united_kingdom british_army formed second world war organisation devon existence division changed roles times december training recruits infantry armoured warfare new recruits army assigned complete training december division renamed known holding division responsible soldiers medical leave recruits fully trained men returning injury allocated formations fighting overseas notably formation source reinforcements fighting normandy available british army troops left united_kingdom france division disbanded formed deception unit germany impression british army divisions division held reserve united_kingdom background following second world war united_kingdom threat invasion nazi_germany summer threat year progressed size british_army increased dramatically new infantry battalions raised october possibility german invasion new battalions formed independent infantry brigades assigned newly created including devon men strong assigned defend coastlines threatened sections country including manning coastal artillery divisions largely static lacking mobility divisional assets artillery engineers reconnaissance forces recruits manner allowed regular infantry divisions freed duties undertake training form important reserve counterattack possible german landing june germany launched massive attack soviet_union attack removed threat german invasion united_kingdom british consider threat german invasion possibility soviet_union collapse german onslaught ease germany transfer troops west late arrival autumn winter weather meant threat invasion subsided coupled production new equipment british army allowed begin steps better balance army large number infantry units formed preceding year half reform county divisions disbanded history home defence war divisions british_army divided higher establishment lower establishment formations intended deployment overseas combat strictly home defence static role december devon abolished reformed lower establishment division division like predecessor comprised day division assigned artillery engineers anti tank regiment reconnaissance troops joined following month war establishment paper strength infantry division time men major general commanded devon october retained command division assigned remained based devon area comments division insignia references arthur sword acknowledging division connections west country predecessor division division training formation insignia worn permanent division members training formation winter british_army overhauled train new recruits divisions changed lower establishment units reserve divisions december division renamed training formation process divisions supplemented fourth training formation raised january assigned soldiers completed corps training sent training divisions soldiers given weeks additional training section platoon company level undertaking final day exercise troops ready sent overseas join formations training handled manner relieve divisions replacements units allow train having handle new recruits example 12th provided additional training regiment new recruits assigning battalions regiment restructuring transferred infantry brigade replaced order provide training facilities retain reinforcements ready deployed december division organised restructuring withdrawn lieutenant colonel wrote division role holding personnel temporarily medical causes example change reserve holding division 14th converted regular infantry unit rehabilitation centre prisoners war troops suffering morale issues low physique sent battalion underwent medical physical military tests tests designed establish medical category soldiers assigned job military capability best suit likewise soldiers returning long periods overseas service sent june holding training divisions combined total men immediately available replacements remaining men considered ineligible service abroad variety reasons ranging medical considered fully fit fully trained following months cent men deployed reinforce 21st army group following completion training having come required fitness levels comments september dry losses suffered leaving army britain exception 52nd young old men unfit september division disbanded 45th holding division formed having disbanded august staff assumed command took role division states reason renumbering 45th division known territorial formation war number familiar public recruiting value deception british army facing manpower crisis army men replace losses line infantry efforts address transferring men royal_air_force infantry began disbanding divisions army transfer men units help close strength possible lower establishment divisions united_kingdom chosen disbanded force british deception unit seized opportunity retain division phantom unit army order battle cover story established explain change division status claimed war nearing end divisions revert peacetime recruiting role release equipment resources units equipment transferred transfer equipment raised division held reserve united_kingdom pending future use general officer commanding commanders included order battle
77th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)