The 2nd Division was an infantry division of the British Army, which was first formed in 1809 and finally disbanded in 2012. The division was commanded by a general officer commanding (GOC). In this role, he would receive orders from a level above him in the chain of command, and then use the forces within the division to undertake the mission assigned. In addition to directing the tactical battle the division was involved in, the GOC oversaw a staff and the administrative, logistical, medical, training, and discipline of the division. The division had 65 different permanent GOCs over its history that spanned 203 years.

Prior to 1809, the British Army did not use divisional formations. As the British military grew in size during the Napoleonic Wars, the need arose for such an implementation in order to better organise forces for administrative, logistical, and tactical reasons. The 2nd Division was formed on 18 June 1809 by Lieutenant-General Arthur Wellesley, and served in the Peninsular War (part of the Napoleonic Wars). After the Peninsular War ended in 1814, the division was disbanded only to be re-raised the following year when the War of the Seventh Coalition broke out. The division fought at the Battle of Waterloo, and played a pivotal role in the defeat of the final French attack of the day. The division's light infantry brigade flanked and attacked the French Imperial Guard, causing them to falter, and then retreat. The brigade then spearheaded the British general advance after the retreating French forces. In December 1818, the division was disbanded once again.

During the mid to late 19th century, several formations bore the name "2nd Division". The ones that fought in the Crimean War and the Second Boer War were considered to be part of the same lineage as the two that fought in the Napoleonic Wars by Everard Wyrall, who compiled the 2nd Division's First World War official history. Reformed in 1854, the division fought in the Crimean War against the Russian Empire. It served throughout the siege of Sevastopol, had a critical role in the Battle of Inkerman, and was stood down at the end of the war in 1856. A new 2nd Division was mobilised in 1899, for action in the Second Boer War. It took part in all the battles that comprised the Relief of Ladysmith, and was broken-up at the end of 1900 when conventional warfare ended. This allowed the division's personnel to be reassigned to mobile columns or to garrison towns, in an effort to combat the guerrilla tactics that the Boers employed.

In 1902, the division was reformed as a permanent formation. It was based at Aldershot, in southern England, prior to the First World War and during the inter-war period. In 1914, the division deployed to France shortly after the war started as part of the British Expeditionary Force. It served on the Western Front between 1914 and 1918. During the Second World War, the division was again deployed to France in the opening stages of the war. In the subsequent Battle of France, the division was forced to evacuate back to England. In 1942, the formation was transported to India, and subsequently fought in Burma in 1944 and 1945. In the post-war years, it formed part of the British Army of the Rhine in Germany. In 1976, the infantry division was transformed into an armoured formation based in Germany, but was disbanded at the end of 1982. The 2nd Division was then reformed in York, England, in 1983. Following the end of the Cold War, the division was once again disbanded. It was re-raised in 1994 as a training formation and maintained this role until 2012, when it was disbanded for the final time.

General officer commanding

+No.Appointment dateRankGeneral officer commandingNotesSource(s)1Major-GeneralThe division was formed for the first time, during the Peninsular War, from troops based in Portugal.N/AMajor-GeneralLeith was scheduled to take command of the division on this date, but never did. Instead, he was given command of the 5th Division.Major-GeneralStewart became acting commander of the division, due to Hill being stricken with fever.2Major-GeneralOn this date, Stewart formally became the commander.Major-GeneralOnce Hill recovered from his period of sickness, he returned and retook command of the division.Lieutenant-GeneralHeld the local rank of lieutenant-general. Alternatively known as Christopher Tilson and Christopher Chowne.21812/1813Major-GeneralStewart returned to the peninsula in late 1812. At the division's next battle, the Battle of Maya in July 1813, Stewart was again in command. He was wounded in this battle.Major-GeneralTook temporary command of the division following William Stewart's injury during the Battle of Maya in July 1813.Major-GeneralMajor-General3Major-GeneralAt the conclusion of the Peninsular War, the division was disbanded in France. The final troops departed in June.4Lieutenant-GeneralThe division was reformed on this date from troops based in the Southern Netherlands. Clinton led the division from its inception through the Battle of Waterloo, and as part of the Army of Occupation that was based in France after the war. He held command until the division was disbanded in France, during December 1818.5Lieutenant-GeneralThe division was formed in Varna, Ottoman Bulgaria, from British troops who had been assembled, and had prepared to move to the Crimean peninsular during the Crimean War.Major-GeneralPennefather was acting commander of the division, after de Lacy Evans had been injured following a fall from his horse. He commanded the division at the Battle of Inkerman on 5 November 1854.6Lieutenant-GeneralIn early 1855, Pennefather went on sick leave and an unknown officer took command. Pennefather returned to command by March 1855. and 7Lieutenant-GeneralIn 1856, after the end of the war, the division was disbanded in Crimea.8Lieutenant-GeneralA new 2nd Division was formed in England, and then moved to southern Africa to fight in the Second Boer War. Clery was a major-general when the division was mobilised, but given the temporary rank of lieutenant-general once in Africa. The division was broken up at the end of 1900, while still in southern Africa. and 9Major-GeneralTemporary commander, while Clery was ill and 10Major-GeneralThis marked the first time the 2nd Division was formed as a permanent formation, and not as raised on an ad hoc basis for a particular war. Douglas left his position on 12 February 1904., , and 11Major-GeneralHamilton was also the commander of the 3rd Brigade, until 2 May 1904. On 12 February 1907, Hamilton ended his tenure as the divisional commander., and 12Major-General13Major-General14Major-General and 15Major-GeneralThe division was dispatched to France on the outbreak of the First World War.Brigadier-General16Major-General17Major-General18Major-GeneralPereira held command for the duration of the war. In 1919, the division entered Germany. It was then renamed, and ceased to exist on 17 February 1919.19Major-GeneralThe 2nd Division was reformed in England on this date and 20Major-General21Major-General22Major-GeneralCubitt was promoted to lieutenant-general during his tenure as division commander., and 23Major-General and 24Major-General25Major-General and 26Major-GeneralThe division was now known as the 2nd Infantry Division. On the outbreak of the Second World War, the division was dispatched to France.Brigadier27Major-GeneralDuring Irwin's tenure, the division was evacuated from France and returned to England.BrigadierBrigadier28Major-General29Major-GeneralIn April 1942, the division was dispatched to British India.30Major-GeneralBrigadierMajor-GeneralBrigadierMajor-GeneralBrigadierMajor-GeneralThe division took part in the Burma campaign of 1944–45, and fought at the battles of Kohima and Mandalay.BrigadierMajor-General31Major-General32Major-GeneralAfter the conclusion of hostilities, the division absorbed the 36th Infantry Division. The division then moved to Malaya, and was disbanded in 1946.33Major-GeneralThe division was reformed in Germany, by the re-designation of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division. Balfour, who had been the GOC of the 53rd, retained his position.34Major-General35Major-GeneralCallander ended his appointment on 26 April 195136Major-General and 37Major-General38Major-General39Major-GeneralThe formation was now known as the 2nd Division.40Major-General41Major-General42Major-General43Major-GeneralSharp ended his tenure in command on 1 December 1967, , and 44Major-General45Major-General46Major-General47Major-General48Major-GeneralKitson took command of the division prior to and led it during its reorganisation into the 2nd Armoured Division.49Major-General50Major-GeneralFinal commander of the 2nd Armoured Division. The division was disbanded in Germany at the end of 1983. and 51Major-GeneralThe 2nd Infantry Division was reformed in England on this date. Palmer was made GOC North East District, in conjunction with commanding the division.52Major-GeneralAlso the GOC North East District53Major-GeneralAlso the GOC North East District54Major-GeneralAlso the GOC North East District55Major-GeneralAlso the GOC North East District and 56Major-GeneralAlso the GOC North East District. Walker was the final GOC of the 2nd Infantry Division, before it was disbanded in early 1992 as part of the 1990s Options for Change. and 57Major-GeneralCordingley became GOC Eastern District on 23 November 1992. The 2nd Division was refounded in 1994.58Major-General59Major GeneralThis marks the first occasion of the hyphen being dropped from major-general in The London Gazette.60Major General61Major General62Major General63Major GeneralResigned from position in protest to the then ongoing operations in Afghanistan64Major General65Major GeneralThe division was disbanded in April 2012, as part of an army restructure.

See also List of orders of battle for the British 2nd Division List of Victoria Cross recipients from the British 2nd Division

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