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51st (Highland) Division

The 51st (Highland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought on the Western Front in France during the 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 George Harper although they would go on to gain a fearsome reputation with the Allies and Germans.

Highland Division
51st (Highland) Division
51st (Highland) Infantry Division
51st/52nd (Scottish) Division

August 1908 – March 1919
1920–1946
1950–1968

United Kingdom

Territorial Army

Infantry

Division

Perth

First World War:
*Harper's Duds
*Ladies from Hell
Second World War:
*Highway Decorators

First World War:
*Battle of the Somme (1916)
*Battle of Arras (1917)
*Third Battle of Ypres (1917)
*Battle of Cambrai (1917)
*German Spring Offensive
*Hundred Days Offensive
Second World War:
*Battle of France
*Second Battle of El Alamein
*Allied invasion of Sicily
*Normandy Campaign
*Operation Veritable
*Operation Plunder

First World War:
Major-General George Harper
Second World War: Victor Fortune
Alan Cunningham
Neil Ritchie
Douglas Wimberley
Tom Rennie

The division was renamed the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division and fought during the Second World War as part of the 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.


By December 1947, the formation amalgamated with 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division to become 51st/52nd Scottish Division,[1] but, by March 1950, 51st Division and 52nd Division had been recreated as separate formations.[2] 51st (Highland) Division finally disbanded in 1968.

Formation[edit]

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, the Honourable Artillery Company and the Yeomanry. On formation, the TF contained 14 infantry divisions and 14 mounted yeomanry brigades.[3] One of the divisions was the Highland Division.[4] In peacetime, the divisional headquarters was at 2 Charlotte Street in Perth.[4][5]

Inter-war period[edit]

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.[12]

Post War[edit]

A related formation, the 51st (Scottish) Division, was reformed in the Territorial Army after the Second World War. Beckett 2008 says that Territorial Army units that were in suspended animation were formally reactivated on 1 January 1947, though no personnel were assigned until commanding officers and permanent staff had been appointed in March and April 1947.[51] By December 1947, the formation amalgamated with 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division to become 51st/52nd Scottish Division,[1] but, by March 1950, 51st Division and 52nd Division had been recreated as separate formations.[2]


From December 1955, the division was placed on a lower establishment, for home defence purposes only.[52] On 1 May 1961, the division was merged with Highland District to become 51st Highland Division/District.[53] 51st (Highland) Division was disbanded in 1968.[54]

"The 51st (Highland) Division's Farewell to Sicily", a folk song written by , a former officer who served in the 51st Division during the Sicilian campaign. It has been recorded by a number of folk singers, including Dick Gaughan.[57]

Hamish Henderson

"The Beaches of St. Valery", performed by the . 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.[58]

Battlefield Band

"The Old Boys", performed by the Scottish group , who sing in both English and 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.[59]

Runrig

"Farewell, 51st, farewell!", a folk song written by , 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."[60]

Andy Stewart

"The 51st Highland Division", a 4/4 march composed by Pipe Major Donald Mac leod.

[61]

"The 51st Highland Division Farewell", a 2/4 march composed by Dr. Charles Bannatyne.

[62]

"The 51st Highland Division at Wadi Akarit", a 2/4 march composed by W. Mac Donald.

[63]

William Gosling, Royal Field Artillery, 3rd Wessex Brigade

Sergeant

George McIntosh, 1/6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

Private

Sergeant , 1/6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

Alexander Edwards

Robert McBeath, 1/5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

Lance Corporal

Sergeant , 4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

John Meikle

William Davidson Bissett, 1/6th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Lieutenant

List of British divisions in World War I

List of British divisions in World War II

British Army Order of Battle (September 1939)