23rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 23rd Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in both World War I, mainly on the Western Front, and World War II. In the Second World War the brigade saw active service in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign, the Western Desert Campaign and the Burma Campaign.

History

First World War

First World War order of battle

• 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (left February 1918)
• 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
• 1/6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (from March to June 1915)
• 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (from March 1915 to February 1916)
• 23rd Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps (formed 15 January 1916, moved to 8th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps 20 January 1918)
• 23rd Trench Mortar Battery (formed January 1916)

Second World War

In September 1939 this unit was known as the Canal Brigade, on duty on the Suez Canal. It was redesignated the 23rd Infantry Brigade on 20 September 1939 but was dispersed in the canal area becoming part of HQ Canal sub-Area troops. In May 1941 the brigade was re-formed under Alexander Galloway to take part in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign during June and July 1941 as part of 6th Infantry Division. In October 1941 6th Infantry Division was re-designated 70th Infantry Division and was shipped to Tobruk to relieve the 9th Australian Infantry Division. The Tobruk garrison held off Rommel's Axis forces until the siege was relieved at the end of the year.

In March 1942 70th Division arrived in India. Its brigades, including 23rd Infantry Brigade, were sent to train as Chindits units. 23rd Brigade did not take part in the Second Chindit Expedition, however, but instead it was deployed during the Battle of Kohima in the long range penetration role behind Japanese lines for which it had been trained to interdict Japanese communication and supplies.

Commanders

• Brigadier W. T. Brooks 1939 - 1940
• Brigadier J. T. Leslie 1940
• Brigadier Alexander Galloway 1941
• Lieutenant-Colonel R. F. Heyworth
• Brigadier C. H. V. Cox 1941 - 1943
• Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. Towsey 1943
• Brigadier P. C. Marindin 1943
• Brigadier L. E. C. M. Perowne 1943 - 1945
• Brigadier R. G. Collingwood 1945

Second World War order of battle

• 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (from 3 September 1939 to 14 August 1940)
• 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment (from 3 September 1939 to 22 January 1940, rejoined 17 October 1941 to 17 June 1945)
• 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) (from 7 January 1940 to 18 January 1941)
• 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (from 31 January to 21 July 1940, rejoined 5 June 1941 to 22 January 1942)
• 2nd Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) (from 5 April to 1 July 1940)
• 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (from 2 June to 14 August 1940)
• 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (from 22 July to 14 August 1940)
• 1st Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) (from 16 May to 4 June 1941)
• 4th Battalion, Border Regiment (from 29 May 1941 to 28 October 1944)
• 11th Czech Battalion (from 30 May to 6 October 1941)
• 23rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (formed 23 September 1941, disbanded 16 February 1942)
• 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (from 3 to 24 February 1942)
• 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment (from 3 to 14 February 1942)
• 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment (from 19 October 1943 to 28 October 1944)
• 2nd Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) (from 24 October 1944 to 17 June 1945)
• 3rd Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles (from 12 November 1944 to 13 June 1945)
• 12th Battalion, Nigerian Regiment (from 15 November 1944 to 7 March 1945)
• 3rd Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles (from 27 March to 16 June 1945)
• 3rd Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles (from 28 March to 13 June 1945)
• 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers (from 18 to 31 August 1945)
• 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment (from 19 to 31 August 1945)

Chindit units

• 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment:Columns 44, 56
• 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment: Columns 33, 76
• 4th Battalion, Border Regiment:Columns 34, 55
• 60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: Columns 60, 68 (fighting as infantry)
• 12th Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment: Support

Gurkha units

(A veteran said these Nepalese units need to be included. Contact the Burma Star Association for details.)

• 3rd Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles
• 3rd Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles

See also

• Chindits
• Siege of Tobruk