The story of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in the Second World War is of interest to a much wider circle than the men who fought in it and their relatives and friends. For to a large extent the history of this famous formation is the history of the war.
"Fifty Div," as it was known to soldiers all over the world, fought in most theatres of war. It formed part of the B.E.F. in France, and was the last division to leave Dunkirk. It re-formed quickly in England, and was soon on its way to the Middle East to take its place in the Desert Army. Under General Ritchie, then General Montgomery, it fought for nearly two years in the burning barren lands.
With Africa won for the Allies, "Fifty Div" sailed to assault Sicily. When that campaign ended it sailed for home--and found itself ear-marked for an assault role on the Normandy beaches.
This story is here set down, not by one man, but by many. The diaries, note-books, maps and letters of several hundred "Fifty Div" men have gone to its making. From them the story has been edited by Ewart Waide Clay (Green Howards), who served with "Fifty Div" for the greater part of the war, first as an infantry officer and later as a General Staff Officer at Divisional Headquarters.
It is a story worthy of a great division, and of the North Country from which that division still draws its strength and inspiration.