204th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)

204th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) was a Home Defence formation of the British Army during the Second World War.

204th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
204th Independent Infantry Brigade
Insignia of the 204th Independent Infantry Brigade[1]
Active12 October 1940-1 September 1942
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry Brigade
RoleHome Defence

Origin

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The 204th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) was formed for service in the United Kingdom on 12 October 1940 by No 4 Infantry Training Group in the West Midland Area of Home Forces.[2] It was commanded by Brigadier G. McI. Bruce and comprised four newly raised infantry battalions from the North and Midlands of England.[2]

Service

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The brigade moved from West Midlands Area to the Lincolnshire County Division when that was formed on 27 March 1941.[2][3] The Lincolnshire County Division ceased to function on 24 November and the brigade, now re-designated the 204th Independent Infantry Brigade was transferred to the Durham and North Riding Coastal Area.[2][3] On 1 September 1942, the Brigade headquarters was re-designated 185th Infantry Brigade and its units transferred to other formations.[2][4] 7th South Lancashires, 12th Foresters and 7th Leicesters went to India[5] while 8th South Lancashires was disbanded.[6]

Order of battle

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The composition of the 204th Brigade was as follows:[2]

Attached when an Independent Brigade.

Insignia

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The brigade's cloth shoulder badge was a triangle composed of three smaller conjoined triangles in the Facing colours of its three senior units: buff (S. Lancashires), pearl grey (Leicesters) and Lincoln green (Foresters), the whole being edged in blue (KSLI).[9]

Notes

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  1. ^ Cole p. 131
  2. ^ a b c d e f Joslen, p. 367.
  3. ^ a b Joslen, p. 113.
  4. ^ Joslen, p. 360.
  5. ^ Joslen, pp. 253–4, 292, 538, 543–4.
  6. ^ S Lancs at Regiments.org
  7. ^ Neal.
  8. ^ 181 Fd Rgt at RA 39–45 Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Neal, pp. 3 & 30, Plate XLVII.

References

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  • Cole, Howard (1973). Formation Badges of World War 2 Britain, Commonwealth and Empire. London: Arms and Armour Press.
  • 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.
  • Don Neal, Guns and Bugles: The Story of the 6th Bn KSLI – 181st Field Regiment RA 1940–1946, Studley: Brewin, 2001, ISBN 1-85858-192-3.

Online sources

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