| The Light Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1803–1815 1853–1856 1914–1918 1968–2007 2022–present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Light Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Sir John Moore Barracks, Winchester |
| Anniversaries | Salamanca Day |
| Equipment | Baker rifle |
| Engagements | Battle of Copenhagen (1807) Peninsular War Battle of Corunna Battle of the River Côa Battle of Bussaco Battle of Sabugal Battle of Fuentes de Onoro Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo Siege of Badajoz (1812) Battle of Salamanca Battle of Vitoria Battle of the Pyrenees Battle of Nivelle Battle of Toulouse Crimean War Battle of Alma Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855) Battle of Inkerman |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Robert Craufurd William Erskine Charles Alten George Brown |
The Light Division is a light infantry division of the British Army. It was reformed in 2022, as part of Future Soldier reforms.
Its origins lay in "Light Companies" formed during the late 18th century, to move at speed over inhospitable terrain and protect a main force with skirmishing tactics. These units took advantage of then-new technology in the form of rifles, which allowed it to emphasise marksmanship, and were aimed primarily at disrupting and harassing enemy forces, in skirmishes before the main forces clashed.
Formed in 1803, during the Napoleonic Wars, the Light Division was raised thereafter: during the Crimean War, the First World War, from 1968 to 2007, and from 2022 to the present day. Some light infantry units remained and remain outside of the Light Division.