58th (2/1st London) Division | |
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Active | 1914–1919 1943–1945 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Territorial Force |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Engagements | First World War: Arras Passchendaele German spring offensive Amiens Hundred Days Offensive Second World War: Operation Fortitude |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Maj-Gen H.D. Fanshawe Maj-Gen A.B.E. Cator Maj-Gen N.M. Smyth, VC |
The 58th (2/1st London) Division was an infantry division created in 1915 as part of the massive expansion of the British Army during the First World War. It was a 2nd Line Territorial Force formation raised as a duplicate of the 56th (1/1st London) Division. After training in Britain, the division joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front in 1917. It saw action at the battles of Arras and Passchedaele in 1917 and the German spring offensive in 1918. It then took part in the Battle of Amiens and the final Allied Hundred Days Offensive of the war. The division was recreated during the Second World War, as an imaginary deception formation.