British Army of the Rhine

There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War and the other after the Second World War. Both formations had areas of responsibility located around the German section of the River Rhine. The first British Army of the Rhine was set up in March 1919 to implement the occupation of the Rhineland. It was originally composed of five corps, composed of two divisions each, plus a cavalry division: II Corps: Commanded by Sir Claud Jacob Light Division (formed from 2nd Division): Commanded by Major-General George Jeffreys Southern Division (formed from 29th Division): Commanded by Major-General William Heneker IV Corps: Commanded by Sir Alexander Godley Lowland Division (formed from 9th (Scottish) Division) Highland Division (formed from 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division) VI Corps: Commanded by Sir Aylmer Haldane Northern Division (formed from 3rd Division) London Division (formed from 41st Division) IX Corps: Commanded by Sir Walter Braithwaite and later by Ivor Maxse Western Division (formed from 1st Division) Midland Division (formed from 6th Division) X Corps: Commanded by Sir Thomas Morland Lancashire Division (formed from 32nd Division) Eastern Division (formed from 34th Division) Cavalry Division (formed from 1st Cavalry Division) Most of these units were progressively dissolved, so that by February 1920 there were only regular battalions: 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment 2nd Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment 3rd Battalion Middlesex Regiment 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry In August 1920 Winston Churchill, as Secretary of State for War, told Parliament that the BAOR was made up of approximately 13,360 troops, consisting of staff, cavalry, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, infantry, machine gun corps, tanks and the usual ancillary services. The troops were located principally in the vicinity of Cologne at an approximate cost per month of £300,000.