United Kingdom First Army

First Army

The First Army was created as the British contribution to Operation Torch (the invasion of Nothwest Africa). It landed at Algiers on November 8, 1942, as the Eastern Task Force and immediately became the British First Army, under the command of Lt. Gen. Sir Kenneth A. N. Anderson. It fought through the Tunisian operations in 1943 and was then disbanded.

Headquarters (HQ)
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C)12.08.1942 - 14.07.1943Lt.Gen. Sir Kenneth A.N. Anderson

Order of Battle 20 April 1943 Tunisia Campaign.

British First Army
Commanded by: Lieutenant-General Kenneth Anderson
- V Corps
  Commanded by Lieutenant-General Charles Allfrey
  - British 25th Tank Brigade (less 51st Royal Tank Regiment)
  - British 1st Infantry Division (Major-General Walter Clutterbuck)
  - British 4th Infantry Division (Major-General John Hawkesworth)
  - British 78th Infantry Division (Major-General Vyvyan Evelegh)
- British IX Corps
  Commanded by: Lieutenant-General John Crocker
  - 51st Royal Tank Regiment
  - British 1st Armoured Division (Major-General Raymond Briggs)
  - British 6th Armoured Division (Major-General Charles Keightley)
  - British 46th Infantry Division (Major-General Harold Freeman-Attwood)
- French XIX Corps
  Commanded by: Lieutenant General Marie-Louis Koëltz
  - Tank Group
  - 1st King's Dragoon Guards
  - Division d'Alger (Major General Pierre-Félix Conne)
  - Division du Maroc (Lieutenant General Maurice Mathenet)
  - Division d'Oran (Major-General Pierre-Félix Boissau)
- U.S. II Corps (co-ordinated by First Army but under direct control of 18th Army Group)
  Commanded by: Major General Omar Bradley
  - Corps Franc d'Afrique (three battalions)
  - 4th and 6th Tabors of Maroccan goumiers
  - U.S. 1st Armored Division (less one regiment) (Major General Ernest N. Harmon)
  - U.S. 9th Infantry Division (Major General Manton S. Eddy)
  - 34th Infantry Division(Major General Charles W. Ryder)
  - U.S. 1st Infantry Division (Major General Terry de la M. Allen)

Order of Battle 4 May 1943 Tunisia Campaign.

British First Army
Commanded by: Lieutenant-General Kenneth Anderson
- British V Corps
  Commanded by Lieutenant-General Charles Allfrey
  - 1st North Irish Horse
  - 7eme Régiment Tirallieurs Algériens
  - British 1st Army Group Royal Artillery
  - British 46th Infantry Division (less 139th Brigade Group)
  - British 78th Infantry Division
- British IX Corps
  Commanded by: Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks
- French XIX Corps
  Commanded by: General Koeltz
  - One Tank Battalion
  - Division d'Algers
  - Division du Maroc
  - Division d'Oran
- U.S. II Corps (co-ordinated by First Army but under direct control of 18th Army Group[1])
  Commanded by: Major General Omar Bradley
  - Corps Franc d'Afrique (three battalions)
  - One Tabor Moroccan Goumiers
  - U.S. 13th Field Artillery Brigade
  - U.S. 2626th Coast Artillery Brigade
  - U.S. 1st Armored Division (less one regiment)
  - U.S. 1st Infantry Division
  - U.S. 9th Infantry Division
  - U.S. 34th Infantry Division
- Army Reserve