Editing Miles Dempsey (section)

===Belgium and France===
[[File:British Generals 1939-1945 F3108.jpg|thumb|right|Brigadier Miles Dempsey (centre) and his staff, with their mascot 'Tiny' at Wervicq, France, in late 1939]]
Soon after the start of the Second World War in September 1939, Dempsey, with his battalion, was sent to France as part of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF).{{sfn|Rostron|2010|pp=40–42}} In November, Dempsey was promoted to the acting rank of brigadier, and assumed command of the [[13th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|13th Infantry Brigade]] in place of Brigadier [[Henry Willcox]], who had been one of Dempsey's instructors at the Staff College in the 1930s, and had been promoted. Aged just 42, Dempsey was one of the youngest brigadiers in the British Army. The brigade now formed part of Major-General [[Harold Franklyn]]'s [[5th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|5th Division]], although the division was still not fully formed. The brigade was sent to France as an independent formation, and had spent most of its time on guard duties in the BEF's rear areas. Together with the [[15th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|15th Infantry Brigade]], under Brigadier [[Horatio Pettus Mackintosh Berney-Ficklin|Horatio Berney-Ficklin]], and the [[17th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|17th Infantry Brigade]], under Brigadier [[Montagu Stopford]], it re-joined the 5th Division when the division HQ arrived in late December. The 5th Division then became part of II Corps ([[Lieutenant-General (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[Alan Brooke]]).{{sfn|Rostron|2010|p=43}}

The brigade saw action in May 1940 in the [[Operation David#Withdrawal to the Escaut|retreat from the River Dyle]] and fought in the [[Operation David#Defence of the Escaut|defensive battle]] on the [[River Scarpe]]. When the Belgian Army surrendered in late May the brigade took part in the holding [[battle of the Ypres–Comines Canal]] allowing the [[3rd Division (United Kingdom)|3rd Infantry Division]] (Major-General [[Bernard Montgomery]]) to cross their rear and secure the gap created by the Belgian collapse.{{sfn|Mead|2007|p=117}} In the [[Battle of Dunkirk|retreat to Dunkirk]] the brigade provided part of the [[rearguard]] for the BEF during the [[Dunkirk evacuation]] before being lifted off the beaches. By the time the 13th Brigade returned to England, it was reduced to fewer than 500 men, out of an original strength of nearly 3,000.{{sfn|Rostron|2010|p=49}} For his services in France, Dempsey was mentioned in despatches and made a companion of the [[Distinguished Service Order]] in July, which was presented to him by Franklyn.<ref name="mid2">{{London Gazette |issue=34904 |supp=y |date=23 July 1940|page=4579}}</ref><ref name="DSO">{{London Gazette |issue=34893 |supp=y |date=9 July 1940|page=4261}}</ref>{{sfn|Rostron|2010|p=49}} Soon after, Franklyn was replaced by Berney-Ficklin.{{sfn|Mead|2007|p=64}}

[[File:42nd Armoured Division Exercise, Near Malton in Yorkshire, 29 September 1942 TR166.jpg|thumb|left|The Commander in Chief Home Forces, General Sir [[Bernard Paget]] (left) and Dempsey (right) watch [[42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division|42nd Armoured Division]] exercises from a [[Crusader tank]].]]

In July Dempsey took up the appointment of Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of the newly created [[VII Corps (United Kingdom)|VII Corps]], which in December became known as the [[Canadian Corps (World War II)|Canadian Corps]], and was commanded by Lieutenant General [[Andrew McNaughton]] of the [[Canadian Army]]. As the senior staff officer of the new corps, he helped to oversee the Canadian units and higher formations during their training,{{sfn|Rostron|2010|pp=49–52}} and it was during this time where his "quiet competence, notable friendliness, and lack of airs endeared him to the Canadians."{{sfn|English|2009|p=53}} He held this position until 15 June 1941, when he was promoted to the acting rank of major-general, and given command of the [[46th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|46th Infantry Division]],<ref>{{London Gazette |date=17 June 1941 |issue=35195 |supp=1 |page=3497}}</ref> at the instigation of General [[Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke|Sir Alan Brooke]], then the [[Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces]], who had recognised Dempsey's ability in Belgium and France and thought highly of him.{{sfn|English|2009|p=53}}{{sfn|Rostron|2010|p=52}} His stay with the division, which had fought in France a year earlier, was not destined to be for long as, four months later, he assumed command of the [[42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division]], which was in the process of converting to an [[Armoured warfare|armoured division]].{{sfn|Mead|2007|p=117}} This required him to implement a huge training programme. The [[125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade|125th]] and [[126th (East Lancashire) Brigade|126th Infantry Brigades]] were converted into the [[10th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|10th]] and [[11th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|11th Armoured Brigade]]s and their infantry battalions converted to regiments of the [[Royal Armoured Corps]]. Further challenges were presented in May 1942 when the establishment of British armoured divisions was altered to have an armoured brigade with an infantry brigade instead of having two armoured brigades. The 10th and 11th Armoured Brigades were withdrawn from the division and replaced by [[30th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|30th Armoured Brigade]] and [[71st Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|71st Infantry Brigade]]. By the end of the year, Dempsey had become well-versed in the direction of combined armoured and infantry formations as well as an experienced trainer of troops.{{sfn|Mead|2007|p=118}}