Beauman Division

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Major Major
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Beauman Division

#1

Post by Major Major » 29 Aug 2007, 23:42

This unit was an improvised force under the command of Brigadier-General A. B. Beauman, formed from troops south of the Somme during the Battle of France. As I recall, it contained one brigade of infantry (a "second-line" Territorial brigade, I believe), a brigade of Pioneer battalions, and a brigade of provisional units made up from men on leave, returning wounded, etc.

What was the order of battle of this division?

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#2

Post by Andy H » 30 Aug 2007, 13:13

Hi MM

I have yet to a complete OoB, and given the chaotic nature of its birth and the speed of the actions it was involved in I doubt I will (about to be proved wrong) :lol:

However there are a few details I can furnish.

Some ad-hoc formations, Vic Force, Dig Force and Beau Force were incorporated into the Division. These forces themselves were mainly LoC troops. Scant details listed here:-

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=40054

The Division was made up of 3 'Brigades', A, B & C.

A Brigade consisted in the main of 4th Buffs, 1st/5th Sherwood Foresters and 4th Border Regiment.

B Brigade seems to have included the military Pioneer units and those originally in Dig Force. However no doubt other arms were within its ranks.

C Brigade ?

Several publications make note of a unit called the Syme's Btn, which included depot troops from 2nd/4th KOYLI & 2nd/6th Duke of Wellingtons which joined in early June and also elements from 2 infantry battailions reorganising from the 46th Division.

Niehorsters site gives a detailed breakdown of the LoC troops. (Click on the individual LoC areas for unit listing) http://niehorster.orbat.com/017_britain ... loc__.html It isn't hard to imagine that several of these small units being incorporated into the Division.

The following NA files may throw some light on the subject
WO197/101 & WO177/436

Campaign details at:-
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/U ... rs-19.html

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Andy H


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#3

Post by Major Major » 19 Sep 2007, 23:31

I was able to find the original information I had, and for the convenience of anyone interested, have decided to post it. As you will see, the bulk of the troops were Lines of Communication units, with a few provisional battalions thrown in.

Beauman Division
(Acting) Major-General A. B. Beaumann

A Brigade [‘Beauforce’] {to 7.6.1940} Brigadier M. A. Green
4th Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
1/5th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
2/6th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment {to 3.6.1940}
4th Battalion, Border Regiment {from 4.6.1940} [From Support Group, 1st Armd Div]

B Brigade [‘Vickforce’] Brigader Kent-Lemon
1st Provisional Battalion (‘Merry’s Rifles’)
2nd Provisional Battalion (‘Davies’s Rifles’)
3rd Provisional Battalion (‘Newcombe’s Rifles’)
4th Provisional Battalion

C Brigade [‘Digforce’] Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. H. Diggle
P Battalion Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps
Q Battalion Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps
R Battalion Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps
2/4th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry {from 5.6.1940} [From 138th Brigade]
2/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment {from 5.6.1940} [From 137th Brigade]
23rd Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery {from 8.6.1940}

Divisional Troops
Divisional Tank Company {to 7.6.1940}
E Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Atrillery
X Field Battery, Royal Artillery


Some of the Pioneers were on board the transport Lancastria when she was sunk off St. Nazaire.

A Brigade was detached to serve with the 51st Highland Division. By that time it also had the 2/7th Battalion, the Duke of Wellington's Regiment from 137th Brigade. The 2/7th was evacuated from St. Valery.

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#4

Post by Andy H » 20 Sep 2007, 00:18

Thanks for the updated information.

Do you have any references where you obtaioned the original information from?

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Andy H

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#5

Post by Major Major » 20 Sep 2007, 00:42

Part was from the official history by Major Ellis. The bulk was from a history of the "Second B.E.F.", which I cannot remember the title of.

Sorry.

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Re: Beauman Division

#6

Post by Attrition » 11 Nov 2015, 15:12

Karslake, B. (1979). 1940 The Last Act: The Story of the British Forces in France After Dunkirk. London: Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-85052-240-4.

has a detailed OOB, pp. 249–251

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Re: Beauman Division

#7

Post by dave.p » 05 Jul 2020, 15:59

Divisional tank company. According to Philson.
"Formed by the 27th May from RAC personnel in the base depots and equipt with 5 mk1 infantry tanks and 5 mk2 infantry tanks from the ordnance depots. During June it added a further mk2, a cruiser tank and an armoured scout car"
Presumeably this partly accounts for the excess 20 mk1's and 6 mk2's in the record of BEF losses. Does anybody know where these depots were? I would guess between Cherberg and Rouen.
The unit seems to have left the Beauman division on 7th June. Was it destroyed in the first days of Fall Rot? Or was it transferred to the 1st armoured division?

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Re: Beauman Division

#8

Post by Ружичасти Слон » 06 Jul 2020, 16:23

dave.p wrote:
05 Jul 2020, 15:59
Divisional tank company. According to Philson.
"Formed by the 27th May from RAC personnel in the base depots and equipt with 5 mk1 infantry tanks and 5 mk2 infantry tanks from the ordnance depots. During June it added a further mk2, a cruiser tank and an armoured scout car"
Presumeably this partly accounts for the excess 20 mk1's and 6 mk2's in the record of BEF losses. Does anybody know where these depots were? I would guess between Cherberg and Rouen.
The unit seems to have left the Beauman division on 7th June. Was it destroyed in the first days of Fall Rot? Or was it transferred to the 1st armoured division?

Dave.P
Depots was be in many places near Le Havre and Rouen.

First peoples for company was report to HQ Northern District in Rouen. On 1.day was have 5 Mk.II. Was not have Mk.I on 1.day. Place for start unit and for to train was be Camp 13 in Rouvray. Camp 13 was be part of No.1 BOW. Company was be command for No.1 BOW, Northern District.

5 Mk.I was arrive to Rouen on train on 29.may. Peoples from company was must to collect.

On 3.june 1 Mk.II was arrive at Camp 13.

On evening 7.june company was be command for Beauman division.

On morning 8.june company was be command for 1.Armoured division.

After 8.june company was retreat with Beauma division and 1.Armoured division and was have orders from what formations was most close.

Company was disband 2.july in Farnborough.

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Re: Beauman Division

#9

Post by dave.p » 06 Jul 2020, 19:43

Thank you for the information.
Can you quote the source of it please?
Is there information about the other 15 excess mk1's?

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Re: Beauman Division

#10

Post by Ружичасти Слон » 07 Jul 2020, 12:43

dave.p wrote:
06 Jul 2020, 19:43
Thank you for the information.
Can you quote the source of it please?
Is there information about the other 15 excess mk1's?

Dave.P
One friend from i was send datas. He was do self research. Maybe he have datas on 15 Mk.I. I not know.

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Re: Beauman Division

#11

Post by dave.p » 07 Jul 2020, 15:26

O.K. Thanks for your help.

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Re: Beauman Division

#12

Post by Attrition » 13 Jun 2021, 00:11

Useless Mouths: The British Army's Battles in France after Dunkirk May-June 1940 (2018) by Peter Whelan 978-1-91-239090-8 has an OoB for units south of the Somme pp. 155 to 158, the Beauman Division pp. 155 to 156.

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