British 56th Infantry Brigade
Encyclopedia
The British Army
's 56th Infantry Brigade was originally a Kitchener's Army
brigade within 19th (Western) Division during the First World War.
Later during the Second World War it was reformed on 15 February 1944 in the United Kingdom
.
The Brigade took part in the Invasion of Normandy, where it formed the right flank of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division on Gold Beach
. It remained attached to the 50th Division until the 10th, after which it was attached to the 7th Armoured Division until 12 June, reverting then to 50th(Northumbrian) Infantry Division. It came under command of the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division in early August 1944. It was eventually permanently attached to the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
on 20 August 1944, after the 70th Infantry Brigade was detached, and eventually disbanded.
56 Brigade took part in the Normandy landings, liberated Bayeux on 7 June leaving the town mainly intact. All its battalions were involved in the taking of Tilly-sur-Seulles with 2 Essex finally investing the town. Later actions were north of St Germain d'Ectot and the liberation of Thury-Harcourt in the Suisse Normande. It was prominent in the drive towards Le Havre and was one of the assault divisions taking the city in September 1944. Continuing to fight in Belgium at Popple and then Holland it was the assault brigade for the final assault on Arnhem in April 1945. The 56th served well, and ended the war in Germany.
The Brigade was reformed in January 1987 within London District
and comprised mostly Guards Public duties
battalions. It was seen as the successor of the London Divisions of the First and Second World Wars. It was disbanded in 1993.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's 56th Infantry Brigade was originally a Kitchener's Army
Kitchener's Army
The New Army, often referred to as Kitchener's Army or, disparagingly, Kitchener's Mob, was an all-volunteer army formed in the United Kingdom following the outbreak of hostilities in the First World War...
brigade within 19th (Western) Division during the First World War.
Later during the Second World War it was reformed on 15 February 1944 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The Brigade took part in the Invasion of Normandy, where it formed the right flank of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division on Gold Beach
Gold Beach
Gold Beach was the code name of one of the D-Day landing beaches that Allied forces used to invade German-occupied France on 6 June 1944, during World War II....
. It remained attached to the 50th Division until the 10th, after which it was attached to the 7th Armoured Division until 12 June, reverting then to 50th(Northumbrian) Infantry Division. It came under command of the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division in early August 1944. It was eventually permanently attached to the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
This military division was formed on 1 April 1908 as the West Riding Division in the Territorial Force of the British Army.- First World War :...
on 20 August 1944, after the 70th Infantry Brigade was detached, and eventually disbanded.
56 Brigade took part in the Normandy landings, liberated Bayeux on 7 June leaving the town mainly intact. All its battalions were involved in the taking of Tilly-sur-Seulles with 2 Essex finally investing the town. Later actions were north of St Germain d'Ectot and the liberation of Thury-Harcourt in the Suisse Normande. It was prominent in the drive towards Le Havre and was one of the assault divisions taking the city in September 1944. Continuing to fight in Belgium at Popple and then Holland it was the assault brigade for the final assault on Arnhem in April 1945. The 56th served well, and ended the war in Germany.
The Brigade was reformed in January 1987 within London District
London District (British Army)
London District is the name given by the British Army to the area of operations encompassing the Greater London area. Established in 1870 as Home District, it was re-formed in 1905 as London District to be an independent district within the larger command structure of the army, and has remained so...
and comprised mostly Guards Public duties
Public duties
Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role.-Germany:...
battalions. It was seen as the successor of the London Divisions of the First and Second World Wars. It was disbanded in 1993.
World War II Structure
- 2nd Battalion, The Essex Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, The Gloucestershire RegimentThe Gloucestershire RegimentThe Gloucestershire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed "The Glorious Glosters", the regiment carried more battle honours on their regimental colours than any other British Army line regiment.-Origins and early history:...
- 2nd Battalion, The South Wales BorderersThe South Wales BorderersThe South Wales Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. It first came into existence, as the 24th Regiment of Foot, in 1689, but was not called the South Wales Borderers until 1881. The regiment served in a great many conflicts, including the American Revolutionary War, various...