29th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 29th Infantry Brigade was a unit of the British Army. It saw service during the Second World War and the Korean War.

World War I

The 29th Infantry Brigade was formed in August 1914 as part of the 10th (Irish) Division of the first wave of Kitchener's Army (K1). The division and brigade transferred to Lemnos in July 1915 in preparation for the Gallipoli landings. The 29th Infantry Brigade landed at Anzac Cove on August 6/7 of the same year, participating in the Battle of Chunuk Bair. The 10th (Irish) Division was withdrawn from Gallipoli to Salonika at the end of September 1915, elements of the division participating in actions at Karajakois, Yenikoi and Kosturino. In early September 1917 the Division was withdrawn to Egypt and took part in the Palestine Campaign and fought in the third Battle of Gaza. The division moved back to Cairo at the end of the war.

World War II

In World War II the unit, part of the regular army, originally designated as the Cairo Brigade was renamed 29th Infantry Brigade on 20 September 1939, but later converted to the 22nd Infantry Brigade. On 14 July 1940 a new 29th Infantry Brigade was formed in Great Britain . This second formation saw service in Madagascar and Burma. It fought as part of the Indian 36th Infantry Division, later redesignated British 36th Infantry Division.

Korean War

The 29th Brigade was back in existence by 1949, and then was re-mustered after the outbreak of the Korean War as 29th Independent Infantry Brigade to reinforce the Allied effort there. When it arrived in Korea in December 1950 it comprised the 1st Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, 1st Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment, later to win matchless fame, 1st Battalion, the Royal Ulster Rifles, 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, C Squadron, 7th Royal Tank Regiment, with specialised armour, 45 Field Regiment RA, 11 LAA Battery RA, and 170 Mortar Battery RA, plus supporting units.

In July 1951 it was re-organized as 29th British Infantry Brigade and absorbed into the 1st Commonwealth Division

Component Units

1914-1918

* 5th (Service) Bn, the Royal Irish Regiment (August 1914 to June 1915)
* 6th (Service) Bn, the Royal Irish Rifles (August 1914 to May 1918)
* 5th (Service) Bn, the Connaught Rangers (August 1914 to April 1918)
* 6th (Service) Bn, the Prince of Wales' Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) (August 1914 to 2 May 1918)
* 10th (Service) Bn, the Royal Hampshire Regiment (June 1915 to November 1916)
* 1st Bn, the Leinster (November 1916 to end of war)
* 29th Machine Gun Company (May 1916 to May 1918)
* 29th Trench Mortar Battery (October 1916 to October 1917)
* 1/54th Sikhs (April 1918 to end of war)
* 1/101st Grenadiers (April 1918 to end of war)
* 2/151st Infantry (June 1918 to end of war)

1939

*1st Bn, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
*2nd Bn, Scots Guards

1940-1945

*1st Bn, The Royal Scots Fusiliers
*2nd Bn, The East Lancashire Regiment
*2nd Bn, The Royal Welch Fusiliers
*2nd Bn, The South Lancashire Regiment (only till April 16 1944)

From May-Aug 1945

*1st Bn, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
*1st Bn, The Essex Regiment
*2nd Bn, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)

"'From Nov 1950-July 1951
*As 29th Independent Infantry Brigade

"'From July-Nov 1951
*1st Btn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
*1st Btn Gloucestershire Regiment
*1st Btn Royal Ulster Rifles

From Nov 51-Nov 52
*1st Btn Royal Norfolk Regiment
*1st Btn Royal Leicestershire Regiment
*1st Btn The Welch Regiment

from Nov 52-July 53
*1st Btn The Black Watch
*1st Btn The King's Regiment (Liverpool)
*1st Btn The Duke of Wellington's Regiment

Commanders

World War II

*Lt-Col E.G. Earle (acting commander)
*Brig. Oliver Leese
*Brig. J.M.L. Grover
*Brig. F.W. Festing
*Brig. H.C. Stockwell
*Brig. G.E.R. Bastin
*Lt-Col. C.S. Mill
*Brig. J.J. McCully

Korean War

*Brig T Brodie
*Brig AHG Ricketts
*Brig DA Kendrew

References

Anthony Farrar-Hockley : The British Part in the Korean War Vol I ISBN .
Anthony Farrar-Hockley : The British Part in the Korean War Vol II ISBN .

External links

*
* [http://www.1914-1918.net/10div.htm the 10th (Irish) Division at 1914-1918]