British Twelfth Army
Encyclopedia
During the Second World War, two formations called the British Twelfth Army were created, the first was formed in the Middle East in early 1943 as part of the Operation Barclay
deception plan, the second was created in Burma in May 1945.
in July 1943. The Western Allies attempted to convince the Germans that their main effort during 1943 would be to land the Twelfth Army in Greece
and then advance into the eastern Balkans
during the early part of the summer of 1943 with the aim of bringing Turkey
into the war and then linking up with the Soviet Red Army
. The deception plan attempted to convince the Germans that this army had twelve divisions under its control and was located in Egypt
. The army's formation insignia was a trained seal
balancing on its nose a terrestrial globe showing the Eastern Hemisphere, black on a white background. The insignia was supposed to symbolize an amphibious creature treating the whole world as its own.
, which was being withdrawn to plan for Operation Zipper
, the planned invasion of Malaya
by amphibious assault, which was due to take place in August 1945.
The army HQ was created by re-designating the HQ of the Indian XXXIII Corps
, under Lieutenant-General Sir Montagu Stopford
. It took over one of Fourteenth Army's main combat formations, IV Corps which was temporarily commanded by Lieutenant General Francis Tuker
, with 5th
, 17th and 19th Indian Divisions and 255th Indian Tank Brigade
under its command. Twelfth Army assumed direct command of 7th
and 20th
Indian Divisions, together with 22nd East African Brigade. Static formations under its control included 505 District and South Burma District.
There were still Japanese formations in Burma at this time, with IV Corps having the responsibility for driving them out of the remainder of the country. The Japanese tried to break out from the Allied armies closing in on them, and although suffering heavy casualties, did succeed in rescuing many of their formations.
After the war, Twelfth Army continued in existence until 1 November, when it was re designated Burma Command.
The formation insignia was a Chinthe
on a red background, with a superimposed horizontal black stripe on which was written "XII" in white letters.
Operation Barclay
Operation Barclay was an Allied deception plan in support of the invasion of Sicily, in 1943, during World War II.This operation was intended to deceive the Axis military commands as to the location of the expected Allied assault across the Mediterranean and divert attention and resources from Sicily...
deception plan, the second was created in Burma in May 1945.
The first British Twelfth Army
A British Twelfth Army was initially invented by 'A' Force as part as the deception plan for Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of SicilySicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
in July 1943. The Western Allies attempted to convince the Germans that their main effort during 1943 would be to land the Twelfth Army in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and then advance into the eastern Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
during the early part of the summer of 1943 with the aim of bringing Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
into the war and then linking up with the Soviet Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. The deception plan attempted to convince the Germans that this army had twelve divisions under its control and was located in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The army's formation insignia was a trained seal
Pinniped
Pinnipeds or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae , Otariidae , and Phocidae .-Overview: Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped...
balancing on its nose a terrestrial globe showing the Eastern Hemisphere, black on a white background. The insignia was supposed to symbolize an amphibious creature treating the whole world as its own.
Subordinate units
Between 1943 and 1945, when it was disbanded to allow the formation of the second British Twelfth Army, its nominal existence was used to create the impression of a standing threat to the Balkans. During this period the units shown under its control varied, depending on the target chosen. The following list includes all units mentioned as forming part of the Twelfth Army or its component corps.Corps
- British III Corps (fictional)
- British XIV CorpsXIV Corps (United Kingdom)XIV Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I.-World War I:XIV Corps was formed in France on 3 January 1916 under Lieutenant-General the Earl of Cavan...
(fictional) - British XVI CorpsXVI Corps (United Kingdom)The British XVI Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I.- History :British XVI Corps was formed in Salonika in January 1916 under Lieutenant General George Milne. Milne was starved of resources by Sir William Robertson who considered all operations outside the Western Front to be...
(fictional) - Polish III Corps (fictional)
Divisions
- Polish 2nd Armored Division
- British 4th Airborne Division4th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)The British 4th Airborne Division was a deception division created as part of Operation Cascade in March of 1943.-History:As created, the unit was notionally based in Palestine and incorporated both the fictitious 1st Special Air Service Brigade created during Operation Abeam and the real 4th...
(fictional) - British 5th Airborne Division5th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)The British 5th Airborne Division was a deception division created in late 1943 as part of Operation Foynes to cover the departure 1st Airborne Division from Italy...
(fictional) - British 5th Infantry Division
- Polish 7th Infantry Division
- British 8th Armored Division (fictional)
- Polish 8th Infantry Division (fictional)
- British 15th Motorized Division (fictional)
- British 33rd Infantry Division (fictional)
- British 34th Infantry Division (fictional)
- British 40th Infantry Division (fictional)
- British 42nd Infantry Division (fictional)
- British 56th Infantry Division
- British 57th Infantry Division57th (2nd West Lancashire) Infantry DivisionThe 57th Division was a British Army unit created in 1914 as part of the massive expansion of the British military during World War I. It was demobilized in 1919 following cessation of hostilities...
(fictional)
The second British Twelfth Army
The second British Twelfth Army was formed on 28 May 1945, to take control of operations in Burma from the Fourteenth ArmyBritish Fourteenth Army
The British Fourteenth Army was a multinational force comprising units from Commonwealth countries during World War II. Many of its units were from the Indian Army as well as British units and there were also significant contributions from West and East African divisions within the British Army.It...
, which was being withdrawn to plan for Operation Zipper
Operation Zipper
During the Second World War, Operation Zipper was a British plan to capture either Port Swettenham or Port Dickson, Malaya as staging areas for the recapture of Singapore. However, due to the end of the war in the Pacific, it was never fully executed. Some of the proposed landings on Penang went...
, the planned invasion of Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
by amphibious assault, which was due to take place in August 1945.
The army HQ was created by re-designating the HQ of the Indian XXXIII Corps
XXXIII Corps (British India)
The British Indian XXXIII Corps was a formation of the British Indian Army during World War II. It was disbanded and the headquarters was recreated as an Army headquarters in 1945.-Formation:...
, under Lieutenant-General Sir Montagu Stopford
Montagu George North Stopford
General Sir Montagu George North Stopford GCB, KBE, DSO, MC , was a British Lieutenant General during the Second World War and Commander-in-Chief of the South East Asia Command from 1946 to 1947.-Early life:...
. It took over one of Fourteenth Army's main combat formations, IV Corps which was temporarily commanded by Lieutenant General Francis Tuker
Francis Tuker
Lieutenant General Sir Francis Ivan Simms Tuker KCIE CB DSO OBE was a British Indian Army officer.-Military career:...
, with 5th
Indian 5th Infantry Division
Indian 5th Infantry Division was an infantry division in the Indian Army during World War II which fought in several theatres of war and more than earned its nickname the "Ball of Fire".- History :...
, 17th and 19th Indian Divisions and 255th Indian Tank Brigade
255th Indian Tank Brigade
The 255th Indian Tank Brigade was an armoured brigade of the Indian Army during World War II. It was part of the Fourteenth Army and saw action in the Burma Campaign...
under its command. Twelfth Army assumed direct command of 7th
Indian 7th Infantry Division
The 7th Indian Infantry Division was a war-formed infantry division, part of the Indian Army during World War II .-History:The division was created on 1 October 1940 at Attock. Its formation sign was an arrow, pointing bottom left to top right, in yellow on a black background. The division was...
and 20th
Indian 20th Infantry Division
The Indian 20th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II, formed in India, and took part in the Burma Campaign during World War II. In the immediate aftermath of the War, the bulk of the division reoccupied French Indochina.-Formation:The division was formed...
Indian Divisions, together with 22nd East African Brigade. Static formations under its control included 505 District and South Burma District.
There were still Japanese formations in Burma at this time, with IV Corps having the responsibility for driving them out of the remainder of the country. The Japanese tried to break out from the Allied armies closing in on them, and although suffering heavy casualties, did succeed in rescuing many of their formations.
After the war, Twelfth Army continued in existence until 1 November, when it was re designated Burma Command.
The formation insignia was a Chinthe
Chinthe
The Chinthe is a leogryph that is often seen at the entrances of pagodas and temples in Burma and other Southeast Asian countries. The chinthe is featured prominently on the kyat, the currency of Burma. The chinthe is almost always depicted in pairs, and serve to protect the pagoda...
on a red background, with a superimposed horizontal black stripe on which was written "XII" in white letters.