150th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 150th Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army that saw active service in World War II. 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.

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

150th Infantry Brigade
Insignia of the 50th Division, Second World War
Active1939–1942
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
SizeBrigade
Part of50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
EngagementsBattle of France (1940)
Battle of Gazala
Insignia
Identification
symbol		Twin overlapping red 'T's on a black background (symbolic of 'Tyne-Tees')
Abbreviation150th Inf Bde

Order of battle

The following units constituted the 150th Brigade during World War II:[1]

Battle of France

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

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
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.

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, 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

The following commanded 150th Bde during World War II:[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

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' (the original subtitle of the 150th Brigade of World War I).[21]

Notes
  1. Joslen, p. 334.
  2. 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. 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.
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References
  • 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.
  • Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-84342-474-6.
  • Maj-Gen 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

Ramsden, Colin (5 September 2005). "Major General 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.

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