21st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade

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1st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
21st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade
Active31 August 1939–?
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army.svg
Type Infantry
Size Brigade
Brigade group

The 21st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade was a brigade sized formation of the British Army, which was founded on 31 August 1939 in British East Africa. The brigade was initially called the 1st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade, but was redesignated on 18 October 1940 as the 21st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade. The brigade was composed of units from the King's African Rifles and the Northern Rhodesia Regiment. [1]

Contents

During the Second World War, the brigade formed part of the 1st, 11th, and the 2nd (African) Division. The division also spent time attached to the 1st South African and the 34th Indian Infantry Divisions. The brigade took part in the East African, and the Burma Campaigns. It ended the war based inside British India. [2]

General officers commanding

The brigade had the following commanders, during the Second World War. [1]

AppointedBrigadier
31 August 1939 Brigadier J. A. Campbell
19 October 1939Brigadier D. M. Barchard
27 January 1941 Lieutenant-Colonel P. R. M. Mundy (acting)
6 February 1941Brigadier Alan MacDougall Ritchie
4 September 1941Lieutenant-Colonel P. R. M. Mundy (acting)
5 October 1941Lieutenant-Colonel B. C. Lynn-Allen (acting)
7 November 1941Brigadier Alan MacDougall Ritchie
16 June 1943Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. Ingledew (acting)
26 June 1943Lieutenant-Colonel H. N. Drake (acting)
10 August 1943Brigadier William Dimoline
30 October 1943Lieutenant-Colonel H. P. L. Glass (acting)
11 November 1943Lieutenant-Colonel P. E. D. Watson (acting)
8 January 1944Brigadier J. F. MacNab
8 March 1945Lieutenant-Colonel P. A. Morcombe (acting)
12 April 1945Brigadier J. F. MacNab
5 June 1945Lieutenant-Colonel R. C. H. Miers (acting)
5 July 1945Brigadier J. F. MacNab

Order of battle

1st (East Africa) Brigade (until 18 October 1940) [1]

21st (East Africa) Brigade (from 18 October 1940) [1]

Between January 1942 and July 1943, the brigade operated as a brigade group and commanded the following units: [2]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 Joslen 2003, p. 419.
  2. 1 2 Joslen 2003, p. 420.

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