Indian 8th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 8th Indian Infantry Division is a division
of the Indian Army
which specialises in tactics and operations in mountainous territory.
Originally formed in Meerut on 25 October 1940 under Major-General C.O. Harvey
as part of the Indian Army during World War II the Division was disbanded at the end of World War II
but re-formed again in 1962 as a specialist mountain Division.
es, 26 DSOs
and 149 MCs
. During the war the division sustained casualties totalling 2012 dead, 8189 wounded and 749 missing.
, 18th
and 19th Indian Infantry Brigade
s.
On 9 June 1941 17 Brigade arrived in Basra
and joined Iraqforce
, which had fought the Anglo-Iraqi War
to secure the British-owned oilfields during May. These oilfields were perceived to be threatened when a coup d'état brought into power Rashid Ali al-Kaylani
who was sympathetic to the Axis powers. By the second half of June the brigade had moved to Mosul
to defend British-owned oilfields from an anticipated thrust by Axis
forces south through the Caucasus
.
At the end of June 1/12th Frontier Force Regiment
and 5/13th Frontier Force Rifles
were detached from 17 Brigade to join two battalions from 20th Indian Infantry Brigade
(part of 10th Indian Infantry Division) to take part in the Syria-Lebanon campaign
and capture the Duck's Bill area in north east Syria
and secure the Mosul to Aleppo
railway. This was achieved without a shot being fired as the Vichy French forces retired westwards.
On 17 July General Harvey and the divisional HQ arrived in Basra and had 24th Indian Infantry Brigade
(which had arrived on 16 June) assigned to the division. 18th Indian Infantry Brigade
arrived in Iraq on 26 July. The British, having secured first the Iraqi oilfields and then Syria, now focused their concern on Persia (now Iran
) where it had been estimated there were some 3,000 German nationals working as technicians, commercial agents and advisors. The division first saw shots fired in anger during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
in August 1941 when 24th Brigade made a night-time amphibious assault across the Shatt al Arab to capture the oil refinery at Abadan
in South Persia. Meanwhile 18 Brigade had crossed into Persia between Basra and Abadan to take Khorramshahr
and became part of a three brigade advance (with Hazelforce
) towards Ahwaz, 75 miles north east of Basra. The fighting ended on 28 August when the Shah
ordered his forces to cease hostilities.
19th Indian Infantry Brigade
arrived in Iraq in August, replacing in the division's formation 24th Brigade (which transferred to 6th Indian Infantry Division), and by 17 October, 18th and 19th Brigades had concentrated at Kirkuk
in northern Iraq and moved north of the oilfields where they were joined by the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)
(6th DCO Lancers), the division's reconnaissance regiment.
from Mosul, and with only two days to prepare defensive positions, was over-run by Rommel's
tanks at Deir el Shein in front of the Ruweisat Ridge
. In the process, however, they gained valuable time for British Eighth Army to organise the defences for what was to be the first battle of Alamein
halting Rommel's advance towards Egypt. The brigade was never re-formed.
in Baghdad
, (General Quinan's
Tenth Army
in Iraq and Persia having previously come under Middle East Command
in Cairo
). As the threat from the North faded following the Axis defeats at Alamein
and Stalingrad
the Division withdrew in October 1942 to Kifri near Baghdad where it was joined by 21st Indian Infantry Brigade
and the 3rd, 52nd and 53rd Field Regiments, Royal Artillery
. It spent the winter in intensive training.
In January 1943 command of the Division passed to Major-General Dudley Russell
(The Pasha), promoted after 15 months commanding 5th Indian Infantry Brigade
, part of the "Red Eagles" 4th Indian Infantry Division. The Division moved in March 1943 to Damascus
and continued to spend much of its time training, notably in mountain warfare and combined operations.
In June 1943 the Division was selected to participate in the anticipated Dodecanese Campaign
("Operation Accolade"), and seize the Italian-occupied island of Rhodes
, the chief Axis stronghold in the Dodecanese Islands. After frantic preparation and having loaded the first wave of ships, the Division's participation was canceled when the Italian government surrendered
and it was redirected to Italy which the German army had continued to occupy.
(Italy), to take its part in the Italian Campaign
, and for 19 months was almost continuously in action advancing through mountainous country, crossing river after river. The formation later adopted the motto "One more river".
From October 1943 to April 1944 the Division was part of the Allied thrust by British 8th Army up the Adriatic
front on the Eastern side of Italy. This involved opposed river crossings of the Biferno, Trigno (October 1943), Sangro (November 1943) and Moro
(December 1943). The following three months proved almost as arduous for, although there was no formal offensive, the period was characterised by patrolling and vicious skirmishes in very difficult terrain and abominable winter weather which proved physically hugely demanding and stressful.
to concentrate as part of British XIII Corps
along the River Garigliano at a part of the river better known as the Rapido
. Their heavily opposed night crossing of the Rapido in May 1944, supported by Canadian tanks (1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
) with which the Division had formed a particularly close fighting relationship over the previous six months, was critical to the Allies' success in this fourth and final Battle of Monte Cassino. Following this, the Division advanced some 240 miles in June across mountainous country fighting many actions against rearguards and defended strongpoints. In late June they had reached Assisi
and the Division was rested. It was during the fighting on the Rapido that Kamal Ram
of the 3/8th Punjab Regiment
won his Victoria Cross
, at 19 years of age, the youngest recipient of the war.
pushing towards the River Arno
. Florence was occupied by 21st Brigade on 12 August where they had the unusual task to recover some of the world's greatest art treasures and arrange safe custody. By mid September the Division was in the mountains again, breaking through the Gothic Line
and then spending two months of grim (and ultimately unsuccessful) battling in foul weather towards the plains of Northern Italy together with British 1st Infantry
, Brititish 78th Infantry
and British 6th Armoured Division
s forming British XIII Corps, which had now become the right wing of the U.S. 5th Army. It was during this time that Thaman Gurung
of the 1/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles won his Victoria Cross.
In December 1944 the New Zealand 2nd Division
, advancing from the Adriatic on the division's right along the Romagna
plain, took Faenza
and the resistance on the 8th Division's front weakened as the Germans withdrew to shorten their front. In late December 1944 19th and 21st Brigades were rapidly switched across the Apennines to reinforce the US 92nd Infantry Division on the 5th Army's left flank in front of Lucca
. By the time they had arrived the Germans had broken through but decisive action by Maj-Gen Russell halted their advance and the situation was stabilised by the New Year. The Division then moved to Pisa
for a period of rest.
, in front of the River Senio
. The main assault on the Senio
started on 9 April. In desperate fighting two members of the Division, Namdeo Jadav
and Ali Haidar
, won Victoria Crosses. By 11 April the Division reached and crossed the River Santerno
breaking open a hole in the German line for the 78th Division and elements of British 56th Infantry Division to engage the enemy and defeat them in the Argenta Gap. This opened the way to Ferrara
and the Po River
and for 6th Armoured Division to pass through, veer left and race westward across country to link with the advancing U.S. 5th Army and complete the encirclement of the divisions of the German 10th
and 14th
Armies defending Bologna
. In the aftermath of the Argenta fighting, the Division drove on rapidly through to Ferrara and across the Po and shortly therefter to their last river crossing of the war, the Adige
.
The campaign ended on 2 May 1945. The 6th DCO Lancers marked the occasion with a special mission, sending an officer and nine men far up the road towards Austria and arranged the surrender of 11,000 men of their old enemy the German 1st Parachute Division.
divisions in the emphasis that is placed on infantry tactics and the limited role that armour can be expected to take in operations in mountainous terrain. The armour that is used may differ from that used by other infantry divisions, for example, specialised mountain guns are required in many areas where the Division might be expected to operate.
The Division was initially created for operations against insurgents fighting for a separate state of Nagaland
. In the mid-1990s, the formation was moved to the Kashmir
valley in response to conflict there.
During the early summer of 1999, the Division was moved north to the Kargil District
to augment the beleaguered 3rd Division, which was based in Leh, during Operation Vijay II. It is now permanently based in that sector as part of XIV Corps.
The Division has been constantly involved in operations since its creation.
During World War II the insignia of the Division was a yellow four-leafed clover (some versions appear as three-leafed -see images) flanked on each side by a yellow three-leafed clover, their stalks forming a "V", all on a red background. The Division and its members were thus referred to as "clovers".
During the period the Scotsmen of the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
served in the division, its Jock soldiers fondly referred to the division insignia as "the three wee floo'ers" (the three little flowers).
In its second incarnation the formation sign of the Division depicts a red dagger superimposed on two overlapping gold circles on a black background.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
which specialises in tactics and operations in mountainous territory.
Originally formed in Meerut on 25 October 1940 under Major-General C.O. Harvey
Charles Offley Harvey
Major-General Sir Charles Harvey CB, CVO, CBE, MC was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War I and World War II.He was appointed CVO in 1922 for performing the duties of Assistant Military Secretary to the Prince of Wales during His.Royal Highness's Indian Tour and knighted in...
as part of the Indian Army during World War II the Division was disbanded at the end of World War II
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...
but re-formed again in 1962 as a specialist mountain Division.
History
Despite its relatively late introduction into the mainstream of battle its members won nearly 600 awards and honours including 4 Victoria CrossVictoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
es, 26 DSOs
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and 149 MCs
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. During the war the division sustained casualties totalling 2012 dead, 8189 wounded and 749 missing.
Iraq Syria and Iran
When originally formed the Division's main fighting formations were 17th17th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 17th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in November 1940, at the Delhi Cantonment in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. They were sent to participate in the Anglo-Iraqi War and the Syria-Lebanon Campaign...
, 18th
18th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 18th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October, 1940 at Meerut in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. It was then detached for independent duties in Abaden in Persia...
and 19th Indian Infantry Brigade
19th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 19th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October, 1940 at Old Delhi in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. In August 1941, they took part in the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran...
s.
On 9 June 1941 17 Brigade arrived in Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
and joined Iraqforce
Iraqforce
Iraqforce was a British and Commonwealth formation that came together in the Kingdom of Iraq. The formation fought in the Middle East during World War II.-Background:...
, which had fought the Anglo-Iraqi War
Anglo-Iraqi War
The Anglo-Iraqi War was the name of the British campaign against the rebel government of Rashid Ali in the Kingdom of Iraq during the Second World War. The war lasted from 2 May to 31 May 1941. The campaign resulted in the re-occupation of Iraq by British armed forces and the return to power of the...
to secure the British-owned oilfields during May. These oilfields were perceived to be threatened when a coup d'état brought into power Rashid Ali al-Kaylani
Rashid Ali al-Kaylani
Rashid Aali al-Gaylani served as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Iraq on three occasions. He is chiefly remembered as an Arab nationalist who attempted to remove the British influence from Iraq...
who was sympathetic to the Axis powers. By the second half of June the brigade had moved to Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
to defend British-owned oilfields from an anticipated thrust by Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
forces south through the Caucasus
Battle of the Caucasus
The Battle of Caucasus is a name given to a series of German and Soviet operations in the Caucasus area during the Soviet-German War.-1941 operations:...
.
At the end of June 1/12th Frontier Force Regiment
12th Frontier Force Regiment
The 12th Frontier Force Regiment was part of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922. It consisted of five regular battalions; numbered 1 to 5 and the 10th Battalion. During the Second World War a further ten battalions were raised. In 1945 the prenomial "12th" was dropped when the British...
and 5/13th Frontier Force Rifles
13th Frontier Force Rifles
The 13th Frontier Force Rifles was part of the British Indian Army, and after 1947, Pakistan Army. It was formed in 1922 by amalgamation of five existing regiments and consisted of five regular battalions.-History:...
were detached from 17 Brigade to join two battalions from 20th Indian Infantry Brigade
20th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 20th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in September 1940, by the conversion of the Khojak Brigade and assigned to the 9th Indian Infantry Division...
(part of 10th Indian Infantry Division) 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...
and capture the Duck's Bill area in north east Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and secure the Mosul to Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
railway. This was achieved without a shot being fired as the Vichy French forces retired westwards.
On 17 July General Harvey and the divisional HQ arrived in Basra and had 24th Indian Infantry Brigade
24th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 24th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in February 1941, in India and at first assigned to the 10th Indian Infantry Division, and fought in the Anglo-Iraqi War. The brigade was transferred to the 8th Indian Infantry...
(which had arrived on 16 June) assigned to the division. 18th Indian Infantry Brigade
18th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 18th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October, 1940 at Meerut in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. It was then detached for independent duties in Abaden in Persia...
arrived in Iraq on 26 July. The British, having secured first the Iraqi oilfields and then Syria, now focused their concern on Persia (now Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) where it had been estimated there were some 3,000 German nationals working as technicians, commercial agents and advisors. The division first saw shots fired in anger during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
The Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran was the Allied invasion of the Imperial State of Iran during World War II, by British, Commonwealth, and Soviet armed forces. The invasion from August 25 to September 17, 1941, was codenamed Operation Countenance...
in August 1941 when 24th Brigade made a night-time amphibious assault across the Shatt al Arab to capture the oil refinery at Abadan
Abadan
Abadan is a city in and the capital of Abadan County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. It lies on Abadan Island , from the Persian Gulf, near the Iraqi-Iran border. The civilian population of the city dropped to near zero during the eight-years Iran–Iraq War. In 1992, only 84,774 had returned to live...
in South Persia. Meanwhile 18 Brigade had crossed into Persia between Basra and Abadan to take Khorramshahr
Khorramshahr
Khorramshahr is a city in and the capital of Khorramshahr County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 123,866, in 26,385 families.Khorramshahr is a port city located approximately north of Abadan...
and became part of a three brigade advance (with Hazelforce
Iraqforce
Iraqforce was a British and Commonwealth formation that came together in the Kingdom of Iraq. The formation fought in the Middle East during World War II.-Background:...
) towards Ahwaz, 75 miles north east of Basra. The fighting ended on 28 August when the Shah
Shah
Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
ordered his forces to cease hostilities.
19th Indian Infantry Brigade
19th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 19th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October, 1940 at Old Delhi in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. In August 1941, they took part in the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran...
arrived in Iraq in August, replacing in the division's formation 24th Brigade (which transferred to 6th Indian Infantry Division), and by 17 October, 18th and 19th Brigades had concentrated at Kirkuk
Kirkuk
Kirkuk is a city in Iraq and the capital of Kirkuk Governorate.It is located in the Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk, north of the capital, Baghdad...
in northern Iraq and moved north of the oilfields where they were joined by the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)
6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)
The 6 Lancers is an armoured regiment of Pakistan Army. Previously, it was known as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers , which was a regular cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1921 by amalgamation of the 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers and 16th Cavalry...
(6th DCO Lancers), the division's reconnaissance regiment.
North Africa
In June 1942 18 Brigade, having been rushed over to North AfricaWestern 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...
from Mosul, and with only two days to prepare defensive positions, was over-run by Rommel's
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
tanks at Deir el Shein in front of the Ruweisat Ridge
Ruweisat Ridge
Ruweisat Ridge is a geographical feature in the Western Egyptian desert, mid way between the Mediterranean Sea and the Qattara Depression. It was a prominent part of the defence line in the First and Second Battle of El Alamein. During the Second Battle of El Alamein, the 4th Indian Infantry...
. In the process, however, they gained valuable time for British Eighth Army to organise the defences for what was to be the first battle of Alamein
First Battle of El Alamein
The First Battle of El Alamein was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought between Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and Allied forces The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert...
halting Rommel's advance towards Egypt. The brigade was never re-formed.
Iraq and Syria
From August 1942 the Division, still a brigade short, became part of Paiforce when Persia and Iraq became a separate command under General Sir Maitland WilsonHenry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson
Field Marshal Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson, GCB, GBE, DSO , also known as "Jumbo" Wilson, saw active service in the Second Boer War and First World War, and became a senior British general in the Middle East and Mediterranean during the Second World War...
in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, (General Quinan's
Edward Quinan
General Sir Edward Pellew Quinan KCB, KCIE, DSO, OBE was a British army commander during the Second World War. In the early part of his career, he was involved in Indian Army campaigns in Afghanistan and Waziristan on the North West Frontier of the Indian Empire, also known as the British Raj...
Tenth Army
British Tenth Army
The Tenth Army was a unit of the British Army during World War II created in Iraq and formed from the major part of "Paiforce"...
in Iraq and Persia having previously come under Middle East Command
Middle East Command
The Middle East Command was a British Army Command established prior to the Second World War in Egypt. Its primary role was to command British land forces and co-ordinate with the relevant naval and air commands to defend British interests in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean region.The...
in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
). As the threat from the North faded following the Axis defeats at Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
and Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
the Division withdrew in October 1942 to Kifri near Baghdad where it was joined by 21st Indian Infantry Brigade
21st Indian Infantry Brigade
The 21st Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted from the Quetta Brigade in September 1940, and assigned to the 9th Indian Infantry Division. In March 1941, it was transferred to the 10th Indian Infantry Division and took part in...
and the 3rd, 52nd and 53rd Field Regiments, Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The 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:...
. It spent the winter in intensive training.
In January 1943 command of the Division passed to Major-General Dudley Russell
Dudley Russell
Lieutenant-General Sir Dudley Russell KBE, CB, DSO, MC was an officer in the British and Indian Armies during World War I and World War II.-Early career:...
(The Pasha), promoted after 15 months commanding 5th Indian Infantry Brigade
5th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted for the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade in September 1939, and assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade fist moved to Egypt and took part in the early battles in North...
, part of the "Red Eagles" 4th Indian Infantry Division. The Division moved in March 1943 to Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
and continued to spend much of its time training, notably in mountain warfare and combined operations.
In June 1943 the Division was selected to participate in the anticipated Dodecanese Campaign
Dodecanese Campaign
The Dodecanese Campaign of World War II was an attempt by Allied forces, mostly British, to capture the Italian-held Dodecanese islands in the Aegean Sea following the surrender of Italy in September 1943, and use them as bases against the German-controlled Balkans...
("Operation Accolade"), and seize the Italian-occupied island of Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
, the chief Axis stronghold in the Dodecanese Islands. After frantic preparation and having loaded the first wave of ships, the Division's participation was canceled when the Italian government surrendered
Armistice with Italy
The Armistice with Italy was an armistice signed on September 3 and publicly declared on September 8, 1943, during World War II, between Italy and the Allied armed forces, who were then occupying the southern end of the country, entailing the capitulation of Italy...
and it was redirected to Italy which the German army had continued to occupy.
Italy
On 24 September 1943 the Division landed in TarantoTaranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
(Italy), to take its part 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...
, and for 19 months was almost continuously in action advancing through mountainous country, crossing river after river. The formation later adopted the motto "One more river".
From October 1943 to April 1944 the Division was part of the Allied thrust by British 8th Army up the Adriatic
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
front on the Eastern side of Italy. This involved opposed river crossings of the Biferno, Trigno (October 1943), Sangro (November 1943) and Moro
The Moro River Campaign
The Moro River Campaign was a military campaign during the Second World War fought between units of the British 8th Army and the LXXVI Panzer Corps of the German Tenth Army . Lasting from 4–26 December 1943, the campaign occurred primarily in the vicinity of the Moro River in eastern Italy...
(December 1943). The following three months proved almost as arduous for, although there was no formal offensive, the period was characterised by patrolling and vicious skirmishes in very difficult terrain and abominable winter weather which proved physically hugely demanding and stressful.
Cassino
When the spring came the Division was switched in great secrecy (along with the bulk of 8th Army) 60 miles west across the Apennine mountainsApennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
to concentrate as part of British XIII Corps
XIII Corps (United Kingdom)
XIII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I and World War II.-World War I:XIII Corps was formed in France on 15 November 1915 under Lieutenant-General Walter Congreve to be part of Fourth Army. It was first seriously engaged during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. On the First day on...
along the River Garigliano at a part of the river better known as the Rapido
Rapido
Rapido was the name of the Canadian National Railway's express passenger train service on the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. The service was introduced on October 31, 1965, on the Montreal-Toronto route...
. Their heavily opposed night crossing of the Rapido in May 1944, supported by Canadian tanks (1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
1 Canadian Army Tank Brigade, later known as 1 Canadian Armoured Brigade, was composed of the 11th, 12th and 14th Canadian Armoured Regiments and saw service in the Italian campaign and in north-west Europe during the Second World War.-History:...
) with which the Division had formed a particularly close fighting relationship over the previous six months, was critical to the Allies' success in this fourth and final Battle of Monte Cassino. Following this, the Division advanced some 240 miles in June across mountainous country fighting many actions against rearguards and defended strongpoints. In late June they had reached Assisi
Assisi
- Churches :* The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi is a World Heritage Site. The Franciscan monastery, il Sacro Convento, and the lower and upper church of St Francis were begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253...
and the Division was rested. It was during the fighting on the Rapido that Kamal Ram
Kamal Ram
Sepoy Kamal Ram VC was an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
of the 3/8th Punjab Regiment
8th Punjab Regiment
The 8th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947 and merged with the Baluch Regiment in 1956.-Madras Infantry:...
won his Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, at 19 years of age, the youngest recipient of the war.
Florence and the Gothic Line
By the end of July 1944 the Division was back in the line with 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade in front of FlorenceFlorence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
pushing towards the River Arno
Arno
The Arno is a river in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the most important river of central Italy after the Tiber.- Source and route :The river originates on Mount Falterona in the Casentino area of the Apennines, and initially takes a southward curve...
. Florence was occupied by 21st Brigade on 12 August where they had the unusual task to recover some of the world's greatest art treasures and arrange safe custody. By mid September the Division was in the mountains again, breaking through the Gothic Line
Gothic Line
The Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
and then spending two months of grim (and ultimately unsuccessful) battling in foul weather towards the plains of Northern Italy together with British 1st Infantry
British 1st Infantry Division
The 1st Infantry Division was a regular British Army division with a long history having been present at the Peninsula War, the Crimean War, the First World War, and during the Second World War.-Napoleonic Wars:...
, Brititish 78th Infantry
British 78th Infantry Division
The British 78th Infantry Division, also known as the Battleaxe Division, fought in the Second World War in North Africa and Italy.- History :...
and British 6th Armoured Division
British 6th Armoured Division
The 6th Armoured Division was a Second World War, British Army formation, created on 12 September 1940. The unit was initially supplied with Matilda and Valentine Tanks, which were replaced by Crusader tanks and then finally with the M4 Sherman Tank...
s forming British XIII Corps, which had now become the right wing of the U.S. 5th Army. It was during this time that Thaman Gurung
Thaman Gurung
Thaman Gurung VC was a Nepalese recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
of the 1/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles won his Victoria Cross.
In December 1944 the New Zealand 2nd Division
New Zealand 2nd Division
The 2nd New Zealand Division was a formation of the New Zealand Military Forces during World War II. It was commanded for most of its existence by Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, and fought in Greece, Crete, the Western Desert and Italy...
, advancing from the Adriatic on the division's right along the Romagna
Romagna
Romagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
plain, took Faenza
Faenza
Faenza is an Italian city and comune, in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna.Faenza is noted for its manufacture of majolica ware glazed earthenware pottery, known from the name of the town as "faience"....
and the resistance on the 8th Division's front weakened as the Germans withdrew to shorten their front. In late December 1944 19th and 21st Brigades were rapidly switched across the Apennines to reinforce the US 92nd Infantry Division on the 5th Army's left flank in front of Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
. By the time they had arrived the Germans had broken through but decisive action by Maj-Gen Russell halted their advance and the situation was stabilised by the New Year. The Division then moved to Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
for a period of rest.
Spring offensive 1945
In mid-February 1945 the Division was back in the line on the Adriatic front, this time as part of 8th Army's V CorpsV Corps (United Kingdom)
V Corps was an army corps of the British Army in both the First and Second World War. It was first organised in February 1915 and fought through World War I on the Western front...
, in front of the River Senio
Senio
The Senio is a 92 km river of Romagna in Italy, the final right-sided tributary of the river Reno. The mean discharge at its mouth is about 10 m³/s; however this can vary from a minimum of 0.3 m³/s to a maximum of 500 m³/s....
. The main assault on the Senio
Spring 1945 offensive in Italy
The Spring 1945 offensive in Italy, codenamed Operation Grapeshot, was the Allied attack by Fifth United States Army and British 8th Army into the Lombardy Plain which started on 6 April 1945 and ended on 2 May with the surrender of German forces in Italy....
started on 9 April. In desperate fighting two members of the Division, Namdeo Jadav
Namdeo Jadav
Namdeo Jadav VC was an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
and Ali Haidar
Ali Haidar
Ali Haidar VC was an ethnic Pashtun recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, won Victoria Crosses. By 11 April the Division reached and crossed the River Santerno
Santerno
The Santerno is a river of Romagna, in northern Italy, the major tributary of the Reno River. In Roman times, it was known as the Vatrenus , although, in the Tabula Peutingeriana, it was already identified as the Santernus....
breaking open a hole in the German line for the 78th Division and elements of British 56th Infantry Division to engage the enemy and defeat them in the Argenta Gap. This opened the way to Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
and the Po River
Po River
The Po |Ligurian]]: Bodincus or Bodencus) is a river that flows either or – considering the length of the Maira, a right bank tributary – eastward across northern Italy, from a spring seeping from a stony hillside at Pian del Re, a flat place at the head of the Val Po under the northwest face...
and for 6th Armoured Division to pass through, veer left and race westward across country to link with the advancing U.S. 5th Army and complete the encirclement of the divisions of the German 10th
German Tenth Army
The 10th Army was a World War I and World War II field army. During World War I the 10th army was stationed at the Eastern Front against Russia, and occupied Poland and Belorussia at the end of 1918 when the war ended....
and 14th
German Fourteenth Army
The 14th Army was a World War II field army.The 14th Army was activated on August 1, 1939 with General Wilhelm List in command and saw service in Poland until the end of the campaign in Poland October 13, 1939...
Armies defending Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
. In the aftermath of the Argenta fighting, the Division drove on rapidly through to Ferrara and across the Po and shortly therefter to their last river crossing of the war, the Adige
Adige
The Adige is a river with its source in the Alpine province of South Tyrol near the Italian border with Austria and Switzerland. At in length, it is the second longest river in Italy, after the River Po with ....
.
The campaign ended on 2 May 1945. The 6th DCO Lancers marked the occasion with a special mission, sending an officer and nine men far up the road towards Austria and arranged the surrender of 11,000 men of their old enemy the German 1st Parachute Division.
Post World War II
Re-raised in 1962, the Division differs from more conventional infantryInfantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
divisions in the emphasis that is placed on infantry tactics and the limited role that armour can be expected to take in operations in mountainous terrain. The armour that is used may differ from that used by other infantry divisions, for example, specialised mountain guns are required in many areas where the Division might be expected to operate.
The Division was initially created for operations against insurgents fighting for a separate state of Nagaland
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
. In the mid-1990s, the formation was moved to the Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
valley in response to conflict there.
During the early summer of 1999, the Division was moved north to the Kargil District
Kargil District
Kargil is a district of Ladakh, Kashmir, India. Kargil lies near the Line of Control facing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Baltistan to the west, and Kashmir valley to the south. Zanskar is part of Kargil district along with Suru, Wakha and Dras valleys...
to augment the beleaguered 3rd Division, which was based in Leh, during Operation Vijay II. It is now permanently based in that sector as part of XIV Corps.
The Division has been constantly involved in operations since its creation.
Formation During World War II
General Officer Commanding:- Major-General Charles HarveyCharles Offley HarveyMajor-General Sir Charles Harvey CB, CVO, CBE, MC was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War I and World War II.He was appointed CVO in 1922 for performing the duties of Assistant Military Secretary to the Prince of Wales during His.Royal Highness's Indian Tour and knighted in...
(Oct 1940 – Dec 1942) - Major-General Dudley RussellDudley RussellLieutenant-General Sir Dudley Russell KBE, CB, DSO, MC was an officer in the British and Indian Armies during World War I and World War II.-Early career:...
(Jan 1943 – Aug 1945)
Headquarters
- 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)The 6 Lancers is an armoured regiment of Pakistan Army. Previously, it was known as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers , which was a regular cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1921 by amalgamation of the 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers and 16th Cavalry...
(Div Reconnaissance Reg) - 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:...
- Divisional artillery:
- Brigadier R.V.M. Garry (Oct 1940 – Sep 1942)
- Brigadier M.W. Dewing (Sep 1942 – Sep 1944)
- Brigadier F.C. Bull (Sep 1944 – Jul 1945)
- Brigadier T.S. Dobree (Jul 1945 – Aug 1945)
- HQ
- 3, 52 & 53 Field Regts. RA
- 26 Light Anti-Aircraft Regt RA
- 4 Mahratta Anti-Tank Regt
- Indian Engineers: Sappers & Miners
- 7, 66 69 Field Coys. King George V's Own Bengal Sappers and Miners
- 47 Field Park Coy. King George V's Own Bengal Sappers and Miners
- 8 Indian Div Signals
- 5th Royal Battalion Machine Gun 5th Mahratta Light Infantry5th Mahratta Light InfantryThe 5th Mahratta Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, whenthe Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. The regiment fought in World War II and raised 30 battalions...
17th Indian Infantry Brigade
Commanders:- Brigadier J.G. Bruce (Nov 1940 – May 1941)
- Brigadier Douglas Gracey (May 1941 – Mar 1942)
- Brigadier F.A.M.B. Jenkins (Mar 1942 – Oct 1943)
- Brigadier H.L. Wyndham (Oct 1943 – Nov 1943)
- Brigadier J. Scott-Elliott (Nov 1943 – Jan 1944)
- Brigadier Charles BoucherCharles Hamilton BoucherMajor-General Sir Charles Boucher KBE CB DSO and bar was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II.-Military career:Boucher was commissioned into the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles in 1916....
(Feb 1944 – Jan 1945) - Brigadier P.R. Macnamara (Jan 1945 – Aug 1945)
- HQ
- 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers
- 1/12th Frontier Force Regiment12th Frontier Force RegimentThe 12th Frontier Force Regiment was part of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922. It consisted of five regular battalions; numbered 1 to 5 and the 10th Battalion. During the Second World War a further ten battalions were raised. In 1945 the prenomial "12th" was dropped when the British...
- 1/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)The 5 Gorkha Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army comprising Gurkha soldiers of Nepalese origin. It was formed in 1858 as part of the British Indian Army and served in the First World War and Second World War. The regiment was one of the Gorkha regiments that was transferred to the...
- 1st Battalion Jaipur Infantry, Indian States Forces (Nov 1944 to Apr 1945)
18th Indian Infantry Brigade (up to June 1942)
Commanders:- Brigadier Rupert LochnerRupert LochnerRupert Lochner was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II.As part of Paiforce , Lochner commanded the 18th Indian Brigade of the Indian 8th Infantry Division during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia....
(Oct 1940 – Aug 1942)- HQ
- 2nd/5th 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:...
(from Dec 1941) - 4/11th Sikh Regiment11th Sikh RegimentThe 11th Sikh Regiment were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1922, when after World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments....
(from Apr 1942) - 2/3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha RiflesThe 3 Gorkha Rifles is an Indian Army infantry regiment. It was originally a Gurkha regiment of the British Indian Army formed in 1815. They were present at a number of actions and wars including the Siege of Delhi in 1857 to the First and Second World Wars...
- 1/2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)The 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army before being transferred to the British Army on India's independence in 1947. The 4th Battalion joined the Indian Army as the 5th Battalion, 8th Gurkha Rifles , where it exists to this day...
(until Apr 1942) - 3/10th Baluch Regiment10th Baluch RegimentThe 10th Baluch or Baluch Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. After the Partition of India, it was transferred to the Pakistan Army. In 1956, it was amalgamated with the 8th Punjab and Bahawalpur Regiments...
(until Oct 1941)
19th Indian Infantry Brigade
Commanders:- Brigadier C.W.W. FordCharles Willbraham Watson FordCharles Willbraham Watson Ford was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II. "Willbraham" may also be spelled "Wilbraham."...
(Oct 1940 – Feb 1943) - Brigadier T.S. Dobree (Feb 1943 – Jul 1945)
- Brigadier W. Sandison (Jul 1945 – Aug 1945)
- HQ
- 1st/5th Battalion The Essex Regiment (up to March 1944)
- 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (from Feb 1944)
- 3/8th Punjab Regiment8th Punjab RegimentThe 8th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947 and merged with the Baluch Regiment in 1956.-Madras Infantry:...
- 6/13th Frontier Force Rifles13th Frontier Force RiflesThe 13th Frontier Force Rifles was part of the British Indian Army, and after 1947, Pakistan Army. It was formed in 1922 by amalgamation of five existing regiments and consisted of five regular battalions.-History:...
21st Indian Infantry Brigade (from October 1942)
Commanders:- Brigadier C.J. WeldCharles Joseph WeldCharles Joseph Weld CIE MC was an officer in the British Indian Army during the interwar years, World War II, and post-war.As part of Iraqforce, Brigadier Weld commanded the 21st Indian Brigade of the Indian 10th Infantry Division during the Anglo-Iraqi War and the Syria-Lebanon campaign.As part...
(Sep 1940 – May 1942) - Brigadier J.J. Purves (May 1942 – Mar 1943)
- Brigadier B.S. Mould (Mar 1943 – Aug 1945)
- HQ
- 5th Battalion The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (Nov 1942 to Jun 1945)
- 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry5th Mahratta Light InfantryThe 5th Mahratta Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, whenthe Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. The regiment fought in World War II and raised 30 battalions...
(from Nov 1942) - 3/15th Punjab Regiment15th Punjab RegimentThe 15th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 1st, 14th and 16th Punjab Regiments in 1956 to form the Punjab Regiment....
(from Apr 1943) - 1st Jaipur Infantry, Indian State Forces (from Apr 1945)
- 2/8th Gurkha Rifles8 Gorkha RiflesThe 8 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised in 1824 as part of the British East India Company and later transferred to the British Indian Army after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The regiment served in the World War I and World War II, before being one of the Gurkha...
(Jun 1942 to Jan 1943)
Support units
- Royal Indian Army Service Corps
- 8 Ind Div Troops Tpt Coy
- 17, 19 & 21 Brigade Tpt Coys
- Div Supply Units
- Medical Services
- I.M.S-R.A.M.C-I.M.D-I.H.C-I.A.M.C
- 29, 31,& 33 Indian Field Ambulances
- 8 Indian Div Provost Unit
- Indian Army Ordnance Corps
- 8 Indian Div Ordnance FD Park
- Indian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
- 120,121 & 122 Infantry Workshop Coys
- 8 Indian Div Recovery Coy
Badge
During the period the Scotsmen of the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
served in the division, its Jock soldiers fondly referred to the division insignia as "the three wee floo'ers" (the three little flowers).
In its second incarnation the formation sign of the Division depicts a red dagger superimposed on two overlapping gold circles on a black background.
Assigned brigades
All theses brigades were assigned or attached to the division at some time during World War II- 18th Indian Infantry Brigade18th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 18th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October, 1940 at Meerut in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. It was then detached for independent duties in Abaden in Persia...
- 19th Indian Infantry Brigade19th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 19th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October, 1940 at Old Delhi in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. In August 1941, they took part in the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran...
- 17th Indian Infantry Brigade17th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 17th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in November 1940, at the Delhi Cantonment in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. They were sent to participate in the Anglo-Iraqi War and the Syria-Lebanon Campaign...
- 24th Indian Infantry Brigade24th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 24th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in February 1941, in India and at first assigned to the 10th Indian Infantry Division, and fought in the Anglo-Iraqi War. The brigade was transferred to the 8th Indian Infantry...
- 25th Indian Infantry Brigade25th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 25th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in February, 1941 at Ahmednagar in India and assigned to the 10th Indian Infantry Division....
- 21st Indian Infantry Brigade21st Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 21st Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted from the Quetta Brigade in September 1940, and assigned to the 9th Indian Infantry Division. In March 1941, it was transferred to the 10th Indian Infantry Division and took part in...
- British 2nd Parachute BrigadeBritish 2nd Parachute BrigadeThe 2nd Parachute Brigade was an airborne forces brigade formed by the British Army during the Second World War.The 2nd Parachute Brigade was the second parachute brigade to be formed by the British Army in 1942; it was initially part of the 1st Airborne Division but in 1943, after the...
- 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade1st Canadian Armoured Brigade1 Canadian Army Tank Brigade, later known as 1 Canadian Armoured Brigade, was composed of the 11th, 12th and 14th Canadian Armoured Regiments and saw service in the Italian campaign and in north-west Europe during the Second World War.-History:...
- British 12th Infantry BrigadeBritish 12th Infantry BrigadeThe 12th Mechanized Brigade is a regular British Army brigade which has been in existence since 1899.-History:The brigade was first formed in December 1899 as 12th Infantry Brigade, part of 6th Division...
- British 21st Army Tank BrigadeBritish 21st Army Tank BrigadeThe 21st Army Tank Brigade was a British Army formation active during World War II. It served with the British First Army and the British Eighth Army during the battles in Tunisia and Italy.- History :...
- Palestine Infantry Brigade or Jewish BrigadeJewish BrigadeThe Jewish Infantry Brigade Group was a military formation of the British Army that served in Europe during the Second World War. The brigade was formed in late 1944, and its personnel fought the Germans in Italy...