NONE BOLDER

The history of the 51st (Highland) Division in World War II. With service in every major European theatre, the unit was probably the most famous British infantry division of World War II. Richard Doherty tells the detailed story of the unit and shows why they are still renowned today. The 51st Highlanders were formed from battalions of the Scottish Highland regiments. The Division was part of the pre-war Territorial Army and included nine battalions of TA soldiers. In the 1940 campaign the Highlanders served under French command, with most forced to surrender to Rommel at Saint Valery. Reformed in Britain, the Highlanders were sent to North Africa and played a major part at El Alamein. Following the North African and Sicilian campaigns, the Division fought in Normandy and served in the break-out battles under Canadian First Army. Units of the Division were the first Allied soldiers to enter Germany and also provided the first British troops to land on the Rhine's far bank in March 1945.