British Army & CW ad-hoc 'Force' formations

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Andy H
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#61

Post by Andy H » 02 Sep 2005, 12:52

1) Massy Force (Brigadier Tristam Hugh Massy-Beresford)
2) 3rd Indian Corps
3) 11/02/42
4) 13/02/42
5) 1st Cambridgeshires, 4th Suffolks and 5/11th Sikhs + 2/12th F.F. Regt. composite unit, detachments from 3rd Cavalry and 100th Light Tank Sqn. and 342 Field Bty.
6) ?
7) Fought around Keppel harbour. This force eventually merged with Tom Force (see bottom of Pg4)
8.) Singapore Burning by Colin Smith ; Loyalty & Honour : The Indian Army September 1939 - August 1947 by Chris Kempton

Andy H /Steen Ammentorp
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#62

Post by Andy H » 04 Sep 2005, 16:48

1) Merrett Force (Major R Merrett)
2) 22nd Australian Brigade
3) December'41
4) ?
5) elements of 2/19 & 2/20Btn's
6) ?
7) Defensive actions during the Japanesse landing on Singapore
8.) Singapore Burning by Colin Smith

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#63

Post by Andy H » 04 Sep 2005, 16:52

1) Dal Force (Lt-Col J Dalley, colonial Police officer)
2) 22nd Australian Brigade
3) December'41
4) ?
5) Chinese volunteers (some 200+) armed with basic small arms
6) ?
7) Defensive actions during the Japanesse landing on Singapore
8.) Singapore Burning by Colin Smith

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Aufklarung
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#64

Post by Aufklarung » 13 Sep 2005, 18:01

1) LOCK Force Maj Louis Froggett D Coy Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI)
2) RHLI, 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade (4CIB), 2 Canadian Infantry Division (2CID) 1 Cdn Army
3) ? September 1944
4) ? October 1944
5) D & A Coy RHLI, "Specialized Naval Forces, Searchlight Batteries, ack-ack units"
6) ?
7) Tasked to protect the canal locks of Antwerp (specifically the Kruisschans lock) from German interference or destruction until the Scheldt estuary could be cleared, in order to aid the entire Allied war effort in the West. Many small actions reported.
8 ) Tug of War by Denis and Shelagh Whitaker

regards
A :)

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Martin_Schenkel
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Cumberland Force

#65

Post by Martin_Schenkel » 26 Sep 2005, 10:28

1) Cumberland Force LtCol IH Cumberland
2) Br 8th Army, 1 Cdn Corps and ??
3) 09 Oct '44
4) 27 Oct '44
5) 3rd Greek Mountain Bde, New Zealand "Wilder Force", Royal Canadian Dragoons + a NZ Armd Car unit becoming "Landell Force", and "a collection of Canadian Supporting Arms".
6) The RCD were in Staghounds, the rest......??
7) Tasked with "Holding the Adriadic Sector", they instead advanced 8km in 10 days over fierce terrain.
8 ) The Royal Canadian Dragoons 1883-1983, Brereton Greenhous, 1983, The Guild of the RCD.
Some additional information:

2) HQ, 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade

5)
3rd Canadian Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (Governor General's Horse Guards)
27th Lancers
3rd Greek Mountain Brigade
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
Landell Force (serving as infantry)
- 1st Canadian Armoured Car Regiment (Royal Canadian Dragoons)
- Wilder Force (serving as infantry)
-- two Squadrons, 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry Regiment
-- one Battery, 7th Anti-Tank Regiment, NZA
-- one Platoon, 27th New Zealand MG Battalion

Supporting Units
-HQ Royal Canadian Artillery, 5th Canadian Armoured Division
-- 11th Field Regiment, RCA
-- 17th Field Regiment, RCA
-- 4th Anti-Tank Regiment, RCA
-- 5th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA
-- 3rd Field Regiment, Greek Artillery
-- 10th Field Squadron, RCE
-- 3rd Field Regiment, RCA
-- 16th Anti-Tank Battery, RCA

8.)
Order of Battle, I Canadian Corps, 11/Oct/44 (AHQ Report No. 25, Appendix "A")
Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War Vol. 2: The Canadians in Italy 1943-1945 (Lt-Col. GWL Nicholson)

EDIT: Wilder Force was serving as a part of Landell Force.

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#66

Post by Martin_Schenkel » 01 Oct 2005, 22:03

1) Q Force
2) Lake Superior Regiment
3) 1940
4) 1940
5) (?)
6) (?)
7) Not put into action, "Q" Force was a contigency plan after the fall of France for the occupation of St. Pierre and Miquelon, two small islands just off the south coast of Newfoundland. As French territory, the islands initially came under Vichy control, but quickly aligned themselves with the Free French. Thus "Q" Force was not needed.
8.) http://www.lssr.ca/home_frame.htm

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#67

Post by Andy H » 28 Apr 2006, 23:00

1) Dig Force
2) BEF LoC under Lt-Gen Sir Henry Karslake
3) 28/05/1940?
4) 31/05/1940
5) Auxillary Military Pioneer Corps
6) (?)
7) This unit was incorporated into the improvised Beauman Division. Intially deployed on and infront of the Bresle for yet another attack on the Somme B/H
8.) The War in France & Flanders 1939-1940 by Maj LF Ellis HMSO
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#68

Post by Andy H » 28 Apr 2006, 23:06

1) X Force Brig.The Hon. EF Lawson
2) CO R.A 48th Infantry Division
3) 23/05/1940?
4) (?)
5) Infantry, MG and Artillery units
6) (?)
7) Advance guard of the 48th Division upon its advance to La Bassee along the Canal line
8.) The War in France & Flanders 1939-1940 by Maj LF Ellis HMSO


1) Y Force Brig.CB Findlay
2) CO R.A 2nd Infantry Division
3) 23/05/1940?
4) (?)
5) Infantry, MG and Artillery units
6) (?)
7) Advance guard of the 2nd Division upon its advance to Bethune along the Canal line
8.) The War in France & Flanders 1939-1940 by Maj LF Ellis HMSO

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Aufklarung
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Ross Force

#69

Post by Aufklarung » 15 May 2006, 18:34

1) "Ross" Force (Maj GRH Ross)
2) 5th Canadian Armoured Division (5CAD), 5th Armoured Brigade, 5th Armoured Regiment (5 AR)
3) 03 May '45
4) 05 May '45
5) C Sqn, 5 AR (8th Princess Louise's (New Brunswick) Hussars) and Dutch Independent Company
6) Shermans
7) Tasked "to act as an anti-invasion Force as the enemy were still in strength on the FRISIAN ISLANDS". 5CAD's task was to "hold and patrol coastline from Ems River to Ijssel River". Tank Troop and Dutch Platoon at SPIJK, same at ZIJLDIJK, remainder and Force HQ at GODLINZE.
8.) War Diary of the 8th New Brunswick Hussars (Princess Louise's) aka 5 AR. pgs 450 & 451.

regards
A :)

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#70

Post by Andy H » 06 Jun 2006, 16:24

1) Heron Force
2) 11th Indian Inf Brigade/4th Indian Infantry Division
3) 31/08/39
4) 14/09/39
5) 2nd Cameronian Highlanders, 1st/6th Rajputana Rifles, 4th/7th Rajput Regt and 4th Field Regt RA
6)
7) Advance movement grouping for 4th Indian from India to Egypt in 1939. The convoy transporting Heron Force left Bombay & Karachi on August 3rd. The convoy was composed of the ships Karanja, Khosrou, Rohna, Quiloa, Talamba and Varela. The convoy was met by the light cruisers Gloucester & Manchester and the sloops Egret & Fleetwood which had all left Aden that same day. Convoy arrived around September 14th when they dropped anchorat Port Tewfik in Egypt
8.) Naval information from Naval History Net. 4th Indian Infantry Division by Lt Col Stevens
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#71

Post by Andy H » 04 Jul 2006, 14:31

1) Amy Force Major N Amy CO 1Sqn Canadian Gren Gds
2) 4 Cdn Armd Div, 4 Armd Bde
3) 08 Aug '44
4) 08 Aug '44
5) No 1 Sqn Canadian Gren Guards, C Company Lake Superior Regt, Tp from 96th AT-TK Bty, No2 Sect RCE, FOO 23 Field Regt (SP) Armoured OP.
6) Shermans, Bren Carriers, Halftracks, 17Pdr M10's Sherman Crab I Flails
7) Amy Force was a sub unit within Halpenny Force. Please refer to the notes within Halpenny Force on Page 2 for more detail.
8 ) 'No Holding Back-Operation Totalize, Normandy August 1944' by Brian A Reid

1) Smith Force Major H A Smith CO 3Sqn Canadian Gren Gds
2) 4 Cdn Armd Div, 4 Armd Bde
3) 08 Aug '44
4) 08 Aug '44
5) No 3 Sqn Canadian Gren Guards, A(?)Company Lake Superior Regt, 2Sects RCE, FOO 19 & 23 Field Regt (SP) Armoured OP. AT-TK Plt Lake Superior Regt, Sqn of Sherman Crab I Flails (less 1Tp)
6) Shermans, Bren Carriers, Halftracks, Sherman Crab I Flails
7) Smith Force was a sub unit within Halpenny Force. Please refer to the notes within Halpenny Force on Page 2 for more detail.
8 ) 'No Holding Back-Operation Totalize, Normandy August 1944' by Brian A Reid

1) Williamson Force
2) 4 Cdn Armd Div, 4 Armd Bde
3) 08 Aug '44
4) 08 Aug '44
5) No 2 Sqn Canadian Gren Guards, B Company Lake Superior Regt, AT-TK Plat from Lake Superior Regt, Bty (less 1Tp) from 96th AT-TL Bty, AA Tp Canadian Gren Gds, FOO 11th Meduim Regt
6) Shermans, Bren Carriers, Halftracks,
7) Williamson Force was a sub unit within Halpenny Force. Please refer to the notes within Halpenny Force on Page 2 for more detail.
8 ) 'No Holding Back-Operation Totalize, Normandy August 1944' by Brian A Reid

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#72

Post by Andy H » 04 Jul 2006, 14:39

1) Fortress Force
2) ?
3) ?
4) ?
5) ?
6) ?
7) ?
8 ) 'No Holding Back-Operation Totalize, Normandy August 1944' by Brian A Reid

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#73

Post by Andy H » 05 Jul 2006, 15:01

1) Brown Force
2) Read Adm Sir C.Harcourt?
3) 30/08/45
4) ?
5) 550men
6) Men drawn from (BB) HMS Anson, (AC) HMS Indomitable, and the (CL's) HMS Euryalus & HMS Switsure
7) To secure various points within Hong Kong
8 ) The British Empire and the Second World War by Ashley Jackson

1) Kennedy Force
2) Read Adm Sir C.Harcourt?
3) 30/08/45
4) ?
5) 550men
6) Men drawn from (BB) HMS Anson, (AC) HMS Indomitable, and the (CL's) HMS Euryalus & HMS Switsure
7) To secure various points within Hong Kong
8 ) The British Empire and the Second World War by Ashley Jackson

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#74

Post by Andy H » 30 Jul 2006, 06:08

1) Z Force
2) 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
3) Z Force HQ was authorized to form effective 28/Sep/40
4) Spring 1941, Authorized to disband effective 1/Dec/40
5) Brigade HQ plus The Cameron Highlanders, Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG)
6) ?
7) The British government pressured Canada to supply a brigade and then a full division to garrison Iceland in the summer of 1940, and Canadian 2nd Infantry Division was temporarily earmarked for that duty. Although the division was routed instead to the UK, a Bde HQ and Royal Regiment of Canada arrived on Iceland 16/Jun/40, while Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal and the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) arrived 9/Jul/40 , the formation as a whole being known as “Z” Force. Two battalions (Royal Regt & Mont Royal) and the HQ moved from Iceland to the UK from 31/10/40 while the third battalion, The Cameron Highlanders, stayed the winter before relief. “Z” Force was disbanded in the April of 1941 and its remaining elements transferred to the UK.
8.) Stone Books website, Falconer, D.W. Battery Flashes of WW2 (1985)
Stacey, Col. C.P. Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Vol. 1: Six Years of War: The Army in Canada, Britain and the Pacific (1955)


Information in Blue supplied by Martin Schenkel-Many thanks
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#75

Post by Aufklarung » 13 Aug 2006, 19:20

1) Smith Force(2)- LCol E.M.Smith, CO Govenor General's Foot Guards
2) 4 CAD, 4th Armoured Brigade.
3) ? but in action 26-27 February 1945
4) ?
5) Govenor General's Foot Guards, Lake Superior Regiment (Motor).
6) Shermans, Bren Carriers, Halftracks.
7) "Smith Force" was a sub unit within "Tiger Group"*. Tasked with securing x3 high features (Pauls-Berg, Katzen-Berg, and the third was unnamed) on the Calcar-Udem ridge.
8 ) The Royal Candian Armoured Corps- An Illustrated History John Marteinson/Michael McNorgan. 2000. The RCAC Assoc.

*- Still researching. TBI later.

regards
A :)

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