17th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 17th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army which provided active service in the Second Boer War and both the First and Second World Wars. It was mainly composed of Regular Army battalions.

17th Brigade
17th Infantry Brigade
17th Infantry Brigade Formation Sign.
Active1914–1918
1939–1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
SizeBrigade
Part of8th Infantry Division
6th Infantry Division
EngagementsFirst World War
Second World War
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Montagu Stopford
Dudley Ward

History

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Second Boer War

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During the Second Boer War, the 17th brigade was active in South Africa as part of the 8th Division from early 1900 until the war ended in 1902.[1] It was under the command of Major-General John Edward Boyes, and included the following battalions:

First World War

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The 17th Brigade was originally part of the 6th Division during the First World War,[2] The commander was Brigadier General W.R.B. Doran CB DSO on mobilisation.[3] It was transferred to the 24th Division, a New Army division, on 14 October 1915.[2] The brigade saw service mainly on the Western Front.[2]

Order of battle

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On mobilisation - August 1914
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Component units included:[2]

November 1918
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Component units included:[4]

  • 8th (Service) Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
  • 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
  • 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
  • 17th Trench Mortar Battery

Second World War

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The Brigade served with the 5th Infantry Division through most of the Second World War.[5] On 5 May 1942 it was part of Force 121 in the Battle of Madagascar.[5] After this, the 17th Infantry Brigade served in the Allied invasion of Sicily with the British Eighth Army and the Italian Campaign, before taking part in the closing stages of the campaign in Germany.[5]

Order of battle

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Component units included:[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Anglo-Boer War".
  2. ^ a b c d "The 6th Division in 1914-1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  3. ^ Major General T.O. Marden, ed. (1920). A Short History of the 6th Division.
  4. ^ "The 24th Division in 1914-1918". The Long Long Trail. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "badge, formation, 5th Infantry Division". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  6. ^ Joslen 2003, p. 259.

References

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  • 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.
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