United Kingdom 1939 - 1940
Eastern Command
Regular Army
There was a large Regular Army garrison based in Colchester, Essex,
togther with other locations within Eastern Command. The 4 Infantry
Division was based in Eastern Command, with one brigade stationed
in Colchester alongside the divisional headquarters, with another
brigade stationed in Shorncliffe, Kent, and the third brigade
stationed at Dover. At the outbreak of war, the division mobilised
and departed for France to join the British Expeditionary
Force.
Territorial Army
There were two Territorial Army formations based in Eastern
Command, one in the Home Counties Area (44 Division) and the other
in the East Anglian Area (54 Division). In April 1939, the two T.A.
formations each formed a duplicate (or second line) division. The
44 Division formed the 12 (Eastern) Division and the 54 Division
formed the 18 Infantry Division. The 44 Division duplicated on a
mirror image basis (that is each first line unit produced a second
line unit in the new division), but the 54 Division duplicated on a
geographical basis. This meant that first and second line units
were to be found in each formation.
The 44 Division travelled to join the B.E.F., as did the 12
Division; the latter for training and labour duties. The 44
Division later saw service in the Middle East, but the 12 Division
was disbanded shortly after the evacuation of the B.E.F.. The 54
Division did not see active service during the war, but the 18
Infantry Division, which was originally earmarked for service in
the Middle East, was sent to Singapore. With the capitulation of
British forces in Singapore on the 15 February 1942, the men from
East Anglia faced three and a half years in the captivity of the
Japanese, from which many did not return.
In 1940, the Home Counties Area and Chatham Area transferred to
the newly formed South Eastern Command. The East Anglian Area
was re-organised as the East Central Area (Bedfordshire,
Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire), Essex &
Suffolk Area, and Cambridge Area (including Norfolk).
On the 14 August 1941, the Regimental Depots ceased to train
recruits, and new Infantry Training Centres were opened at Command
level. No. 1 I.T.C. at Warley for the Royal Fusiliers and
Essex Regiment, No. 2 I.T.C. at Norwich for the Norfolk Regiment
and Northamptonshire Regiment, and No. 3 I.T.C. at Bury St, Edmunds
for the Suffolk Regiment and Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire
Regiment.
