List of Royal Northumberland Fusiliers battalions in World War II

This is a list of battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers that were formed during World War II. Previous to the war, the regiment was one of those selected to form an infantry support role and were equipped with the Vickers machine gun.

1st Machine Gun Battalion
The 1st Battalion was part of the 4th Indian Infantry Division. In 1940 it took part in Operation Compass, Sidi Barrani, (North Africa), 1941, battles at Keren, (Eritrea).

Returned to Egypt with the division split 5th Indian Brigade, involved in the advance on Damascus, the rest of the Division involved in the fighting that centred abound Tobruk, from June 1941 returned to Syria For most of this period the Division was dispersed with units temporarily attached to other formations much to the disgust of Major General Francis Tuker who assumed command of the Division in December 1941. Notable at this time was the break-out at the end of January by 7 Brigade, having been cut off at Benghazi during the Germans' counter-offensive from Agheila and moving 200 mi avoiding the enemy to rejoin the 8th Army.

Early in April 1942 the Division was dispersed with 7 Brigade going to Cyprus, 5 Brigade to Syria, 11 Brigade to the Suez Canal Zone for training and the Central India Horse to Iraq after a period of training. By May 1942 11 Brigade was back in the fighting at Tobruk (attached to 5th Indian Infantry Division). 11th Brigade was caught in the siege of Tobruk which fell on 21 June, and so disappeared from the order of battle for the next 18 months. 5th Brigade was rushed to the desert in June 1942 – after escaping from Mersa Matruh, the brigade held the vital Ruweisat Ridge at Alamein in the fighting of July–August 1942. Shortly before the second battle of Alamein in October 1942 the 4th Indian Division was back together again with the 7th Brigade returning from Cyprus and 161st Brigade attached (until December 1942) to fill the gap of the overrun 11th Brigade. The Division had a relatively subsidiary role in the battle, holding in stiff fighting, as a diversionary tactic, the Ruweisat Ridge which was at the centre of the Allied front whilst the breakthrough was planned further North.

March 1943 it fought with distinction through to the fall of Tunis in May 1943 gaining a particular reputation for its prowess in mountainous country. The Division had the honour of capturing General von Arnim in Tunisia, bringing an end to the North African campaign. Its major battles in North Africa were Benghazi, Tobruk, Wadi Akarit, Enfidaville and Tunis.

The division then moved in January 1944 to Italy. It took a major role (sustaining very heavy casualties) in the second battle for Monte Cassino and also the third battle (in March 1944).

late in March 1944 and the division took part in the advance from Cassino after the fourth battle in May 1944 to the Trasimene Line in Central Italy and then the Gothic Line.

In November 1944 the division was shipped to Greece to help stabilise the country after the Axis withdrawal.

2nd Machine Gun Battalion
The 2nd Battalion was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division.The division was based around Colchester. It Served in France from October 1939 until June 1940. It was then sent to North Africa from March 1943 until December 1943, in fought in Egypt and Tunisia. From December 1943 until February 1944, it fought in Italy. From February 1944 until December 1944, n Greece until the end of the war. Fought at Oued Zarga, the Medjez Plain, Tunis, Cassino, on the Trasimene Line, Arezzo, Florence, and on the Rimini Line. Ended the war under command of HQ Land Forces (Greece). 1940 Dunkirk, 1943 Tunisia Campaign, Operation Vulcan, British IX Corps, British 1st Army

3rd Reconnaissance Battalion
The 3rd Battalion was a reconnaissance battalion in the 3rd Infantry Division based in Bulford at the start of the war. It Served in France from September 1939 until June 1940, The 3rd Division was the first British division to land at Sword Beach during the D-Day and fought through the Battle of Normandy, the Netherlands and later the invasion of Germany. For the campaign in Normandy

4th Machine Gun Battalion
The 4th Battalion was assigned to the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, In 1940 it was organised as a motor division. Served in France and Belgium from January 1940 until June 1940. It was then sent to North Africa from June 1941 until September 1943. With a short stay in Cyprus from July 1941 until November 1941 and in Syria from January 1942 until February 1942. It took part in the landings on Sicily from July 1943 until October 1943. It the returned home to prepare for the Normandy Landings landing on Gold Beach 6 June 1944. It remained in Europe from June 1944 until December 1944.

It took part in the following battles:
 * Arras Counter Attack
 * Ypres-Comines Canal
 * Battle of Gazala
 * Mersa Matruh
 * Second battle of El Alamein
 * Operation Supercharge
 * Operation Pugilist
 * Mareth
 * Akarit
 * Enfidaville
 * Operation Husky
 * Gold Beach
 * Nederrijn

43rd (6th (City) Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Royal Tank Regiment
The 6th Battalion (43rd (6th (City) Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Royal Tank Regiment}, was transferred to the Royal Tank Regiment and was part of the 3rd Infantry Division between 1942 and 1943.

7th Machine Gun Battalion
The 7th Battalion was part of the 51st (Highland) Division, which had been stationed at the Maginot Line, and had escaped being encircled with the rest of the BEF at Dunkirk. It was then pulled back to the west of Northern France, where it was attached to the French 10th Army. For some time, it was forced to hold a line four times longer than that which would normally be expected of a division. During this period, the 154th Brigade was detached and withdrawn successfully. However, the 152nd Brigade and 153rd Brigade were trapped at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux, and surrendered on 12 June]. The battalion was then assigned to the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division and fought at Caen and Mount Pincon. It remained in North Western Europe from June 1944 until October 1944 when it was disbanded.

8th Battalion, (3rd Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps)
The 8th Battalion (3rd Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps) was part of the 23rd (Northumbrian) Division which was raised in October 1939, and was sent to France on 22 April 1940, on Labour and training duties, without any of its artillery, signals, or administration units. On 20 May 194, the division suffered heavy casualties trying to delay the German advance at Arras. On its return to Britain, after Dunkirk, the 23rd Division was disbanded due to the heavy losses it had suffered.

9th Machine Gun Battalion
The 9th Battalion Like the 8th was also part of the 23rd Northumbrian Division. After Dunkirk the Battalion was transferred to the 18th Infantry Division was landed at Singapore a few weeks before the fall of the island. Its units went into Japanese POW camps after the brief but violent week long Battle of Singapore.