The 154th Infantry Brigade was a formation of Britain's

Territorial Force The Territorial Force was a part-time volunteer component of the British Army, created in 1908 to augment British land forces without resorting to conscription. The new organisation consolidated the 19th-century Volunteer Force and yeomanry in ...

/ Territorial Army that was part of

51st (Highland) Division The 51st (Highland) Division was an infantry Division (military), division of the British Army that fought on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front in France during the World War I, First World War from 1915 to 1918. The division was ra ...

in both World Wars. From its origins in the 19th Century

Volunteer Force The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a Social movement, popular movement throughout the British Empire in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increa ...

, it was based in

Stirling Stirling (; ; ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in Central Belt, central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town#Scotland, market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the roya ...

and was composed of Highland battalions. It served on the Western Front in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and after it escaped from France early in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

it was reformed from its 2nd Line and saw action in

North Africa North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

and

Northwest Europe Northwestern Europe, or Northwest Europe, is a loosely defined subregion of Europe, overlapping Northern Europe, Northern and Western Europe. The term is used in geographic, history, and military contexts. Geographic definitions Geography, Geo ...

. It continued serving postwar until the reduction of the Territorial Army in the 1960s.

Volunteer Force

The

of part-time military units formed in Great Britain after an invasion scare in 1859 had no higher organisation than the battalion until the

Stanhope Memorandum The Stanhope Memorandum was a document written by Edward Stanhope, the Secretary of State for War of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, on 8 December 1888. It set out the overall strategic aims of the British Empire, and the way the B ...

of December 1888 proposed a comprehensive mobilisation scheme. Under this scheme Volunteer infantry battalions would assemble in their own brigades at key points in case of war. In peacetime these brigades provided a structure for collective training. Five Volunteer Infantry Brigades were initially formed in Scotland, covering the Highlands, the South of Scotland, and the Clyde,

Forth Forth or FORTH may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''forth'' magazine, an Internet magazine * ''Forth'' (album), by The Verve, 2008 * ''Forth'', a 2011 album by Proto-Kaw * Radio Forth, a group of independent local radio stations in Scotl ...

and Tay estuaries. The Volunteer Battalions (VBs) of the

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) is a light infantry company (military unit), company (designated as Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland) and was a line infantry regiment of the British Army tha ...

(A&SH) were initially assigned to the large Clyde Brigade (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th VBs, along with other regiments) and the Forth Brigade (4th and 7th VBs); in 1890 these brigades were rearranged, and the 4th and 7th VBs moved to the Tay Brigade. In the reorganisation at the end of the

Second Boer War The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic and ...

in 1902, the cumbersome Clyde Brigade was broken up and the seven VBs of the A&SHs formed their own brigade under the officer commanding the regimental district. This was also too large and was later split:''Monthly Army List'', various dates.Frederick, pp. 60–4. Argyll and Sutherland Brigade * Headquarters (HQ) at Prince's Street,

Stirlingshire at Great War Drill Halls.
/ref> * 3rd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion, A&SH, at

Pollokshaws Pollokshaws () is an area on the South side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is bordered by the residential neighbourhoods of Auldhouse, Glasgow, Auldhouse to the east, Eastwood, Glasgow, Eastwood and Hillpark, Glasgow, Hillpark to the south ...

* 4th (Stirlingshire) Volunteer Battalion, A&SH, at Stirling * 7th (Clackmannan and Kinross) Volunteer Battalion, A&SH, at

Alloa Alloa (Received Pronunciation ; Scottish pronunciation /ˈaloʊa/; , possibly meaning "rock plain") is a town in Clackmannanshire in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It is on the north bank of the Forth at the spot where some say it ceases to ...

* Army Service Corps Company Clyde Brigade * HQ at 34 Union Street,

Greenock Greenock (; ; , ) is a town in Inverclyde, Scotland, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The town is the administrative centre of Inverclyde Council. It is a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, and forms ...

* 1st (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion, A&SH, at Greenock * 2nd (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion, A&SH, at Paisley * 5th Volunteer Battalion, A&SH, at

Dunoon Dunoon (; ) is the main town on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located on the western shore of the upper Firth of Clyde, to the south of the Holy Loch and to the north of Innellan. As well as forming part of the cou ...

* 1st Dumbartonshire Volunteer Rifle Corps (6th Volunteer Battalion, A&SH) at

Helensburgh Helensburgh ( ; ) is a town on the north side of the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, situated at the mouth of the Gareloch. Historically in Dunbartonshire, it became part of Argyll and Bute following local government reorganisation in 1996. Histo ...

Territorial Force

In 1908 the Volunteers were subsumed into the new

(TF) The seven A&SH VBs had been reorganised into five TF battalions (the 5th (Renfrewshire) serving in Scottish Coast Defences) and the Argyll & Sutherland Brigade became the third brigade in the TF's new Highland Division. as follows: * HQ at Princes Street, Stirling * 6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion at 66 High Street, Paisley * 7th Battalion at Princes Street, Stirling * 8th (Argyllshire) Battalion at Dunoon * 9th (The Dumbartonshire) Battalion at

Hartfield House, Dumbarton Hartfield House is a military installation in Dumbarton, Scotland. History The house was built for William Baird, the Procurator fiscal of Dunbartonshire, in 1853. It passed to Andrew McGaan in 1863 and to Colonel John Denny in 1883. In the earl ...

World War I

Mobilisation

The Highland Division was at its annual camp in 1914 when it received orders to mobilise at 17.35 on 4 August and by 17 August had concentrated at its war stations round

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population was 106,940. Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire and seat of the Borough of Bedford local government district. Bedford was founded at a ford (crossin ...

as part of First Army in

Central Force In classical mechanics, a central force on an object is a force that is directed towards or away from a point called center of force. \mathbf(\mathbf) = F( \mathbf ) where F is a force vector, ''F'' is a scalar valued force function (whose abso ...

.Becke, Pt 2a, pp. 101–7.51st (Highland) Division at Long, Long Trail.
/ref> Although the TF was intended as a home defence force and its members could not be compelled to serve outside the UK, units were invited to volunteer for overseas service and the majority did so. Those who did not volunteer were formed into 2nd Line units and formations to train the mass of volunteers who were coming forward; these were given the prefix '2/' to distinguish them from the 1st Line. (

193rd (2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Brigade 193rd may refer to: *193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF, a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War *193rd Infantry Brigade (United States), ordered to active military service and organized at Camp Swift, Texa ...

formed in

64th (2nd Highland) Division The 64th (2nd Highland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, raised during the Great War. The division was formed in late 1914 as a second-line Territorial Force formation which served on home defence duties throughout the war ...

as a 2nd Line duplicate; this never saw action, but supplied drafts to the 1st Line.) Individual TF battalions began being sent to the Western Front to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force (BEF): the 1/7th A&SH left on 6 January 1915, and the 1/9th A&SH on 23 February. In April the whole of the Highland Division prepared to join the BEF, and two remaining battalions of the A&S Brigade transferred to bring the 1st Highland Brigade up to strength. The A&S Brigade was temporarily replaced in the division by the North Lancashire Brigade, which was designated 3rd Highland Brigade. The division completed its concentration on the Western Front on 6 May, and on 12 May it was designated

, the brigade becoming 154th (3rd Highland) Brigade.

Reconstituted Brigade

On 6 January 1916 the North Lancashire Brigade was transferred (as the 164th (North Lancashire) Brigade) to the

55th (West Lancashire) Division The 55th (West Lancashire) Division was an infantry division of the British Army's Territorial Force (TF) that saw extensive combat during the First World War. It was raised initially in 1908 as the West Lancashire Division. Following the ou ...

, which was being reformed in France. At the same time 154th (3rd Highland) Brigade was reformed with Highland battalions: * 1/9th (Highlanders) Bn,

Royal Scots The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest and most senior infantry regiment line infantry, of the line of the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of England ...

– ''joined 1 March 1916 from Third Army Troops; transferred to

61st (2nd South Midland) Division The 61st (2nd South Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised in 1915 during the Great War as a second-line reserve for the first-line battalions of the 48th (South Midland) Division. The division was sent to the W ...

6 February 1918'' * 1/4th (Ross Highland) Bn,

Seaforth Highlanders The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, mainly associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The regiment existed from 1881 to 1961, and saw service ...

– ''joined 7 January 1916 from

15th (Scottish) Division The 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that served in the First World War. The 15th (Scottish) Division was formed from men volunteering for Kitchener's Army, and served from 1915 to 1918 on the Wes ...

'' * 1/4th Bn,

Gordon Highlanders The Gordon Highlanders was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that existed for 113 years, from 1881 until 1994, when it was amalgamated with The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) to form The Highlanders (Seaforth, Go ...

– ''joined 23 February 1916 from 3rd Division'' * 1/7th Bn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders – ''rejoined 1 March 1916 from

4th Division In military terms, 4th Division may refer to: Infantry divisions *4th (Quetta) Division, British Indian Army * 4th Alpine Division Cuneense, Italy * 4th Blackshirt Division (3 January), Italy *4th Canadian Division *4th Division (Australia) * 4th ...

'' * 154th Brigade Machine Gun Company – ''formed 14 January 1916'; transferred to No 51 Battalion,

Machine Gun Corps The Machine Gun Corps (MGC) was a Regiment, corps of the British Army, formed in October 1915 in response to the need for more effective use of machine guns on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front in the World War I, First World War. Th ...

, 19 February 1918'' * 154/1 Trench Mortar Battery – ''joined on 17 March 1916'' * 154/2 Trench Mortar Battery – ''joined by 10 May 1916; amalgamated with 154/1 into 154 TM Bty by 22 June''

Service

After being reformed as a Highland Brigade, 154th Brigade was engaged in the following actions: 1916 *

Battle of the Somme The Battle of the Somme (; ), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and the French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place between 1 July and 18 Nove ...

: ** Attacks on High Wood, 21–30 July **

Battle of the Ancre The Battle of the Ancre was fought by the British Fifth Army (Lieutenant-General Hubert Gough), against the German 1st Army (General Fritz von Below). The Reserve Army had been renamed the Fifth Army on 30 October. The battle was the las ...

, 13–18 November **

Capture of Beaumont-Hamel The Capture of Beaumont-Hamel was a tactical incident that took place during the Battle of the Somme (1 July – 18 November 1916) in the Battle of the Ancre during the second British attempt to take the village. Beaumont-Hamel is a Communes of ...

, 13 November 1917 * Battle of Arras: **

First Battle of the Scarpe The Battle of Arras, also known as the Second Battle of Arras, was a British offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British troops attacked German defences near the French city of Arras on the We ...

, 9–11 April ** Second Battle of the Scarpe, 23–24 April **Capture and Defence of Rœux, 13–16 May *

Third Battle of Ypres The Third Battle of Ypres (; ; ), also known as the Battle of Passchendaele ( ), was a campaign of the First World War, fought by the Allies against the German Empire. The battle took place on the Western Front, from July to November 1917, f ...

: **

Battle of Pilckem Ridge The Battle of Pilckem Ridge (31 July – 2 August 1917) was the opening attack of the Third Battle of Ypres in the First World War. The British Fifth Army (United Kingdom), Fifth Army, supported by the Second Army (United Kingdom), Second Army o ...

, 31 July–2 August **

Battle of the Menin Road Ridge The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, sometimes called "Battle of the Menin Road", was the third British general attack of the Third Battle of Ypres in the First World War. The battle took place from 20 to 25 September 1917, in the Ypres Salient ...

, 20–24 September * Battle of Cambrai: ** The Tank Attack, 10–21 November ** Capture of Bourlon Wood, 23 November ** German Counter-Attacks, 1–3 December 1918 *

German spring offensive The German spring offensive, also known as ''Kaiserschlacht'' ("Kaiser's Battle") or the Ludendorff offensive, was a series of German Empire, German attacks along the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during the World War I, First Wor ...

: ** Battle of St Quentin, 21–23 March **

First Battle of Bapaume Operation Michael () was a major German Empire, German Offensive (military), military offensive during World War I that began the German spring offensive on 21 March 1918. It was launched from the Hindenburg Line, in the vicinity of Saint-Qu ...

, 24–25 March * Battle of the Lys: ** Battle of Estaires (9–11 April) ** Battle of Hazebrouck (12–15 April) * Battle of Tardenois 20 –31 July *

Hundred Days Offensive The Hundred Days Offensive (8 August to 11 November 1918) was a series of massive Allied offensives that ended the First World War. Beginning with the Battle of Amiens (8–12 August) on the Western Front, the Allies pushed the Imperial Germa ...

: ** Battle of the Scarpe, 26–30 August ** Pursuit to the

Selle Selle may refer to: *Selle (Scheldt tributary), the name of a river in Nord, France * Selle (Somme tributary), the name of a river in Picardy, France * Pic la Selle, a mountain in Haiti * La Selle-Guerchaise, a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine depar ...

, 11–12 October **

Battle of the Selle The Battle of the Selle (17–25 October 1918) took place between Allied forces and the German Army, fought during the Hundred Days Offensive of World War I. Prelude After the Second Battle of Cambrai, the Allies advanced almost and liberat ...

, 17–25 October After the

Armistice with Germany {{Short description, none This is a list of armistices signed by the German Empire (1871–1918) or Nazi Germany (1933–1945). An armistice is a temporary agreement to cease hostilities. The period of an armistice may be used to negotiate a peace t ...

in November 1918 51st (H) Division was

billeted In European militaries, a billet is a living-quarters to which a soldier is assigned to sleep. In American usage, it refers to a specific personnel position, assignment, or duty station to which a soldier can be assigned. Historically, a billet w ...

in the

Scheldt The Scheldt ( ; ; ) is a river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of Netherlands, the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corresponding to Old Englis ...

Valley where

demobilisation Demobilization or demobilisation (see spelling differences) is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and milita ...

got under way. 1/4th Seaforth and 1/4th Gordons left the brigade and were posted to the Highland Division in the

British Army of the Rhine British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) was the name given to British Army occupation forces in the Rhineland, West Germany, after the First and Second World Wars, and during the Cold War, becoming part of NATO's Northern Army Group (NORTHAG) tasked ...

. By the middle of March 1919 the remaining units had been reduced to cadre strength and left for home.

Commanders

The following officers commanded 154th (3rd Highland) Brigade during the war: *

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

St G.E.W. Burton, A&S Brigade 1 June 1911 ( Brigadier-General from mobilisation) until 19 April 1915 * Brig-Gen C. E. Stewart, 6 January 1916, killed 14 September 1916 * Lieutenant-Colonel H.G. Hyslop, acting 14 September 1916 * Brig-Gen J.G.H. Hamilton, 17 September 1916 * Brig-Gen K.G. Buchanan, 26 September 1917

Interwar

The TF was reconstituted on 7 February 1920 and was reorganised as the Territorial Army (TA) the following year, with some units having merged. The brigade was reformed as 154th (Argyll and Sutherland) Brigade: * HQ at Drill Hall, Princes Street, Stirling * 5th/6th (Renfrewshire) Bn, A&SH, at 76 High Street, Paisley * 7th Bn, A&SH, at Drill Hall, Princes Street, Stirling * 8th (The Argyllshire) Bn, A&SH, at Drill Hall, Queen Street, Dunoon * 9th (Dumbartonshire) Bn, A&SH,

Dumbarton Castle Dumbarton Castle (, ; ) has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland. It sits on a volcanic plug of basalt known as Dumbarton Rock which is high and overlooks the Scottish town of Dumbarton. History Dumbarton Rock was forme ...

– ''left to form 54th (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, 28 November 1938''

World War II

Mobilisation

In the months before the outbreak of war the TA was doubled in size, with most units and formations creating duplicates. 28 Infantry Brigade was formed in

9th (Highland) Infantry Division The 9th (Highland) Infantry Division was an infantry Division (military), division of the British Army, formed just prior to the start of the Second World War. In March 1939, after the re-emergence of Nazi Germany, Germany as a significant mil ...

formed the 2nd Line for 154 Brigade.Joslen, p. 275. After the TA was mobilised on 1 September 1939 154 Brigade had the following composition:Joslen, pp. 340–1. * 6th Bn,

Black Watch The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment ...

* 7th Bn, A&SH * 8th (The Argyllshire) Bn, A&SH * 154th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company – ''formed 18 November 1939''

Battle of France

The 51st (H) Division joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France, 154 Bde landing on 3 February 1940. The BEF had a policy of exchanging Regular and TA units to even up experience across formations: on 4 March 6th Black Watch was exchanged for 1st Black Watch from 4th Division. However, when the

Phoney War The Phoney War (; ; ) was an eight-month period at the outset of World War II during which there were virtually no Allied military land operations on the Western Front from roughly September 1939 to May 1940. World War II began on 3 Septembe ...

ended with the German invasion of the Low Countries on 10 May, 51st (H) Division was detached and serving under French command on the

Saar Saar or SAAR has several meanings: People Given name * Sarr Boubacar (born 1951), Senegalese professional football player * Saar Ganor, Israeli archaeologist * Saar Klein (born 1967), American film editor Surname * Ain Saar (born 1968), E ...

front. Cut off from the rest of the BEF, which was being evacuated from Dunkirk, the division retreated towards the coast. On 9 June Brig Arthur Stanley-Clarke and his 154 Brigade HQ was given command of an ''ad hoc'' group of divisional units and army units from the line of communication, designated ' Arkforce'.Joslen, pp. 83–4.

Arkforce

In addition to 154 Bde, Arkforce comprised: * 17th Field Regiment,

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

* 75th (Highland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery * 204 (Oban) Anti-Tank Battery, 51st (West Highland) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery *

51st (Midland) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery 51 may refer to: * 51 (number) * The year ** 51 BC ** AD 51 ** 1951 ** 2051 * 51 (film), ''51'' (film), a 2011 American horror film directed by Jason Connery * "Fifty-One", an episode of the American television drama series ''Breaking Bad'' * 51 (a ...

– ''with no guns'' * 51st (H) Divisional Engineers: ** 236th Highland (City of Aberdeen) Field Company,

Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is the engineering arm of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces ...

** 237th Highland (City of Dundee) Field Company, Royal Engineers ** 239th Highland Field Park Company, Royal Engineers *

213th (North Midland) Army Field Company, Royal Engineers The North Midland Divisional Engineers was a Territorial Force unit of the British Royal Engineers created in 1908 by conversion of a volunteer infantry battalion from Staffordshire. It saw action in World War I at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, Gom ...

* 'A' Brigade, Beauman Division – ''made up from personnel from the base depots on the lines of communication'' ** 4th Battalion, The Border Regiment ** 1/5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters ** 4th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) * Two companies, 1st Bn, Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment – ''machine guns'' Arkforce fought a series of delaying actions, and while most of 51st (H) Division was forced to surrender at

Saint-Valery-en-Caux Saint-Valery-en-Caux (, literally ''Saint-Valery in Pays de Caux, Caux'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Seine-Maritime Departments of France, department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region in northern France. The ad ...

on 12 June, the bulk of Arkforce was evacuated from

Le Havre Le Havre is a major port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the Seine, river Seine on the English Channel, Channe ...

next days later in

Operation Cycle Operation Cycle is the name of the evacuation of Allied troops from Le Havre, in the Pays de Caux of Upper Normandy from 10 to 13 June 1940, towards the end of the Battle of France, during the Second World War. The operation was preceded by ...

. On return to the UK, 154 Bde HQ was used during June and July 1940 to collect together the dratols of 51st (H) Division that had escaped from France. The decision was made to reconstitute the famous 51st (Highland) Division by redesignating its duplicate formation, the 9th (Highland) Division in

Scottish Command Scottish Command or Army Headquarters Scotland (from 1972) is a Command (military formation), command of the British Army. History Early history Great Britain was divided into military districts on the outbreak of Anglo-French War (1793–180 ...

, on 7 August. At the same time 154 Bde was brought back up to strength by absorbing 27 Brigade.

Reconstituted Brigade

The brigade was reconstituted as follows: * 2nd Bn, Seaforths – ''transferred to 152 Bde 4 September 1940'' * 7th/10th Bn, A&SH – ''became simply 7th A&SH 1 October 1942'' * 11th (Argyll and Dumbarton) Bn, A&SH – ''transferred to 15th (Scottish) Division 22 September 1942'' * 154th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company – ''reformed 1 September 1940, left 2 January 1941 and became C Company 51st (Highland) Reconnaissance Battalion 8 January'' * 1st Bn, Black Watch – ''rejoined 24 October 1940'' * 7th Bn, Black Watch – ''joined 26 September 1941''

Service

The 51st (Highland) Division sailed for

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

on 16 June 1942 and 154 Bde was engaged in the following actions under its command during the war: The Campaign in North Africa 1940-1943 E22431

1942 *

Western Desert campaign The Western Desert campaign (Desert War) took place in the Sahara Desert, deserts of Egypt and Libya and was the main Theater (warfare), theatre in the North African campaign of the Second World War. Military operations began in June 1940 with ...

: **

Second Battle of El Alamein The Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 11 November 1942) was a battle of the Second World War that took place near the Egyptian Railway station, railway halt of El Alamein. The First Battle of El Alamein and the Battle of Alam el Halfa ...

, 23 October–4 November 1943 *

Tunisian campaign The Tunisian campaign (also known as the battle of Tunisia) was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces from 17 November 1942 to 13 May 1943. Th ...

: ** Battle of Medenine, 6 March **

Battle of the Mareth Line The Battle of the Mareth Line or the Battle of Mareth was an attack in the Second World War by the British Eighth Army (General Bernard Montgomery) in Tunisia, against the Mareth Line held by the Italo–German 1st Army (General Giovanni Mess ...

, 16–31 March **

Battle of Wadi Akarit The Battle of Wadi Akarit (Operation Scipio) was an Allied attack from 6 to 7 April 1943, to dislodge Axis forces from positions along the Wadi Akarit in Tunisia during the Tunisia Campaign of the Second World War. The Gabès Gap, north of the t ...

, 6–7 April ** Enfidaville (

Operation Vulcan Operation Vulcan (22 April – 6 May 1943) and Operation Strike (6–12 May 1943) were the final ground attacks by the Allied forces against the Italian and German forces in Tunis, Cape Bon, and Bizerte, the last Axis bridgeheads in North Af ...

) 19–29 April ** Tunis ( Operation Strike), 5–12 May *

Sicilian campaign The Sicilian Expedition was an Athenian military expedition to Sicily, which took place from 415–413 BC during the Peloponnesian War between Athens on one side and Sparta, Syracuse and Corinth on the other. The expedition ended in a devastat ...

: ** Landings (

Operation Husky Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...

) 9–12 July ** Adrano ( Battle of Centuripe), 29 July–3 August 154 Brigade landed on mainland Italy as part of Operation Baytown on 5 September, but after holding the beachhead for a few days it was recalled to Sicily, arriving back on 8 September. It then sailed for the UK on 9 November with 51st (H) Division, which had been selected for the Allied invasion of Normandy (

Operation Overlord Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allies of World War II, Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Front (World War II), Western Europe during World War II. The ope ...

).Molony, pp. 235, 455. 1944 *

Normandy campaign Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) with the N ...

: **

Operation Goodwood Operation Goodwood was a British offensive during the Second World War, which took place between 18 and 20 July 1944 as part of the larger battle for Caen in Normandy, France. The objective of the operation was a limited attack to the south, ...

, 18–23 July ** Battle of Falaise, 7–22 August ** Le Havre ( Operation Astonia), 10–12 September * Reichswald (

Operation Veritable Operation Veritable (also known as the Battle of the Reichswald) was the northern part of an Allies of World War II, Allied pincer movement that took place between 8 February and 11 March 1945 during the final stages of the World War II, Second ...

), 8 February–10 March * Rhine Crossing (

Operation Plunder Operation Plunder was a military operation to cross the Rhine on the night of 23 March 1945, launched by the 21st Army Group under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. The crossing of the river was at Rees, Wesel, and south of the river Lippe b ...

), 23 March –1 April

Commanders

The following officers commanded 154 Bde during the war: *

Brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...

Arthur Stanley-Clarke, 17 November 1937 * Lt-Col G.T. Nugee, acting 3 July 1940 * Brig A.C.L. Stanley Clarke, returned from 28 Bde 7 August 1940 * Brig. H.W Houldsworth, 6 January 1941 * Brig

Tom Rennie Major-General Thomas Gordon Rennie CB DSO MBE (3 January 1900 – 24 March 1945) was a British Army officer who served with distinction during World War II. He was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 3rd Infantry Division during the ...

, 14 December 1942, wounded 7 January 1943 * Lt-Col W.N. Roper-Caldbeck, acting 7 January 1943 * Brig J.E. Stirling, 10 January 1943 * Brig Tom Rennie, returned 13 May 1943 * Brig J.A. Oliver, 13 December 1943 * Lt-Col J.A. Hopwood, acting 15 January 1945 * Brig J.A. Oliver, returned 29 January 1945

Postwar

The TA was reformed on 1 January 1947, with 154 (Highland) Brigade in 51st/52nd Scottish Division until the two divisions regained their independence in 1950. The TA's divisional/brigade structure disappeared with the reduction into the

Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve The Army Reserve is the active-duty volunteer reserve force of the British Army. It is separate from the Regular Reserve whose members are ex-Regular personnel who retain a statutory liability for service. Descended from the Territorial Force ( ...

in 1967. The brigade's composition in 1947 was:Graham Watson, ''TA 1947''.
/ref> *7 Bn, A&SH, Stirling *8 (The Argyllshire) Bn, A&SH, Dunoon

Footnotes

Notes

References

* Maj A.F. Becke,''History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56)'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1935/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-39-8. * Maj A.F. Becke,''History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions,'' London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-39-8. * Ian F.W. Beckett, ''Riflemen Form: A Study of the Rifle Volunteer Movement 1859–1908'', Aldershot: Ogilby Trusts, 1982, ISBN 0 85936 271 X. * Maj F.W. Bewsher, ''The History of the Fifty First (Highland) Division 1914–1918'', Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1921/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2001, ISBN 978-1-843421-08-5. * Col John K. Dunlop, ''The Development of the British Army 1899–1914'', London: Methuen, 1938. * Maj L.F. Ellis
''History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1954/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, 978-1-85457-056-6.
* J.B.M. Frederick, ''Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978'', Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3. * Maj-Gen James Grierson
''Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force 1859–1908'', Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1909.
* Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, ''Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990, ISBN 0-948130-03-2/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6. * Brig C.J.C. Molony, ''History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East'', Vol V: ''The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and the Campaign in Italy 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1973/Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-69-6. * Edward M. Spiers, ''The Army and Society 1815–1914'', London: Longmans, 1980, ISBN 0-582-48565-7. * War Office, ''Titles and Designations of Formations and Units of the Territorial Army'', London: War Office, 7 November 1927.

External sources

Chris Baker, ''The Long, Long Trail''

Great War Centenary Drill Halls

Reconnaissance Corps Website (archive site)

Volunteer Force

Territorial Force

World War I

Mobilisation

Reconstituted Brigade

Service

Commanders

Interwar

World War II

Mobilisation

Battle of France

Arkforce

Reconstituted Brigade

Service

Commanders

Postwar

Footnotes

Notes

References

External sources

Further reading