List of commanders of the British 1st Division

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ActiveRaised and disbanded numerous times between 1809–Present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Engagements
  • 1st Division
  • No. 1 Division
  • 1st Infantry Division
  • 1st Mixed Division
  • 1st British Infantry Division
  • 1st Armoured Division
  • 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division
  • 1st (United Kingdom) Division
A portrait of the division's first general officer commanding, John Coape Sherbrooke, by Robert Field.
ActiveRaised and disbanded numerous times between 1809–Present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Engagements
WebsiteOfficial website
Commanders
Current
commander		Major-General Robert Hedderwick

The 1st Division is a division of the British Army; the division was first formed in 1809. The head of the division is a general officer commanding (GOC), who receives orders from a level above him in the chain of command, and then uses the forces within the division to undertake the mission assigned. In addition to directing the tactical battle the division is involved in, the GOC oversees a staff and the administrative, logistical, medical, training, and discipline of the formation.[1] The 1st Division has had 81 different permanent GOCs over a 200-year history.

Prior to 1809, the British Army did not use divisional formations. As the British military grew in size during the Napoleonic Wars, the need arose for such formations, in order to better organise forces. The 1st Division was formed on 18 June 1809 by Lieutenant-General Arthur Wellesley, and it served in the Peninsular War.[1][2] After the conclusion of the War of the Sixth Coalition, the division was broken-up in France and its troops dispersed to the UK or dispatched to North America to take part in the War of 1812.[3] It was reformed the following year, when the War of the Seventh Coalition began, and it subsequently fought at the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo. In the latter battle, the division's GOC, George Cooke, was severely wounded, while his troops helped repulse the final attack of the day, which had been launched by the French Imperial Guard.[2][4] With the end of the war, the division became part of the Army of Occupation based in France. It remained there until December 1818, when it was disbanded upon the British withdrawal and the end of the occupation.[5][6]

During the mid- to late-19th century, several formations bearing the name 1st Division were formed, each for a particular conflict. Per the division's official website, only three such formations form part of its lineage: those that fought in the Crimean War (1854–1856), the Anglo-Zulu War (1879), and the Second Boer War (1899–1900).[2] In 1902, the division was reformed as a permanent formation within the British Army, and was stationed at Aldershot.[7] The division fought in both World Wars. During the First World War (1914–1918), it was deployed to France and fought on the Western Front throughout the conflict. At the First Battle of Ypres, Lieutenant-General Samuel Lomax, the division's GOC, was wounded in action. In 1918, following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the division marched into Germany and became part of the occupation force, the British Army of the Rhine. In March 1919, the 1st Division was redesignated as the Western Division.[8][9] It was then reformed as the 1st Division on 4 June 1919, at Aldershot, and was the only division maintained in a state of readiness in the immediate post-war years; detachments were dispatched to take part in the Irish War of Independence, to reinforce the Occupation of Constantinople, and to help oversee the 1935 Saar status referendum.[10][11] From September to December 1936, the entire division was deployed to Palestine during the opening stages of the Arab revolt, with most of it having been sent back to the UK by the end of the year, with the remaining troops going home in 1937.[12] During the Second World War, the division took part in the Battle of France, the Tunisian campaign, and the Italian campaign. In February 1945, it was transferred from Italy to Palestine and remained there for the duration of the war.[2][13]

In the ten-year period following the end of the Second World War, the division moved between Palestine, Egypt, and Libya. Then, in November 1955, it returned to the UK where it remained for five years until it was disbanded on 30 June 1960. The following day in Germany, 1 July 1960, the 5th Division was redesignated as the 1st Division.[14][15] On 1 April 1978, the division was renamed as the 1st Armoured Division, which subsequently fought in the Gulf War, where it overran five Iraqi divisions, and took 7,000 prisoners, during a 48-hour period.[14][16] With the end of the Cold War, the British government enacted Options for Change, which resulted in the division being disbanded in Germany on 31 December 1992. It was soon reformed, when in July 1993 the 4th Armoured Division was redesignated as the 1st (UK) Armoured Division.[17] Peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, Cyprus, and Kosovo followed during the mid to late 1990s.[18][19] In 2003, the division led the British contribution to the invasion of Iraq.[20] As part of the Army 2020 restructuring, the formation was renamed the 1st (United Kingdom) Division and was relocated from Germany to York, England.[21]

General officer commanding
No. General officer commanding Rank Appointment date Notes Source(s)
1 Sir John Coape Sherbrooke Lieutenant-General 18 June 1809 The division was formed for the first time, during the Peninsular War, from battalions from the British foot guards as well as the King's German Legion that were based in Portugal. Due to the large number of aristocrats within the division, it was dubbed "The Gentlemens' Sons'". In April 1810, Sherbrooke returned to the UK due to illness. [22]
2 Stapleton Cotton Major-General 26 April 1810 On 3 June, Cotton took command of the Cavalry Division. [23]
3 Sir Brent Spencer Major-General 3 June 1810 Was also second-in-command, to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, of the British forces in the Iberian Peninsula during much of his tenure. [23]
4 Miles Nightingall Major-General 3 May 1811 Was given command of the division during the Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro, as Sir Brent Spencer was assigned to also command a corps. Due to his second-in-command position, Spencer commanded all British forces in the Iberian Peninsula during a brief absence by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. As a result, Nightingall likely retained command of the division into June. [24]
Acting Edward Stopford Brigadier-General June 1811 [25]
3 Sir Brent Spencer Major-General June 1811 Was also second-in-command, to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, of the British forces in the Iberian Peninsula during much of his tenure. [23]
Acting Henry Campbell Major-General 25 July 1811 [26]
5 Sir Thomas Graham Lieutenant-General 9 August 1811 Was also second-in-command, to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, of the British forces in the Iberian Peninsula. Departed the peninsular for the UK, prior to the Battle of Salamanca, as a result of an eye infection. [27]
Acting Henry Campbell Major-General 6 July 1812 [28]
6 Sir Edward Paget Lieutenant-General 11 October 1812 Captured during the retreat following the Battle of Burgos on 17 November 1812. [28]
7 William Stewart Lieutenant-General 17 November 1812 [28]
8 Kenneth Howard Major-General 25 March 1813 Howard maintained command of the division until the end of the Peninsular War. [29]
5 Sir Thomas Graham Lieutenant-General 19 May 1813 After his return to the Iberian Peninsula, Graham resumed command of the division. However, Kenneth Howard maintained de facto command, as Graham was responsible for the left wing of the British force in the peninsula. On 8 October, Graham again left the peninsula due to illness. [30]
9 Sir John Hope Lieutenant-General 8 October 1813 Kenneth Howard maintained de facto command of the division, as Hope was responsible for the left wing of the British force in the peninsula. [31]
8 Kenneth Howard Major-General 14 April 1814 Sir John Hope was captured at the Battle of Bayonne and Howard was formally appointed to lead the 1st Division. At the end of the Peninsular War, the division was disbanded in France. [32]
10 George Cooke Major-General 11 April 1815 On 11 April 1815, the division was reformed in Southern Netherlands. Cooke was severely wounded in action, during the Battle of Waterloo, and lost an arm. [33]
11 Sir John Byng Major-General 18 June 1815 Byng took acting command of the division, during the Battle of Waterloo, following the injury to George Cooke. Later in the day, he also assumed control of I Corps when the Prince of Orange was also injured. [34]
12 Sir Peregrine Maitland Major-General 18 June 1815 Took over acting command of the division when Sir John Byng assumed control of I Corps. [35]
8 Sir Kenneth Howard Major-General 23 July 1815 [34]
11 Sir John Byng Major-General 22 August 1815 [34]
12 Sir Peregrine Maitland Major-General 2 October 1815 [36]
13 Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole Lieutenant-General 30 November 1815 On this date, the British Army in France was reorganised into an Army of Occupation, and Cole was given command of it. The division was disbanded in December 1818 when the British military withdrew from France. [37]
14 George Duke of Cambridge Lieutenant-General 20 June 1854 The division was reformed in Varna, Ottoman Bulgaria, from British troops who had been assembled there during the opening stages of the Crimean War. The division then moved to the Crimean peninsular itself. On 25 November 1854, the Duke boarded a ship bound for the UK due to illness. [38][39]
15 Henry Lockyer Brigadier-General November 1854 Acting rank [40]
16 Sir Colin Campbell Lieutenant-General 23 January 1855 [41][42]
17 Henry Baron Rokeby Lieutenant-General 30 July 1855 [43][44]
Acting Charles Ridley Brigadier-General August 1855 [45]
17 Henry Baron Rokeby Lieutenant-General August 1855 In 1856, after the end of the Crimean War, the division was disbanded in Crimea. [46]
18 Henry Crealock Major-General March 1879 The division was reformed in the Colony of Natal for service in the Anglo-Zulu War. Following the Battle of Ulundi in July, the division was disbanded. [47]
19 Paul Baron Methuen Lieutenant-General 9 October 1899 A new 1st Division was formed in England, and then moved to southern Africa to fight in the Second Boer War. Methuen maintained command through the end of 1900, when the division was disbanded while still in southern Africa. [48][49]
20 Arthur Paget Major-General 30 September 1902 A new 1st Division was formed in the UK [50][51]
21 James Grierson Major-General 6 October 1906 [52]
22 Samuel Lomax Lieutenant-General 7 August 1910 During Lomax's tenure, the division was mobilised for service in the First World War. Lomax was wounded in action on 31 October 1914, during the First Battle of Ypres [53][54]
Temporary Herman Landon Major-General 31 October 1914 [55]
23 Sir David Henderson Major-General 22 November 1914 [55]
24 Richard Haking Major-General 19 December 1914 [55]
25 Arthur Holland Major-General 11 September 1915 [55]
26 Peter Strickland Major-General 12 June 1916 The First World War ended in November 1918, and the division entered Germany one month later. In March 1919, elements of the division were used to create the 'Western Division' of the British Army of the Rhine, while the rest of the division was demobilised and returned to England, where it was reformed. [56]
27 Sir Guy Bainbridge Major-General 4 June 1919 The division was reformed in England on this date. During Bainbridge's tenure, the division dispatched troops to reinforce British forces fighting in the Irish War of Independence and also sent troops to reinforce the British presence during the Occupation of Constantinople. [10][57][58]
28 Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd Major-General 4 June 1923 [59]
29 Sir Cecil Romer Major-General 1 April 1926 [60]
30 Sir John Duncan Major-General 14 March 1928 [61]
31 Felix Ready Major-General 15 December 1928 [62]
32 Wentworth Harman Major-General 9 November 1930 [63]
33 John Kennedy Major-General 21 April 1934 During Kennedy's tenure, the division dispatched troops to the Territory of the Saar Basin to oversee the 1935 Saar status referendum. [10][64]
34 Clement Armitage Major-General 18 February 1936 In 1936, following the start of the Arab revolt, the entire division was dispatched to Palestine for several months. The majority of troops had returned to the UK by the end of the year, with the last detachments returning in 1937. [10][65][66]
35 Harold Alexander Major-General 14 February 1938 During Alexander's tenure, the division was mobilised for service in the Second World War, dispatched to France, and fought in the Battle of France [13][67]
Acting Merton Beckwith-Smith Brigadier 31 May 1940 [68]
35 Harold Alexander Major-General 3 June 1940 The division was evacuated from France, during June 1940, and returned to England. [13]
Acting Merton Beckwith-Smith Brigadier 9 June 1940 [68]
36 Kenneth Anderson Major-General 13 June 1940 [68]
37 Edwin Morris Major-General 19 May 1941 [68]
38 Walter Clutterbuck Major-General 18 November 1941 During Clutterbuck's tenure, the division was dispatched to Africa to fight in the Tunisian campaign of the Second World War. [68]
39 Ronald Penney Major-General 14 October 1943 During Penney's tenure, the division was dispatched to fight in the Italian campaigns of the Second World War. [13]
Temporary Gerald Templer Major-General 18 February 1944 Templer was the commanding officer of the 56th (London) Infantry Division at this time, when he was appointed to temporary command of the 1st Division. [13]
39 Ronald Penney Major-General 23 February 1944 [68]
Temporary John Hawkesworth Major-General 4 May 1944 [13]
Acting Charles Loewen Brigadier 24 May 1944 [68]
39 Ronald Penney Major-General 14 June 1944 [68]
40 Charles Loewen Major-General 24 July 1944 In February 1945, the division left Italy and moved to Palestine. It was still in Palestine when the Second World War ended. [13]
41 Richard Gale Major-General 1946 [69]
42 Horatius Murray Major-General 1947 During Murray's tenure, the division moved from Palestine to Tripoli, Libya. [70]
43 Francis Matthews Major-General December 1950 In 1951, the division moved from Tripoli, Libya to Egypt, to maintain a British military presence at the Suez Canal. [14][71]
44 Thomas Brodie Major-General 8 September 1952 [72]
45 Rodney Moore Major-General 20 July 1955 In the late 1955, the division moved from the Middle East to the UK. On 16 November 1955, Moore was transferred to command the 10th Armoured Division. No new appointment was made to the 1st Infantry Division for the duration of 1955. [14][73]
46 Guy Gregson Major-General 2 January 1956 [74]
47 Reginald Hobbs Major-General 1 April 1959 By April 1959, the division was known simply as the 1st Division. It was disbanded in England on 30 June 1960, as there was other need for the divisional headquarters facilities there. [14][75][15]
48 Alan Jolly Major-General 1 July 1960 The division was reformed in Germany, when the 5th Division was redesignated, and became part of the British Army of the Rhine. [14][15][76]
49 Thomas Pearson Major-General 4 November 1961 [77]
50 Miles Fitzalan-Howard Major-General 5 November 1963 [78]
51 Richard Ward Major-General 5 November 1965 [79]
52 Allan Taylor Major-General 1 January 1968 [80]
53 Jack Harman Major-General 6 January 1970 [81]
54 Edwin Bramall Major-General 6 January 1972 [82]
55 John Stanier Major-General 3 November 1973 [83]
56 David Alexander-Sinclair Major-General 4 November 1975 [84]
57 Richard Lawson Major-General 7 November 1977 In April 1978, the 1st Division was reorganised as the 1st Armoured Division. [14][85]
58 Geoffrey Howlett Major-General 3 November 1979 [86]
59 Brian Kenny Major-General 5 January 1982 [87]
60 David Thorne Major-General 17 November 1983 [88][89]
61 Anthony Mullens Major-General February 1986 [89][90]
62 Richard Swinburn Major-General 20 July 1987 [91]
63 Roger Wheeler Major-General 4 August 1989 [92]
64 Rupert Smith Major-General 29 October 1990 During Smith's tenure, the division was deployed to the Middle East and fought in the Gulf War. The division returned to Germany following the conclusion of hostilities. [93][94]
65 Iain Mackay-Dick Major-General 3 August 1992 As a result of the end of the Cold War and the British government's Options for Change policy, the division was disbanded on 31 December 1992. [95][96]
66 Anthony Denison-Smith Major-General July 1993 In July 1993, the division was reformed in Germany as the 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division, when the 4th Armoured Division was redesignated. [97][98]
67 Roddy Cordy-Simpson Major-General 21 February 1994 [99]
68 John Kiszely Major-General 3 June 1996 [100]
69 Redmond Watt Major General 17 August 1998 Hyphens had been dropped from rank titles by the time Watt was appointed to command the division. [101]
70 Robin Brims Major General 22 November 2000 During Brim's tenure, the division took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. [20][102]
71 Peter Wall Major General 12 May 2003 [103]
72 John Cooper Major General 25 January 2005 [104]
73 Graham Binns Major General 1 October 2006 [105]
74 Adrian Bradshaw Major General 25 March 2009 [106]
75 James Bashall Major General 1 April 2011 [107]
76 James Chiswell Major General 1 October 2012 During 2014, the division was redesignated the 1st (United Kingdom) Division. [108][109]
77 Giles Hill Major General 7 April 2015 In June 2015, the division relocated from Germany to the UK. [110][111]
78 Ralph Wooddisse Major General 15 May 2017 [112]
79 Colin Weir Major General 19 November 2018 [113]
80 Charles Collins Major General 25 September 2020 [114]
Acting Jean Laurentin Brigadier General 17 June 2022 Laurentin was a French Army officer who was serving as the division's deputy general commanding officer. [115]
81 Tom Bateman Major General 16 September 2022 [116][117]
82 Daniel Reeve Major General 1 March 2024 [118]
83 Robert Hedderwick Major General 1 August 2025 Incumbent. [119]

Notes

References

Further reading

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