An order of battle is a list of the various elements of a military formation organised within a hierarchical command structure. It can also provide information on the strength of that formation and the equipment used. An order of battle is not necessarily a set structure, and it can change depending on tactical or strategic developments, or the evolution of military doctrine. For example, a division could be altered radically from one campaign to another through the adding or removing of subunits, but retain its identity and prior history. The size of a division can vary dramatically as a result of what forces are assigned and the doctrine employed at that time.
The first 3rd Division that was formed was a mere 3,747 men strong and did not include supporting weapons such as artillery. In comparison, the 3rd Infantry Division, from the Second World War period, was over 18,000 men strong and supported by 72 artillery pieces and numerous other support weapons. Each war that the division fought in, between 1809 and 1945, has a corresponding order of battle section.
Napoleonic Wars
During the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), the British Army grew in size. On 18 June 1809, Lieutenant-General Arthur Wellesley, commander of the British forces in Spain and Portugal, ordered the creation of four divisions, including the 3rd Division. During the division's first action of the Peninsular War (the name given to Napoleonic Wars fought in Spain and Portugal), the Battle of Talavera (1809), it was 3,747 men strong. By the next year, it had grown to a strength of 4,743 men, including attached Portuguese troops. The strength of the division fluctuated over the following years, partially as a result of Portuguese troops being attached and detached. In 1811, the division had increased to 5,480 men. It then peaked at 7,437 men strong during 1813, before decreasing to 4,566 during the final stages of the Peninsular War. It was reformed on 11 April 1815, in the Southern Netherlands (modern-day Belgium), on the resumption of hostilities. It fought at the Battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo, and had a strength of 6,970 men. It then marched into France. Shortly after, the Napoleonic Wars came to a conclusion. The division remained within the restored French kingdom, as part of the British Army of Occupation until it was disbanded in France during April 1817.
Talavera Campaign (July 1809) During this period, brigades were referred to by their commander's names. Due to changes in command, the brigade names fluctuated frequently.
3rd Division
The division's 1st brigade: 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 31st Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 45th Regiment of Foot
The division's 2nd brigade: 2nd Battalion, 87th Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 88th Regiment of Foot Five companies, 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot
Battle of Bussao (September 1810) During this period, brigades were referred to by their commander's names. Due to changes in command, the brigade names fluctuated frequently.
3rd Division
The division's 1st brigade: 1st Battalion, 45th Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 74th Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 88th Regiment of Foot
The division's 2nd brigade: 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 83rd Regiment of Foot 5th Battalion (three companies), 90th Regiment of Foot
Portuguese Brigade: 9th Line Regiment (two battalions) 21st Line Regiment (one battalion)
Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro (May 1811) During this period, brigades were referred to by their commander's names. Due to changes in command, the brigade names fluctuated frequently.
3rd Division
The division's 1st brigade: 1st Battalion, 45th Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 74th Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 88th Regiment of Foot 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot (three companies)
The division's 2nd brigade: 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 83rd Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 88th Regiment of Foot 94th Regiment of Foot
Portuguese Brigade: 9th Line Regiment (two battalions) 21st Line Regiment (two battalions)
Vittoria campaign (June 1813) During this period, brigades were referred to by their commander's names. Due to changes in command, the brigade names fluctuated frequently.
3rd Division
The division's 1st brigade: 1st Battalion, 45th Regiment of Foot 74th Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 88th Regiment of Foot 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot (three companies)
The division's 2nd brigade: 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 83rd Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 87th Regiment of Foot 94th Regiment of Foot
Portuguese Brigade: 9th Line Regiment 21st Line Regiment 11th Caçadores
Hundred Days campaign (1814) 3rd Division
British Fifth Brigade 2nd Battalion, 30th Regiment of Foot 33rd Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 69th Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 73rd Regiment of Foot
Second King's German Legion Brigade 1st Light Battalion 2nd Light Battalion 5th Line Battalion 8th Line Battalion
First Hanoverian Brigade Field Battalion Bremen Field Battalion Verden Field Battalion York Field Battalion Lüneburg Field Battalion Grubenhagen Field Jäger Corps
Divisional Artillery British Foot Battery King's German Legion Foot Battery
Crimean War (1854–1856) During the war, each division within the expeditionary force had a 1st and a 2nd Brigade.
1854–1855 3rd Division
1st brigade: 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Foot 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot 89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot (had joined by January 1855)
2nd brigade: 4th (The King's Own) Regiment of Foot 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot (had joined by January 1855)
Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery F Battery W Battery (had left by the Battle of Balaclava, in October 1854)
June–December 1855 3rd Division
1st brigade: 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Foot 4th (The King's Own Royal) Regiment of Foot 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot 89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot
2nd brigade: 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot (left the division by August 1855) 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot
Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery F Battery W Battery (rejoined the division by August 1855) #4 Ball Cartridge Brigade
1856 (until April) 3rd Division
1st brigade: 4th (The King's Own Royal) Regiment of Foot 14th (Buckinghamshire) Regiment of Foot 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot
2nd brigade: 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot
Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery F Battery W Battery #4 Ball Cartridge Brigade
1856 (after April) 3rd Division
1st brigade: 4th (The King's Own Royal) Regiment of Foot 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot
2nd brigade: 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot
Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery F Battery W Battery #4 Ball Cartridge Brigade
Second Boer War On mobilisation in 1899 3rd Division
5th Brigade (Irish Brigade) 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers Supply Column (Train Company, No. 30) Litter Bearer Company, No. 16 Field Ambulance No. 10
6th Brigade (Fusilier Brigade) 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers Supply Column (Train Company, No. 36) Litter Bearer Company, No. 17 Field Ambulance No. 11
Divisional Troops: 14th King's Hussars (1 squadron) Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery No. 74 Field Battery No. 77 Field Battery No. 79 Field Battery Ammunition Column Field Engineer Company, No. 12 Supply Column (Train Company, No. 33) Field Ambulance No. 7
January 1900 3rd Division
5th Brigade 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Border Regiment
6th Brigade 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Divisional Troops: 14th King's Hussars (1 squadron) Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery No. 63 Field Battery No. 64 Field Battery No. 73 Field Battery
February 1900, onwards 3rd Division
5th Brigade 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Border Regiment
6th Brigade 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Divisional Troops: 13th Hussars (1 squadron) Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery No. 63 Field Battery No. 64 Field Battery No. 73 Field Battery
April 1900, onwards 3rd Division
22nd Brigade 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Royal Scots 2nd Battalion, Berkshire Regiment
23rd Brigade Composition not known
Divisional Troops: Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery No. 74 Field Battery No. 77 Field Battery No. 79 Field Battery
First World War On 28 July 1914, the First World War began. On 4 August, Germany invaded Belgium and the United Kingdom entered the war against the German Empire. The division soon after deployed to France, as part of the British Expeditionary Force, and it then served on the Western Front between 1914 and 1918.
The war establishment, the on-paper strength, of an infantry division in 1914 was 18,179 men, 5,594 horses, 18 motor vehicles, 76 pieces of artillery, and 24 machine guns. While there was a small change to the number of men and horses in a division in 1915, the main change was the decrease in artillery pieces to 48 and an increase in motor vehicles to 54. The establishment in 1916 increased the division size to 19,372 men, 5,145 horses, 61 motor vehicles, 64 artillery pieces, 40 trench mortars, and 200 machine guns. The 1917 changes saw a decrease to 18,825 men, 4,342 horses, 57 motor vehicles, and 48 artillery pieces, although the number of trench mortars remained the same, and the number of machine guns increased to 264. By 1918, the number of front line infantry within the British Army in France had decreased because of casualties and a lack of eligible replacements, and this had led to a manpower crisis. To consolidate manpower and to increase the ratio of machine guns and artillery support available to the infantry, the number of battalions in a division was reduced from twelve to nine. This resulted in the 1918 establishment of 16,035 men, 3,838 horses, 79 motor vehicles, 48 artillery pieces, 36 trench mortars, and 400 machine guns.
First World War (1914–1918) 3rd Division
7th Infantry Brigade (until 18 October 1915) 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles 1st Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company (from 9 December 1914, until 14 October 1915) 1/4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment (until 12 October 1915)
8th Infantry Brigade 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment (until 24 October 1914)) 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (until 13 November 1915) 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders (until 12 September 1914; then from 30 September 1914, until 19 October 1915)