Shoulder insignia of the 59th Infantry Division

Details of original image, per the Imperial War Museum: Badge On a blue rectangular background a black triangle denoting a 'slag heap' on which is depicted a pit winding gear tower in red. The symbolism of a slag heap and pit winding gear was considered appropriate for a formation based on the mining area of Staffordshire and with a significant number of Staffordshire battalions under command. The Division was a Second Line Territorial Army Division in the UK at the outbreak of the Second World War, duplicate of 55th (West Lancashire) Division. [NB: Cole appears to be incorrect when he states that 59th Division was a duplicate of 46th Division.] The Division was designated as a Motor Division but apparently never fully mobilised on this establishment. A Motor Division was intended to operate in a mobile role and as such had two brigades rather than the usual three and a matching reduction in the number of supporting arms, for example, only two field regiments and RE squadrons rather than three. It was also allocated two troop carrying companies RASC attached to carry the infantry. In place of a divisional cavalry regiment of light tanks and carriers, Motor Divisions had a motorcycle reconnaissance battalion. In June 1940 the Division reorganized as a standard infantry division. It served in Home Forces, including a spell in Northern Ireland between June 1942 and March 1943, before being selected for the invasion of North West Europe. The 59th was a follow-up formation in 21st Army Group and operated in North West Europe from 27 June to 18 October 1944. On 19 October Divisional HQ was placed in suspended animation and the Division broken up to help meet the manpower shortages in the British Army. On 25 August 1944 HQ RA 59th Infantry Division had been redesignated 59th AGRA and apparently retained the divisional sign. One unpublished source gives it as an AA AGRA, which may possibly link it with the AA deployment against the V1 attacks. There is no note of when this formation was disbanded.

The only reason I posted this is because I liked the term "slag heap." Is that a good enough reason?

#FB00867