The division was reformed in 1902, but this time as a permanent formation and not on an "ad hoc" basis for a particular emergency. It was based at Aldershot in southern England prior to the First World War. In 1914, the division deployed to France a few weeks after the start of the war, as part of the British Expeditionary Force. It served on the Western Front and suffered heavy casualties. After the conclusion of hostilities, the division returned to Aldershot where it remained throughout the inter-war period. During the Second World War, the division again went to France in the opening stages of the war. In the subsequent Battle of France, it was forced back to the port of Dunkirk and evacuated to the United Kingdom. It then served in Burma, and ended the war in British India. The division remained within the British order of battle in the post-war years, and formed part of the British Army of the Rhine in Germany. In 1976, the division was transformed into 2nd Armoured Division and maintained this role until the end of 1982. It was then disbanded in Germany, and the 2nd Division was reformed in York, England, in 1983. Following the end of the Cold War and the decrease in the size of the British Army, the division was again disbanded; only to be re-raised in the mid-1990s. At the turn of the millennium, the division moved to Scotland and was most recently disbanded in 2012.