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32nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

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Active
  
1914–1919 1941–1946

Branch
  
British Army

Size
  
Brigade

Country
  
United Kingdom

Type
  
Infantry

32nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

Part of
  
11th (Northern) Division Guards Armoured Division

The 32nd Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army that saw active service during both World War I and World War II.

Contents

World War I

The Brigade was raised originally as the 32nd Infantry Brigade, part of the 11th (Northern) Division, a New Army formation which served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front during World War I.

Component Units during World War I

  • 9th Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
  • 6th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own (Yorkshire Regiment) (left 18 May 1918)
  • 6th Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment
  • 8th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) (disbanded 13 February 1918)
  • 2nd Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own (Yorkshire Regiment) (joined 14 May 1918)
  • 32nd Brigade Machine Gun Company (formed March 1916, moved into 11th MG Battalion 28 February 1918)
  • 32nd Trench Mortar Battery (joined 17 July 1916)
  • World War II

    The Brigade was reformed as 32nd Guards Brigade on 1 October 1941, during World War II, joining the Guards Armoured Division, but did not see active service until it arrived in France on 25 June 1944. It fought throughout the campaign in North West Europe.

    Order of battle

    The 32nd Guards Brigade was constituted as follows during the war:

  • 5th Battalion, Coldstream Guards
  • 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
  • 3rd Battalion, Irish Guards
  • 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards
  • Commanders

    The following officers commanded the brigade:

  • Brigadier L. Bootle-Wilbraham
  • Brigadier G.L. Verney
  • Brigadier J.C.O. Marriott
  • Brigadier G.F. Johnson
  • Lieutenant-Colonel J.C. Windsor-Lewis
  • Brigadier J.O.E. Vandeleur
  • Postwar

    The Brigade was reraised in the early 1950s and joined the 3rd Infantry Division. The Brigade was moved from Cyprus to reinforce the British forces in the Canal Zone in February 1952, but was later disbanded by being redesignated 29th Infantry Brigade.

    References

    32nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) Wikipedia