Light Division

Article summary

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 them to emphasise marksmanship, and were tasked primarily with 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.

Key claims

1. date of formation: 1803 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of formation: 1969 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of formation: 2007 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of formation is "1803". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of formation is "1969". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of formation is "2007". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
6. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341311392