To give context to the accounts of 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment, it is important to remember that the Regiment operated as Divisional Troops, under the direct control of the Division’s Commander (General Officer Commanding (GOC)); Major General Ivor Thomas.
The 43rd (Wessex) Division and 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment are commemorated with several memorials in England and Europe.
Details of all Wessex Division memorials are available here.
For ease of reference, the 43rd (Wessex) Division’s composition is below.
Division Headquarters
– General Officer Commanding & Divisional Staff Branches
129th Infantry Brigade
– 4th Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s)
– 4th Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh’s)
– 5th Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh’s)
130th Infantry Brigade
– 7th Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment
– 4th Battalion, The Dorsetshire Regiment
– 5th Battalion, The Dorsetshire Regiment
214th Infantry Brigade
– 7th Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s)
– 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment
– 5th Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
Divisional Troops
43rd Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps
8th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own)
Royal Artillery (RA)
– 94th (Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
– 112th (Wessex) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery – Sgt Albert Figg is a particularly famous veteran of this RA unit
– 179th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
– 59th (Duke of Connaught’s – Hampshire) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
– 110th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Royal Engineers (RE)
– 204th (Wessex) Field Company, Royal Engineers
– 260th Field Company, Royal Engineers
– 553rd Field Company, Royal Engineers
– 207th (Wessex) Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
– 13th Bridging Platoon, Royal Engineers
– 43rd Division Postal Unit, Royal Engineers
Royal Signals (R Corps Signals)
– 43rd (Wessex) Division Signals Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC)
– 129th (Wessex) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
– 130th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
– 213th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
– 14th Field Dressing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps
– 15th Field Dressing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps
– 38th Field Hygiene Section, Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Service Corps (RASC)
– 54th Infantry Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps
– 504th Infantry Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps
– 505th Infantry Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps
– 506th Divisional Troops Company, Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME)
– 129th Infantry Brigade Workshop, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
– 130th Infantry Brigade Workshop, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
– 214th Infantry Brigade Workshop, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC)
– 43rd Division Ordnance Field Park, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Corps of Military Police (CMP)
– 43rd Division Provost Company, Corps of Military Police