15th (Scottish) Infantry Division

Divisional insignia in 1939

The embryo of the 15th (Scottish) started to form, administered by the 52nd Division, on 26 August 1939. It was activated as an independent formation on 2 September 1939, and placed under the command of Major General Roland Le Fanu.[17][18][19] Le Fanu's prior experience included fighting in India, during the 1930s, and holding various staff appointments.[20] The division comprised the 44th, 45th and 46th Infantry Brigades, and was assigned to Scottish Command.[21] Due to the lack of official guidance, newly formed units were at liberty to choose numbers, styles, and titles. The division and brigades adopted the number of their First World War counterpart, the 15th (Scottish) Division. The prior divisional insignia, the letter 'O' (being the 15th letter of the alphabet), was reused. The insignia differed from the original, by not including a triangle inside the circle.[15][18]

During this period, the division lacked equipment and personal, and was scattered across southern Scotland. While primarily made up of men from Scotland, recruits posted to the division came from across the United Kingdom, particularly England.[18] By 30 September, the division concentrated in the Scottish Borders, south of Edinburgh, to train. This move required requisitioning civilian vehicles. The division lost manpower to the Ministry of Labour, as well as having those aged 19 being removed to other units.[22] On paper, an infantry division was to have seventy-two modern 25-pounder field guns. By November, the divisional artillery comprised just eight First World War vintage 4.5 in (110 mm) howitzers.[23] In December, the division moved to take up coastal defense positions. The 44th Brigade was positioned astride the Firth of Forth, the 46th was astride the Firth of Clyde, and the rest of the division was largely based around Glasgow.[24] By January, the division had seen an increase in its artillery and now had access to sixteen 4.5 in (110 mm) howitzers, as well as eight First World War-era 18-pounder field guns.[25]

In October 1939, Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces Walter Kirke was tasked with drawing up a defensive plan to defend the United Kingdom from a German invasion, which was codenamed Julius Caesar.[lower-alpha 4] The division's role in this was largely to defend the Edinburgh and Forth areas.[26] Accordingly, in April 1940, the division moved to the area south of Edinburgh, although elements were also based around Dumfries.[24] The troops in Dumfries were also used to provide logistical support, for non-divisional assets, moving through the town en-route to Norway, as part of the Norwegian Campaign.[27] In May, Kirke complained that "in spite of the fact that this Division has hitherto had an important defence role", it was being moved against his wishes and without consideration for his defensive plans.[28] The division was then transported by rail to Wiltshire, to continue training.[24] The English east coast was seen as the area most under threat from German invasion. Following the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, the forces located on the eastern coast were reinforced. This included the movement of the 15th Division from Wiltshire to Essex.[27][29] To prevent a German invasion, including potential tank attacks, the divisional artillery now comprised twelve 4.5 in (110 mm) howitzers, six 18-pounder field guns, and four Ordnance QF 2-pounder anti-tank guns (compared to an establishment of 48). This was roughly on par with the other divisions defending the coast, although the 15th was one of only two divisions to include anti-tank guns out of the eight assigned to this area.[30] Additional equipment included 47 Boys anti-tank rifles (against an establishment of 361), 63 Universal Carriers (establishment of 140), and 590 Bren light machine guns (establishment of 644).[31][32] The division co-operated with the forming Local Defence Volunteers and erected anti-invasion obstacles within its operating area. On 2 August, Lieutenant-General Alan Brooke, now Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, visited the division. Brooke recorded in his diary "Do not think much of [Le Fanu], and doubtful whether he is good enough." In regards to the division's men, he wrote they were "good but [require] a great deal more training."[33] On 23 August, Le Fanu was replaced by Major-General Robert Cotton Money.[17] On 31 October, George VI visited the divisional headquarters, and provided authorization for the lion rampant, from Royal Arms of Scotland, to be used as part of the divisional insignia. The division remained on the coast through to the end of the year, while also conducting training.[34]

On 30 January 1941, Major-General Oliver Leese took command of the division. Later in the month, the division was transferred to XI Corps and moved to Suffolk, on the English east coast. While conducting training exercises, the division was also responsible for coastal defense. From north to south: the 44th Brigade was based at Lowestoft, 45th Brigade between Dunwich and Aldeburgh, and the 46th Brigade between Orford and Felixstowe. To supplement the division's front, which included a gap between the 44th and 45th Brigades, the XI Corps asset, the 37th Independent Infantry Brigade, was used to support the division and took up positions between South Lowestoft and Southwold. On 17 June 1941, Major-General Philip Christison replaced Leese; the latter taking command of the Guards Armoured Division. By September, the division's artillery regiments had been outfitted with a full complement of 25-pounders.[35][36]

During 1941, due to the large number of men allocated to the infantry, the British Army began to reform. The intent was to build-up other arms, especially armoured and special forces. As a result, several divisions were to be disbanded or reduced. This included the 15th (Scottish), which was placed on the lower establishment in November 1941. This meant that the division was now strictly detailed for home defence, compared to a higher establishment division that was intended for overseas deployment and combat.[17][37][38] Following this, the division lost various assets such as artillery and engineer formations. It was also used as a source of reinforcements, as drafts were taken for oversea units. After being downgraded, the division was moved north to Northumberland, and took up positions at Newcastle and locations along the coast north of the city. Aside from their defensive duties, the division spent the remainder of 1941 and 1942 undertaking training. On 14 May 1942, Major-General Charles Bullen-Smith took command of the division.[17][39]

On 5 January 1943, the 45th Brigade was removed from the division. It was replaced by the 6th Guards Tank Brigade.[17] This brought the division inline with the "mixed division" concept. Lieutenant-General Giffard Le Quesne Martel, head of the Royal Armoured Corps, described this concept as "the absorption of the armoured forces into the rest of the army," which required replacing an infantry brigade with a tank brigade equipped with infantry tanks.[40] In March 1943, the division was raised to the higher establishment, officially as a "mixed division".[17] It was intended to bring the division up to strength, an establishment of 16,119 men and 205 tanks, by June. Accordingly, additional formations were transferred to the division. Other than the this, the division continued training.[41][42] On 27 August 1943, Major-General Gordon MacMillan, fresh from commanding a brigade in combat in North Africa, took command of the division.[17][43] This was followed, on 5 September, with the division being reorganised as an infantry division. Correspondingly, the 6th Guards Tank Brigade was removed from the division and replaced by the 227th (Highland) Infantry Brigade.[17][44] Historian Duncan Crow wrote the mixed division concept "did not turn out to be very successful; there was an insufficient reserve of infantry in the division" and as a result the idea was abolished.[45] The remainder of the year and the opening of 1944 was used to conduct extensive training and divisional exercises, as the 15th (Scottish) had been assigned to partake in Operation Overlord, the invasion of German-occupied France.[46]

Men of the 8th Battalion, Royal Scots move forward past a Humber Scout Car of 31st Tank Brigade during Operation Epsom, 28 June 1944.

After spending many years training in the United Kingdom, the 15th (Scottish) Division landed in Normandy as part of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, soon after the initial D-Day landings, in mid June 1944 and almost immediately took part in Operation Epsom. Epsom was an attack by most of Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey's British Second Army that was intended to outflank and seize the city of Caen, which was to be taken on D-Day and had, over the last few weeks, bore witness to much bitter fighting in what is known as the Battle for Caen. Epsom did not achieve its overall objective but forced the Wehrmacht to abandon their offensive plans and tied most of their armoured units to a defensive role.[47]

Men of the 10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry advance during Operation 'Epsom', 26 June 1944.

To be certain of anticipating any German attack, Epsom was launched on 26 June. Although held up on parts of the front by infantry of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, the 15th (Scottish) Division, serving under command of Lieutenant General Richard O'Connor's VIII Corps, and the 31st Tank Brigade gained four miles on their left flank. Further to their left the 43rd (Wessex) Division also gained ground.[48]

On 27 June, after repulsing small armoured counter-attacks, the 15th (Scottish) Division gained more ground and captured a bridge over the River Odon. The 11th Armoured Division passed through to capture Hill 112, a mile to the southeast. This deep penetration alarmed the German command and General Hausser was ordered to commit his units to contain and eliminate the Allied salient. German armoured counter-attacks from 27 June – 1 July were repulsed and the foothold over the Odon was consolidated. German losses, particularly of armoured vehicles meant that the possibility of a German counter-offensive was eliminated and held the bulk of the remaining German armour in Normandy in the east around Caen, while American troops further west captured Cherbourg.[49]

During the operation, the 15th (Scottish) Division had suffered heavy losses (which, at this stage of the war, the British Army could ill afford to lose) of over 2,300 casualties, nearly a third of the total infantry strength of the entire division. "The example of one battalion is typical: on 26 June the 2nd Battalion, The Glasgow Highlanders lost 12 officers and sustained nearly 200 casualties, mainly around the hotly contested village of Cheux. Total strength of this battalion was approximately 35 officers and 786 other ranks; thus one day's losses amounted to 34% of their officers and nearly 25% of the entire rifle battalion."[50]

The British forces included the men of the 15th (Scottish) Division, 11th Armoured Division, 43rd (Wessex) Division and 53rd (Welsh) Division. The plan was for the 46th (Highland) Brigade of the 15th (Scottish) Division and a squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment to clear the ground between the Odon, the Orne and the western suburbs of Caen.[51]

The first battle for Hill 112 was fought by 43rd (Wessex) Division at the end of Operation Epsom, when the tanks of 11th Armoured Division broke out from a bridgehead established by the 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, of 227th Brigade, at Tourmauville. Hill 112 was only an intermediate objective on the way to the Orne River crossings but such was the German reaction that the 23rd Hussars were only able to capture and hold the hill with difficulty.[52]

The main attack on Hill 112 was strategically designed to fix the German panzers and tactically to gain 'elbow room' in what was still a tight beachhead. The German defenders survived naval bombardment, air attack and artillery fire but held their ground, crucially supported by Tiger tanks from the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion. These mighty tanks armed with the 88 mm gun had both greater protection and firepower and outclassed the opposing British Churchill tank and Sherman tank.[53]

Even though the hill was not captured and was left as a no-man's-land between the two armies, important surrounding villages had been taken. Above all, however, the 9th Hohenstaufen SS Panzer Division, which had been in the process of moving out of the line to form an operational reserve, was brought back to contain the British. Therefore, on the strategic level Operation Jupiter was a significant success.[54]

It was not until American troops eventually started to break out from the Normandy lodgement, as Operation Cobra developed momentum, in August 1944, that the Germans withdrew from Hill 112 and the 53rd (Welsh) Division occupied the feature, with barely a fight.[55]

Operation Bluecoat was an attack by most of the British Second Army from 30 July 1944 to 7 August 1944. The objectives of the attack were to secure the key road junction of Vire and the high ground of Mont Pinçon. Strategically, the attack was made to support the American exploitation of their breakout on the western flank of the Normandy beachhead, codenamed Operation Cobra. The British Second Army was switched westward towards Villers-Bocage, adjacent to the U.S. First Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges. Originally, Lieutenant General Dempsey, the Second Army commander, planned to attack on 2 August, but the speed of events on the American front forced him to advance the date.[56]

Men of the 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders advance up to the front line, 4 August 1944.

Initially, only two weak German infantry divisions held the intended attack frontage, south and east of Caumont, although they had laid extensive minefields and constructed substantial defences. They also occupied ideal terrain for defence, the bocage.[57]

Churchill tanks supporting infantry of the 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during Operation 'Veritable', 8 February 1945.

After the Battle of the Falaise Gap, which saw most of the German Army in Normandy virtually destroyed (although the division took no part in it), the 15th (Scottish) Division, commanded by Major General Colin Barber, previously the 46th Brigade commander, after Major General MacMillan was wounded in early August, fought virtually continuously from then on through Caumont, the Seine Crossing, the Gheel Bridgehead, Best, Tilburg (Operation Pheasant), Meijel, Blerwick, Broekhuizen, the Maas, Operation Veritable and across the Rhine, entering Germany, in Operation Plunder in late March 1945, then taking part in the Western Allied invasion of Germany.[58]

Universal Carriers and infantry of the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders move up to cross the Elbe, 29 April 1945.

The particular distinction for the 15th Scottish was to be selected to lead the last set piece river crossing of the war, the assault across the River Elbe (Operation Enterprise) on 29 April 1945 spearheaded by the 1st Commando Brigade (commanded by Brigadier Derek Mills-Roberts), after which they fought on to the Baltic occupying both Lübeck and Kiel. The 15th (Scottish) was the only division of the British Army during the Second World War to be involved in three of the six major European river assault crossings; the Seine, the Rhine and the Elbe. The end of World War II in Europe arrived soon afterwards, followed by the surrender of Japan in September, bringing an end to just under six years of war.[59]

On 10 April 1946 the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division was finally disbanded. Its battle casualties– killed, wounded and missing – in nearly eleven months of fighting were 11,772 with well over 1,500 men killed. According to military historian Carlo D'Este, the "15th (Scottish) Division was considered to be the most effective and best led infantry division in 21st Army Group."[60]