British 23rd Infantry Brigade
Encyclopedia
The British 23rd Infantry Brigade was a Second World War infantry brigade
which saw active service in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign
, the Western Desert Campaign
and the Burma Campaign
.
. 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 Chindit 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 Japan
ese lines for which it had been trained to interdict Japanese communication and supplies.
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
which saw active service in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
, the Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
and the Burma Campaign
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
.
History
In September 1939 this unit was known as the Canal Brigade, on duty on the Suez CanalSuez 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...
. 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
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
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
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
to relieve the 9th Australian Infantry Division. The Tobruk garrison held off Rommel's Axis forces until the siege was relieved
Siege of Tobruk
The siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 240 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War...
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 Chindit units. 23rd Brigade did not take part in the Second Chindit Expedition, however, but instead it was deployed during the Battle of Kohima
Battle of Kohima
The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War. The battle was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in northeast India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".The battle took place in...
in the long range penetration role behind Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese 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 GallowayAlexander GallowayLieutenant-General Sir Alexander Galloway KBE, CB, DSO, MC was an officer in the British Army during World War I and World War II...
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. PerowneLancelot PerowneMajor-General Lancelot Edgar Connop Mervyn Perowne CBE was a British Army officer who commanded 17th Gurkha Division.-Military career:...
1943 - 1945 - Brigadier R. G. Collingwood 1945
Units
- 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex RegimentRoyal Sussex RegimentThe Royal Sussex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1966. The regiment was formed as part of the Childers reforms by the amalgamation of the 35th Regiment of Foot and the 107th Regiment of Foot...
- 1st Battalion, Essex RegimentEssex RegimentThe Essex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army that saw active service from 1881 to 1958. Members of the regiment were recruited from across Essex county. Its lineage is continued by the Royal Anglian Regiment.-Origins:...
- 1st Battalion, Durham Light InfantryDurham Light InfantryThe Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
- 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's RegimentThe Duke of Wellington's RegimentThe Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
- 4th Battalion, Border RegimentBorder RegimentThe Border Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 34th Regiment of Foot and the 55th Regiment of Foot....
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 ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
: Columns 60, 68 (fighting as infantry) - 12th Field Company Royal EngineersRoyal EngineersThe Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
& 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