32nd Division (United Kingdom)

The 32nd Division was an infantry division of the British Army that served in both World War I and World War II.

World War I:

Formed in 1916, the 32nd Division was composed primarily of Bantam battalions, comprised of men under the usual minimum height requirement for British Army service. It initially served on the Western Front. Key battles and engagements included participation in the Battle of the Somme (particularly the Battle of Thiepval Ridge), the Battle of Arras, and the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). The division suffered significant casualties throughout the war. Following the Armistice, the 32nd Division served as part of the British Army of the Rhine during the occupation of Germany before being disbanded.

World War II:

The 32nd Division was reformed in 1940 as part of the general expansion of the British Army following the outbreak of World War II. It was initially a motor division, tasked with mobile defense. However, due to the changing strategic situation and the limited number of available tanks, it was converted back to an infantry division. The division did not see active service overseas during the war. It spent the war years in the United Kingdom on home defense duties, including coastal defense against potential invasion and training for overseas deployment which ultimately did not occur. It was disbanded after the end of the war.