2nd Brunswick Division
This unit belongs to the Brunswick Army of the Lucisverse, it may be different to its Magna Europan equivalent.
2nd Brunswick Division | |
---|---|
Active | March 1915 - present |
Country | Kingdom of Nova Brunswick |
Commanders | |
Notable Commanders | Major General Alistair Clarke |
Aircraft flown | |
Reconnaissance | Cartwright Wombat (SEW) |
The 2nd Brunswick Division is a division of the Brunswick Army. Originally formed in March 1915 as the 2nd Brunswicker Infantry Division, it saw limited service during the First Europan War and was renamed afterwards, it remains in service today. It saw extensive service in the Second Europan War.
Formation
Second Europan War
The 2nd Brunwsick Division was the first Brunwicker unit to see action in the Second Europan War. The division was deployed to take part in the Telubia Campaign following the Siege of Soinoît and arrived just in time to take part in the Battle of Nonseon. The division sustained heavy losses at Nonseon and was short of manpower until after the Battle of Toulogne.
Following the Siege of Soinoît, the division arrived in Toulogne and moved swiftly to support the Commonwealth and Telubian-Trabian forces during the Teulabia Campaign. Under Major General Alistair Clarke, the Second Brunswick Division fought with distinction at the Battle of Nonseon. Soldiers of the 2nd Division showed extreme valour in frontal counter-attacks at Nonseon and suffered heavy losses throughout the battle. At the First Battle of Casart, the division acquitted itself with somewhat less valorous conduct. At Casart, the division being short of manpower following Nonseon, the Brunswickers took a mainly defensive role, holding forward entrenched positions and retaining a garrison on the near side of the river. However, some offensive action was taken. The Fifth Brunswick Brigade, positioned on the division's left flank, was thrown into multiple counter-attacks, suffering heavy casualties in the attempts. Service staff and reserve infantry crossed the river in the Universal Carriers used to tow artillery pieces and, despite heavy Quenminese resistance, successfully supported an attack by Commonwealth forces to retake the heights ahead of Casart. These support troops took few casualties.
Following the retreat from Casart, the division fought at Marives. By this time, morale was wavering and the division's commander had gained the unfortunate nickname 'Butcher Clarke', for his constant, often costly, counter-attacks and dogged defences. However, the Battle of Marives turned Clarke's fortunes around. With little reserve manpower but retaining his generous supply of machine-guns, artillery and anti-tank weaponry, Clarke's division was given the job of protecting the flanks of the combined army. With his force concentrated on the right, Clarke used his remaining troops conservatively and successfully halted multiple flanking attacks, primarily by battle-hardened Quenminese units, including a not-insignificant mechanised force. His true moment of glory during the battle was a counter-attack that retook a farmstead on the army's far right. With a reconnaissance column of the King's Own Brunswicker Hussars leading the advance, he deployed forces of the Sixth Brunswick Brigade in an enveloping counter-offensive which recaptured the position and did much to improve his reputation.
Despite a fierce defensive struggle at Marives, the combined army was pushed back even further and, in the confusion, was split during the retreat. The First Brunswick Brigade, elements of the KOBH, the 2nd Light Gunnery Regiment, elements of the 2nd Signals Battalion and the 11th Field Company (engineers) were split from the main body of the division and trapped when Toulogne was encircled. Reinforced slightly by eighteen tanks from the Commonwealth forces, this splinter-force numbered 4,000 men at most. Under the command of Brigadier Alexander Fox, the force was given the important job of defending the town of Toulogne itself while the Commonwealth troops defended the outskirts of the town and its port, to the left of the main town. A strong attack by Quenminese and Ruzhite forces was held off until the situation was suitable for a counter-attack. Commonwealth forces swept around the Imperial right flank while Brigadier Fox's force held the Imperials at the town. The Brunswickers themselves joined the attack when the Commonwealth forces had moved further ahead.
Order of Battle 1941
Divisional Troops
Reconnaissance
Engineers
- 11th Field Company, Royal Brunswickan Engineers
- 12th Field Company, Royal Brunswickan Engineers
- 14th Field Company, Royal Brunswickan Engineers
- A Company, 1st Bridging Regiment
Signals
2nd Signals Battalion, Royal Brunswick Signal Corps
Artillery
- 4th Field Regiment, Royal Brunswick Artillery
- 5th Field Regiment, Royal Brunswick Artillery
- 6th Field Regiment, Royal Brunswick Artillery
- 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Brunswick Artillery
- 2nd Light Gunnery Regiment, Royal Brunswick Artillery
Infantry Brigades
1st (Grenadier) Brunswick Brigade
- 1st Battalion, Royal Brunwick Grenadiers
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Brunswick Grenadiers
- 3rd Battalion, Royal Brunswick Grenadiers
- 4th Battalion, Royal Brunswick Grenadiers
- 1st Battalion, Royal Brunswick Machine Gun Corps
- various medical and supply units
5th Brunswick Brigade
- 3rd Battalion, King Frederick's Own Rifles
- 1st Battalion, Royal Ottenberg Rifles
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Ottenberg Rifles
- 3rd Battalion, Royal Ottenberg Rifles
- 5th Battalion, Royal Brunswick Machine Gun Corps
- various medical and supply units
6th Brunswick Brigade
- 1st Battalion, King Caspar's Regiment of Musketry
- 2nd Battalion, King Caspar's Regiment of Musketry
- 3rd Battalion, King Caspar's Regiment of Musketry
- 1st Battalion, Butler's Regiment of Foot
- 6th Battalion, Royal Brunswick Machine Gun Corps
- various medical and supply units