33rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 33rd Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in World War I and home service in World War II.

First World War

The 33rd Brigade was formed in the Great War in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's Army, initially made up of volunteer service battalions from a variety of different infantry regiments. For the duration of the war, the brigade was in the 11th (Northern) Division. Between February and September 1917 it was under the command of Brigadier-General Arthur Daly.^[1] From September 1917 to the end of the war it was commanded by Brigadier-General Frederick Spring.^[2] The brigade served in the Gallipoli Campaign, in Egypt and on the Western Front, and comprised the following units:^[3]

First World War Order of battle

• 6th (Service) Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
• 6th (Service) Battalion, Border Regiment (disbanded 9 February 1918)
• 7th (Service) Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
• 9th (Service) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
• 33rd Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps (formed March 1916, moved into 11th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps 28 February 1918)
• 33rd Trench Mortar Battery (joined July 1917)^[4]

Second World War

The brigade was re-formed on 24 October 1941 during the Second World War as 33rd Infantry Brigade. On 10 November 1942 it was redesignated the 33rd Independent Infantry Brigade (Guards), under the command of Brigadier J. Jefferson.^[5] It was part of London District.^[6] The brigade was intended for home defence in the event of a German invasion and never left the United Kingdom. It was disbanded on 6 October 1943.

Second World War Order of battle

• 6th Battalion, Coldstream Guards (from 30 October 1941 to 30 September 1943)
• 3rd Battalion, Irish Guards (from 30 October to 4 September 1943)
• 3rd Battalion, Welsh Guards (from 30 October 1941 to 4 February 1942)
• 11th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment (from 5 to 31 December 1942)
• 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment (from 1 January to 4 October 1943)
• 9th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (from 1 January to 4 October 1943)^[7]
• 177th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (from 10 November 1942 to 4 October 1943)
• 220th Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery (from 10 November 1942 to 30 September 1943)
• 80th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery (from 7 December 1942 to 12 September 1943)
• 26th Field Company, Royal Engineers (from 10 November 1942 to 27 September 1943)
• 24th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron, Reconnaissance Corps (from 10 November 1942 to 9 February 1943)

References