43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division

Wessex Division 43rd (1st Wessex) Division 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division 43rd (Wessex) Division/District
Formation patch of the 43rd Division during the Second World War
Active	1908–1919 1920–1945 1947–1967
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Territorial Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Peacetime HQ	Exeter
Nickname(s)	'Fighting Wessex Wyverns' 'Yellow Devils' 'The Wicked Wyvern'
Engagements	World War II Operation Epsom Operation Jupiter (Hill 112) Operation Express Operation Bluecoat (Mont Pinçon) Vernon Bridge Operation Market Garden Operation Clipper Operation Blackcock Operation Veritable Operation Plunder
Commanders
Notable commanders	Arthur Percival Sir Ivor Thomas Sir George Erskine

The 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division was an infantry division of Britain's Territorial Army (TA). The division was first formed in 1908, as the Wessex Division. During the First World War, it was broken-up and never served as a complete formation. It was reformed in the TA in 1920, and then served in the campaign in North West Europe from June 1944 until May 1945, during the Second World War. The division suffered heavy casualties and gained an excellent reputation. After the Second World War, the division formed part of the postwar TA, and became the 43rd (Wessex) Division/District in 1961. It was finally disbanded in 1967.