16th Brigade
16th Infantry Brigade
Active1914-1918
1939–1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
RoleInfantry
SizeBrigade
Part of8th Infantry Division
6th Infantry Division
70th Infantry Division
EngagementsFirst World War
Second World War

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.

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:

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]

Order of battle

Component units included:[2]

Officers commanding

The following commanded the 16th Infantry Brigade during the First World War:[3]

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.[4] Battles which the brigade took part in included, Battle of Sidi Barrani, Battle of Bardia, Battle of Damascus, Battle of Tobruk (both stages).[5]

Order of battle

According to War Office policy, regiments would be assigned to formations/commands for max of 3 years, and be rotated at the end of their tenure. Units which formed under the brigade during the war included:[5]

During the period 26 February 1942 to 7 February 1943, when the brigade went to Ceylon, the following additional units were under its command:[5]

In September 1943 the brigade was re-organised for Long-range penetration role under Special Force. During this period, the brigade controlled (in addition to their regular units):[5]

Officers Commanding

Commanding officers included:[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Anglo-Boer War".
  2. ^ a b c "The 6th Division in 1914-1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  3. ^ Becke, Major A. F. (1935). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1. The Regular British Divisions. London: HMSO. p. 74. ISBN 1-871167-09-4.
  4. ^ British Army Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 4 July 2015
  5. ^ a b c d Joslen, p. 257-8.
  6. ^ "Appointments". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
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