British expeditionary force ww2. After leaving the latter, Gort .
- British expeditionary force ww2. Between September 1939 and June 1940, the British Expeditionary Force confronted the German threat to France and Flanders with a confused mind-set, an uncertain skills-set and an uncompetitive capability. (Imperial War Museums) The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the British Army in Europe from 1939 to 1940 during early stages of the Second World War. Against the onslaught of blitzkrieg, the BEF withdrew, along with remnants of the French army, to Dunkirk. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Nov 12, 2016 · The Expeditionary Force that spent the winter of 1939–40 digging fortifications in northern France was not, therefore, the mechanized elite favoured by British military theorists between the wars. Belgian soldiers join civilians in retreating along the Brussels-Louvain road. Catalogue description War Office: British Expeditionary Force, France: War Diaries, Second World War Search within or browse this series to find specific records of interest. , D. Apr 29, 2024 · The Dunkirk Evacuation of 26 May to 4 June 1940, known as Operation Dynamo, was the attempt to save the British Expeditionary Force in France from total defeat by an advancing German army. . Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II in the holdings of the U. US General Dwight D. O and two bars, commander of the B. The division was deployed to France, but only after the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. S. Dec 17, 2024 · A photograph of members of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France during the Phoney War. Jul 31, 2011 · Extract from BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCES (BEF) standing orders: Dated 20th March 1940. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the formation of the British army on the Western Front during World War I. British Expeditionary Force (BEF; deutsch Britisches Expeditionskorps) war, sowohl im Ersten Weltkrieg als auch in der ersten Phase des Zweiten Weltkriegs, die Bezeichnung des Truppenkontingents der British Army, das in Frankreich und Belgien eingesetzt war. [1] Locally it is referred to as the Jul 6, 2025 · The evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and other Allied troops from the French seaport of Dunkirk (Dunkerque) to England. Confusion reigned among the B. 2016 The BEF (British Expeditionary Force) in May, 1940 In 1939, besides the colonial forces stationed around the world, mainly made up of infantry and artillery, the heavy mechanized forces were included in the British Expeditionary Force commanded by Lord Gort, formed in 1938, and landed in France soon after the declaration of war on September 3. com Jun 29, 2005 · He was returning to take command of the second British Expeditionary Force, which was being set up. Armour is to be used in its loosest sense and The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the contingent of the British Army sent to France in 1939 after Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany on 3 September, beginning the Second World War. Le même nom a été donné aux forces britanniques envoyées en France à partir de 1939 The Nazis conquered Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France. As Hitler's war machine overran Europe, British soldiers were sent en masse to help defend France and also made a failed attempt to relieve Norway. From the Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the U. E. See full list on military-history. For force during the First World War, see British Expeditionary Force (World War I). He accepted that this action would probably lead to Germany invading Norway or Sweden or both countries, however, he perceived this risk to be tolerable. Outmaneuvered and outgunned they eventually fell back on the coast. Sep 22, 2024 · The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the name of the British Army in Western Europe from 1939 to 1940, in the early stages of the Second World War. "The respirator case after prolonged use and laundering is appearing conspicuous and with immediate effect should be treated in the same manner as fighting equipment with regards to care and maintenance " Oct 11, 2011 · This is a project to try and identify the names of all casualties (lost their lives) of the land forces of the British Expeditionary Force and the World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations Last Updated 09. ) to France to serve under the French High Command. It comprised 152,000 men and, from 4 September, was situated along the Belgian border. Review and Speed Painting Guide for Wargames Atlantic British Expeditionary Force WW2 Infantry. After this frantic activity, getting the British Expeditionary Force established in France, a certain sense of unreality descended as not a lot was happening. British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the name of the British Army in Western Europe during the Second World War from 2 September 1939 when it was formed until 31 May 1940. Nevertheless, in the nine desperate days of Operation Dynamo, 338,226 men were rescued. Oct 3, 2011 · Abstract. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the name given to military forces from the British Empire who fought in Belgium and France during the First World War. Jan 24, 2025 · Although by the beginning of World War II, the weapon was clearly outdated, it continued to be popular among the troops. My aim here Dec 4, 2019 · You might try and get your hands on The British Army 1939-45: British Expeditionary Force Organization and Order of Battle: 10 May 1940 - Volumes 1, 2 by Alan Philson. Naval vessels and hundreds of civilian boats were used in the operation. In October 1940, Mussolini’s army, As soon as war was declared on 3 September 1939, the British Army sent an expeditionary force to France in order to defend France against German invasion. Operation David was the codename for the deployment of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) into Belgium at the start of the Battle of Belgium during the Second World War. Nearly 1,000 Catalogue description War Office: British Expeditionary Force, France: Military Headquarters Papers, Second World War Search within or browse this series to find specific records of interest. C. Primary Sources British Expeditionary Force On 22nd February 1939, the British government authorized the creation of a British Expeditionary Army (BEF) that would be sent to France in the event of war with Nazi Germany. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force. The BEF was considered to be a formidable fighting unit but against blitzkrieg, it had little to offer. In the Royal Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Regiments were redesignated as 'Heavy' on 1 June 1940, however they are shown following these reorganisations for simplicity. This was being assembled in France, but in fact, he ordered the Divisions back to England. May 20, 2025 · Soldiers from the British Expeditionary Force fire at low-flying German aircraft while awaiting evacuation circa 1 June 1940 (Picture: Geopix / Alamy Stock Photo) "Wars are not won by evacuations. had grown to be equivalent to an Army Group in terms of its Sep 9, 2008 · Detailed information about the Line-of-Communications Command of the British Expeditionary Force in May 1940, including its structure and operations. Originally sent as six divisions the British Army to the Western Front during the First World War. Eisenhower was the commander in SHAEF throughout its existence. F. Apr 1, 2015 · On request from Greece, but also because of their own interest, the British sent a 60,000 strong Imperial Expeditionary Force to Greece under the code name Operation Lustre. British Expeditionary Force When the United Kingdom declared war on Germany on the 3rd September 1939, the British Government and Chiefs of Staff activated plans that had been in preparation since March 1939 for the deployment of a British Expeditionary Force (B. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted 10 percent of the defending Allied force. A 2-pdr anti-tank gun of 44 Battery, 13th Anti-Tank Regiment, 2nd Division in the snow near Beuvry, 15 February 1940. Jul 31, 2025 · World War II - Dunkirk Evacuation: Dunkirk was now the only port left available for the withdrawal of the mass of the British Expeditionary Force from Europe, and the British Cabinet at last decided to save what could be saved. The German invasion of France had pushed the British Expeditionary Force, with French and Belgian troops, back to the French port of Dunkirk - destruction awaited if a rescue operation was not mounted from across the Channel. By early October 1939 both battalions were in position on the Belgian frontier, where they were joined in April 1940 by the 1st and 4th East Lancashires, both of 42nd Division. This book explores the formation's origins, the scale of defeat in France and the campaign's considerable legacy. Three panzer corps attacked through the Ardennes and drove northwest to the English Channel. German Blitzkrieg warfare was too much for the smattering of veterans and relatively green troops sent to Europe Jan 9, 2021 · British Expeditionary Force Battle of Britain, 30 September 1940 The British Armies Royal Navy Royal Air Force Northwest Europe, 6 June 1944 Neptune (Operation Overlord / D-Day) Mediterranean Theater of Operations Greece, April 1941 W Force Crete, May 1941 Creforce North Africa, 23 October 1942 El Alamein North Africa, 11 November 1942 Torch Description This box set contains a metal 10-man section: NCO with rifle 2-men Bren gun LMG team 7 riflemen The British Expeditionary Force was an army of nearly a third of a million troops sent out to France to try to resist aggression from Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. Allied with Belgium and powerful French forces, it fielded ten infantry divisions, artillery, tank brigades and supporting air Buy Wargames Atlantic 28mm World Ablaze - WWII British Expeditionary Force Online The Wargames Atlantic 28mm World Ablaze - WWII British Expeditionary Force from our 1/56 (28mm) scale figure model kits range provides a set of highly-detailed figures. In May 1940, the Allies teetered on the edge of catastrophe. Chief of the General Staff LIEUT. Germany: 19th Panzer Corps, under General Heinz Guderian; 41st Panzer Corps, led by General GH What role did the British Expeditionary Force play in the war? The BEF would take on the responsibility for Britain's military efforts on the Western Front. On the outbreak of the Second World War, the BEF took up defensive positions along the Franco-Belgian frontier. La British Expeditionary Force (BEF), ou en français le Corps expéditionnaire britannique (CEB), est un corps expéditionnaire britannique envoyé pour participer aux combats en France et en Belgique à la suite du déclenchement de la Première Guerre mondiale. ] On 28th March they were deployed into the defensive line relieving the French 21st Division between Bailleul and Armentiéres. France Norway 1940: British Expeditionary Force With the outbreak of the Second World War, the planning assumption was a German invasion through the Low Countries and into France, the same scenario as occurred in 1914. I also offer a Soldier Research and Document Copying Service Field Companies Royal Engineers Order of Battle for the British Expeditionary Force The field companies of the Royal Engineers which served as part of the British Expeditionary Force are listed below, along with the division in which they served and a link to their war diary. In September 1939, 1st Battalion deployed straight to France with the British Expeditionary Force, eventually fighting a rearguard action all the way back to Dunkirk in June 1940. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) dispatched to France in 1939 consisted of only ten divisions. Feb 8, 2014 · PAIF = Palestine and Iraq force…BLA = British liberation force - BAOR = British Army on Rhine then there was Burma MEDITERREAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE WAS THE Ww1 name for Egptian campaign -WW2 was MIDDLE EAST FORCE… Cheers Tom Canning, Feb 8, 2014 #3 Mitrailleuse britannique Vickers en 1917. Jul 21, 2025 · Dunkirk evacuation (May 26–June 4, 1940), in World War II, the evacuation of about 198,000 soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and 140,000 French and Belgian troops from the French seaport of Dunkirk to England. Players: Britain: Viscount Gort's British Expeditionary Force (BEF) comprising 13 infantry divisions. General Lord Gort was appointed to the command of the BEF on 3 September 1939 and the BEF began moving to France on 4 September 1939. 1. As relations with Germany deteriorated in the approach to World War 1, it was assumed that any future conflict with Germany would be at sea and that Britain’s part in defeating Germany would be through a naval blockade. The anti-aircraft gun was the basis of the air defense batteries as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France. Shortly after the outbreak of war with Germany the 1st South Lancashires and 1st Loyals crossed to France with, respectively, the 4th and 1st Divisions of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). General Headquarters Troops 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards — BEF Reconnaissance Regiment, equipped with Morris armoured cars 12th British Expeditionary Force British Expeditionary Force (BEF) may refer to: British Expeditionary Force (World War I), the British field force sent to France in World War I British Expeditionary Force (World War II), the British field force sent to France in World War II Jul 9, 2025 · Between 1939 and 1941, the German blitzkrieg defeated Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and the 380,000 soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force stationed in France. 05. It was formed in March 1915, under the command of General Sir Ian Hamilton, at the beginning of the Gallipoli campaign of the First World War. Our company We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. ) to consist of two corps, each comprising two Regular Army infantry divisions. Nov 5, 2009 · On March 7, 1941, a British expeditionary force from North Africa lands in Greece. fandom. British Expeditionary Force infantry in France, 1940. This is the British Expeditionary Force order of battle on 9 May 1940, the day before the German forces initiated the Battle of France. They were sent by Britain to France in 1914 to aid in resisting the German invasion. 2nd Battalion had moved to India in 1937, but returned to Britain in September 1940. On the same day as the German invasion of neutral Belgium, 10 May 1940, the BEF moved forward from their prepared defences on the Franco-Belgian border to take up a new position deep inside Belgium, conforming to plans made In World War II, an expeditionary force was again mobilized and sent to France in September 1939, as Britain's contribution to its alliance with France. 2016 The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) WWII was the British Army in Europe from 1939 to 1940 during the Second World War. After the Phoney War of October 1939 to April 1940, Germany invaded Belgium, the Netherlands, and France on 10 May 1940. By May 1940, the B. It would be expanded to include five armies in which over 5 million men would serve by 1918. THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE FRANCE, 1939-40 General Officer Commanding-in-Chief GENERAL LORD GORT, V. F had no choice but to remove his men by sea. After leaving the latter, Gort Jul 22, 2025 · Learn how Nazi panzers wedged between French and British troops and trapped the latter at Dunkirk The British Expeditionary Force being surrounded by invading Germans at Dunkirk and evacuated from France by a motley rescue fleet of military ships and private boats; from The Second World War: Triumph of the Axis (1963), a documentary by Apr 28, 2025 · These are ready-to-use Evacuation of Dunkirk worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Evacuation of Dunkirk which happened during World War II (1939-1945). His story was given to the Trebah Video Archive, supported by the May 26, 2024 · Expeditionary Force Canteens In January 1915, the War Office established the Expeditionary Force Canteens (EFC) to fill this gap. The operation started on the 2nd of March 1941 when the first British, Australian, New Zealander, Palestinian and Cypriote troops boarded in Alexandria, Egypt. 270th Field Company, Royal Engineers, a Territorial unit based in Sheffield served with 46th Division during the Second World War. This was relatively small compared with the other combatants. [26] The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France 1939-1940. Part of the Battle of Belgium and the much larger Battle of France, it started in the afternoon of 26 May and reached its maximum intensity on 27 and 28 May. R. The evacuation includes the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and other Allied troops. General John Gort, V. This chapter examines the pre-war army and the British Expeditionary Force's (BEF) military campaign in France and Flanders against the Germans i The Royal Air Force lost 106 fighter planes, and the British Expeditionary Force lost almost all of its equipment, including 682 tanks, 120,000 vehicles, 2,700 artillery pieces, and 90,000 rifles. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the contingent of the British Army sent to France in 1939 after Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany on 3 September, beginning the Second World War. The British Expeditionary Force was trapped at Dunkirk, but managed to withdraw by sea back to Britain. These two volumes have everything you need including the specific equipment for every artillery unit as well as WEs, TOEs and orders of Explore Eureka Miniatures USA's collection of British Expeditionary Force WWII miniatures, featuring detailed figures for historical enthusiasts and collectors. In its original conception, the plan was for a combined force under Major General Harold Franklyn, consisting of the British 5th and 50th Divisions, supported by the 1st Army Tank Brigade and some French tank forces, to attack southward from the old WWI battlefields of Vimy Ridge and Arras, while larger May 20, 2018 · Armour Camouflage & Markings of the British Expeditionary Force France 1939-1940 Model Centrum Progres Early in the 1940 campaign in France and Flanders, the British Expeditionary Force, along with the Belgian army and the best French divisions, were encircled north of the Somme. The traditional role of the British army before 1914 was to The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) was the part of the British Army during World War I that commanded all Allied forces at Gallipoli and Salonika. POWNALL Apr 20, 2015 · The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) stationed in France in the spring of 1940 was commanded by Lord Gort. From May 28th to the 31st, 40,000 French soldiers stood up against the German assault, delaying the German advance and allowing the British Expeditionary Force to build defensive structures and form a plan of retreat across the English Channel, back to Britain. Sep 5, 2016 · World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations Last Updated 09. His force were eventually driven to Dunkirk - where they were evacuated - by the German army’s use of the Blitzkrieg (or ‘lightning storm’) tactic. " Jun 20, 2017 · By Andy Singleton Unusually for me, (Some may say shockingly…), today I’m painting something not German (Or desert)! With the new Operation Sea Lion campaign book: Gigant due soon, I wanted to paint up a section of BEF infantry in readiness for upcoming games, but mostly as a purely fun modeling exercise. The Military Press: Milton Keynes, 2005. Planning for a British Expeditionary Force began with the 1906–1912 Haldane Reforms of the British Expeditionary Force 1940 With The BEF in France by Brigadier L G Hinchliffe MBE To support the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) which was sent to France on the outbreak of the Second World War there was a carefully prepared increment of the Royal Army Pay Corps. On 4th June, 1940, Winston Lord John Gort led the British Expeditionary Force into Europe in the first year of World War One. The National Archives' catalogue WO - Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies Division within WO - Records of the Armed Forces from commands, headquarters, regiments and corps WO 197 - War Office: British Expeditionary Force, France: Military Headquarters Papers, Second World War The first elements of the British Expeditionary Force left for France on 3 September 1939, just over twenty-five years since its predecessor had crossed the English Channel bound for war. The BEF originated in the army reform of 1908 sponsored by Richard Burdon (later Viscount) Haldane. Planning began to send an Anglo/French expeditionary force comprising two British divisions and some French forces to Finland, a course of action fervently encouraged by CHURCHILL. It served in France between 14 May and 16 June 1940. 54mm WW2 Pacific War British Displaying 1 to 12 (of 16 products) Result Pages: 1 2 [Next >>] Displaying 1 to 12 (of 16 products) The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was sent to help defend France. Over the IN June 1940 I returned from France still clutching my Vickers machine gun, not from any patriotic sense of duty but from the fact that if i lost it I would be forced to pay for it. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the contingent of the British Army sent to France in 1939 after Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany on 3 September, beginning the Second World War. Below is the full structure of the British Expeditionary Force as it was during the Battle of France. Canadian forces played a small role during the Battle of France, with the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade being deployed to Brest as a part of the second British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The Battle for France and the Dunkirk Evacuation May- June 1940 The British Expeditionary Force and the Phoney War Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939 following Germany’s attack on Poland, and began transporting the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to France. The Battle of the Ypres–Comines Canal was a battle of the Second World War fought between the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and German Army Group B during the BEF's retreat to Dunkirk in 1940. British Expeditionary Force (BEF), the home-based British army forces that went to northern France at the start of World Wars I and II in order to support the left wing of the French armies. When … Jan 3, 2011 · A thread for discussing the markings applied to and used by all armour within the BEF, including 1st Armoured Division, 1st Army Tank Brigade, Divisional cavalry regiments, Armoured Car units, Motorised Divisions, ad hoc armoured formations (Cooks Light Tanks, Beauman Tanks), GHQ units and the tanks at Ordnance Depots in France and Belgium. The 51st Highland Division landed in Le Havre in January 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force [B. Wargames Atlantic Item Number: WAA-WA7 28mm World Ablaze WWII 1939-45: British Expeditionary Force (30) FROM PHONEY WAR TO DUNKIRK! As Hitler's war machine overran Europe, British soldiers were sent en masse to help defend France and also made a failed attempt to relieve Norway. Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF; / ˈʃeɪf / SHAYF) was the headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in northwest Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. Born in 1886 in County Durham to an Anglo-Irish aristocratic family, Gort was educated at Harrow and Sandhurst. But the British could also draw on additional divisions from Australia, Canada, South Africa, West Africa, East Africa and New Zealand. British Army Rifle Company (1943-1945) The following was the organization of the Rifle Company of the British Army from April 1943 through the end of World War II, with a minor change to the company headquarters noted in November 1944. National Archives and Records Administration. Jan 21, 2006 · CWS 180804D 16:18:00 — 16:18:35 This story has been added by CSV volunteer Linda Clark on behalf of the author Peter Gilson. JU87 Stuka dive bombers attacked soldiers and refugees alike, German troops and tanks popped up everywhere. Operation Dynamo used hundreds of naval vessels and civilian boats in the evacuation. -GENERAL H. Jul 12, 2017 · Operation Dynamo & The Miracle of Dunkirk Trapped and surrounded, the British Expeditionary Force ‘BEF’ tried to force a breakthrough southwards near Arras in France but the German forces repelled the assault. Between 1914 and 1918 the British Expeditionary Force grew from a small professional striking force into a mass army, which was not only bigger than any in Britain’s history, but was also capable of fighting and winning a modern, industrialised war on a continental scale. F (British Expeditionary Force) and French Armies, and the enemy was closing fast around Dunkirk. German Blitzkrieg warfare was too much for the smattering of veterans and relatively green troops sent to Europe after hasty training. Taken in January 1940. The Supreme command was held by the French Commander-in-Chief Général d'armée Maurice Gamelin. The small cadre of officers was hand picked, and its quality can be judged by the fact that it contained two future About: British Expeditionary Force (World War II) The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the name of the contingent of the British Army sent to France in 1939 after Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany on 3 September, beginning the Second World War. This plastic model kit requires paint and glue to complete. These miniatures are great for early war British (Norway & Fra In response, the British scrambled to evacuate the British Expeditionary Force from the harbor city of Dunkirk, France. Over 68,000 men were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Why use this guide? This guide will help you find records at The National Archives relating to military operations in the Second World War, planned and carried out by the: British Army Indian Army Canadian, New Zealand, South African or Indian forces (also known as dominion forces) under British command Allied and colonial troops […] Type here Allied forces The majority of the Allied forces were French although the British Expeditionary Force (The BEF) along with the Netherland and Belgium also had committed substantial forces to oppose Germany in Western Europe. The crew wear snow suits and the gun is camouflaged with white sheets. The battalion then remained in Britain until June 1944, when it landed in Normandy. Under the leadership of a British businessman named Lionel Rothschild, the EFC aimed to provide a "universal canteen service" for all British troops on the Western Front and beyond. Courtesy of the Imperial War Museums. The British army in France and Belgium in 1914 Britain’s real power and security lay in her control of the seas. Futile attem Aug 8, 2018 · 238th Field Company, Royal Engineers saw action with the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 and across North Western Europe. Initially, the War Office planned for the British Expeditionary Force (B. The evacuation saved 340,000 people from the Allied Forces. During the 1930s, the British government planned to deter war by rearming from the very low level of readiness of the early 30s and abolished the Ten Year Rule. BEF May/June 1940 shows the Order of Battle to Corps level plus some independent formations, Links take you Divisional level. falsze stgpgqb zxaag cfwqbm jema jaqhpg groso gefi syd vpiom