203rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

For the brigade formed during the First World War, see 203rd (2nd North Wales) Brigade.
203rd Infantry Brigade
Active11 October 1940-1 September 1944
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry Brigade
RoleHome Defence
Part ofDevon and Cornwall County Division
77th Division

203rd Infantry Brigade was a Home Defence formation of the British Army during the Second World War.

Origin

The brigade was formed as 203rd Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) for service in the United Kingdom on 11 October 1940 by No 3 Infantry Training Group in the South West Area (later Devon and Cornwall County Division) of Southern Command. It consisted of five recently formed infantry battalions.[1][2] Home brigades had a purely static defence role.[3]

Service

203rd Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) served in SW Area/Devon and Cornwall County Division until 1 December 1942, when the County Division was renamed 77th Infantry Division and the brigade was redesignated 203rd Infantry Brigade.[1][4][5] On 1 September 1944, 77th Division was disbanded and its personnel reformed as 45th (Holding) Division. At the same time 203rd Brigade was redesignated 134th Infantry Brigade (replacing a disbanded formation with the same number). All of these formations remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war.[1][6][7]

Order of Battle

203rd Brigade was composed as follows:[1]

As part of the Devon and Cornwall County Division:

Between 30 June and 19 July 1941, the 7th East Yorks, 6th DCLI and 8th Beds & Herts were all transferred to reconstitute 73rd Independent Bde, which took over all the static units in Cornwall.[15] This left 203rd Bde with only the 8th Duke of Wellington's under command, but the following units were added to it over time:[1]

As part of 77th Division:

As part of 45th Division (renamed as 134th Infantry Brigade) to end of war:

Commanders

The following officers commanded the brigade:[7]

  • Brigadier G.E.M. Whittuck ( until 16 August 1941)
  • Brigadier G.H. Gilmore (16 August 1941–1 August 1944)
  • Brigadier J.H. Hogshaw (from 1 August 1944)

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Joslen, p. 366.
  2. ^ Joslen, p. 108
  3. ^ Joslen, p. 223.
  4. ^ Collier, Map 20.
  5. ^ Joslen, pp. 100, 108.
  6. ^ Joslen, pp. 73, 100.
  7. ^ a b c d Joslen, p. 320.
  8. ^ Frederick, p. 180.
  9. ^ a b Joslen, p. 377.
  10. ^ Frederick, p. 182.
  11. ^ Frederick, p. 231.
  12. ^ Frederick, p. 138.
  13. ^ Forty p. 50
  14. ^ Frederick, pp. 12, 96.
  15. ^ Joslen, p. 304.
  16. ^ a b Joslen, p. 389.
  17. ^ a b c d Joslen, p. 372.
  18. ^ a b c d Joslen, p. 382.
  19. ^ Joslen, p. 373.
  20. ^ Frederick, pp. 190–2.
  21. ^ a b Joslen, p. 363.
  22. ^ Frederick, p. 212.
  23. ^ Frederick, p. 200.
  24. ^ Joslen, p. 374.
  25. ^ a b Joslen, p. 376.
  26. ^ Joslen, p. 328.
  27. ^ a b Joslen, p. 329.
  28. ^ Joslen, p. 290.
  29. ^ Joslen, p. 383.

References

  • Basil Collier, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Defence of the United Kingdom, London: HM Stationery Office, 1957/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004 ISBN 978-1-84574-055-9.
  • George Forty, British Army Handbook 1939–1945, Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 1998, ISBN 978-0-75245240-1.
  • J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
  • J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol II, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-009-X.
  • Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.