Military unit
The 72nd Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army in the First World War and the Second World War .
First World War
Formation and Service
It was raised as part of the new army (Kitchener's Army ) and assigned to the 24th Division and served on the Western Front during the First World War.
Men of the 1st Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment near Cassel, 12 September 1917.
The brigade was disbanded after the war.
Order of battle
During the First World War the following units served in the 72nd Brigade.[4]
Second World War
Formation and Service
Men of the 6th Battalion, South Wales Borderers march through Bahe en route for Mandalay, January 1945.
In January 1941, the 72nd Independent Infantry Brigade was formed. In 1943, the Brigade HQ was re-designated the 5th Parachute Brigade after its units were dispersed.[5] A new 72nd Infantry Brigade was formed on 28 April 1944 from the 72nd Indian Infantry Brigade which was renamed and joined the 36th Infantry Division .[6]
Order of battle
During the Second World War the following units served in the Brigade.[5]
As the 72nd Independent Infantry Brigade
As the 72nd Infantry Brigade in India
References
Bibliography
Cole, Howard (1973). Formation Badges of World War 2 Britain, Commonwealth and Empire . London: Arms and Armour Press.
Hibbard, Mike; Gibbs, Gary (2016). Infantry Divisions, Identification Schemes 1917 (1 ed.). Wokingham: The Military History Society.
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 .
Regular Army Territorial Army East Africa: West Africa: Other: