16th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
The 16th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service during the Second Boer War and the First and Second World Wars.
| 16th Brigade 16th Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1914-1918 1939–1945 |
| Country |  |
| Branch |  |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 8th Infantry Division 6th Infantry Division 70th Infantry Division |
| Engagements | First World War Second World War |
History
Second Boer War
During the Second Boer War, the 16th brigade was active in South Africa as part of the 8th Division from early 1900 until the war ended in 1902.[1] It was under the command of major-general Barrington Campbell, and included the following battalions:
- 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment
First World War
The brigade was part of the 6th Infantry Division during the First World War.[2] It served on the Western Front throughout the War.[2]
Component units during the First World War
Component units included:[2]
- 1st Battalion, the Buffs
- 1st Battalion, the Leicestershire Regiment (left November 1915)
- 1st Battalion, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment
- 1/5th Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (joined February 1915, left June 1915)
- 8th Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment (joined 17 November 1915, disbanded 16 February 1918)
- 16th Machine Gun Company (formed in February 1916, left to move into 6th Machine Gun Battalion 1 March 1918)
- 16th Trench Mortar Battery
Second World War
The brigade was based in Palestine before the Second World War during the Arab revolt, and at the beginning of the war as part of the British 8th Infantry Division. It was later part of the British 6th Infantry Division which was redesignated as the British 70th Infantry Division on 10 October 1941. This brigade was involved in the breakout from Tobruk and after being transferred, along with the rest of the 70th Division, to India and Burma, it was transformed into a Chindit formation. It fought in the Second Chindit Campaign of 1944, commanded by Brigadier Gilmour Anderson.[3]
Component units during the Second World War
The component units were:[4]
- 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
- 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
- 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
Officers Commanding
Commanding officers included:[5]
- Brigadier C.E.N. Lomax
- Brigadier O.L. Roberts
- Brigadier A.R. Aslett
- Brigadier R.G. Price
- Brigadier B.E. Fergusson
- Brigadier C.J. Wilkinson
- Brigadier G.M. Anderson
See also
- Chindits
- Order of Battle of the Chindits
- Battle of Tobruk
- British 70th Infantry Division
- British 6th Infantry Division
- British Army Order of Battle - September 1939
References
- "Anglo-Boer War".
- "The 6th Division in 1914-1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- British Army Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 4 July 2015
- "Subordinates". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- "Appointments". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 22 August 2015.