British Army order of battle (September 1939)

The organisation of Divisions and Brigades of British Army in 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War, is listed below.

The ultimate head of all the British armed forces was nominally King George VI, with the various departments of state coming underneath. The War Office covered the Army in the United Kingdom, and the Middle East Command. The professional head of the Army was the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Lord Gort. However, Gort would command the BEF when it crossed to the continent, being replaced by General Ironside. The army was administered through the Army Council, comparable to the Air Staff or the Admiralty.

Leslie Hore-Belisha was responsible for the War Office in his role as Secretary of State for War.

Northern Command
The Northern Command, under General Officer Commanding, Northern Command - Lieutenant General Sir William Bartholomew, with its HQ in York.


 * Chief Administration Officer, Northern Command - Major General Cyril Geep
 * Brigadier General Staff, Northern Command - Brigadier General Sir Edwin Logie Morries
 * Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General, Northern Command - Brigadier General Richard Augustin Marriott Basset
 * Deputy Director of Supplies and Transport, Northern Command - Colonel Philip Alexander Arden
 * Brigadier Royal Artillery, Northern Command - Brigadier General Sir William Wyndham Green
 * Chief Engineer, Northern Command - Brigadier General George Brian Ogilvie Taylor
 * Deputy Chief Engineer, Northern Command - Colonel Brian Bingay Edwards
 * Chief Signals Officer, Northern Command - Brigadier General Courtney William Fladgate
 * Deputy Director of Ordnance Services, Northern Command - Brigadier General Wallace Edward Colin Pickthall
 * Deputy Director Medical Services, Northern Command - Major General Sir Ernest Marshall Cowell
 * Deputy Director of Hygiene, Northern Command - Brigadier General John Galbraith Gill
 * 5th Infantry Division
 * Headquarters - Catterick Garrison
 * 13th Infantry Brigade
 * Headquarters at Catterick Camp
 * 2nd Battalion, Cameronians
 * 2nd Battalion, Inniskilling Fusiliers
 * 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
 * Attached - 1st Battalion, Green Howards
 * 15th Infantry Brigade
 * Headquarters at York
 * 1st Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry - Strensall
 * 1st Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders - Glasgow
 * Commander, Royal Engineers
 * Headquarters at Catterick Camp
 * 55th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 5th Divisional Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals
 * Commander, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.19 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.34 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.51 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * Training Battalion, Royal Corps of Signals
 * Northumbrian Area (HQ in Darlington).
 * 23rd (Northumbrian) Motor Division
 * 69th Infantry Brigade
 * 70th Infantry Brigade
 * 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Division
 * 150th Infantry Brigade
 * 151st Infantry Brigade
 * 25th Army Tank Brigade
 * Northumberland Hussars - Newcastle upon Tyne
 * 1st East Riding Yeomanry - Hull
 * 2nd East Riding Yeomanry - Hull
 * 7th Machine-Gun Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers - Alnwick
 * 9th Machine-Gun Battalion, Northumberland Fusilers - Alnwick
 * 4th Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery - Gateshead
 * 6th Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery - Gateshead
 * 234th (Northumberland) Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 406th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * Northumberland Fusilers Depot - Newcastle upon Tyne
 * East Yorkshire Regiment Depot - Beverley
 * Green Howards Depot - Richmond
 * Durham Light Infantry Depot - Newcastle upon Tyne
 * Coastal Defense Group
 * Tynemouth Coastal Artillery Regiment - Blyth
 * East Riding Coastal Artillery Regiment - Hull
 * Durham Coastal Artillery Regiment - Hartlepool
 * Anti-Aircraft Command Separate Support Units
 * 37th (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery - Tynemouth
 * 123rd Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery, Royal Artillery - Durham
 * 127th Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery, Royal Artillery - North Riding
 * West Riding Area (HQ in York). Controlled united in West Riding of Yorkshire, County Borough of York, Strensall Camp, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.
 * 46th Infantry Division
 * 137th Infantry Brigade
 * 138th Infantry Brigade
 * 139th Infantry Brigade
 * Divisional Artillery Group
 * 121st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 122nd (West Riding) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 123rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 68th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * Divisional Engineers Group
 * 270th Field Engineer Company, Royal Engineers
 * 271st Field Engineer Company, Royal Engineers
 * 272nd Field Engineer Company, Royal Engineers
 * 273rd Park Engineer Company, Royal Engineers
 * 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
 * Headquarters
 * 143rd Infantry Brigade
 * 144th Infantry Brigade
 * 145th Infantry Brigade
 * Divisional Artillery Group
 * 67th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 68th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 99th (Buckinghamshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 53rd (Worcestershire and Oxfordshire Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * Divisional Engineer Group
 * 224th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 225th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 226th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 227th Field Park, Royal Engineers
 * 5th Cavalry Brigade
 * Direct Reporting Units
 * 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars - York
 * 7th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 20th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * Royal Artillery Defences, Northern Ports
 * Headquarters - Tynemouth
 * Humber Fire Command
 * Tees and Hartlepool Fire Command
 * Tyne Fire Command
 * Signals Training Center
 * Depot Battalion, Royal Corps of Signals
 * Training Battalion, Royal Corps of Signals
 * No.4 Artillery Signals Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * 7th Tank Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * Northern Command Signals Company, Royal Corps of Signals
 * No.15 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.23 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * H Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.5 Company, Royal Military Police
 * Anti-Aircraft Command Supporting Units
 * 27th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 38th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 39th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 52nd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
 * 106th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
 * 109th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
 * 126th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
 * Supplementary Reserve Units
 * Railway Operating Group, Royal Engineers - Leeds
 * 150th Railway Construction Company, Royal Engineers - Cambridge
 * No.1 Docks Group, Royal Engineers - York
 * No.2 Docks Group, Royal Engineers - Crewe
 * 106th (West Riding) Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers - Doncaster
 * 107th (North Riding) Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers - Middlesbrough
 * Air Formation Signals, Royal Corps of Signals - Leeds
 * Service Units
 * Headquarters
 * 8th Field Hospital Company - York
 * 9th Ordnance Section, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Chilwell
 * 13th Ordnance Section, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Catterick Garrison
 * Northern Army Pay Platoon, Royal Army Pay Corps - York
 * Direct Reporting Units
 * 7th Regiment, Royal Artillery - Catterick Garrison
 * Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Depot - Catterick Garrison
 * Signal Training Center, Royal Corps of Signals - Catterick Garrison
 * Depot, Training Battalions, Royal Corps of Signals - Catterick Garrison
 * No.4 Artillery Support Unit, Royal Corps of Signals - Catterick Garrison
 * No.7 Artillery Support Unit, Royal Corps of Signals - Catterick Garrison
 * Northern Command Support Unit, Royal Corps of Signals - York
 * Royal Artillery Fixed Defenses, Northern Ports
 * Headquarters - Tynemouth Castle
 * Humber Coastal Artillery Fire Command - Hedon
 * Tees and Hartlepool Coastal Artillery Fire Command - Hartlepool
 * Tynemouth Coastal Artillery Fire Command - Tynemouth

Eastern Command
Eastern Command, under General Officer Commanding, Eastern Command - Lieutenant General Sir Guy Williams, with its HQ in London. Apart from the 4th Infantry Division, the units were drawn from the Territorial Army.


 * Chief Administration Officer, Eastern Command - Major General Llewellyn Isaac Gethin Morgan-Owen
 * Brigadier General Staff, Eastern Command - Brigadier General Ridley Pakenham Pakenham-Walsh
 * Deputy Adjutant-General, Eastern Command - Brigadier General George Watkin Eben James Erskine
 * Assistant Adjutant-General, Eastern Command - Colonel Jesse Pevensey Duke
 * Deputy Quartermaster-General, Eastern Command - Brigadier General Robert Thomas Cooke
 * Chief Engineer Officer, Eastern Command - Brigadier General William Cave-Brown
 * Chief Signal Officer, Eastern Command - Brigadier General Oliver Pearce Edgecombe
 * Deputy Director of Ordnance Services, Eastern Command - Brigadier General Cecil Francis Tyssen Haigh
 * Deputy Director of Supplies ad Transport, Eastern Command - Brigadier General Arthur Francis St. Clair Collins
 * Deputy Director Medical Services, Eastern Command - Major General Leopold Thomas Poole
 * Consulting Surgeon, Eastern Command - Major General Sir William Heneage Ogilvie
 * 4th Infantry Division
 * Headquarters - Colchester
 * 10th Infantry Brigade
 * 11th Infantry Brigade
 * 12th Infantry Brigade
 * East Anglia Area (HQ in Hertford).
 * 18th Infantry Division
 * Headquarters - Hertford
 * 53rd Infantry Brigade
 * 54th Infantry Brigade
 * 55th Infantry Brigade
 * 54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division
 * Headquarters - Hertford
 * 161st Infantry Brigade
 * 162nd Infantry Brigade
 * 163rd Infantry Brigade
 * Direct Reporting Units
 * 1/7th Machine-Gun Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment
 * 2/7th Machine-Gun Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment
 * 1/8th Machine-Gun Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment
 * 2/8th Machine-Gun Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment
 * 147th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
 * 58th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 67th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * Suffolk Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 250th Field Company, Royal Artillery
 * Suffolk Fortress Engineers
 * Norfolk Regiment Depot
 * Suffolk Regiment Depot
 * Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Depot
 * Essex Regiment Depot
 * Middlesex Regiment Depot
 * Anti-Aircraft Command Attached Units
 * 97th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
 * 119th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
 * Home Counties Area (HQ in Woolwich).
 * 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division
 * 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division
 * 21st Tank Brigade
 * East Kent District
 * Kent and South-Eastern Districts
 * Sussex District
 * Surrey and Sussex Districts
 * Chatham Area (HQ in Chatham).
 * Training Battalion, Royal Engineers
 * Depot Training Battalion, Royal Engineers
 * Thames and Medway Heavy Coastal Artillery, Royal Artillery
 * Service Units
 * 9th Field Hospital Company, Royal Army Medical Corps - Colchester
 * 10th Field Hospital Company, Royal Army Medical Corps - Shorncliffe Army Camp
 * 12th Field Hospital Company, Royal Army Medical Corps - Woolwich
 * 18th Field Hospital Company, Royal Army Medical Corps - London
 * 7th Ordnance Section, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Dover
 * 8th Ordnance Section, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Colchester
 * Eastern Command Unit, Royal Army Pay Corps - Barnet
 * Eastern Command Unit, Royal Army Pay Corps - Canterbury
 * Eastern Command Unit, Royal Army Pay Corps - Chatham-Kent
 * Eastern Command Unit, Royal Army Pay Corps - Foots Cray
 * Eastern Command Unit, Royal Army Pay Corps - Hounslow
 * Eastern Command Unit, Royal Army Pay Corps - Warley
 * Eastern Command Unit, Royal Army Pay Corps - London
 * Eastern Command Platoon, Royal Army Veterinary Corps - Woolwich
 * Eastern Command Platoon, Royal Army Veterinary Corps - Colchester
 * Eastern Command Platoon, Royal Army Veterinary Corps - Shorncliffe Army Camp
 * 1st Section, Royal Army Veterinary Corps - Woolwich
 * Supplementary Reserve Units

Western Command
The Western Command, under General Officer Commanding, Western Command - Lieutenant General Sir Robert Haining, had its HQ in Chester.


 * Chief Administration Officer, Western Command - Major General Robert Francis Brydges Naylor
 * Brigadier General Staff, Western Command - Brigadier General Hubert Elvin Rance
 * Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster General, Western Command
 * Assistant Adjutant-General, Western Command - Colonel Robert Morton
 * Brigadier Royal Artillery, Western Command
 * Chief Engineer Officer, Western Command
 * Deputy Chief Engineer, Western Command - Colonel Harry Ewart Hopthrow
 * Chief Signal Officer, Western Command
 * Deputy Director of Medical Services, Western Command - Major General William Brooke Purdon
 * Consulting Physician, Western Command - Major General Robert Cecil Priest
 * Deputy Director of Supplies and Transport, Western Command - Brigadier General Henry Noel Gallagher

Direct Reporting Units

 * 2nd Battalion, The Royal East Kent Buffs Regiment - Pembroke Dock
 * 2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * Headquarters - Lichfield
 * 1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery - Lichfield
 * 1st Anti-Aircraft Battery
 * 2nd Anti-Aircraft Battery
 * 17th Anti-Aircraft Battery
 * 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
 * 2nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery - Lichfield
 * 4th Anti-Aircraft Battery
 * 5th Anti-Aircraft Battery
 * 6th Anti-Aircraft Battery
 * 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
 * Western Command Signals, Royal Corps of Signals - Chester
 * Royal Artillery Fixed Defenses, North-Western Ports
 * Headquarters - Liverpool
 * Mersey Fire Command - Liverpool
 * Royal Artillery Fixed Defenses, Welsh Ports
 * Headquarters - Defensible Barracks, Pembroke Dock
 * Milford Haven Fire Command - Pembroke
 * Severn Fire Command - Barry Island

Welsh Area
Welsh Area had control all units in Wales and the separate counties of: Shropshire, Herefordshire. and including the city of Beachley.


 * Headquarters - Shrewsbury
 * 3rd Field Depot, Royal Artillery - Oswestry
 * 4th Field Depot, Royal Artillery - Kinmel
 * 10th Anti-Aircraft Depot, Royal Artillery - Oswestry
 * 11th Anti-Aircraft Depot, Royal Artillery - Oswestry
 * 15th Searchlight Depot, Royal Artillery - Oswestry
 * 16th Searchlight Depot, Royal Artillery - Kinmel
 * 17th Searchlight Depot, Royal Artillery - Hereford
 * 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division
 * Headquarters - Shrewsbury
 * 53rd Divisional Signals
 * 158th Infantry Brigade
 * Headquarters - Wrexham
 * 4th (Denbigh) Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers - Wrexham
 * 6th (Carnarvon and Anglesey) Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers - Caernarfon
 * 7th (Merioneth and Montgomery) Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers - Newtown
 * 159th Infantry Brigade
 * Headquarters - Newport
 * 4th Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry - Shrewsbury
 * 3rd Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment, The South Wales Borderers - Abergavenny
 * 1st Battalion, The Hertfordshire Regiment, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry - Hereford
 * 160th Infantry Brigade
 * Headquarters - Cardiff
 * 4th (Llanelly) Battalion, The Welch Regiment - Llanelly
 * 1st/5th (Glamorgan) Battalion, The Welch Regiment - Pontypridd
 * 2nd Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment, The South Wales Borderers - Pontypool
 * Headquarters, Royal Engineers
 * Headquarters - Swansea
 * 224th (Welsh) Field Company, Royal Engineers - Swansea
 * 245th (Welsh) Field Company, Royal Engineers - Neath
 * 282th Field Company, Royal Engineers - Port Talbot
 * 285th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers - Gorseinon
 * Headquarters, Royal Artillery
 * Headquarters - Shrewsbury
 * 81st (Welsh) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery - Port Talbot
 * 83rd (Welsh) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery - Newport
 * 133rd (Welsh) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery - Griffithstown
 * 60th (Royal Welch Fusiliers) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery - Flint
 * 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division

Southern Command
The Southern Command, under Lieutenant General Sir Bertie Fisher, with its HQ in Salisbury.


 * 3rd Infantry Division
 * 1st Armoured Division
 * South-Western Area (HQ in Devonport).
 * 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division
 * 128th Infantry Brigade
 * 129th Infantry Brigade
 * 130th Infantry Brigade
 * Brigadier Royal Artillery, 43rd Infantry Division
 * Brigadier Royal Engineers, 43rd Infantry Division
 * 45th Infantry Division
 * 134th Infantry Brigade
 * 135th Infantry Brigade
 * 136th Infantry Brigade
 * Brigadier Royal Artillery, 45th Infantry Division
 * Brigadier Royal Engineers, 45th Infantry Division
 * Direct Reporting Units
 * Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
 * North Somerset Yeomanry
 * 5th Machine-Gun Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment
 * 7th Machine-Gun Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment
 * 1st Heavy Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 51st (Devon) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 55th (Devon) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * Portland Coastal Defense Brigade
 * Headquarters - Weymouth
 * Portland Coastal Fire Command
 * Dorsetshire Heavy Coastal Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * Dorsetshire Fortress Engineers, Royal Engineers
 * Plymouth and Falmouth Coastal Defense Brigade
 * Headquarters
 * Anti-Aircraft Command Attached Units
 * South Midland Area (HQ in Oxford).
 * 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division
 * 61st Infantry Division
 * 20th Light Armoured Brigade
 * Southern Area (HQ in Salisbury).
 * No divisions or brigades.
 * Salisbury Plain Area (HQ in Salisbury).
 * No divisions or brigades.
 * Direct Reporting Units
 * 9th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 3rd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * Southern Command Unit, Royal Corps of Signals
 * 1st Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 2nd Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 50th Chemical Warfare Battalion, Royal Engineers
 * Detachment from "The Survey Battalion, Royal Engineers
 * No.2 Artillery Signal Unit, Royal Corps of Signals
 * No.5 Artillery Signal Unit, Royal Corps of Signals
 * No.7 Artillery Signal Unit, Royal Corps of Signals
 * No.9 Artillery Signal Unit, Royal Corps of Signals
 * No.12 Artillery Signal Unit, Royal Corps of Signals
 * No.16 Artillery Signal Unit, Royal Corps of Signals
 * Supplementary Reserve Units
 * No.4 Air Unit, Royal Corps of Signals - Birmingham
 * No.31 Wireless Section, Royal Corps of Signals - Coventry
 * No.32 Wireless Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * Service Units
 * 4th Field Hospital Company, Royal Army Medical Corps - Netley
 * 20th Field Hospital Company, Royal Army Medical Corps - Tidworth
 * No.2 Section, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Tidworth
 * No.3 Section, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Bovington Camp
 * No.4 Section, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Didcot
 * Depot, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Hilsea
 * Southern Command Platoon, Royal Army Pay Corps
 * Southern Command Platoon, Royal Army Pay Corps
 * Southern Command Platoon, Royal Army Pay Corps
 * Southern Command Platoon, Royal Army Pay Corps
 * Southern Command Platoon, Royal Army Pay Corps
 * Southern Command Depot, Royal Army Veterinary Corps

Aldershot Command
Aldershot Command covered the Aldershot Garrison and surrounding "sub-garrisons". Commanded by General Officer Commanding, Aldershot Command;Lieutenant General Sir Charles Noel Frank Broad KCB DSO with HQ in Aldershot.


 * 1st (The King's) Dragoon Guards, Aldershot attached to 1st Light Armoured Brigade
 * 12th (The Prince of Wales's) Royal Lancers, Aldershot with armoured cars
 * 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, Farnborough attached to 1st Heavy Armoured Brigade
 * 2nd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, Longmoor (4th/7th and 8th/12th Batteries)
 * 5th Anti-Aircraft Depôt, Royal Artillery (M)
 * 6th Anti-Aircraft Depôt, Royal Artillery (M)
 * 1st Field Squadron, Royal Engineers

1st Army Tank Brigade

 * 1st Army Tank Brigade, Aldershot under Brigadier General Douglas Henry Pratt
 * 4th Royal Tank Regiment—only equipped regiment in brigade
 * 7th Royal Tank Regiment
 * 8th Royal Tank Regiment

1st Infantry Division

 * 1st Infantry Division, Aldershot under Major General Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander
 * 1st (Guards) Infantry Brigade, Aldershot under

1st Anti-Aircraft Brigade

 * 1st Anti-Aircraft Brigade, Blackdown, providing air defence for the garrison
 * 1st Anti-Aircraft Brigade Signals, Royal Signals
 * 6th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (3rd, 12th, & 15th AA Batteries)
 * 1st Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers (A and B AA Companies)
 * 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery

Scottish Command
The Scottish Command, under General Sir Charles Grant, with its HQ in Edinburgh.


 * Highland Area (HQ in Perth).
 * 9th (Highland) Infantry Division
 * 51st (Highland) Infantry Division
 * Lowland Area (HQ in Darlington).
 * 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division
 * 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division

Northern Ireland District
The Northern Ireland District, under Major-General Robert Pollok, with its HQ in Belfast. It had no subordinate divisions or brigades.


 * Headquarters - Belfast
 * Service Units
 * 26th Company, Royal Army Service Corps - Belfast
 * 53rd Company, Royal Army Service Corps - Belfast
 * 54th Company, Royal Army Service Corps - Derry
 * 15th Company, Royal Army Medical Corps - Holywood
 * North Ireland District Platoon, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Carrickfergus
 * Northern Ireland District Platoon, Royal Army Pay Corps - Belfast
 * 2nd Battalion, The South Wales Borderers - Derry
 * 1st Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment - Holywood
 * 2nd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment - Ballykinler
 * 2nd Battalion, The Sussex Regiment - Belfast
 * 188th Coastal Artillery Battery, Royal Artillery - Belfast
 * Antrim Fortress Engineers, Royal Engineers - Belfast
 * The North Irish Horse - Belfast
 * Northern Ireland District Signals, Royal Corps of Signals - Belfast
 * Inniskilling Depot - Omagh
 * Royal Ulster Rifles Depot - Armagh
 * Royal Artillery Fixed Defenses Group, Northern Ireland
 * Headquarters - Belfast
 * Belfast Fire Command - Belfast

London District
The London District, under General Officer Commanding, Major-General Andrew Thorne, with its HQ in Horse Guards. Also known as "General Officer Commanding, London District".


 * 1st (London) Motor Division
 * 2nd (London) Motor Division
 * 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade
 * Supplementary Reserve Units
 * 102nd Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers - Bethnal Green
 * 151st Railway Construction Company, Royal Engineers - Paddington Station
 * 152nd Railway Construction Company, Royal Engineers - Paddington Station
 * Railway Stores, Royal Engineers - Lambeth
 * Location Signals Group, Royal Corps of Signals - Clapham Park
 * No.2 Air Company, Royal Engineers - Putney Bridge
 * No.28 Construction Section, Royal Corps of Signals - London
 * No.29 Construction Section, Royal Corps of Signals - London
 * No.30 Construction Section, Royal Corps of Signals - London
 * Service Units
 * Headquarters
 * London District Platoon, Royal Army Pay Corps - Dartford Crossing
 * London District Platoon, Royal Army Pay Corps - Regent's Park Barracks
 * Direct Reporting Units
 * Life Guards
 * Royal Horse Guards
 * 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
 * 1st Battalion, Scots Guards
 * 1st Battalion, Irish Guards
 * 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards
 * 2nd Battalion, Welsh Guards
 * K (Hondeghem) Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
 * 2nd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
 * 2nd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
 * London Corps Signals, Royal Corps of Signals
 * 5th Infantry Training Group
 * Officer Producing Group
 * Guards Depot
 * 216th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 217th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 218th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 294th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 295th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 296th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 218th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
 * 297th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers

Anti-Aircraft Command
Anti-Aircraft Command, under General Officer Commanding, Anti-Aircraft Command - Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Pile, with its HQ co-located with RAF Fighter Command at RAF Bentley Priory, in the northwestern London suburb of Stanmore.


 * Chief Administration Officer, Anti-Aircraft Command - Major General Douglas McArthur Hogg
 * Major General General Staff, Anti-Aircraft Command - Major General Thomas Cochrane
 * Brigadier General Staff, Anti-Aircraft Command - Brigadier General Gilbert Leonard Appleton
 * Deputy Director of Ordnance Services, Anti-Aircraft Command - Brigadier General Duncan Brown
 * Chief Engineer, Anti-Aircraft Command - Brigadier General Richard Lawrence Bond
 * 1st Anti-Aircraft Division
 * Headquarters at Uxbridge under Brigadier general Robert Whittaker
 * 1st Anti-Aircraft Division Workshop, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Tottenham
 * 1st Anti-Aircraft Division Signals Company, Royal Corps of Signals - London
 * 26th (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * Headquarters at London
 * 53rd (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 86th (Honourable Artillery Company) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 88th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 26th Anti-Aircraft Brigade Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * 38th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * Headquarters at London
 * 26th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Engineers
 * 27th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Engineers
 * 75th (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery - Cowley
 * 38th Anti-Aircraft Brigade Transportation Company, Royal Army Service Corps - Wandsworth
 * 48th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * Headquarters at London
 * 54th (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 60th (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 97th (London Scottish) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 99th (London Welsh) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 48th Anti-Aircraft Brigade Transportation Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * 49th Anti-Aircraft Brigade
 * Headquarters at London
 * 51st (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 52nd (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 84th (Middlesex, London Transport) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 49th Anti-Aircraft Brigade Transportation Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * 2nd Anti-Aircraft Division
 * 3rd Anti-Aircraft Division
 * 4th Anti-Aircraft Division
 * 5th Anti-Aircraft Division
 * 6th Anti-Aircraft Division
 * 7th Anti-Aircraft Division

There were varying numbers of brigades to each Divisional HQ, the units were drawn from the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers.

Middle East Command
Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Wavell was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Middle East Command with his headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.


 * British Troops in Egypt (HQ in Cairo).
 * Mobile Division
 * 7th Infantry Division
 * Palestine and Tansjordan Command (HQ in Jerusalem).
 * 8th Infantry Division
 * 14th Infantry Brigade
 * 16th Infantry Brigade
 * The Sudan (HQ in Khartoum).
 * Brigadier commanding British Troops in the Sudan:
 * 1st Battalion, The Worcester Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
 * 1st Machine-Gun Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
 * Gibraltar
 * Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Gibraltar - Lord William Edmund Ironside, the Baron of Ironside
 * Deputy Director of Ordnance Service, Gibraltar - Brigadier General Albert Roland Brown
 * Gibraltar Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * Gibraltar Section, Royal Engineers
 * 1st Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * 32nd Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * Brigadier Royal Artillery, Royal Artillery
 * Headquarters
 * 3rd Heavy Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 19th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
 * 2nd Battalion, The King's Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry
 * 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
 * 31st Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * 28th Field Hospital Company, Royal Army Medical Corps
 * Gibraltar Defence Force not actually part of british army
 * Malta
 * Governor of Malta -
 * Commander-in-Chief, Malta
 * General Officer Commanding, Malta
 * Chief Administration Officer, Malta
 * Malta Brigade
 * Headquarters
 * 2nd Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment
 * 1st Battalion, The Dorset Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, The Royal West Kent Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Fusiliers
 * Brigadier Royal Artillery, Malta Forces
 * 4th Heavy Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 26th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 7th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * Brigadier Royal Engineers, Malta Forces
 * Headquarters
 * 16th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * 24th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * Malta Unit, Royal Corps of Signals
 * 1st Battalion, The King's Own Malta Regiment
 * Royal Malta Artillery
 * 4th Battery, Royal Malta Artillery
 * 30th Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * 30th Field Hospital Company, Royal Army Medical Corps
 * Cyprus
 * Senior Military Officer, Cyprus
 * C Company, 1st Battalion, The Essex Regiment
 * 1 Platoon, 1st Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters
 * Cyprus Unit, Royal Corps of Signals

India and Burma Offices
Lawrence Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland was responsible for both the India and Burma Offices in his role as Secretary of State for India.

Army of India
There were no British Army divisions or brigades in India but units of the British Army were posted on tour to India as the "British Army in India" and collectively with the Indian Army formed the "Army of India" under the Commander-in-Chief, India (in 1939 General Robert Cassels). He commanded this force through GHQ India, covering India, Iraq and Persia.

Northern Command, India Command

 * Headquarters - Rawalpindi
 * Pashawar District
 * Headquarters - Peshawar
 * Landi Kotal Brigade
 * 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers
 * 1st Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment
 * 3rd Battalion, 9th Jat Regiment
 * 4th Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment
 * 4th Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, 5th Gurkhas
 * Kurram Militia
 * Signals Detachment, Peshawar District Signals
 * Peshawar Brigade
 * 1st Battalion, The King's Liverpool Regiment
 * 3rd Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles
 * 4th Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment
 * 4th Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment
 * 16th Cavalry Regiment
 * 8th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery
 * 19th Medium Artillery Battery, Royal Artillery
 * 24th Mountain Regiment, Indian Artillery
 * 18th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery
 * 1st Field Bengal Sappers and Miners Company, Indian Engineers
 * Peshawar District Signals
 * Nowshera Brigade
 * 4th Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry
 * 2nd Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment
 * 10th Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment
 * 1st Battalion, 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles
 * Detachment, 5th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment
 * 1st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 2nd Field Bengal Sappers and Miners Company, Indian Engineers
 * 11th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment
 * Risalput Cavalry Brigade
 * 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers
 * 5th Cavalry Regiment
 * 10th Cavalry Regiment
 * 5th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment
 * 1st Cavalry Brigade Signals
 * Direct Reporting Units
 * Chitral Force
 * 1st Battalion, 9th Jat Regiment
 * Chitral Mountain Artillery Section, Indian Artillery
 * No.1 Section, 22nd Field Company, Bombay Sappers and Miners
 * Gilgit Scouts
 * Attached Squadron, 1st Royal Tank Regiment
 * Attached Squadron, 7th Royal Tank Regiment
 * Kohat District
 * Headquarters - Kohat
 * Thal Brigade
 * 1st Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry
 * 2nd Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment
 * 1st Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles
 * Detachment, Kohat District Signals
 * Kohat Brigade
 * 2nd Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles
 * 5th Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment
 * 4th Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles
 * 5th Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles
 * No.1 Troop, 14th Prince of Wales's Own Scinde Horse
 * Direct Reporting Units
 * 8th Light Cavalry Regiment
 * 21st Mountain Artillery Regiment, Indian Artillery
 * 22nd Field Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners, Indian Engineers
 * Kohat District Signals
 * Base Supply District
 * Rawalpindi District
 * Lahore District
 * Waziristan District

Colonial Office
The Colonial Office was responsible for administration of British colonies. In September the colonial office was under the Secretary of State for the Colonies Malcolm MacDonald. The office was responsible for all colonies and territories of the British Empire except for British India, Pakistan, and Burma.

Aden Colony
The forces in Aden were controlled by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Aden, Sir B. R. Reilly. The British forces in Aden were under control of Air Vice-marshal George Reid.


 * Officer Commanding Army Troops - Colonel R. E. Kane
 * Aden Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals at Aden
 * 20th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers at Aden
 * 2nd Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry at Khormaksar
 * 15th Anti-Aircraft Battery, Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery at Aden
 * Aden Protectorate Levies at Khormaksar
 * Officer Commanding Royal Artillery - Lieutenant Colonel C. C. Russel
 * Headquarters at Aden
 * 9th (Minden) Heavy Field Battery, Royal Artillery at AdenTidworth Camp [lower-alpha 1]
 * Officer-in-Charge, Government Guards
 * Aden Government Guards
 * Eastern Aden Protectorate
 * Kathiri Armed Constabulary
 * Mukalla Regular Army
 * Western Aden Protectorate
 * Western Aden Protectorate Tribal Guards
 * Lahej Trained Forces

Bermuda Colony
The forces in Bermuda were reported to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Bermuda.


 * Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Bermuda - General Sir Reginald Hildyard
 * Aide-de-Camp - Captain J. B. E. H. Radcliffe
 * Colonial Staff
 * Officer Commanding the Troops - Brigadier General R. Swire
 * Attached Company from 2nd Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry
 * 25th Field Hospital Company, Royal Army Medical Corps
 * Brigade Major - Major D. R. G. Cameron
 * Services Commanders
 * Commander, Royal Engineers - Brigadier general R. Swire
 * Bermuda Detachment, Royal Engineers
 * Officer Commanding, Royal Army Service Corps - Major C. G. Edwards
 * Senior Medical Officer - Major J. E. Brooks
 * Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services (Also Officer Commanding Royal Army Ordnance Corps) - Major B. D. Jones
 * Command Paymaster - Major H. H. Cottier
 * Colonial Forces
 * Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps at Hamilton
 * Bermuda Volunteer Engineers at Hamilton
 * Bermuda Militia at Hamilton
 * Bermuda Militia Artillery at Hamilton

British Ceylon
The British Ceylon colony was located in modern-day Sri Lanka. The forces reported to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Ceylon. The British forces were under control of the colony in addition to the Ceylon Defence Force. The headquarters were at Colombo.


 * Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Ceylon - Sir Andrew Caldecott
 * Aide-de-Camp - 1st lieutenant G. P. Rickord
 * Ceylon Defence Force
 * Officer Commanding the Troops - Brigadier general J. O. Thurnburn
 * Colonial Staff
 * General Staff officer 3rd Grade - Major A. R. Aslett
 * Attached to the Colonial Staff
 * Officer Commanding Royal Artillery - Lieutenant colonel G. L. Kaye
 * Commander, Royal Engineers - Lieutenant colonel R. H. F. Duckworth
 * Instructor in Gunnery - Major N. A. Bramwell
 * Services Staff
 * Officer Commanding Royal Army Service Corps - Major B. L. Pearson
 * Senior Medical Officer - Lieutenant colonel O. J. O'B. O'Hanton
 * Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services - Captain C. W. Philpotts
 * Command Paymaster - H. W. T. Marden
 * Ceylon Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * 31st Fortress Engineer Company, Royal Engineers - Colombo
 * Ceylon Artillery Headquarters, Royal Artillery
 * 6th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * Ceylon Light Infantry
 * Ceylon Garrison Artillery - Colombo
 * Ceylon Engineers
 * Ceylon Cadet Battalion

British Troops in China
The British controlled small areas and units throughout the China Coast including: Shanghai, Tientsin, and Hong Kong. All units and corps reported to the Governor and Governor-General of China. Each "Area" was a corps sized unit and was commanded by a general.


 * General Officer Commanding China Command - Major general Arthur Edward Grasett
 * Shanghai Area
 * Headquarters at Shanghai under Major general Frank Keith Simmons
 * 1st Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders
 * 2nd Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment
 * China Engineer Detachment, Royal Engineers
 * Shanghai Area Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * Shanghai Detachment, Royal Army Service Corps
 * Shanghai Detachment, Royal Army Medical Corps
 * Tientsin Area
 * Headquarters at Tientsin under Colonel Sir John Laurie
 * 1st Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry
 * Tientsin Detachment, Royal Engineers
 * Tientsin Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * Tientsin Detachment, Royal Army Service Corps
 * Tientsin Detachment, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
 * Tientsin Detachment, Royal Army Medical Corps
 * Tientsin Detachment, Royal Army Pay Corps
 * Hong Kong Brigade
 * Headquarters at Hong Kong
 * 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots
 * 1st Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment
 * Kumaon Rifles
 * Hong Kong Area
 * Commander Royal Artillery, Hong Kong Area
 * 8th Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 5th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * Hong Kong and Singapore Artillery
 * Commander Royal Engineers, Hong Kong Area
 * 22nd Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * 40th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * Hong King Signal Company
 * 5th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles
 * No.12 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * Hong Kong Mule Corps
 * No.6 Section, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
 * No.27 Company, Royal Army Medical Corps
 * Hong Kong Company, Royal Military Police
 * Hong Kong Detachment, Royal Army Pay Corps
 * Hong Kong Detachment, Royal Army Veterinary Corps

Egypt Command
Units of Egypt Command reported to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Egypt Henry Maitland Wilson.


 * The Armoured Division
 * Headquarters at Cairo under Major General Percy Cleghorn Stanley Hobart
 * Light Armoured Brigade
 * 7th Hussars
 * 8th Hussars
 * 11th Hussars
 * Cairo Brigade
 * 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards
 * 1st Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
 * 1st Battalion, The Essex Regiment (1 Company at Cyprus)
 * Canal Brigade
 * 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards
 * 1st Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment
 * 1st Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
 * 11th (Ahmednagar) Infantry Brigade
 * 2nd Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders
 * 1st Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles
 * 4th Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment
 * 18th Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Battalion, The Buffs
 * 1st Battalion, The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
 * 1st Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment
 * Command Level Reporting Units
 * 1st Royal Tank Regiment
 * 6th Royal Tank Regiment
 * 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
 * 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
 * 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
 * 5th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 31st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
 * 17th Heavy Battery, Royal Artillery
 * 19th Heavy Battery, Royal Artillery
 * 2nd Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * 42nd Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * 45th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * 54th Field Company, Royal Engineers
 * 18th Field Company, Bombay Sappers and Miners
 * Egypt Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * 6th Tank Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * Delta Area Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * 1st Light Tank Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * No.5 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.25 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.30 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.31 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.39 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.58 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.65 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.66 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.67 Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * D Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * No.12 Section, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
 * Delta Anti-Aircraft Workshop Section, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
 * x3 Attached Companies, Royal Military Police
 * Egypt Section, Royal Military Police
 * No. 33 Company, Royal Army Medical Corps
 * No. 19 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
 * No. 15 Field Hygiene Section, Royal Army Medical Corps
 * 11th General Hospital, Indian Army Medical Corps
 * Egypt Detachment, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
 * Egypt Detachment, Royal Army Veterinary Corps
 * Station Veterinary Hospital, Royal Army Veterinary Corps
 * Egypt Detachment, Royal Army Pay Corps

Gibraltar
Units reported to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar Lieutenant General Sir Clive Gerard Liddell.


 * 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
 * 2nd Battalion, The King's Liverpool Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry
 * 3rd Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery - (With 19th Anti-Aircraft Battery)
 * Commander, Royal Engineers
 * 1st Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * 32nd Fortress Company, Royal Engineers
 * Gibraltar Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals
 * No.33 Locational Company, Royal Army Service Corps
 * Gibraltar Detachment, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
 * No.28 Company, Royal Army Medical Corps
 * Gibraltar Section, Royal Military Police
 * Gibraltar Detachment, Royal Army Pay Corps
 * Gibraltar Detachment, Royal Army Veterinary Corps