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 2nd Division was an infantry division of the British Army, which was formed numerous times over a 203-year period. Several formations bore the name, the "2nd Division", from 1809 through to the end of the 19th century. The historian Everard Wyrall, the compiler of the division's First World War official history, only included those formations that fought in the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, and the Second Boer War as being linked with the division that was created in the 20th century and fought in the First World War. That modern formation was created in 1902 and would go to further serve in the Second World War. The first 2nd Division that was formed was a mere 3,900 men strong and did not include supporting weapons such as artillery. In comparison, the 2nd 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 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 2nd 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 3,905 men strong. By the next year, it had grown to a strength of 10,677 men. It roughly maintained this strength for the rest of the Peninsular War, and was disbanded when the fighting ended in 1814. It was reformed on 11 April 1815, in the Southern Netherlands (modern-day Belgium), on the resumption of hostilities. It fought at the Battle of Waterloo, where it had a strength of 6,833 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. In December 1818, the Army of Occupation and the division were disbanded and the troops returned to Britain.

Talavera Campaign (July 1809) 2nd Division

Christopher Tilson's Brigade: 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) 2nd Battalion, 48th (the Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot One company, 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot (July 25)

William Stewart's Brigade: 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 48th (the Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion of detachments

1810–1811, including the Battle of Bussaco, the Lines of Torres Vedras, and Battle of Albuera During this period, brigades were referred to by their commander's names. Due to changes in command, the brigade names fluctuated frequently.

2nd Division

The division's 1st brigade: 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) 2nd Battalion, 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot One company, 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot

The division's 2nd brigade: 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 57th (the West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot One company, 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot

The division's 3rd brigade: 2nd Battalion, 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot One company, 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot

John Hamilton's Portuguese Division (attached to 2nd Division) The division's 1st Brigade: 4th Line Regiment 10th Line Regiment The division's 2nd Brigade: 2nd Line Regiment 14th Line Regiment

1813–1814, including the Battle of Vitoria and the Battle of the Pyrenees During this period, brigades were referred to by their commander's names. Due to changes in command, the brigade names fluctuated frequently.

2nd Division

The division's 1st brigade: 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) 2nd Battalion, 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 57th (the West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot 1st Provisional Battalion of Militia One company, 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot

The division's 2nd brigade: 1st Battalion, 50th (West Kent) Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) 1st Battalion, 92nd Regiment of Foot (Gordon Highlanders) One company, 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot

The division's 3rd brigade: 1st Battalion, 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot 1st Battalion, 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot One company, 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot

Portuguese Brigade (attached): 6th Line Regiment 18th Line Regiment 6th Caçadores

Battle of Waterloo (1815)

2nd Division

3rd British Brigade: 1st Battalion, 52nd (Oxfordshire) Light Infantry 1st Battalion, 71st (Highland) Light Infantry 2nd Battalion, 95th Regiment of Foot (Rifles) 3rd Battalion, 95th Regiment of Foot (Rifles)

1st Brigade of the King's German Legion: 1st Line Battalion 2nd Line Battalion 3rd Line Battalion 4th Line Battalion

3rd Hanoverian Brigade: Landwehr Battalion Bremervörde Landwehr Battalion 2nd Duke of York's (Osnabrück) Landwehr Battalion 3rd Duke of York's (Quakenbrück) Landwehr Battalion Salzgitter

Divisional Artillery: No.4 Company, 9th Battalion Royal Artillery 1st Horse Battery, King's German Legion

Army of Occupation (1815–1818) 2nd Division

3rd Brigade: 1st Battalion, 52nd (Oxfordshire) Light Infantry 1st Battalion, 71st (Highland) Light Infantry (until December 1814) 2nd Battalion, 95th Regiment of Foot (Rifles) 3rd Battalion, 95th Regiment of Foot (Rifles)

1st Brigade of the King's German Legion (Left December 1814): 1st Line Battalion 2nd Line Battalion 3rd Line Battalion 4th Line Battalion

3rd Hanoverian Brigade (Left December 1814): Landwehr Battalion Bremervörde Landwehr Battalion 2nd Duke of York's (Osnabrück) Landwehr Battalion 3rd Duke of York's (Quakenbrück) Landwehr Battalion Salzgitter

6th Brigade (joined December 1814): 6th (1st Warwickshire) Regiment 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot

Divisional troops: 1st Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal Sappers and Miners

Crimean War

In June 1854, a new 2nd Division was formed following the reorganisation of a British expeditionary force that had been dispatched to Ottoman Bulgaria, to support the Ottoman Empire during the early stages of the Crimean War against the Russian Empire. The division proceeded to the Crimea, where it landed on 14 September, and fought throughout the Siege of Sevastopol. During this period, the division numbered around 3,500 men. The division remained in the Crimea until 1856, and demobilised following the conclusion of hostilities.

Crimean War (1854–1855) Each division within the expeditionary force to the Crimea had a 1st and a 2nd Brigade.

2nd Division

1st Brigade: 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot 55th (the Westmorland) Regiment of Foot 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) (not part of the division when it formed, but joined by the end of the war)

2nd Brigade: 41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (or the Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot (not part of the division when it formed, but joined by the end of the war)

Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery: R Battery G Battery

Second Boer War

A new 2nd Division was mobilised in England following the outbreak of the Second Boer War, with the South African Republic and the Orange Free State. It was transported to southern Africa, and fought in the majority of battles related to the Relief of Ladysmith, in the Colony of Natal. It then advanced into the South African Republic, guarded the lines of communication, and was then disbanded by the end of 1900 following the end of conventional warfare.

At the Battle of Colenso, the initial attempt to relieve Ladysmith, the division commanded the majority of British forces in Natal Colony. This force was 16,000 men strong, supported by 44 artillery pieces and 16 machine guns. When it next took the field, on the march towards the Battle of Spion Kop, it was much reduced. The entire force that marched numbered 20,000 men, but this included two divisions, an independent brigade, several batteries of artillery, and various other regiments, squadrons, and companies of cavalry and mounted infantry.

On mobilisation in 1899 2nd Division

3rd (Highland) Brigade: 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders Supply Column (Train Company, No. 14) Litter Bearer Company, No. 1 Field Ambulance No. 14

4th Brigade (Light Infantry): 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade 2nd Battalion, Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) 3rd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps Supply column (Train Company, No. 16) Litter Bearer Company, No. 14 Field Ambulance No. 14

Divisional Troops: Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery No. 63 Field Battery No. 64 Field Battery No. 73 Field Battery Ammunition Column Field Engineer Company, No. 11 Supply Column (Train Company, No. 24) Field Ambulance No. 3

Battle of Colenso (December 1899) 2nd Division

2nd Brigade: 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment

4th Brigade: 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade 2nd Battalion, Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) 3rd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps No. 14 Field Hospital

5th Brigade: 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers No. 10 Field Hospital No. 16 Bearer Company

6th Brigade: 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers Unidentified Field Hospital

Divisional Troops: 12 companies of mounted infantry 2nd Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifles 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders Divisional artillery, Royal Artillery No. 7 Field Battery No. 14 Field Battery No. 64 Field Battery No. 66 Field Battery No. 73 Field Battery Detachment of naval guns 12th Field Company, Royal Engineers Ammunition Column No. 3 Field Hospital

Spion Kop campaign (January 1900)

2nd Division

2nd Brigade: 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment

5th Brigade: 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers

Divisional Troops: