The 27th (N Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade was a brigade sized formation of the British Army, which was founded on 18 September 1940 in Northern Rhodesia.[a] The brigade was initially called the 7th (N Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade, but was redesignated on 3 October 1940 as the 27th (N Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade. In April 1945, the brigade was redesignated to the 27th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade.[1]
| 7th (N Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade 27th (N Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade 27th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 18 September 1940–? |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade Brigade group |
The brigade was composed of units, initially, from the Northern Rhodesia Regiment. The brigade later included units from the King's African Rifles and the Mauritius Regiment.[1] During the Second World War, the brigade formed part of various corps-sized commands, and was deployed to East Africa and the Union of South Africa in a non-combat role. The brigade also took part in the Battle of Madagascar.[2]
General officers commanding
editThe brigade had the following commanders, during the Second World War.[1]
| Appointed | Brigadier |
|---|---|
| 18 September 1940 | Brigadier G. Dawes |
| 27 October 1941 | Brigadier J. S. Hewick |
| 27 May 1942 | Lieutenant-Colonel H. G. Veasey (acting) |
| 2 June 1942 | Colonel G. G. Johnson (acting) |
| 19 June 1942 | Brigadier Colin Frederick Blackden |
| 28 June 1942 | Brigadier R. E. Hobday |
| 10 February 1943 | Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Henry Scott Galletly (acting) |
| 2 March 1943 | Brigadier R. E. Hobday |
| 17 November 1943 | Lieutenant-Colonel P. A. Morcombe (acting) |
| 3 January 1944 | Brigadier William Fox-Pitt |
| 28 August 1944 | Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Mileham (acting) |
| 11 September 1944 | Brigadier William Fox-Pitt |
| 18 May 1945 | Lieutenant-Colonel V. K. H. Channer (acting) |
| 21 May 1945 | Lieutenant-Colonel A. F. G. Monro (acting) |
| 30 May 1945 | Brigadier Thomas Henry Scott Galletly |
| 14 June 1945 | Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. D. Watson (acting) |
| 18 July 1945 | Brigadier Thomas Henry Scott Galletly |
Order of battle
editThe brigade was composed of the following units:[1]
- 2nd Battalion, Northern Rhodesia Regiment (NRR)
- 3rd Battalion, NRR (until 20 July 1943)
- 4th Battalion, NRR (from 26 November 1940 until 26 February 1943)
- 2/3rd Battalion, King's African Rifles (KAR; from 26 February 1943 until 31 May 1943)
- 3rd Battalion (Kenya), KAR (from 1 June 1945)
- 6th Battalion (Tanganyika Territory), KAR (from 21 July 1943)
- 1st Battalion, Mauritius Regiment (from 20 December 1943 until 28 June 1944)
- 21st Battalion (Nyasaland), KAR (from 1 December 1944)
- 27th (Northern Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade Group Company, East Africa Army Service Corps (remained with the brigade after it ceased being a brigade group)
- 4th Infantry Brigade Workshop, East Africa Army Electrical Mechanical Engineers (remained with the brigade after it ceased being a brigade group)
Between April 1942 and April 1945, the brigade operated as a brigade group and commanded the following units:[1]
- 4th East Africa Armoured Car Regiment (from 15 November 1944)
- 55th (Tanganyika) Light Battery, East African Artillery (until 23 November 1942)
- 57th (East Africa) Field Battery, East African Artillery (from 19 December 1942, until 26 December 1942)
- 59th (East Africa) Field Company, East African Engineers (until 7 June 1943)
- 31st (Nyasaland) Independent Machine Gun Company, KAR (from 24 July 1944 until 31 October 1944)
- 31st Battalion (Nyasaland), KAR (from 20 November 1944)
- 41st Battalion (Nyasaland), KAR (from 20 November 1944)
- 27th (Northern Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade Group Company, East Africa Army Service Corps (until 23 July 1944)
- 7th (Northern Rhodesia) Field Ambulance, Royal Medical Corps
- 4th Infantry Brigade Workshop, East Africa Army Electrical Mechanical Engineers (from 16 September 1944)
Notes
editFootnotes
- ^ The brigade name is as displayed in Joslen's work on British Army formations, which does not use "north" or "northern" within the title.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e Joslen 2003, p. 425.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 426.
References
edit- Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.