21st Brigade (United Kingdom)

21st Brigade 21st Infantry Brigade
Insignia of the 7th Division, World War I
Active	1914–1918 1940
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Brigade
Part of	7th Division
Engagements	First World War

The 21st Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army.

World War I

It was assigned to the 7th Division and served on the Western Front and in the Italian Front during the First World War.

Order of battle World War I

The infantry battalions which were assigned to the brigade during the war included:

• 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
• 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
• 1/4th Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders

World War II

The brigade was reformed in World War II as the 21st Infantry Brigade. The brigade Headquarters were formed in the Sudan on 24 July 1940, commanded by Brigadier J.C.O. Marriott and, as in the First World War, consisting of three Regular Army battalions. However, with the arrival of the 5th Indian Infantry Division, which at the time consisted only of two brigades, the brigade was transferred to the Indian Army establishment and subsequently, on 12 October 1940, redesignated as the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade and the battalions were posted to the other two brigades of 5th Indian Division, the 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment to the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade and 1st Essex Regiment to 10th Indian Infantry Brigade.

Order of battle World War II

21st Infantry Brigade was constituted as follows during World War II:

• 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
• 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment
• 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment