Arkforce was an improvised formation of the British Expeditionary Force World War II formed on 9th June 1940, commanded by Brigadier A C L Stanley Clarke Distinguished Service Order DSO of 154th Infantry Brigade United Kingdom 154 Brigade and charged with the aiding the defence of Le Havre during the Battle of France . The force s formation was centred on Arques la Bataille its name being a modified version of this village . The force was to form a defensive line around 30km to the east of Le Havre, on the F camp Bolbec line to allow the French corps and the 51st Highland Infantry Division 51st Highland Division to retreat. It was also charged with providing the reconnaissance for a line of defence closer to Le Havre to aid the evacuation. ref name 51 div http www.51hd.co.uk accounts ark force 51st Highland Division site ref ref http www.ibiblio.org hyperwar UN UK UK NWE Flanders UK NWE Flanders 20.html ref ref http www.1stlothiansandborderyeomanry.co.uk highland division.html ref The units in ARK force included the following 154th Brigade, 51st Highland Division acting Brigadier D J Grant Military Cross MC 4th Battalion, The Black Watch 7th Battalion, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 8th Battalion, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders A Brigade, Beauman Division but attached to 51st Highland on 09 June 1940 Brigadier M A Green 4th Battalion, The Border Regiment 5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters 4th Battalion, The Buffs East Kent Regiment Divisional units 1st Battalion, Kensington Regiment Princess Louise s Princess Louise s Kensington Regiment less two companies 6th Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers Pioneers 17th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery 75th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery 51st Anti Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery 204 battery 236th Field Company, Royal Engineers 237th Field Company, Royal Engineers 239th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers 213th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers 154th Royal Army Medical Corps Field Ambulance Detachments from 525, 526 ... more details
Infobox Military Unit unit name 154th Infantry Brigade abbreviation 154th Inf Bde Caption dates 2 September 1939 1945 country Great Britain allegiance branch British Army type Infantry role size Brigade command structure British 51st Highland Infantry Division equipment Commanders Past Commanders ceremonial chief colonel of the regiment notable commanders Insignia identification symbol Image 51stHighlandpost1940.jpg 65px As part of 51st Division identification symbol 2 Culture and history nickname patron motto colors march mascot battles anniversaries decorations battle honours Battle of France br North Africa br Sicily br Normandy br Holland br Belgium br Germany 154th Infantry Brigade was part of The 51st Highland Infantry Division 51st Highland Division and was a British Territorial Army division that fought during the Second World War . The division was referred to as the Highway Decorators by other divisions who became used to discovering the HD insignia painted wherever the Highlanders had passed through. 154th Brigade was luckier than its sister brigades of the 51st Division 152nd Infantry Brigade United Kingdom 152nd & 153rd Infantry Brigade United Kingdom 153rd . It was detached in June 1940 to form the mobile battlegroup Arkforce and was able to escape from Northern France while the rest of the division was forced to surrender at St Valery en Caux. However, the brigade was severely understrength by the time it returned to Britain, and in August 1940 it was reorganised and merged with the 28th Infantry Brigade United Kingdom 28th Infantry Brigade of 9th Highland Infantry Division to form part of the new 51st Division. In this capacity it went on to serve in North Africa, Sicily and North West Europe. Campaign Honours Battle of France 1939 1940 destroyed Second Battle of El Alamein Battle of El Alamein 1942 Operation Supercharge 1942 Operation Pugilist 1943 Operation Husky 1943 Operation Overlord 1944 Operation Astonia 1944 Battle of the Scheldt 1944 Battle ... more details
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