The 21st 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.

History

Indian troops advance across the Aquino aerodrome 1944

It was converted from the Quetta Brigade in September 1940, and assigned to the 9th Indian Infantry Division. In March 1941, it was transferred to the 10th Indian Infantry Division and took part in the

Anglo-Iraqi War The Anglo-Iraqi War was a British-led Allies of World War II, Allied military campaign during the Second World War against the Kingdom of Iraq, then ruled by Rashid Ali al-Gaylani who had seized power in the 1941 Iraqi coup d'état with assista ...

in May 1941. The brigade then moved to

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 ...

and came under command

British Eighth Army The Eighth Army was a field army of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed as the Western Army on 10 September 1941, in Egypt, before being renamed the Army of the Nile and then the Eighth Army on 26 September. It was cr ...

between July and November 1942. It returned to

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

, assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division, in November 1942 and moved with to

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

in March 1943. In September the division arrived in

Taranto Taranto (; ; previously called Tarent in English) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Taranto, serving as an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base. Founded by Spartans ...

in southern Italy and the brigade remained with 8th Indian Division throughout the rest of the Italian Campaign apart from short attachments to the British 78th Infantry Division in November 1943, and the British 6th Armoured Division between April and May 1944.

Formation

* 2nd Battalion, 10th Gurkha Rifles September 1940 to October 1941 * 2nd Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles September 1940 to March 1942 * 4th Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles March 1941 to June 1942 * 3rd Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment June 1941 * 157th 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 ...

June to July 1941 * 1st Battalion,

Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) was a Light infantry, light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1959. The regiment was created on 1 July 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms, by the merger of the 32nd ( ...

December 1941 to July 1942 * 1st Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles June to November 1942 * ? 8th Gurkha Rifles June 1942 to January 1943 * 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders July to August 1942 * 3rd Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment September to December 1942 * 1st Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry November 1942 to August 1945 * 5th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment November 1942 to June 1945 * 3rd Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment January to April 1943 and September 1943 to August 1945 * 1st King's Dragoon Guards August 1944 * 1st Battalion, Jaipur Infantry April to June 1945 * 9th Field Company, Indian Engineers June to July 1941

Officers commanding

The following officers commanded the brigade during the war. :Brigadier C.J. Weld (Sep 1940 - May 1942) :Brigadier J.J. Purves (May 1942 - Mar 1943) :Brigadier B.S. Mould (Mar 1943 - Aug 1945)

References

British Indian Army brigades {{WWII-stub

History

Formation

Officers commanding

See also

References