British Expeditionary Force order of battle (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.

First Expeditionary Force

General Headquarters (GHQ)

Brigade manning armoured cars
Brigade manning armoured cars
Brigade manning infantry and cavalry tank

III Corps Headquarters, Troops

On 10 May 1940, this force, which was really just the 51st Division reinforced by various small units, was part of the Colonial Army Corps of the French Third Army in front of the Maginot Line.
Units attached to the 51st Infantry Division in April 1940 to form Saar Force
Major General V. M. Fortune

[12th (Eastern) Infantry Division]

R. L. Petre
Major General W. N. Herbert
Major General H. O. Curtis

1st Armoured Division">1st (United Kingdom) Division">1st Armoured Division

The following force was sent to France during the second week of June 1940 in an unsuccessful attempt to form a second British Expeditionary Force. This second formation was to be commanded by Lieutenant-General A. F. Brooke. All units were evacuated in late June 1940, during Operation Ariel.
J. S. Drew