British Order of Battle, 30th September 1940

Michael Lofthouse

The following Order of Battle and accompanying short notes are based on research carried out over a period of two
years in the National Archives at Kew. The original framework of the divisional and brigade structures came from
H.F.Joslen “Order of Battle: United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939-
1945 Volume 1” (HMSO 1960) with occasional use of a number of booklets written by Malcolm Bellis in the 1980s
and 1990s. Having established the basic units present in the higher formations I consulted the relevant War Diaries at
Kew, divisional, brigade, and battalion level, these are to be found in the class WO 166. Locations however are based
on a quarterly title from the War Office called “General Return of the Strength of the British Army October 1940”,
containing unit strengths and locations for 30th September 1940, units being listed in one sequence by type and in the
other by location, for anyone interested the relevant reference is WO 73/146. It should be noted that there are mistakes
in the lists, for example the first location below, Aylesford, was entered as Aylesbury, but in general the lists tie up
with information found in the War Diaries. It should be noted that the quality of information in the War Diaries varies,
some are very brief indeed whereas others contain hundreds of pages. If anyone has any further information or would
like further clarification on sources I’d be interested to hear from them. War Diaries for Canadian units are present at
Kew but those for Australian and New Zealand units aren’t, there are however a few files covering their units

I haven’t included any information on the units of the Home Guard in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, however the following
three titles have proved useful…
K.R.Gulvin “Kent Home Guard” 1980 (out of print but copies are available via services such as Abebooks)
Paul Crook “Surrey Home Guard 1998
Paul Crook “Sussex Home Guard 2000
For the defences erected in 1940 see…
C.S.Dobinson “Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. Vol II Anti-Invasion Defences of WWII” published by
the Council for British Archaeology 1996 (a copy is available in the Library of the National Archives at Kew, and
copies may be available in County Archaeology Depts.)
Colin Alexander “Ironside’s Line: The Definitive Guide to the GHQ Line” 1999
Henry Wills “Pillboxes” 1985 (out of print)
For a recent history with particularly good coverage of the terrain of the area see…
Martin Marix Evans “Invasion: Operation Sea Lion” 2004
For an overview of The Battle of Britain, including a day by day account of weather conditions see…
Derek Wood & Derek Dempster “ The Narrow Margin” 1961 (this is still in print)

Eastern Command, Home Counties and Chatham (excluding areas in Essex).

Aldershot was a separate command not covered in this article

Miscellaneous infantry units, listed by location, probably under control of Eastern Command rather than that
of Corps, Divisions or Brigades

Aylesford 8th Bn East Surrey Regt A Coy Chattenden B Coy location unknown C Coy Eastchurch,Isle of Sheppey D Coy
location unknown E Coy Rochester Airport
Biggin Hill 7th Bn Dorsetshire Regt (Pioneer Bn) HQ Warlingham A Coy Biggin Hill B Coy Biggin Hill C Coy
Gatwick Aerodrome D Coy Warlingham
Brighton 50th Bn Queens Regt organisation and location of coys unknown, defended eastern section of seafront at
Brighton
Canterbury Infantry Training Centre (ITC) The Buffs (1758 men)
Canterbury 4th Bn Cheshire Regt (MG Bn) HQ Wingham A Coy Birchington B Coy Sandwich C Coy Dover D Coy
Shorncliffe
Cowfold 1st/8th Bn Royal Sussex Regt ABCD Coys but location of coys unknown
Cowfold 70th Bn Royal Sussex Regt A Coy Reigate B Coy West Dean - Beachy Head area C Coy Bexhill D Coy
Newdigate E Coy Westerham F Coy Royal Naval Air Station Ford, near Arundel (1095 men)
(70th Bn RSR established 19/9/1940 from 8th Bn RSR, remaining 8th Bn RSR split on 25/9/1940 into 1st /8th Bn at
Cowfold and 2nd /8th Bn at Uckfield.
Dorking 50th Bn East Surrey Regt A Coy Beare Green B Coy Gatwick Aerodrome C Coy Redhill D Coy Brooklands
Aerodrome
Dover Irish Guards Training Bn organisation unknown (see also Lingfield) Grand Shaft Barracks (638 men)
Dover 9th Bn Green Howards (Pioneer Bn) ABCD Coys Crabble Hill
Dover 50th Bn Royal West Kent Regt 1234 Coys Citadel
Dover 15th Bn Royal Fusiliers (Pioneer Bn) A Coy Duke of York’s School B Coy Deal C Coy Deal D Coy Duke of
York’s School
Esher Welsh Guards Training Bn organisation and location of coys unknown (1539 men)
Folkestone 6th Bn The Buffs ABCD Coys but location of coys unknown
Folkestone 70th Bn The Buffs ABCD Coys but location of coys unknown
Goring-on-Sea 5th Bn Devonshire Regt (MG Bn) ABCE Coys (D Coy attached to 31st Independent Brigade Group)
Guildford ITC Queens Regt (1732 men)
Hove 50th Bn The Buffs ABCD Coys locations unknown (921 men)
Kingston ITC East Surrey Regt (1846 men)
Lingfield Irish Guards Training Bn organisation and location of coys unknown (see also Dover) (1111 men)
Littlehampton 9th Bn East Surrey Regt HQ Walberton, N of Littlehampton) A Coy Littlehampton B Coy Felpham C
Coy East Preston D Coy Barnham
Maidstone ITC Royal West Kent Regt (1868 men)
Portslade 5th Bn Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders (MG Bn) A Coy Yapton B Coy Shoreham C Coy Brighton D Coy
in reserve, location unknown
Seaford 50th Bn Royal Sussex Regt organisation and location of coys unknown
Shoreham ITC Royal Sussex Regt (1718 men)
Shorncliffe 1st Training Bn, Royal Engineers (2055 men)
Shorncliffe 163rd Officer Cadet Training Unit (578 men)
Shorncliffe Royal Fusiliers detachment attached 6th Cavalry Training Regt (232 men)
Tonbridge 8th Bn Royal West Kent Regt organisation and location of coys unknown (358 men)
Tonbridge 70th Bn Royal West Kent Regt organisation and location of coys unknown (1041 men)
Uckfield 2nd/8th Bn Royal Sussex Regt organisation and location of coys unknown
Wadhurst 5th Bn The Loyal Regt (Motorcycle Bn) organisation and location of coys unknown, in reserve as support
to 45th Infantry Division,had 3 x Malcolm Campbell armoured cars
Woolwich 7th Bn The Rifle Brigade No details, War Diary not consulted

Miscellaneous units, listed by location, probably under control of Eastern Command rather than that of Corps,
Divisions or Brigades. These are included merely due to their size, smaller units have been omitted.

Brighton 41st Survey Training Regt ABC & Depot Btys defended central sector of the seafront at Brighton (1028 men)
Brighton 1st Rec Training Bn, RASC (277 men)
Chatham No.1 (SME) Depot Bn (566 men)
Chatham No.2 (FB) Depot Bn (773 men)
Chatham No.3 (LofC) Depot Bn (1323 men)
Chatham 126th E&M Coy (303 men)
Croydon 11th Tech Training Centre RASC (268 men)
Dorking Eastern Command Weapon Training School (278 men)
Dover 5th Field Training Regt About a dozen field guns, probably 13pdr,18 pdr, 4.5” some personnel probably used as
infantry, Connaught Barracks & Fort Burgoyne (1293 men)
Dover 34th Signal Training Regt (939 men)
Folkestone 1006th Docks Operating Coy (411 men)
Folkestone 1009th Docks Operating Coy (404 men)
Hawkinge 655th General Construction Coy (236 men)
Hythe Small Arms School (138 men)
Kenley 706th General Construction Coy (283 men)
Shorncliffe 1st Training Bn Royal Engineers (2055 men)
Shorncliffe 1005th Docks Maintenance Coy (194 men)
Shornclife 1008th Docks Operating Coy (411 men)
Shorncliffe 163rd Officer Cadet Training Unit (578 men)
Stone in Oxney 8th Mil.Training Bn. (688 men)
Tonbridge 4th Armoured Train (46 men)
Tunbridge Wells 718th General Construction Coy (273 men)
Woolwich Coast Def and AA Depot (976 men)
Woolwich Depot Regt Royal Artillery (2402 men)
Woolwich 1st Training Bn RAOC (2424 men)
Woolwich 64th Training Section RAOC (554 men)
Worthing 1st Stevedore Centre (734 men) AB and Depot Coys location of coys unknown

Miscellaneous artillery units, listed by location, probably under control of Eastern Command rather than that of
Corps, Divisions or Brigades.

Ardingley 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment HQ Ardingley ABC Btys. Had very few guns, was to be used as infantry
on a section of the Tunbridge Wells Defence Line.
Ashford 115th Field Regt HQ Ashford. In command of a large number of mobile lorry mounted btys, not a regular field
artillery regt, RM42 at Hove 8 x 12pdr, C1 West Norwood 2 x 3pdr, 2 x 12pdr, C2 Chatham, 2 x 3pdr 2 x 12 pdr, C4
Broughton Street 2 x 3pdr, 2 x 12pdr, C5 Beckenham 4 x 4”, C6 Warden Point, Isle of Sheppey 4 x 4”,“X” Static Bty
sections at Whitstable, Pegwell Bay & Kingsdown (Range when in action is to be not more than 100 yards)
Ashford “Y” Super Heavy Battery 1 x 9.2” railway gun (on 24/9/1940 was unserviceable and awaiting replacement barrel)
Bridge 3km SE of Canterbury “Y” Super Heavy Battery 1 x 9.2” railway gun
Dorking 1st Royal Horse Artillery HQ Dorking. A/E Bty B/O Bty No other details, War Diary not consulted so far
Eythorne 37th Super Heavy Bty HQ Shepherdswell 2 x 12” railway gun
Folkestone 4th Super Heavy Bty 1 x 9.2”railway gun (see also Hythe)
Hermitage 203rd (Independent) Anti-Tank Bty HQ Hermitage (nr Wye?) no other information found about this unit,
presumably 12 x 2pdr
Hythe 4th Super Heavy Bty 1 x 9.2”railway gun (see also Folkestone)
Littlestone “X” Super Heavy Bty 2 x 9.2”railway gun
Lyminge 47th Super Heavy Bty 2 x 12” railway gun
Shepherdswell 5th Super Heavy Bty 2 x 12” railway gun
Storrington 69th Medium Regt HQ Storrington 241 Bty HQ Worthing(?) 242 Bty HQ Southwater(?) Epqt 8 x 6” how and
16 x 6” mortars, 241 Bty seems to have mortars, 242 Bty possibly with hows, also had 6 x Malcolm Campbell armoured
cars

Coast Artillery units, listed by location, War Diaries not consulted

Bexhill 385th Coast Bty 2 x 4” (5 men)

Brighton 359th Coast Bty 2 x 6” (83 men)
Broadstairs 408th Coast Bty 2 x 4” (9 men)
Deal 337th Coast Bty 2 x 6” (82 men)
Dover 519th Coast Regt eqpt unknown (592 men)
Dover Dover Fixed Defences (39 men)
Dover Fixed Defences lists Citadel 2 x 9.2” Langdon Bty 2 x 6” South Breakwater Bty 2 x 6” Pier Turret Bty 2 x 6” South
Breakwater 1 x twin 6pdr Eastern Arm 2 x twin 6pdr Pier Extension 3 x 12 pdr . It seems reasonable to suggest that this
eqpt was manned by both 519th Coast Regt & Dover Fixed Defences
Dungeness 374th Coast Bty 2 x 4.7” (86 men)
Dymchurch 358th Coast Bty 2 x 6” (78 men)
Eastbourne 342nd Coast Bty 2 x 6” (86 men)
Fletching 518th Coast Regt eqpt unknown (217 men)
Folkestone 338th Coast Bty 2 x 6” (81 men)
Folkestone 339th Coast Bty 1 x 6” (40 men)
Hastings 341st Coast Bty eqpt unknown (89 men)
Herne Bay 333rd Coast Bty 2 x 6” (118 men)
Hythe 340th Coast Bty 2 x 6” (119 men)
Kingsgate 408th Coast Bty 2 x 4” (9 men)
Littlehampton 346th Coast Bty 2 x 6” (122 men)
Margate 335th Coast Bty 2 x 6” (127 men)
Martell & Grain 516th Coast Regt eqpt unknown (595 men)
Newhaven 521st Coast Bty 2 x 12 pdr, 2 x 4” (386 men)
Pevensey 375th Coast Bty 2 x 4.7” (69 men)
Ramsgate 336th Coast Bty 2 x 12 pdr (134 men)
Seaford 343rd Coast Bty 2 x 6” (92 men)
Shellness 334th Coast Bty eqpt unknown (96 men)
Shoreham 344th Coast Bty 2 x 6” (128 men)
Shornmead 357th Coast Bty eqpt unknown (82 men)
Tilbury 356th Coast Bty eqpt unknown (91 men)
Winchelsea 360th Coast Bty 2 x 6” (84 men)
Worthing 345th Coast Bty 2 x 6” (121 men)

Anti-Aircraft Artillery units, listed by location

War Diaries not consulted, organisation and location of units unknown

Cobham 98th Heavy AA Regt (776 men)

Dover 75th Heavy AA Regt (845 men)
Dover 223rd Heavy AA Bty (235 men)
Erith 54th Heavy AA Regt (1407 men )
Gillingham 16th Light AA Regt (1455 men)
Greenwich 6th Heavy AA Regt (896 men)
Hildenborough 12th Light AA Regt (1157 men)
Northfleet 58th Heavy AA Regt (939 men)
Northfleet 207th Heavy AA Bty (326 men)
Sittingbourne 89th Heavy AA Regt (786men)
Sittingbourne 55th Light AA Regt (731 men)
Tonbridge 43rd Light AA Regt (888 men)
Weybridge 53rd Light AA Regt (648 men)
Woolwich 49th Light AA Regt (376 men)

20th Infantry Brigade (Guards) HQ Weybridge

20th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy location unknown
2nd Bn Irish Guards HQ Woking little information in War Diary, organisation and location of coys unknown, in July had
1234 Coys (987 men)
2nd Bn Welsh Guards HQ West Byfleet organisation and location of coys unknown (979 men)
1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt HQ Ashtead ABCD Coys location of coys unknown (932 men)
In support 52nd Light Artillery Bty 6 x 3.7” how and C1 Mobile Anti-Tank Bty if allocated by London Area
Strengths have been included as Guards bns seem to be noticeably stronger than others

24th Infantry Brigade (Guards) HQ possibly Addingon, Surrey War Diary not consulted so far
24th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy location unknown
1st Bn Scots Guards HQ Norwood (Norwood Green nr Southall, W London or Norwood Hill, 2km N of Charlwood, NW of
Crawley or South Norwood in S London) organisation and location of coys unknown War Diary not consulted so far (1003
men)
1st Bn Irish Guards HQ Northwood NW London organisation and location of coys unknown War Diary not consulted so far
(993 men)
1st Bn Welsh Guards HQ Wimbledon London organisation and location of coys unknown War Diary not consulted so far
(996 men)

In Eastern Command area is part of 4th Infantry Divison under VIII Corps, Southern Command

10th Infantry Brigade HQ Horndean NW of Havant Hampshire

10th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company HQ location unknown

2nd Bn Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regt HQ Chichester A Coy Aldwick B Coy Pagham C Coy Chichester D Coy
Aldwick
2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry HQ Mapson’s Farm 2km SE of Birdham A Coy Bracklesham Bay B Coy
Mapsons Farm C Coy Selsey D Coy East Wittering and West Wittering
1st/6th Bn East Surrey Regt HQ Lavant War Diary not found however 11 th Inf Bde War Diary shows them to be in the
Lavant & Chichester areas with B Coy possibly at RAF Tangmere

30th Field Regt HQ North Mundham 2km S of Chichester HQ 104 th/111th Bty Donnington 2km S of Chichester A Tp 3km
W of Sidlesham B Tp 2km E of Birdham C Tp 2km S of Birdham 25pdr HQ 112 th/117th Bty Runcton nr North Mundham D
Tp Runcton E Tp South Mundham F Tp 1km W of Pagham
Eqpt on 31/8/1940 4 x 18pdr 4 x 25pdr 22 x 75mm Eqpt on 9/2/41 4 x 18/25pdr 4 x 25pdr 12 x 75mm, which raises the
question of the fall in strength and the possibility that the earlier entry includes typos 4 x 18pdr may have been 4 x 18/25
pdr and the 22 x 75mm may have been 12 x 75mm, or vice versa
14th Anti-Tank Regt HQ Romsey 38 Bty & 88 Bty, others unknown, some of 38 Bty was in support of 10th Inf Bde, at least
4 x 2pdr in support of 1st/6th Bn East Surrey Regt Eqpt on 9/2/1941 24 x 2pdr, regt may have had only 2 btys
Also in support of 10th Inf Bde
Detachment 214th Bty 63rd Medium Regt at Selsey organisation and eqpt unknown, War Diary not consulted
Detachment of 54th Heavy Regt section 2 x 9.2” Appledram 1km SW of Chichester section 2 x 6” Selsey War Diary not
consulted

XII Corps HQ Tunbridge Wells

60th Field Regiment HQ Findon 237 Bty & 238 Bty locations unknown, had 24 x 18/25 pdr
88th Field Regiment HQ Brighton 351 Bty in area W. of Brighton 352 Bty Rottingdean area 18 x 75mm 6 x 4.5”
5th Medium Regt HQ Farningham 15th/17th Bty & 20th/21st Bty, in command of 47 x 6pdr atk guns in fixed defences in Kent
& Sussex. War Diary at WO 166/1919 in the National Archives lists them all.
74th Medium Regt HQ Sutton Valence, nr Maidstone A Bty East Sutton Park probably 4 x 60pdr B Bty Ash 4 x 60pdr (in
support 198th Inf Bde) C Bty Hernhill 4 x 6” how (in support 1st London Inf Div) D Bty East Sutton Park 4 x 60pdr (?)

1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade HQ Wiston, 4 km NW of Steyning

16th/5th Lancers HQ Arundel A Sqn Madehurst B Sqn Patching C Sqn Arundel Park, first of a batch of 6 x Valentines rec’d
18/9/1940
17th/21st Lancers Hq Ashington A and B Sqns Washington C Sqn Storrington (all location info dated 8/1940), by 26/9/1940
each sqn had 2 x Valentines
2nd Lothians & Border Horse Yeomanry HQ Ditchling A Sqn Preston, Brighton B Sqn Lewes C Sqn Stanmer Park,
Brighton, by 28/9/1940 5 x Valentines rec’d
(A listing of vehicles in other MMG Bdes show them to have 3 x Malcolm Campbell armoured cars, and 92 x Standard
Beaverettes each, probably HQ Sqn and ABC Sqns all had just over 18 Beaverettes each, plus some extra for Sqn HQs,
plus extra vehicles in the Regt HQ). Malcolm Bellis in “Brigades of the British Army 1939-45” says that remaining
personnel were in cars and trucks acting as mobile infantry which seems likely as each regiment had about 500 men.

29th Independent Brigade Group HQ Staplefield, 4km NW of Cuckfield

29th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company HQ location unknown
17th Field Regt HQ Ashurstwood HQ 10/26 Bty East Grinstead ABC Tps 12 x 25pdr HQ 13/92 Bty Forest Row DEF Tps
12 x 25 pdr (?)
204th (Independent) Anti-Tank Battery 3 Tps each with 4 x 2 pdr
1st Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers HQ Cuckfield organisation and location of coys unknown
2nd Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers HQ Haywards Heath organisation and location of coys unknown
2nd Bn East Lancashire Regt HQ Uckfield organisation and location of coys unknown
2nd Bn South Lancashire Regt HQ East Grinstead organisation and location of coys unknown
War Diaries state that each Bn had 1 Tp artillery and 1 Tp anti-tank guns in support

31st Independent Brigade Group HQ Ham Street

31st Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company HQ St.Michaels
75th Field Regt HQ Whitchurch 299 Bty location unknown & 300 Bty location unknown total of 24 x 25 pdr
223rd (Independent) Anti-Tank Bty HQ High Holden G Tp 4 x 2 pdr in support of S.Staffs H Tp 2 x 2 pdr in support of
Ox & Bucks I Tp 6 x 2 pdr in support of RUR (had 2 x 2pdr from H Tp)
2nd Bn Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry HQ Wittersham A Coy Appledore B Coy Wittersham C Coy
Stone D Coy Ham Street
2nd South Staffordshire Regt HQ Bethersden organisation and location of coys unknown, known to be in Bethersden-
High Halden area
1st Royal Ulster Rifles HQ Ham Street A Coy A Coy Ruckinge B Coy S of Aldington C Coy Lympne-Hythe D Coy
Copperhurst nr Aldington
D Coy 7th Devonshire Regt HQ Great Chart
Brigade arrived in Ashford area 27/9/1940 from Harpenden, tasked with holding Royal Military Canal

198th Infantry Brigade HQ Sarre

198th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company HQ location unknown (TOE says should have 9 x French 25mm ATK but
on 31/9/1940 they had none)
8th Bn Kings Regt HQ Ramsgate A Coy Ramsgate B Coy Stonar Cut, Sandwich C Coy Ramsgate, D Coy Pegwell Bay
6th Bn Border Regt HQ St.Nicholas-at-Wade A Coy St.Nicholas-at-Wade B Coy St. Nicholas-at-Wade C Coy
Birchington D Coy Manston
7th Bn Border Regt HQ Margate A Coy Westgate B Coy Margate C Coy Broadstairs D Coy Westgate
4th Cheshire Regt (MG Bn) A Coy HQ Minster, MGs on coast between Minnis Bay in the West and Palm Bay in the
East B Coy HQ Stonar Cut, MGs on coast between Pegwell Bay & Sandwich Flats.
227th Anti-Tank Bty HQ unknown, ABC tps 12 x 2pdr (?)

1st London Infantry Division HQ Ashford

1st Bn Princess Louise’s Kensington Regiment (MG Bn) HQ Hothfield, Ashford A Coy Minster B Coy Hothfield C
Coy Hothfield D Coy Stonar Cut
64th Field Regt HQ Acrise Place, 2 km NW of Densole nr Folkestone HQ 253 Bty Acrise Place (minus 1 Tp) 4 x 25 pdr
4 x 75mm HQ 254 Bty Acrise Place 8 x 4.5”
90th Field Regt HQ Petham HQ 357 Bty Petham 8 x 75mm 4 x 18/25pdr HQ 358 Bty Petham (minus 1 Tp) 8 x 4.5”
113th Field Regt HQ Milsted HQ 227 Bty St.Nicholas-at-Wade 10 x 75mm HQ 228 Bty Tunstall (minus 1 Tp) 3 x
75mm 4 x 4.5” (F Tp Minster, Isle of Sheppey 3 x 75mm)
“M” Bty HQ Cold Harbour nr Hythe with 1 Tp 253 Bty 64 th Field Regt 4 x 75mm and 1 Tp 358 Bty 90 th Field Regt 4 x
75mm under control of OC troops Shorncliffe for static beach defence
67th Anti-Tank Regt HQ Smeeth 265 Bty HQ Barham 4 x 6pdr mobile atk guns at Barham & 2 x 6 pdr mobile atk guns
at Sandwich 266 Bty (location unknown) 24 x 2 pdr 267 Bty Ashford area & 268 Bty Ashford area, both btys possibly
lacking guns and used in infantry role
Royal Artillery Mobile Wing HQ Broughton Street C4 Mobile Bty Great Mongham, Deal 2 x lorry mounted 3pdr 2 x
lorry mounted 12 pdr C6 Mobile Bty Warden Point, Sheerness 4 x lorry mounted 4” guns
(see also 115th Field Regt above)
“X” Static Bty HQ Borstall Hill, Whitstable A Section Kingsdown 2 x 4” guns B Sec Little Cliffs End Farm, Ramsgate
2 x 4” guns C Sec Borstall Hill 2 x 4” guns
No.5 Commando organised in Troops 1-10 at St.Margaret’s at Cliffe
No.3 Independent Company at Pegwell Bay
No.4 Independent Company at Sandwich
No.5 Independent Company at Manston

1st London Infantry Brigade HQ Canterbury

1st London Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy HQ Harbledow
8th Bn Royal Fusiliers HQ Herne Bay W Coy Herne Bay X Coy Herne Bay Y Coy Herne Bay Z Coy Beltinge
9th Bn Royal Fusiliers HQ Sturry A Coy Ickham B Coy Stodmarsh C Coy Chislet Colliery D Coy Tyler Hill
1st Bn London Irish Rifles HQ Hernhill A Coy Goodnestone B Coy Broughton Street C Coy Seasalter D Coy Graveney
Armd Coy Broughton Street (3 x Malcolm Campbell armoured cars?) Coastal Coy (?)Seasalter

2nd London Infantry Brigade HQ Postling nr Hythe

2nd London Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy HQ Monks Horton nr Ashford
1st Bn Queens Westminsters HQ Sheperdswell A Coy Coldred B Coy Eythorne C Coy Sheperdswell D Coy Sub
Area A6 (?)
1st Bn London Scottish HQ Bridge nr Canterbury A Coy Barham B Coy Broome Park C Coy Goodnestone D Coy
Eastry
1st Bn London Rifle Brigade Regt HQ Lyminge A Coy Sub Area A4 (?) B Coy Lyminge C Coy Arpinge D Coy Sub
Area A4 (?)

35th Infantry Brigade HQ Norton nr Faversham

35th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy HQ Newnham
2nd/5th Bn Queens Regt HQ Kennington A Coy Eastwell Park B Coy Wye Racecourse C Coy Wye Racecourse D Coy
Olantigh Park, Wye
2nd/6th Bn Queens Regt HQ Minster A Coy Eastchurch B Coy Kingsborough C Coy Kingsferry Bridge D Coy Pigtail
Corner, Minster
2nd/7th Bn Queens Regt HQ Ospringe Nr Faversham A Coy Painters Forstal B Coy TeynhamC Coy Oare D Coy
Faversham E Coy Stuppington

45th Infantry Division HQ Hawkhurst

55th Field Regt HQ Brenzett HQ 373 Bty New Romney A Tp Lydd 4 x 75mm B Tp 1km S of St.Mary in the Marsh 4 x
75mm CTp 1 km S of St.Mary in the Marsh 4 x 75mm HQ 374 Bty Lydd D Tp Old Romney 4 x 25 pdr E Tp Burmarsh
& New Romney 4 x 4.5” F Tp Lydd 2 x 4.5”& Dungeness 2 x 18pdr
96th Field Regt HQ Glynleigh 2km NW of Hankham HQ 381 Bty Stonecross A Tp Stonecross 4 x 18/25 pdr B Tp
Denton 4 x 4.5” C Tp Friday Street 1km S of Stonecross & on coast S of Westham 2 x 4.5” & 2 x 75mm HQ 382 Bty
Friday Street D Tp Willingdon 4 x 75mm E Tp 0.5 km SW of Friday Street & 1 km NE of Redoubt at Eastbourne 4 x
75mm F Tp 3.5 km W of Litlington & Langney 4 x 75mm (96 FR was in support of 136 Inf Bde)
142nd Field Regt HQ Mountfield 383 Bty HQ unknown A Tp location & eqpt unknown B Tp Northiam eqpt unknown
C Tp East Guldeford nr Rye eqpt unknown 384 Bty D & E tps location & eqpt unknown F Tp location unknown 25pdr
Total eqpt at end of Sept was 10 x 75mm 8 x 4.5” 4 x 25pdr
69th Anti Tank Regt HQ Mayfield 273 Bty Lydd 8 x 4” (static & mobile) 274 Bty Mountfield 8 x 2pdr 275 Bty Ham
Street 8 x 2pdr 276 Bty Findon 8 x 2pdr “X” Sqn with 9 x Malcolm Campbell Armoured Cars
56th Heavy Regt HQ Rolvenden A Bty Normanshurst 2 x 6” B Bty Peasemarsh & Aldington 2 x 9.2” 2 x 8” C Bty 4 x
6” Udimore D Bty Picknill Green & Siddeley Green 4 x 9.2”
No.6 Commando, organised in Troops 1-10 at Littlestone
B Coy 7th Bn Devonshire Regt (MG Bn) Newnham (?) 5km SE of Sittingbourne

134th Infantry Brigade HQ Mountfield

134th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy location unknown
6th Bn Devonshire Regt HQ Battle A Coy Pett B Coy St.Leonards C Coy Hastings D Coy Baldslow
8th Bn Devonshire Regt HQ Hailsham A Coy Bexhill B Coy Seafield House (location not found) C Coy Normans Bay
2km W of Bexhill D Coy Bexhill
1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers HQ Rye A Coy Rye B Northpoint Beach, just E of Rye C Coy 1 km W of Camber D Coy
1km E of Camber (locations surmised from July & Nov location lists)
A Coy 7th Bn Devonshire Regt (MG Bn) Location unknown

135th Infantry Brigade HQ Ham Street

135th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy location unknown
5th Bn Somerset Light Infantry HQ Lydd A Coy Dungeness B Coy N. of C Coy C Coy N of Dungeness D Coy N of B
Coy
6th Bn Somerset Light Infantry HQ Dymchurch A Coy St.Mary’s Bay B Coy Dymchurch C Coy Burmarsh D Coy
Court At Street, 3km W of Sellindge 6th SLI also ran a miniature armoured train on the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch
Line, armed with 2 x Lewis guns and 2 x Boyes ATRs.
7th Bn Somerset Light Infantry HQ New Romney A Coy Greatstone B Coy Littlestone C Coy St.Mary In The Marsh D
Coy Littlestone
D Coy 7th Bn Devonshire Regt (MG Bn) HQ Dymchurch 13 Plt Aldington 14 Plt New Romney 15 Plt Greatstone
18th Bn Royal Fusiliers (Pioneer Bn) HQ Ham Street A Appledore B Coy Bishopswood, nr Ashford C Lydd D
Bonnington

136th Infantry Brigade Upper Dicker, 3km W of Hailsham

136th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy location unknown
9th Bn Devonshire Regt HQ Eastbourne A Coy Royal Parade, Eastbourne B Coy Birling Gap, W of Eastbourne C Coy
from the Redoubt in Eastbourne to Langney Point D Coy Stone Cross N of Eastbourne
4th Bn Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry HQ Pevensey A Coy in East B Coy in West C Coy in Centre D Coy Westham
5th Bn Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry HQ Newhaven A Coy Bishopstone B Coy the east beach nr Newhaven C Coy
South Heighton & Denton D Coy the west beach of coast nr Newhaven
C Coy 7th Bn Devonshire Regt (MG Bn) HQ location unknown, 2 pltns at Cuckmere Haven 1 pltn at Denton

2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force HQ Linton 5km S of Maidstone

5th Field Regiment, NZA HQ Stonebridge Green (?),1km SW of Dorking 27 Bty ABC Tps 12 x 25 pdr 28 Bty DEF
Tps 12 x 25pdr l;ocations unknown
7th Anti-Tank Regiment, NZA HQ Hothfield, 5km NW of Ashford 31 st Bty 12 x 2pdr 32nd Bty 12 x 2pdr locations
unknown
4th Anti-Tank Coy, NZA organisation & location unknown
C Squadron, 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry HQ Westwell, 5km NW of Ashford with MkVI light tanks & at least
22 scout carriers
8th Royal Tank Regiment HQ Challock 10km N of Ashford ABC Sqns 2 x sqns Matilda I, 1 x Sqn Matilda II (8 RTR
was detached from 1st Army Tank Bde, theoretically RHQ 2 x tanks, 4 x light tanks, 3 x Sqns each 1x light tank, 16 x
tanks, total 7 x light tanks, 50 x tanks)
157th Anti-Aircraft Battery, RA No details, War Diary not consulted so far
MG Coy name and location unknown

5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade HQ Otham,2km SE of Bearstead nr Maidstone

5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy location unknown
21st New Zealand Infantry Bn HQ Leeds Village organisation and location of coys unknown
22nd New Zealand Infantry Bn HQ Hollingbourne organisation and location of coys unknown
23rd New Zealand Infantry Bn HQ Maidstone organisation and location of coys unknown

7th New Zealand Infantry Brigade HQ Wichling 6km S of Sittingbourne

7th New Zealand Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy location unknown
28th (Maori) New Zealand Infantry Bn HQ Doddington organisation and location of coys unknown
29th New Zealand Infantry Bn HQ Doddington organisation and location of coys unknown

VII Corps HQ Headley Court nr Leatherhead

Royal Montreal Regiment (MG Bn) HQ Sutton ABCD Coys location of coys unknown
Toronto Scottish Regt (MG Bn) HQ location unknown A Coy with 2 nd Can Inf Bde B Coy with 3rd Can Inf Bde C Coy
with Division HQ D Coy with 1st Can Inf Bde
8th Canadian Field Regt HQ Cobham 61st /107th Bty and 71st/113th Bty location and epqt unknown
11th Canadian Field Regt HQ Banstead Wood 2km S of Banstead 9 th/15th Bty ABC Tps 29th/40th Bty DEF Tps location
unknown eqpt 25 pdr
1st Canadian Medium Regt HQ West Horsley 2 nd /7th Bty and 3rd/23rd Bty both in West Horsley area eqpt unknown but
in July 1940 War Diary says they had 6” hows which lacked pneumatic tyres and had to be carried on trailers.

1st Canadian Infantry Division HQ Nutfield nr Redhill

1st Canadian Field Regt HQ Beckenham A/B Bty and C/54 th Bty organisation and location unknown probably with 24
x 18/25 pdr or 25 pdr which regt had managed to bring back from France
2nd Canadian Field Regt HQ Addington 8th/10th Bty ABC Tps 7th/35th Bty DEF Tps 24 x 18/25 pdr locations unknown
3rd Canadian Field Regt HQ West Wickham 19th /77th Bty and 92nd /109th Bty organisation and locations unknown
1st Canadian Anti-Tank Regt HQ Shirley Park, Croydon 27 Bty 51 Bty 57 Bty 90 Bty organisation and locations
unknown probably with 48 x 2pdr 27 th Bty with Division HQ 51 st Bty with 1st Can Inf Bde 57th Bty with 2nd Can Inf
Bde 90th Bty with 3rd Can Inf Bde

1st Canadian Infantry Brigade HQ Yateley 4km W of Camberley

1st Canadian Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy Frith Park nr Walton on the Hill, Tadworth
1st Canadian Infantry Brigade Recce Coy organisation and location unknown
Royal Canadian Regt HQ Reigate ABCD Coys all located Reigate
Hastings & Prince Edward Regt HQ Betchworth 4km W of Reigate A Coy 4km W of Reigate B Coy 2km E of
Betchworth C Coy 2km E of Betchworth D Coy equidistant between Betchworth & Reigate
48th Highlanders of Canada HQ Kingswood ABCD Coys all Kingswood

2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade HQ HQ Tandridge 3km SW of Oxted

2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy HQ Oxted
2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Recce Coy organisation and location unknown
Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry HQ Godstone ACoy possibly 1 or 2 km S of Godstone B Coy 1km NW of
Lingfield C Coy 2km NE of Lingfield D Coy 1.5km NW of South Godstone
Seaforth Highlanders of Canada HQ Oxted or Limspfield organisation and location of coys unknown
Edmonton Regiment HQ Oxted organisation and location of coys unknown

3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade HQ Caterham

3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Coy HQ Caterham
3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade Recce Coy organisation and location unknown
Royal 22e Regt HQ Caterham organisation and location of coys unknown
Carleton & York Regt HQ Caterham organisation and location of coys unknown
West Nova Scotia Regt HQ Woldingham organisation and location of coys unknown

1st Armoured Division HQ Dorking (HQ with 3 x Cruiser, 9 x Light tanks on 16/10/1940)
Saskatoon Light Infantry (MG Bn) HQ Broomehall, Dorking A Coy Walliswood B Coy Ockley 8km NW of Horsham
C Coy Hurst Green nr Oxted D Coy Ockley

2nd Armoured Brigade HQ Deverill Camp Warminster (HQ with 4 Cruiser, 6 Light tanks on 16/10/1940)
Queen’s Bays HQ Deverill Camp Warminster 52 x Cruiser tanks on 16/10/1940, probably this strength on 30/9/1940
9th Lancers HQ Deverill Camp Warminster at least 12 x Cruiser, 3 x Valentines on 30/9/1940 by 21/1/1941 still only
had 17 x Cruiser, 3 light tanks
10th Hussars HQ Deverill Camp Warminster at least 7 x Cruiser on 30/9/1940 by 21/1/1941 still only had 17 x Cruiser,
13 light tanks
(2nd Armd Bde was out of area but included for completeness)

3rd Armoured Brigade HQ Thursley Common, Elstead

5th Royal Tank Regt HQ Thursley Common, Elstead organisation and sqn locations unknown probably 52 x Cruiser
tanks

20th Armoured Brigade HQ Rudgwick, 8km NW of Horsham under command of 1st Armoured Division
1st Royal Gloucester Hussars HQ Cranleigh organisation and sqn locations unknown
1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry HQ Chiddingfold 5km NE of Haslemere organisation and sqn locations unknown
2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry HQ Rudgwick 8km NW of Horsham organisation and sqn locations unknown
(eqpt appears to have been carriers, few light tanks(?) and by late Sept possibly a few Valentines)

1st Support Group

11th Royal Horse Artillery HQ Abinger 5km Sw of Dorking A Sqn Albury Park ABC Tps 8 x (possibly 12?) 18/25 pdr
B Sqn Netley House 8 x (possibly 12?) 18/25 pdr 101st Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regt HQ Godalming 43 Atk Bty
Wonersh 12 x 2pdr 44 Atk Bty Blackheath 12 x 2 pdr 237 Lt AA Bty 24 x twin brens 238 Lt AA Bty 24 x twin brens

1st Army Tank Brigade HQ Burstow, 6km NW of East Grinstead

4th Royal Tank Regt HQ East Grinstead ABC Sqns locations unknown, eqpt Matilda II
44th Royal Tank Regt HQ Lingfield A Sqn Lingfield B Sqn South Godstone C Sqn Salfords, 5km N of Horley, eqpt
Matilda I & II
(8 RTR was detached from 1st Army Tank Bde, see 2 NZEF above)

Notes

By “organisation and locations unknown” etc I merely mean that I have been unable to find out the relevant
information, it may well be available somewhere.
6pdr guns (57mm) were ex-naval guns, about six hundred of which were reconditioned and placed in fixed defences,
most infantry bns would have crewed these in pillboxes in their areas. Some were mounted on improvised gun
carriages, with spoked wheels typical of cars of the period and with a rectangular framework as a gun carriage.
75mm guns were lend lease from the US, a version of the French M1897 gun, about a thousand arrived in the summer,
they were refitted with pneumatic tyres, carried in lorries or mounted on small towed trailers.
Most if not all infantry battalions formed Tank Hunting Platoons consisting of 30 men on bicycles and equipped with
Molotov cocktails.
Commando units were specially tasked with the defence of Coastal Artillery positions.
The Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Companies consisted of 3 platoons with a total of 10 x armoured 30cwt trucks, each
with an Anti-Tank Rifle and Bren gun, some at least seem to have had a platoon of about 30 infantry attached. The type
of transport no doubt varied but may have been the Bedford OXA
For invasion defences see…http://www.pillboxesuk.co.uk/
and…http://www.britarch.ac.uk/projects/dob/
For some current photographs of the Kent & Sussex coast see… http://www.britishwalks.org/