British 17th Infantry Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 17th Infantry Brigade was a formation of the British Army
which provided active service in both the First
and Second
World Wars. It was mainly composed of Regular Army battalions.
in October 1915.
The Brigade served with the 5th Infantry Division through most of the Second World War. On May 5, 1942 it was part of Force 121 in the invasion of Madagascar
. After this, the 17th Infantry Brigade served in the Italian Campaign
.
The Brigade was stationed in the Southern Brigade District in the Suez Canal
Zone for a period in the late 1940s before being disbanded.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
which provided active service in both the First
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and Second
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
World Wars. It was mainly composed of Regular Army battalions.
History
The Brigade was originally part of the 6th Infantry Division during the First World War, but it was transferred to the 24th DivisionBritish 24th Division
The British 24th Division was a New Army division that was sent to France between August and September, 1915. It served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War...
in October 1915.
The Brigade served with the 5th Infantry Division through most of the Second World War. On May 5, 1942 it was part of Force 121 in the invasion of Madagascar
Battle of Madagascar
The Battle of Madagascar was the Allied campaign to capture Vichy-French-controlled Madagascar during World War II. It began on 5 May 1942. Fighting did not cease until 6 November.-Geo-political:...
. After this, the 17th Infantry Brigade served in the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
.
The Brigade was stationed in the Southern Brigade District in the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
Zone for a period in the late 1940s before being disbanded.
Component Units in World War II
- 2nd Bn, The Royal Scots Fusiliers
- 2nd Bn, The Northamptonshire Regiment
- 6nd Bn, The Seaforth Highlanders