printed in 1945
May 45 – 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division – The Polar Bears from 1st Canadian Corps to 1st Corps District on 23 May 45 – HQ Neheim to Herdingen Castle Apr 46 disbanded 21 Oct 46 and replaced by the 2nd Belgian Infantry Division – HQ Lüdenscheid
General Officers Commanding:
Major General SB Rawlins CB CBE DSO to Aug 45 then Brigadier H Wood then Major General ETL Gurdon CBE MC Sep 45
49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment RAC – see below
2nd Battalion Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment (Machine Gun) to 147th Infantry Brigade
HQRA – 49th Artillery Brigade from May 45 see below
69th (West Riding) Field Regiment RA
74th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA
143rd (Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA
55th (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment RA
89th (11th Buffs) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA to 103rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade Jun 45
HQRE – see below
240 Field Company RE
756 Field Company RE
757 Field Company RE
289 Field Park Company
23 Bridging Platoon RE
49th Divisional Signals – see below
HQRASC – see below
118 Divisional Company RASC
460 Company (Infantry Brigade) RASC to 103rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
482 Company (Infantry Brigade) RASC
483 Company (Infantry Brigade) RASC
HQRAOC – see below
49 Ordnance Field Park RAOC
HQREME – see below
70 Infantry Brigade Workshop REME
146 Infantry Brigade Workshop REME
147 Infantry Brigade Workshop REME
with Light Aid Detachments and Light AA Workshop
HQRAMC – see below
146 (West Riding) Field Ambalance RAMC to 146th Infantry Brigade
160 Field Ambalance RAMC to 147th Infantry Brigade
187 Field Ambalance RAMC
16 Field Dressing Station RAMC
17 Field Dressing Station RAMC
35 Field Hygiene Station RAMC
Royal Army Chaplaincy Service – see below
49 Divisional Provost Company CMP – see below
60 Field Security Company
49 Divisional Postal Unit
Jun 45 – 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment RAC – Neuenkirchen to Neheim Jan 46 merged with 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry Apr 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel PTI MacDiarmid MC
OC C Sqn: Major Harry Judge to Nov 45
Aug 45 – 3rd (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment (8th Northumberland Fusiliers) from 3rd Infantry Division – Bensburg to Northumberland Barracks Menden Oct 45 disbanded Feb 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel JK Warner MC
Dec 45 – 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales Own) from Italy – Werl and Soest to the Guards Division Apr 46
Feb 46 – 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment (Machine Gun) from 159th Infantry Brigade – Schwerte and Hagen to 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division Jul 46
Mar 46 – 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry from 5th Infantry Division merged with 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment RAC – Jager Kaserene Arnsberg the last complete regiment in the division disbanded Oct 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel The Lord George Scott
RSM: Jelley
Mar 46 – 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) from 31st Armoured Brigade now 4th Armoured Brigade – Newcastle Barracks Hamm to Wyvern Barracks Lüneburg Jun 46
Apr 46 – Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) Armoured Car Regiment from Guards Division formed from 1st and 2nd Regiment of Household Cavalry – Northumberland Barracks Menden to 1st Corps District Oct 46
Divisional Royal Engineers
CRE: Lieutenant Colonel CA O’B Compton MC to Jan 46
24 Field Company RE – Sennelager
229 Field Company RE
230 Field Company RE – Unna later Hovelhof
231 Field Company RE
234 Field Company RE
240 Field Company RE – Hohensyburg
254 Field Company RE
269 Field Company RE
294 Field Company RE – Oventrop later Sennelager disbanded
756 Field Company RE
757 Field Company RE disbanded
105 Field Park Company RE
249 Field Park Company RE
289 Field Park Company RE
5 Bomb Disposal Unit RE – Mohne See
48 Movement Control
18 CPO
OC: Major JH Emlyn
49th Divisional Signals – Metallwerke Neheim Goeke & Co Factory Neheim
CO: Lieutenant Colonel PG Goodeve-Docker
RSM: WOI EA Carn
2 Companies later Squadrons at the Divisional HQ to Herdingen Castle Apr 46
70 Constructional Signals
CRASC: Lieutenant Colonel RWS Norfolk MBE later Lieutenant Colonel Orton
RSM: WOI Marriott
118 Company RASC
OC: Major W Burton
118 Company RASC disbanded
143 Company RASC
482 Company RASC disbanded
483 Company RASC disbanded
460 Company RASC
501 Company RASC – Northumberland Barracks Menden
502 Company RASC
503 Company RASC
May 46 – 19 Company RASC from 1st Corps District – Husten
4 RASC Training Brigade - Lippstadt
CRAOC:
49 Ordnance Divisional Field Park RAOC
Divisional now 152 Detail Issue Depot
149 Infantry Brigade Ordnance Sub Park RAOC
14 Vehicle Park Company RAOC - Waltrop
19 Field Salvage Unit
311 MLBU
2 (Ruhr) Coal District
CREME: Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bridger to Oct 45 then Lieutenant Colonel EB Bonniwell to Mar 46 then Lieutenant Colonel HG Good MBE
70 Infantry Brigade Workshop REME – Union Melas Factory Werl renamed 3 Light Workshops Company Jan 46 disbanded Sep 46
OC: Major WA Collins MBE to Feb 46 then Major Byron MBE
12 Advanced Base Workshop REME
23 Heavy Workshop REME – Harkort-Eicken Steel Works Wetter
146 Infantry Brigade Workshop REME
147 Infantry Brigade Workshop REME
Aug 45 – 33 Armoured Brigade Workshop from 79th Armoured Division – Hamm
HQRAMC
146 (West Riding) Field Ambalance RAMC to 146th Infantry Brigade
160 Field Ambalance RAMC to 147th Infantry Brigade
187 Field Ambalance RAMC
16 Field Dressing Station RAMC
53 Field Hygiene Station RAMC
502 Dental Unit Laboratory – Arnsberg
Royal Army Chaplaincy Service
Senior Chaplain: Major Rev GR Whitcombe to Feb 46 then Rev Gordon T Brigg
49 Divisional Provost Company CMP to Herdingen Castle Apr 46
OC: Major CF Dunn to Jun 45 then Major RM Burke
RSM: AW Greham BEM
May 45 – 101 Provost Company CMP disbanded
102 Provost Company CMP
60 Field Security Company
21 Group Pioneer Corps – HQ Neheim disbands Jul 46
48 Group Pioneer Corps
68 Pioneer Company disbanded Apr 46
320 Pioneer Company – Northumberland Barracks Menden
2001 Wing RAF
1945 – 49th Artillery Brigade – HQ Dortmund disbanded Jul 46
Commander: Brigadier ES Lindsay DSO OBE to Mar 46 then Brigadier KF MacKay Lewis DSO MC
RSM: WOI W Knight
69th (West Riding) Field Regiment RA – West Riding Barracks Dortmund to 53rd Artillery Brigade Jul 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel R Hudson TD to Jan 46 then Lieutenant Colonel TH Hardy DSO
273 Battery – 448 Battery – 189 Battery
74th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA – Dortmund to 53rd Artillery Brigade Jul 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel EH Colville DSO
296 Battery – 296 Battery
76th (Highland) Field Regiment RA from 3rd Infantry Division Aug 45 disbanded Jul 46
302 Battery – 303 Battery – 454 Battery
90 (City of London) Field Regiment RA from 2nd Army Group RA Italy – Lunen disbanded May 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel GC Wells MC
143rd (West Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment RA – Bommern disbanded Jul 46
RHQ – 386 Battery – 388 Battery – 507 Battery
CO: Lieutenant Colonel DS Hamilton DSO later Lieutenant Colonel CDT Pope
507 Battery
61st (Caernarvon and Denbigh) Medium Regiment RA from 8th Army Group RA to 53rd Artillery Brigade Jul 46
55 (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment RA – Suffolk Barracks later Ubique Barracks Dortmund to 53rd Artillery Brigade Jul 46
217 Battery – 218 Battery – 219 Battery – 220 Battery
CO: Lieutenant Colonel BC Gooch DSO
RSM: WOI Frearson
2nd Searchlight Regiment RA from 2 Army
Late 45 – 21st Anti-Tank Regiment RA from 7th Armoured Division to 53rd Artillery Brigade Jul 46
May 45 – 3rd Army Group Royal Artillery from 12th Corps – HQ Bochum disbanded Jul 46
Commander: Brigadier EC Blaker MC to Mar 46 then Brigadier RW Andrews DSO MC
185th Field Regiment RA to 53rd Artillery Brigade Jul 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel KF MacKay Lewis DSO MC
RHQ – 191 Battery – 274 Battery – 274 Battery – 386 Battery
3rd Medium Regiment RA – Larkhill Baracks Bochum later Kingsway Barracks Rensburg disbanded Jul 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel KAP Dalby DSO
6/10 Battery – 2/11 Battery – 6/11 Battery
53rd (London) Medium Regiment RA from 4th Army Group RA – Werne 53rd Artillery Brigade Jul 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel JDA Lamont DSO MBE
59th Medium Regiment RA – Bochum disbanded early 46
110th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA to 103rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade
Jun 45 – 1st Heavy Regiment RA from 2nd Canadian Army Group Royal Artillery to 147th Brigade Jul 45 returned Aug 45 to Hamburg District Jul 46
RHQ + 16 Battery N-Sprockhovel – 3 Bty Battery – 5 Bty Battery – 28 Bty Battery
CO: Lieutenant Colonel GE Peck
Jul 45 – 7th Medium Regiment RA from 5th Army Group RA – Larkhill Baracks Bochum disbanded Jul 46
5 Heavy Battery RA – Wengern
CO: Lieutenant Colonel JC Smith DSO OBE
Jun 45 – 103rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade – HQ Stift Keppel School Allenbach near Siegen to Wittgenstein to Olpe disbanded early 1946
Commander: Brigadier HR Harris TD to Jul 45 then Brigadier ADG Orr DSO
110th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA – Weidenau disbanded Feb 46
COs: Lieutenant Colonel KRH Tailyour to Oct 45 then Lieutenant Colonel ME Gubbins
346 Battery – 347 Battery – 348 Battery
111th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA – Berleberg disbanded Feb 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel PSC Ellis to Nov 45
354 Battery – 355 Battery – 356 Battery
176th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA disbanded Oct 45
89th (11 Buffs) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA disbanded Nov 45
COs: Lieutenant Colonel JAH Mitchell then Lieutenant Colonel HC Cory MC
460 Company RASC
May 45 – 56th Infantry Brigade – HQ Soest disbanded Sep 46
Commanders: Brigadier RH Senior to Aug 45 then Brigadier KG Exham DSO to Jun 46 then Brigadier GD Browne
2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment – Gloucester Barracks renamed Abercrombie Barracks Soest to 5th Guards Brigade Berlin Jun 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel GRG Bird
2nd Battalion Essex Regiment – Unna to 131st Infantry Brigade Nov 45
CO: Lieutenant Colonel GG Elliott DSO
7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers to 158th Infantry Brigade Jun 45
Jun 45 – 2nd Battalion South Wales Borders – Churchill Barracks formally Flak Kaserne Lippstadt and Erwitte Castle to 160th (South Wales) Infantry Brigade Mar 46
May 45 – 62nd Anti-Tank Regiment RA from 1st Corps District – Hamm disbanded Jan 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel AM Messer
245 Battery – 246 Battery – 247 Battery – 248 Battery
Nov 45 – 9th Durham Light Infantry from 7th Armoured Division – Unna
A Company – Langschede – B and Company Unna – C Company Unna – D Compay – Heeren
Later Unna and Hamm then No 7 Civil Internment Camp Roosevelt Hemer Mar 46 to Sep 46 disbanded Oct 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel AB Brown
Apr 46 – 1st/7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment from 51st (Highland) Infantry Division – Lippstadt and Erwitte to Bohlof Kaserne Lüdenscheid disbanded Oct 46
May 46 – 124th (Highland) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA from UK – Bohlof Kaserne Lüdenscheid to Guards Division Jun 46
Jun 46 – 4th Battalion Welch Regiment from 160th (South Wales) Infantry Brigade – Lippstadt and Erwitte to 147th Infantry Brigade Jul 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel JM Hanmer DSO
Jun 46 – 5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry from 157th Infantry Brigade Abercrombie Barracks Soest disbanded Sep 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel ER Colwill to Jul 46 then Lieutenant Colonel MA Bell
May 45 – 146th Infantry Brigade – HQ Werl to near Münster Mar 46 to Dortmund Jul 46 disbanded Aug 46
Commanders: Brigadier DS Gordon DSO to Jul 45 then Lieutenant Colonel MB Jenkins to Aug 45 then Brigadier DS Gordon DSO to Nov 45 then Brigadier RA Bramwell-Davis DSO to Jul 46 then Brigadier WR Cox DSO
4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment – Brilon to Gevelsburg Apr 46 to Schwerte and Ahlenenberg Jul 46 disbanded Aug 46
1st/4th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry to Italy Nov 45
CO: Lieutenant Colonel MB Jenkins DSO later Lieutenant Colonel TWHA Harrison Topham
RSM: WOI W Rafferty
Hallamshire Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment – Arnsberg and Sundern to Bottrop Mar 46 to Recklinghausen Jun 46 to UK 1946
CO: Lieutenant Colonel MCK Halford DSO to Mar 46 then Lieutenant Colonel RM Ingall then Lieutenant Colonel Gough
1945 – 146 (West Riding) Field Ambalance RAMC from Divisional Troops – Herdingen Castle Arnsburg disbands Apr 46
Nov 45 – 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) from UK – Eslohe to Recklinghausen to 7th Armoured Division Jun 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel JO Crewe-Read
RSM: Bouge
Jun 46 – 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s) from Hamburg District – Bottrop
May 45 – 147th Infantry Brigade – HQ Hagen-Emst to Kaiser-Karls-Bad Bad Lippspringe Apr 46 disbanded Oct 46
Commanders: Brigadier H Wood DSO to Jul 45 then Lieutenant Colonel DAD Eykyn to Aug 45 then Lieutenant Colonel AL Novis then Brigadier H Wood DSO to Oct 45 then Brigadier EO Martin DSO to Mar 46 then Brigadier RC Cottrell-Hill DSO OBE MC
1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment – Northumberland Barracks Menden responsible for Menden Hemer and Iserlohn from Feb 46 No 7 Civil Internment Camp Roosevelt Hemer to Schloss Neuhaus Apr 46 to 131st Infantry Brigade Jul 46
Detachment to Delbruck to be demonstration company BAOR Training Centre
CO: Lieutenant Colonel FW Sandars DSO to Jul 45 then AL (Toby) Novis MC
7th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment – Gevelsburg to Büren Apr 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel CRT Cumberlege to Sep 46
C + D + Support Companies to Esselheide Camp near Neuhaus May 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel CD Hamilton DSO
11th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers – Bohlof Kaserne Lüdenscheid to Truppen near Paderborn Apr 46 disbanded Sep 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel PS Sandilands DSO from Nov 45
RSM: JM Brow
2nd Battalion Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment from Divisional Troops – Schwerte and Hagen disbanded Feb 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel D Glover to Oct 45 then Lieutenant Colonel WY Kington Blair Oilphant OBE MC
RSM: WOI Watts
160 Field Ambalance RAMC from Divisional Troops – HQ Hotel Dresel Rummenohl between Hagen and Lüdenscheid
OC: Major CH Davies MC
Jul 45 – 1st Heavy Regiment RA from 3 Army Group RA – near Hagen return to 3rd Army Group RA Aug 45
Oct 45– 606th (5 Battalion Lincolnshire) Regiment RA – No 7 Civil Internment Camp Roosevelt Hemer disbanded Feb 46
Jul 46 – 4th Battalion Welch Regiment from 56th Infantry Brigade – Truppen near Paderborn disbanded Oct 46
CO: Lieutenant Colonel JM Hanmer DSO
Jul 45 – 157th Infantry Brigade from 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division then returned Aug 45
Commanders: Brigadier EHG Grant to Jul 45 then Lieutenant Colonel RLC Rose
5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry
5th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borders
7th Battalion Cameronians
3rd Belgium Army Brigade – HQ unknown
7 Fuselier Battalion Belgium Army – Emst – Hagen – Menden
4 Platoon 30 Fuselier Battalion Belgium Army – Iserlohn to Belgium Jul 45
1004 Belgium GT Company
Divisional Training School – Kurhaus Winterberg
Commandant: Lieutenant Colonel JEB Freeman
Divisional Education School – Ringstrasse Neheim
Divisional Heavy Driving School – Flak Kaserne Lüdenscheid
Jun 45 – Royal Engineers Vocational Training School – Arnsberg closed Jun 46
Jul 45 – Royal Signals Vocational Training School – Neheim closed May 46
Commandant: Captain CR Riverside
Jul 45 – REME Vocational Training School – Union Melas Factory Werl closed May 46
Commandant: Major WA Collins
Aug 45 – Divisional Poultry School – Beckum closed Aug 46
3rd Army Group Royal Artillery Training School – Bochum
Cinemas and Theatres in the Divisional Area
ARNSBERG: Polar Stars Theatre
ATTENDORN: Cinema + Theatre
BERLEBERG: Cinema + Concert Hall
BAD LIPPSPRINGE: Kurlichtspiele Cinema and Garrison Theatre
BOCHUM: Ryan Cinema + Park House Theatre
BOCHUM-LINDEN: Club Royal Theatre
BRILON: Cinema + Repertory Theatre
DORTMUND: Cinema
DORTMUND-APPELERBECK: West Riding Theatre
DORTMUND-ASSELN: Regel Cinema
EICKEL: Cinema
ERWITTE: Theatre
GERTHE: Shufti Cinema
GEVELSBERG: Duke of Wellington Theatre
HAMM: Kurhaus + 62 Club
HATTINGEN: Central Cinema
HEMER: Cinema
HERNE: Allied Services Theatre
HOMBRUCH: Stardusters
HUSTEN: Cinema + YMCA Club
ISERLOHN: Spearhead Cinema + Garrison Theatre + Jimmy’s Club
KAMEN: Alhambra Cinema
LIPPSTADT: Capitol Cinema + Kolpinghall Theatre
LÜENSCHEID: Antelope Cinema + Thistle Club Theatre
LUNE N: Ritz Cinema
MENDEN: Cinema
MENGEDE: Gloria Cinema
MESCHEDE: YMCA club
MOHNESEE: Odeon Cinema
NEHEIM: Iceburg Cinema + Polar Bear Café + White Rose Club
OLPE: Mucky Duck
RECKLINGHAUSEH: Showburg Cinema
SCHWERTE: Reichkros Cinema
SOEST: Burg Theatre
SUNDERN: Ord Club
UNNA: Eagle Cinema
WALTROP: Theatre
WATTENSCHEID: Apollo Cinema
WERDOHL: Theatre
WETTER: Old Vic Cinema
WINTERBERG TRAINING SCHOOL: Cinema + Polar Bear Theatre
Churches
HAMM: Arty Barracks – ISERLOHN – NEHEIM – ARNSBURG
more research to follow...additions and amendments most welcome...steve@baor-locations.co.uk
Information sources
British Army Units 1945 on - Orders of Battle - WW2Talk
The Polar Bear News a weekly newspaper printed in Iserlohn 1945 to 1946
The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers volume X + XI by the institution of Royal Engineers
Sapper Magazine
The Royal Corps of Signals a History of its Antecedents and Development (circa 1800-1955) by Major General RFH Nalder CB OBE
The Royal Corps of Signals Unit Histories (1920-2001) by Cliff Lord and Graham E Watson
Wire Magazine
The British Army in Germany an Organizational History 1947-2004 by Graham E Watson and Richard A Rinald