22nd Guards Brigade

For the equivalent formation in the First World War, see 22nd Brigade (United Kingdom).
22nd Guards Brigade
200th Guards Brigade
201st Guards Motor Brigade
Active 1939–1946
Country  United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Type Infantry
Size Brigade
Garrison/HQ Mersa Matruh
Engagements Tobruk, Battle of Gazala, Medenine, Mareth Akarit, Enfidaville, Tunis, Salerno, Capture of Naples, Volturno Crossing, Monte Casino, Garigliano Crossing

The 22nd Guards Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw very distinguished active service during the Second World War.

History

The 22nd Infantry Brigade was formed by the redesignation of the 29th Infantry Brigade on 3 September 1939 and in March 1940 became responsible for all the troops in the Mersa Matruh Garrison area. In February 1941 the unit was reformed and renamed the 22nd Guards Brigade on 20 March 1941. It was converted to the 200th Guards Brigade (14 January 1942) and then finally the 201st Guards Motor Brigade (25 May 1942).

The 201st Guards Brigade saw extensive service in the North African Campaign. It was forced to surrender on 20 June 1942 when Tobruk was captured by German and Italian forces. It was reformed as the 201st Guards Motor Brigade in Egypt on 14 August 1942.

In July 1943 the brigade, now commanded by Brigadier Julian Gascoigne, was attached to the 56th (London) Infantry Division to replace the 168th (London) Infantry Brigade of that division which was temporarily attached to the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division during the Sicilian invasion. With the rest of the 56th Division, the brigade landed at Salerno, the first stage of the Italian Campaign, on 9 September 1943, where they were involved in heavy fighting and sustained heavy losses. During the battle 27-year old Company Sergeant Major Peter Harold Wright of the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards was awarded the Victoria Cross. The brigade continued to fight in Italy, crossing the Volturno Line in October and in December at the Bernhardt Line. In early 1944, due to heavy casualties and a lack of Guards replacements, the brigade was eventually sent back to the United Kingdom, where it became a training brigade for the whole Brigade of Guards for the rest of the war.[1]

Order of battle

The brigade was composed as follows during the war:

Upon reforming in August 1942 the 201st Guards Motor Brigade was composed as follows:

Commanders

References

  1. ↑ "56 (London) Infantry Division (1943-45)" (PDF). British Military History. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2016.

Bibliography

External links

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