Active 1939–1945 Allegiance British Empire Type Infantry | Country British India Branch British Indian Army Size Brigade | |
The 7th Indian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in September 1939, by the redesignation of the Poona Independent Brigade as the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade and renumbered 4th in June 1940, A second 7th Brigade was formed in June 1940, and assigned to the 5th Indian Infantry Division. In September 1940, it was reassigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade formed the garrison at Mersa Matruh in early December 1940. In January 1941, with the rest of the 4th Indian Division were sent to fight in the Sudan campaign.
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The brigade moved between the 4th and 5th Indian Divisions command in April 1941, before moving to Cyprus at the end of the month. Returning to the Western Desert it took part in the Second Battle of El Alamein. After reaching Tunisia the brigade come under command of the British 50th Infantry Division in March 1943. Returning to the 4th Division the brigade took part in the Italian Campaign and ended the war in Greece where the division had been sent to keep the factions apart in the Greek Civil War.
The brigade was destroyed in the Sino-Indian War of 1962. Its commander, Brigadier John Dalvi, was the highest-ranking officer to be captured by the PLA. Before the Sino-Indian War the 7th Brigade was deemed to be one of the best brigades in the Indian Army. It had the most combat experience, fighting the Axis in both the African and European theatres during World War II. Unfortunately, in 1962, the brigade failed to live up to its reputation, and the speed of its disintegration as a whole fighting unit was shocking. The unit was disbanded shortly after.