233rd Brigade (United Kingdom)

233rd Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army in World War I and World War II

233rd Infantry Brigade
Active25 May 1917 – 16 March 1920
27 July 1941–1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry Brigade
Part of75th Division (World War I)
Malta Command (World War II)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Brig-Gen the Hon Edward Colston
Brigadier Ivan de la Bere

World War I

233rd Brigade was formed at Zeitun, near Cairo, on 25 May 1917, as part of 75th Division, which was being organised by the British Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) from Territorial Force battalions arriving as reinforcements from India. The War Office ordered that Indian Army battalions should also be included in order to speed up the formation of the Division, and 233rd Brigade was formed on this basis.[1][2]

Order of Battle

The following units served in 233rd Brigade during World War I:[1]

and joined from Mesopotamia 25 July 1918)

Commanders

The following officers commanded 233rd Brigade during this period:[1]

Service

233rd Brigade took over the Rafa defences in Sinai in June 1917, and only joined 75th Division on 18 August that year. It took part in the EEF's invasion of Palestine beginning with the Third Battle of Gaza on 27 October 1917, culminating in the Capture of Gaza (6–7 November) and Junction Station (13–14 November), and the Battle of Nebi Samwil (20–24 November). In the Spring of 1918, 233rd Brigade was involved in the actions at Tell 'Asur (11–12 March) and Berukin (9–11 April). During General Allenby's final offensive (the Battles of Megiddo, 233rd Brigade took part in the Battle of Sharon (19 September).[1] At the end of the fighting on 19 September, 75 Division went into reserve until the Armistice with the Turks was signed on 31 October. Demobilisation began early in 1919, but the 75th Division was selected for the Army of Occupation of Palestine. The reduced division formed one composite brigade under the command of Brig-Gen Colston of 233rd Brigade. In March 1919 it returned to garrison duty in Egypt, and other units were attached for this work. Finally, 233rd Brigade was disbanded on 16 March 1920.[1]

World War II

On 27 July 1941, Malta Command created Central Infantry Brigade from among reinforcements that had reached the island from Egypt during the ongoing siege; brigade HQ was provided by HQ 'D' Infantry Brigade, which had come out from the United Kingdom. Central Infantry Brigade was commanded by Brigadier Ivan de la Bere, and was renamed 3rd (Malta) Infantry Brigade on 14 July 1942. It was renamed again as 233rd Infantry Brigade on 1 April 1943.[4]

Order of Battle

The following units served in 3rd (Malta)/233 Bde during World War II:[4]

Notes
  1. Becke pp. 123–30.
  2. Baker, Chris. "The 75th Division in 1914–1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  3. Kempton, pp 146–7.
  4. Joslen, p. 395.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20051226171805/http://regiments.org/regiments/europe/volmil/mt-vregts/KOMR.htm

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–73rd) 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.
  • Chris Kempton, British Empire & Commonwealth Museum Research Paper No 1: A Register of the Titles of the Unites of the H.E.I.C. & Indian Armies 1666–1947', Bristol: British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, 1997, ISBN 0-9530174-0-0.
  • Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth
  • The Long, Long Trail
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