213th Brigade (United Kingdom)

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213th Brigade
213th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
213th Infantry Brigade
File:76th Infantry vector2.svg
76th Infantry Division insignia
Active 2 November 1916 – 1 March 1918
30 September 1940 – 1 September 1944
Country  United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army.svg British Army
Type Infantry Brigade
Role Training and Home Defence

The 213th Brigade (213 Bde) was a Home Defence and training formation of the British Army during both the First and Second World Wars.

First World War

213 Brigade was first organised in November 1916 as part of the 71st Division, a new a Home Service and training formation formed from the 6th Provisional Brigade.[1][2]

Composition

The following units constituted 213 Brigade:[1][2]

  • GOC: Brigadier-General W.MacL. Campbell
  • HQ: Aldershot
  • 16th (Home Service) Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment: newly formed.[1][3]
  • 25th (Garrison) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment: originally formed from depot companies of 18th, 19th and 26th (Public Works Pioneers) Bns Middlesex Regiment; left for Hong Kong 22 December 1916.[1][4][5]
  • 18th (Home Service) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment: newly formed 26 December 1916 to replace 25th Middlesex; disbanded December 1917.[1][6][7]
  • 66th Provisional Battalion: became 16th Battalion, Essex Regiment; disbanded December 1917[1][8][9]
  • 252nd Battalion Training Reserve: joined 9 July 1917; became 52nd (Graduated) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment[10][11]
  • 253rd Battalion Training Reserve: joined 17 September 1917; became 51st (Graduated) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment[12][13]

213 Brigade was disbanded in March 1918.[1][2]

Second World War

A new brigade was formed for service in the United Kingdom on 30 September 1940 by No 13 Infantry Training Group in II Corps. Initially under the name of 213th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) it was composed of newly raised battalions.[14]

Composition

The following units constituted the brigade during the war:[14]

Commanders

The following officers commanded 213 Brigade during World War II:[14]

  • Col J.V.R. Jackson (acting until 21 October 1940)
  • Brig E.E.F. Baker (until 23 July 1942)
  • Brig E.H.L. White

Service

Between 1 November and 23 December 1940, II Corps placed 213 Brigade under the command of 18th Infantry Division, then moved it into the newly created Norfolk County Division. On 18 November 1941, the county division was redesignated 76th Infantry Division and simultaneously 213th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) formally became 213th Infantry Brigade.[14][16]

On 1 September 1944, 76th Division HQ was disbanded, and its brigades transferred to replace those in 47th (London) Infantry Division, which were disbanding. 47th Division was recreated as 47th (Reserve) Infantry Division and 213 Brigade was redesignated 140th Infantry Brigade, replacing the disbanded 140th (London) Infantry Brigade.[14][16][17]

The 213th Brigade remained in the United Kingdom throughout its service.[14]

Notes

References

  • Maj A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (71st–74th) and 74th and 75th Divisions, London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-84734-739-8.
  • Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2003, ISBN 1-84342-474-6.

Online sources