This formation was a first line Territorial Army division. It was not sent to France in 1940, so the first action it saw was in North West Europe.
The Division took part in the preparations for Operation GOODWOOD and later fought in the battle of the Falaise Pocket. One of its officers, Lt. Tasker Williams 1st/5th WELCH Regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross for outstanding gallant action during that battle on 16th August. In the break-out at the end of the Normandy Campaign, the Division advanced to the River Somme by the end of August.
(Major General RK Ross).
71st Infantry Brigade.
1st Bn. The East Lancashire Regiment.
1st Bn. The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment).
1st Bn. The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
158th Infantry Brigade.
4th (Denbigh) Bn. The Royal Welch Fusiliers.
6th (Carnarvon and Anglesey) Bn. The Royal Welch Fusiliers.
7th(Merioneth and Montgomery) Bn. The Royal Welch Fusiliers.
160th Infantry Brigade.
4th (Llanelly) Bn. The Welch Regiment.
1st/5th (Glamorgan) Bn. The Welch Regiment.
2nd Bn. The Monmouthshire Regiment.
Divisional Troops.
53rd Reconnaissance Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.
1st Bn. The Manchester Regiment.
81st (Welsh) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
83rd (Welsh) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
133rd (Welsh) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
71st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery.
116th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.
244th (Welsh) Field Company, Royal Engineers.
282nd Field Company, Royal Engineers.
555th Field Company, Royal Engineers.
285th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers.
22nd Bridging Platoon, Royal Engineers.
53rd (Welsh) Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals.
147th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
202nd Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
212th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
13th Field Dressing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps.
26th Field Dressing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps.
53rd Field Hygiene Section, Royal Army Medical Corps.
531st Infantry Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
532nd Infantry Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
533rd Infantry Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
501st Divisional Troops Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
71st Infantry Brigade Workshops, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
158th Infantry Brigade Workshops, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
160th Infantry Brigade Workshops, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
53rd Divisional Ordnance Field Park, Royal Army Ordnance Field Park.
53rd Divisional Postal Unit, Royal Engineers.
53rd Divisional Provost Company, Corps of Military Police.