The 19th Indian Infantry Brigade was an
infantry
Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...
formation of the
Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in 1 October, 1940 at Old
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...
in
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
and assigned to the
8th Indian Infantry Division. In August 1941, they took part in the
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
The Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, also known as the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia, was the joint invasion of the neutral Imperial State of Iran by the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union in August 1941. The two powers announced that they w ...
. In September 1943, they moved to the
Italian Front, coming briefly under command of the
2nd New Zealand Division in November 1943 and the
British 1st Infantry Division in December 1943. Apart from those two attachments the brigade remained with the 8th Indian Division for the remainder of the war.
Formation
*3rd Battalion,
8th Punjab Regiment
The 8th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947 and merged with the 10th Baluch Regiment, Baluch Regiment in 1956.
History
Madras Infantry
Th ...
October 1940 to August 1945
*1st Battalion,
1st Punjab Regiment
The 1st Punjab Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. Upon the Partition of India, it was transferred to the newly-raised Pakistan Army. It ceased to exist in this form Constitution of Pakistan of 1956, i ...
December 1940 to November 1941
*2nd Battalion,
6th Gurkha Rifles
The 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles was a rifle regiment of the British Indian Army, before being transferred to the British Army following India's independence. Originally raised in 1817 as part of the army of the British East India Compa ...
November 1940 to July 1942
*1st Battalion,
Essex Regiment
The Essex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958. The regiment served in many conflicts such as the Second Boer War and both World War I and World War II, serving with distinction in all three. ...
December 1941 to May 1943
*6th Battalion,
13th Frontier Force Rifles May to November 1942 and February 1943 to August 1945
*5th Battalion,
Essex Regiment
The Essex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958. The regiment served in many conflicts such as the Second Boer War and both World War I and World War II, serving with distinction in all three. ...
May 1943 to March 1944
*
19th New Zealand Armoured Regiment November 1943
*1st Battalion,
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders February 1944 to June 1945
*1st Battalion,
Jaipur Regiment September to October 1944
See also
*
List of Indian Army Brigades in World War II
References
British Indian Army brigades
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