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150th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

January 01, 1970

For the equivalent formation in the First World War, see 150th (York and Durham) Brigade.

The 150th Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army that saw active service in the Second World War. A 1st Line Territorial Army brigade, it was part of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. It served in the Battle of France and was evacuated from Dunkirk. Later it served in the Middle East and was overrun and forced to surrender during the Battle of Gazala in the North African Campaign. For almost 72 hours (29–31 May 1942) during the battle the 150th Brigade and the 44th Royal Tank Regiment held out against Erwin Rommel's concentrated attacks, without any support. On 1 June the German Army finally forced their surrender. The brigade was not reformed.

150th Infantry Brigade
Active1939–1942
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
SizeBrigade
Part of50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
EngagementsBattle of France (1940)
Battle of Gazala

Order of battle edit

The following units constituted the 150th Brigade:[1]

Battle of France edit

50th (Northumbrian) Division was mobilised on the outbreak of war in September 1939. After training it travelled to France in January 1940 to join the new British Expeditionary Force (BEF).[2][1][3]

The Battle of France began on 10 May with the German invasion of the Low Countries. The BEF followed the pre-arranged Plan D and advanced into Belgium to take up defences along the River Dyle. 50th (N) Division was in reserve for the divisions along the Dyle line by 15 May.[4] However, the German Army had broken through the Ardennes to the east, forcing the BEF to withdraw again across a series of river lines. By the end of 19 May the whole force was back across the Escaut, with 50th (N) Division concentrating on Vimy Ridge above Arras and preparing to make a counter-attack on the German forces sweeping past towards the sea.[5][6] The attack (the Battle of Arras) was made on 21 May, but 150th Bde was not involved, being sent to strengthen the garrison of Arras and to hold the line of the River Scarpe. It carried out a raid across the river during the day.[7] As the Germans continued to move west, behind the BEF, Arras was becoming a dangerous salient, and 150th Bde came under attack on 23 May. It fought its way out of Arras via Douai that night as the BEF scrambled to form a defensive ring round Dunkirk.[8] 50th (N) Division was then thrown into a gap left near Ypres when the Belgian Army surrendered.[9][10][11] By now the decision had been made to evacuate the BEF through Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo), and 50th (N) Division held the line to allow this to proceed. All day on 29 May it was bombarded as it pulled back, still in contact with the enemy.[12] The rest of II Corps was evacuated on the night of 31 May/1 June, while 50th (N) Division continued to hold the line.[13] Finally, 150th Bde's turn came, and it was evacuated to England on 2 June.[1]

50th (N) Division spent almost a year re-equipping and training in the UK, taking its place in the anti-invasion defences, before it was chosen for renewed overseas service.[2]

North Africa edit

50th (N) Division sailed to reinforce Middle East Forces on 23 April 1941, landing in Egypt on 13 June. It was then sent to garrison Cyprus, but 150th Bde was detached to Western Desert Force (WDF). However, the WDF's Operation Battleaxe had failed, 150th Bde was not immediately required, and in August it rejoined 50th (N) Division in Cyprus. In November the division moved by sea and road to Iraq, but once again 150th Bde was detached to Egypt as an independent brigade group, arriving on 29 November and joining Eighth Army on 22 December.[2][1][14]

While operating as an independent brigade group it included the following additional units:[1]

Operation Crusader was just ending as the brigade arrived in the desert, and there was a lull of some months before active operations restarted. The rest of 50th (N) Division arrived in February, and 150th Bde reverted to its command on 22 February, but all of its brigades were to operate as independent groups in the next phase of fighting (the Battle of Gazala).[1]

Battle of Gazala edit

Main article: Battle of Gazala
 
150th Brigade's position at the start of the battle can be seen in the map[16]

The "Gazala Line" was a series of occupied "boxes" each of brigade strength set out across the desert with minefields and wire watched by regular patrols between the boxes. When General Erwin Rommel attacked on 26 May, 150th and 69th Bdes of 50th Division occupied two boxes: there was a gap of 6 miles (9.7 km) between 150th Bde at Sidi Muftah and 69th Bde to the north, and another gap of 13 miles (21 km) between 150th Bde and 1st Free French Brigade's box at Bir Hakeim to the south. The line was not equally manned, a greater number of troops covering the coast leaving the south less protected. 1st South African Division was nearest the coast, with 1st and 7th Armoured divisions waiting behind the main line as a mobile counter-attacking force. 2nd South African Division formed a garrison at Tobruk and 5th Indian Infantry Division (which had arrived in April to relieve 4th Indian Infantry Division) was held in reserve.[17]

The German advance was spotted by the 4th South African Armoured Car Regiment at first light on 27 May. At about 08:30 they overran the 7th Armoured Divisional HQ. This scattered the 7th Motor Brigade, which withdrew to the Retma Box, fifteen miles east of Bir Hakeim, while 4th Armoured Brigade, fought all day to stem the attackers. By the afternoon, the German attack had shattered the 7th Armoured Division and they were in position to assault the 201st Guards Motor Brigade, in the Knightsbridge Box. The Germans now attacked the Retma Box, which was garrisoned by the Rangers (9th King's Royal Rifle Corps), 2nd Rifle Brigade, C Bty 4th RHA, and a Rhodesian anti-tank unit. Accompanied by heavy artillery fire the Panzers swarmed in, swiftly overrunning the 9th KRRC, with the rest of the garrison then moving back to east of Bir El Gubi. The Germans now pushed their Panzers on to the north, moving behind the Gazala Boxes, where British resistance stiffened in what became known as the Battle of the Cauldron. By the evening of 28 May it was clear to Brigadier C.W. Haydon that his 150th Bde was going to be attacked from this direction, and he pulled in his southern battalion and prepared for all-round defence, reinforced by part of 1st Army Tank Bde, including 30 tanks. The garrison of 150th Bde Box now stood at:[18]

To shorten their supply lines the Axis began clearing two paths through the minefield either side of the 150th Bde Box along the Trigh el Abd and Trigh Capuzzo. The brigade kept the supply lines under artillery fire and, although it was unable to stop the flow of traffic, it made the route so ineffective that the enemy armoured divisions to the east of the minefields were reduced to a parlous state for petrol, ammunition and food. Their water ration was down to half a cup a man.[citation needed]

Early on 30 May elements of the Afrika Korps attempted to break through the brigade's position but drew off after taking losses. Next day the Italian Trieste Division and German 90th Light Division attacked, but made little progress against a defence that they described as 'skilful and stubborn'. On 1 June Rommel reinforced the attackers with the 21st Panzer Division and more artillery, and the assault was resumed after heavy dive-bombing. Early in the afternoon 150th Bde was overcome by a series of concentric attacks and overrun, Brigadier Haydon was killed, and the survivors (including Brigadier O'Carroll) became prisoners of war.[2][1][19]

Panzerarmee Afrika said in its daily battle report. "The encircled enemy, supported by numerous infantry tanks, again resisted most stubbornly", "Each separate element within the fortress-like strengthened defences had to be fought for. The enemy suffered extraordinary heavy, bloody losses. Eventually the operation, which also caused considerable losses to our troops, ended in complete success"[20]

Commanders edit

The following commanded the brigade:[1]

Postwar edit

150th Brigade was not reformed when 50th (Northumbrian) Division was reconstituted in the Territorial Army in 1947. Instead, the reformed 4th East Yorkshires and 4th Green Howards became part of 151 Infantry Brigade, now subtitled 'Yorkshire & Durham'.[21]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Joslen, p. 334.
  2. ^ a b c d Joslen, pp. 81–2.
  3. ^ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter II.
  4. ^ Ellis, Chapter III.
  5. ^ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter IV.
  6. ^ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter V.
  7. ^ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter VI.
  8. ^ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter VIII.
  9. ^ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter IX.
  10. ^ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter XII.
  11. ^ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter XIII.
  12. ^ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter XIV.
  13. ^ Ellis, France & Flanders, Chapter XV.
  14. ^ Playfair, pp. 2, 73–4.
  15. ^ a b Watson & Rinaldi, p. 163.
  16. ^ Ramsden.
  17. ^ Playfair, pp. 216–7.
  18. ^ Playfair, pp. 223–7.
  19. ^ Playfair, pp. 226–8.
  20. ^ Agar-Hamilton & Turner 1952, p. 38.
  21. ^ Watson, TA 1947.

References edit

  • Davies, J. B. (1980). Great Campaigns of World War II. London: Phoebus. ISBN 978-0-89673-038-0.
  • Maj L.F. Ellis, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940, London: HM Stationery Office, 1954/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, 978-1-85457-056-6.
  • Heckstall-Smith, Anthony (1960). Tobruk: The Story of a Siege. New York: Norton. ISBN 978-1-84145-051-3.
  • Holland, James (2005). Together We Stand: Britain, America and the War in North Africa, May 1942 – May 1943. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-717647-3.
  • Agar-Hamilton, John Augustus Ion; Turner, Leonard Charles Frederick (1952). Crisis in the Desert, May July, 1942. [With Plates.]. Cape Town.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • 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.
  • I.S.O. Playfair, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Mediterranean and Middle East, Vol III: (September 1941 to September 1942) British Fortunes reach their Lowest Ebb, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960 /Uckfield, Naval & Military Press, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-67-X
  • Graham E. Watson & Richard A. Rinaldi, The Corps of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889–2018, Tiger Lily Books, 2018, ISBN 978-171790180-4

External sources edit

Ramsden, Colin (5 September 2005). Archived from the original on 17 May 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2008.

  • Graham Watson, The Territorial Army 1947

January 01, 1970
150th, infantry, brigade, united, kingdom, equivalent, formation, first, world, 150th, york, durham, brigade, 150th, infantry, brigade, infantry, formation, british, army, that, active, service, second, world, line, territorial, army, brigade, part, 50th, nort. For the equivalent formation in the First World War see 150th York and Durham Brigade The 150th Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army that saw active service in the Second World War A 1st Line Territorial Army brigade it was part of the 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division It served in the Battle of France and was evacuated from Dunkirk Later it served in the Middle East and was overrun and forced to surrender during the Battle of Gazala in the North African Campaign For almost 72 hours 29 31 May 1942 during the battle the 150th Brigade and the 44th Royal Tank Regiment held out against Erwin Rommel s concentrated attacks without any support On 1 June the German Army finally forced their surrender The brigade was not reformed 150th Infantry BrigadeActive1939 1942Country United KingdomBranch British ArmyTypeInfantrySizeBrigadePart of50th Northumbrian Infantry DivisionEngagementsBattle of France 1940 Battle of Gazala Contents 1 Order of battle 2 Battle of France 3 North Africa 3 1 Battle of Gazala 4 Commanders 5 Postwar 6 Notes 7 References 8 External sourcesOrder of battle editThe following units constituted the 150th Brigade 1 4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment 4th Battalion Green Howards 5th Battalion Green Howards 150th Infantry Brigade Anti Tank Company 8 December 1939 to 1 January 1941Battle of France edit50th Northumbrian Division was mobilised on the outbreak of war in September 1939 After training it travelled to France in January 1940 to join the new British Expeditionary Force BEF 2 1 3 The Battle of France began on 10 May with the German invasion of the Low Countries The BEF followed the pre arranged Plan D and advanced into Belgium to take up defences along the River Dyle 50th N Division was in reserve for the divisions along the Dyle line by 15 May 4 However the German Army had broken through the Ardennes to the east forcing the BEF to withdraw again across a series of river lines By the end of 19 May the whole force was back across the Escaut with 50th N Division concentrating on Vimy Ridge above Arras and preparing to make a counter attack on the German forces sweeping past towards the sea 5 6 The attack the Battle of Arras was made on 21 May but 150th Bde was not involved being sent to strengthen the garrison of Arras and to hold the line of the River Scarpe It carried out a raid across the river during the day 7 As the Germans continued to move west behind the BEF Arras was becoming a dangerous salient and 150th Bde came under attack on 23 May It fought its way out of Arras via Douai that night as the BEF scrambled to form a defensive ring round Dunkirk 8 50th N Division was then thrown into a gap left near Ypres when the Belgian Army surrendered 9 10 11 By now the decision had been made to evacuate the BEF through Dunkirk Operation Dynamo and 50th N Division held the line to allow this to proceed All day on 29 May it was bombarded as it pulled back still in contact with the enemy 12 The rest of II Corps was evacuated on the night of 31 May 1 June while 50th N Division continued to hold the line 13 Finally 150th Bde s turn came and it was evacuated to England on 2 June 1 50th N Division spent almost a year re equipping and training in the UK taking its place in the anti invasion defences before it was chosen for renewed overseas service 2 North Africa edit50th N Division sailed to reinforce Middle East Forces on 23 April 1941 landing in Egypt on 13 June It was then sent to garrison Cyprus but 150th Bde was detached to Western Desert Force WDF However the WDF s Operation Battleaxe had failed 150th Bde was not immediately required and in August it rejoined 50th N Division in Cyprus In November the division moved by sea and road to Iraq but once again 150th Bde was detached to Egypt as an independent brigade group arriving on 29 November and joining Eighth Army on 22 December 2 1 14 While operating as an independent brigade group it included the following additional units 1 72nd Northumbrian Field Regiment Royal Artillery 232nd Northumbrian Field Company Royal Engineers 15 50th Recce Battalion until 22 December 1941 B Company Royal Army Service Corps Sections Royal Army Ordnance Corps Operation Crusader was just ending as the brigade arrived in the desert and there was a lull of some months before active operations restarted The rest of 50th N Division arrived in February and 150th Bde reverted to its command on 22 February but all of its brigades were to operate as independent groups in the next phase of fighting the Battle of Gazala 1 Battle of Gazala edit Main article Battle of Gazala nbsp 150th Brigade s position at the start of the battle can be seen in the map 16 The Gazala Line was a series of occupied boxes each of brigade strength set out across the desert with minefields and wire watched by regular patrols between the boxes When General Erwin Rommel attacked on 26 May 150th and 69th Bdes of 50th Division occupied two boxes there was a gap of 6 miles 9 7 km between 150th Bde at Sidi Muftah and 69th Bde to the north and another gap of 13 miles 21 km between 150th Bde and 1st Free French Brigade s box at Bir Hakeim to the south The line was not equally manned a greater number of troops covering the coast leaving the south less protected 1st South African Division was nearest the coast with 1st and 7th Armoured divisions waiting behind the main line as a mobile counter attacking force 2nd South African Division formed a garrison at Tobruk and 5th Indian Infantry Division which had arrived in April to relieve 4th Indian Infantry Division was held in reserve 17 The German advance was spotted by the 4th South African Armoured Car Regiment at first light on 27 May At about 08 30 they overran the 7th Armoured Divisional HQ This scattered the 7th Motor Brigade which withdrew to the Retma Box fifteen miles east of Bir Hakeim while 4th Armoured Brigade fought all day to stem the attackers By the afternoon the German attack had shattered the 7th Armoured Division and they were in position to assault the 201st Guards Motor Brigade in the Knightsbridge Box The Germans now attacked the Retma Box which was garrisoned by the Rangers 9th King s Royal Rifle Corps 2nd Rifle Brigade C Bty 4th RHA and a Rhodesian anti tank unit Accompanied by heavy artillery fire the Panzers swarmed in swiftly overrunning the 9th KRRC with the rest of the garrison then moving back to east of Bir El Gubi The Germans now pushed their Panzers on to the north moving behind the Gazala Boxes where British resistance stiffened in what became known as the Battle of the Cauldron By the evening of 28 May it was clear to Brigadier C W Haydon that his 150th Bde was going to be attacked from this direction and he pulled in his southern battalion and prepared for all round defence reinforced by part of 1st Army Tank Bde including 30 tanks The garrison of 150th Bde Box now stood at 18 150th Infantry Brigade HQ Brig C W Haydon 4th East Yorkshires 4th Green Howards 5th Green Howards D Company 2nd Cheshire Regiment machine guns 72nd Northumbrian Field Rgt RA 25 26 Battery 7th Medium Rgt RA 259 Battery 55th Norfolk Yeimanry Anti Tank Rgt RA 81 Battery 25th Light Anti Aircraft Rgt RA 232 Northumbrian Field Company RE 15 Tactical HQ 1st Army Tank Bde Brig W O L O Carroll One squadron 42nd Royal Tank Regiment 44th Royal Tank Regiment To shorten their supply lines the Axis began clearing two paths through the minefield either side of the 150th Bde Box along the Trigh el Abd and Trigh Capuzzo The brigade kept the supply lines under artillery fire and although it was unable to stop the flow of traffic it made the route so ineffective that the enemy armoured divisions to the east of the minefields were reduced to a parlous state for petrol ammunition and food Their water ration was down to half a cup a man citation needed Early on 30 May elements of the Afrika Korps attempted to break through the brigade s position but drew off after taking losses Next day the Italian Trieste Division and German 90th Light Division attacked but made little progress against a defence that they described as skilful and stubborn On 1 June Rommel reinforced the attackers with the 21st Panzer Division and more artillery and the assault was resumed after heavy dive bombing Early in the afternoon 150th Bde was overcome by a series of concentric attacks and overrun Brigadier Haydon was killed and the survivors including Brigadier O Carroll became prisoners of war 2 1 19 Panzerarmee Afrika said in its daily battle report The encircled enemy supported by numerous infantry tanks again resisted most stubbornly Each separate element within the fortress like strengthened defences had to be fought for The enemy suffered extraordinary heavy bloody losses Eventually the operation which also caused considerable losses to our troops ended in complete success 20 dd Commanders editThe following commanded the brigade 1 Brigadier H S Kreyer on outbreak of war Lieutenant Colonel W E Bush acting from 9 April 1940 Brigadier C W Haydon from 26 April 1940 killed in action 1 June 1942 Postwar edit150th Brigade was not reformed when 50th Northumbrian Division was reconstituted in the Territorial Army in 1947 Instead the reformed 4th East Yorkshires and 4th Green Howards became part of 151 Infantry Brigade now subtitled Yorkshire amp Durham 21 Notes edit a b c d e f g h Joslen p 334 a b c d Joslen pp 81 2 Ellis France amp Flanders Chapter II Ellis Chapter III Ellis France amp Flanders Chapter IV Ellis France amp Flanders Chapter V Ellis France amp Flanders Chapter VI Ellis France amp Flanders Chapter VIII Ellis France amp Flanders Chapter IX Ellis France amp Flanders Chapter XII Ellis France amp Flanders Chapter XIII Ellis France amp Flanders Chapter XIV Ellis France amp Flanders Chapter XV Playfair pp 2 73 4 a b Watson amp Rinaldi p 163 Ramsden Playfair pp 216 7 Playfair pp 223 7 Playfair pp 226 8 Agar Hamilton amp Turner 1952 p 38 Watson TA 1947 References editDavies J B 1980 Great Campaigns of World War II London Phoebus ISBN 978 0 89673 038 0 Maj L F Ellis History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series The War in France and Flanders 1939 1940 London HM Stationery Office 1954 Uckfield Naval amp Military 2004 978 1 85457 056 6 Heckstall Smith Anthony 1960 Tobruk The Story of a Siege New York Norton ISBN 978 1 84145 051 3 Holland James 2005 Together We Stand Britain America and the War in North Africa May 1942 May 1943 London HarperCollins ISBN 0 00 717647 3 Agar Hamilton John Augustus Ion Turner Leonard Charles Frederick 1952 Crisis in the Desert May July 1942 With Plates Cape Town a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link 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 I S O Playfair History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series The Mediterranean and Middle East Vol III September 1941 to September 1942 British Fortunes reach their Lowest Ebb London HM Stationery Office 1960 Uckfield Naval amp Military Press 2004 ISBN 1 845740 67 X Graham E Watson amp Richard A Rinaldi The Corps of Royal Engineers Organization and Units 1889 2018 Tiger Lily Books 2018 ISBN 978 171790180 4External sources editRamsden Colin 5 September 2005 W H C Ramsden C B C B E D S O M C Archived from the original on 17 May 2007 Retrieved 8 October 2008 Graham Watson The Territorial Army 1947 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 150th Infantry Brigade United Kingdom amp oldid 1160582812, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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