13th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
| 13th Brigade 13th Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active |
1914-1918 1939-1945 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 5th Infantry Division |
| Engagements |
World War I World War II |
The 13th Infantry Brigade was a regular infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service during both the First and Second world wars.
World War I
The 13th Brigade was temporarily under the command of 28th Division between 23 February and 7 April 1915, when it was replaced by 84th Brigade from that Division and moved to the regular 5th Division. It served on the Western Front for most of the war except for a brief period in Italy.[1]
Component units
Component units included:[1]
- 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
- 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) (left January 1916)
- 1st Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
- 2nd Battalion, King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) (left December 1915)
- 1/9th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (joined November 1914, left February 1915)
- 14th (Service) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (joined December 1915, became Divisional Pioneers October 1918)
- 15th (Service) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (joined January 1916, disbanded October 1918)
- 16th (Service) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (joined October 1918)
World War II
The 13th Infantry Brigade was part of the British Expeditionary Force sent to France in 1940. After the retreat from France the 13th Brigade was involved in the landings on Vichy held French Madagascar in 1942.[2] The brigade, with the rest of 5th Infantry Division, fought in the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Italian Campaign where Sergeant Maurice Albert Windham Rogers of the 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in 1944, the first and only VC to be awarded to the brigade and division during the Second World War. In 1945 the 5th Infantry Division was transferred to the British Second Army participate in the final stages of the North West Europe Campaign where they invaded Germany.[3]
The brigade was part of the 5th Division throughout the Second World War.[3]
Order of battle
Subordinate units included:[4]
- 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (until 14 July 1944)
- 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
- 13th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (formed 3 September 1939, disbanded 6 January 1941)
- 13th Infantry Brigade Special Company (from 4 May 1943 until 20 June 1944)
- 5th Battalion, Essex Regiment (from 14 July 1944)
Commanders
Commanders included:[5]
- Brig. T. Capper CB DSO (1911–14)[6]
- ...
- Brig. W. A. Blake CB CMG DSO ADC (1926 – 15 December 1930)[7][8]
- Brig. D. Forster CMG DSO (15 December 1930 – 15 December 1934)[9][10]
- Brig. J. H. T. Priestman DSO MC (15 December 1934 – 14 September 1938)[11][12]
- Brig. A. R. Godwin-Austen OBE MC (14 September 1938 – 31 December 1938)[13][14]
- Brig. H.B.D.Wilcox DSO MC (27 January 1939 – ?)[15]
- Brig. M.C. Dempsey
- Brig. D.N.Wimberley
- Brig. C.E. Knox
- Brig. V.C.Russell
- Brig. L.M.Campbell
- Brig. E.A.Hefford
References
- 1 2 "The 5th Division in 1914–1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ↑ Stone, Bill. "Stone Books, Force 121". Bill Stone. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- 1 2 "Unit Histories". Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ↑ "Subordinates". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ↑ "Appointments". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ↑ "Capper, Maj.-Gen. Sir Thompson", Who Was Who (online ed.), April 2014 (A. & C. Black/Oxford University Press). Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ↑ "Blake, Brig.-Gen. William Alan", Who Was Who (online ed.), April 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ↑ London Gazette, 16 December 1930 (issue 33670), p. 8078
- ↑ London Gazette, 23 December 1930 (issue 33672), p. 8256
- ↑ London Gazette, 14 December 1934 (issue 34114), p. 8124
- ↑ London Gazette, 28 December 1934 (issue 34118), p. 8458
- ↑ London Gazette, 20 September 1938 (issue 34553), p. 5952
- ↑ London Gazette, 27 September 1939 (issue 34555), p. 6079
- ↑ London Gazette, 10 January 1939 (issue 34588), p. 215
- ↑ London Gazette, 14 February 1939 (issue 34598), p. 1068