List of British Army formations during the Victorian era

Main article: British Army during the Victorian Era

This is a list of British divisions formed during the Victorian era. During this period, divisions were raised on an ad hoc basis for a particular conflict. Not all of them are seen as being connected to the divisions raised by the British Army in the 20th Century. For example, Everard Wyrall, the official historian of the 2nd Division during the First World War, described the division's lineage as only including the Crimean and the Second Boer War.[1]

Eighth Xhosa War

Main article: Eighth Xhosa War

Divisions

Formation name	Created	Ceased to exist	Locations served	Notes	Ref
1st Division
2nd Division	1851	1851	Cape Colony	A 1,250 strong 2nd Division was organised in 1851 under Colonel George Mackinnon	[2]

Crimean War

Main article: List of British divisions during the Crimean War

Second Opium War

Main article: Second Opium War

This force was raised from the Presidency armies and British forces based in India.

Divisions

Formation name	Created	Ceased to exist	Locations served	Notes	Ref
1st Division
2nd Division				Major-General Robert Napier commanded a division made up of British and Indian forces	[3]

Second Anglo-Afghan War

Main article: Second Anglo-Afghan War

This force was raised from the Presidency armies and British forces based in India.

Divisions

Formation name	Created	Ceased to exist	Locations served	Notes	Ref
1st Division
2nd Division

Anglo-Zulu War

Main article: Anglo-Zulu War

Divisions

Formation name	Created	Ceased to exist	Locations served	Notes	Ref
1st Division	1879	1879	Natal colony, Zululand	Also known as No. 1 Division. The division, under the command of Major-General Henry Hope Crealock was formed from troops that had arrived in southern Africa. At the start of the campaign, it comprised 6,508 Imperial and irregulars and 2,707 men of the Natal Native Contingent.	[4]
2nd Division	1879	1879	Natal colony, Zululand	Also known as No. 2 Division. The division, under the command of Major-General Edward Newdegate, was formed from troops that had arrived in southern Africa. At the start of the campaign, it comprised 6,867 Imperial and irregulars and 3,371 men of the Natal Native Contingent.	[4]

Anglo-Egyptian War

Main article: Anglo-Egyptian War

Divisions

Formation name	Created	Ceased to exist	Locations served	Notes	Ref
1st Division	1882	1882	Egypt	During August 1882, the division was formed from troops that had arrived in Egypt. It was placed under the command of Lieutenant-General George Willis	[5]
2nd Division	1882	1882	Egypt	During August 1882, the division was formed from troops that had arrived in Egypt. It was placed under the command of Lieutenant-General Edward Bruce Hamley	[5]
Cavalry Division	1882	1882	Egypt	During August 1882, the division was formed from troops that had arrived in Egypt. It was placed under the command of Major-General Drury Drury-Lowe	[5]

Second Boer War

Main article: List of British Army formations during the Second Boer War

Footnotes

Citations

1. Wyrall 1921a, pp. xi–xii.
2. Davis 1906, p. 67.
3. Butler 1926, pp. 192–194.
4. Colenso 1880, p. 395, 436.
5. Royle 1886, pp. 237–239.

References

• Butler, Lewis (1926). The Annals of the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Vol. III. London: John Murray. OCLC 81665440.
• Colenso, Frances Ellen (1880). History of the Zulu War and Its Origin. London: Chapman and Hall. OCLC 252418281.
• Davis, John (1906). The History of the Second Queen's Royal Regiment: Now the Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. Vol. V. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. OCLC 834944368.
• Royle, Charles (1886). The Egyptian Campaigns, 1882 to 1885: And the Events which Led to Them. Vol. I. London: Hurst and Blackeet. OCLC 1113735159.
• Wyrall, Everard (1921a). The History of the Second Division, 1914–1918. Vol. I. London: Thomas Nelson and Sons. OCLC 1167884897. Retrieved 31 July 2014.