History

British XXII Corps was formed in France in December 1917, from what was left of II ANZAC, once the Australian divisions had left to form the Australian Corps. In July 1918, significantly reconstituted as an inter-Allied reserve corps, by the addition of four first-line British Army divisions, the 15th (Scottish) Division, the 34th Division, the 51st (Highland) Division and the 62nd (West Riding) Division. It was placed under French command in July 1918 prior to the German "Friedensturm" (Peace Offensive). The Corps played an important role in the "pinching-off" of the Soissons–Rheims salient (which had been established by the German "Bluecher" Offensive in late May 1918) in the Second Battle of the Marne. Two divisions (15th, 34th) went into action with the French Tenth Army (Mangin) against the Soissons "hinge", two (51st, 62nd) in the Ardre valley with the French Fifth Army (Berthelot) against the Rheims "hinge".

XXII Corps was returned to Haig’s command in early August 1918 to help him bring forward the start date for the Amiens offensive.

General Officers Commanding

Commanders included:

• [28 March 1916] – 27 August 1918 Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander Godley
• 27 August – 12 September 1918 Lieutenant-General Sir Walter Braithwaite (temporary)
• 12 September 1918 – March 1919 Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander Godley

Books

• Greenhalgh, Elizabeth (2014). The French Army and the First World War. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-60568-8.