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Military unit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 214th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army raised during the Second World War that saw active service on the North West Europe.
214th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) 214th Independent Infantry Brigade 214th Infantry Brigade | |
---|---|
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Brigade |
Part of | 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division |
Engagements | The Odon Caen Bourguebus Ridge Mont Pinçon The Nedderrijn The Rhineland The Rhine |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Hubert Essame Richard Goodwin |
Insignia | |
Formation sign worn when in the Hampshire County Division. | |
Formation sign worn when in the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. |
The brigade was formed for service in the United Kingdom on 11 October 1940, when the No 14 Infantry Training Group was redesignated as the 214th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home). It was initially composed of newly raised battalions. On 1 December 1941, it was redesigned as the 214th Independent Infantry Brigade.[1]
On 5 September 1943, the brigade joined the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, replacing the 34th Tank Brigade, and along with the 129th Infantry Brigade and 130th Infantry Brigade reformed the 43rd Division as a standard infantry division, after an experiment as Mixed (infantry and tank) division was abandoned.[1][2] The brigade landed in Normandy on 24 June 1944, under the command of Brigadier Hubert Essame, and fought during Operation Overlord, It fought against the German 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen at Hill 112, in July 1944, during the Battle for Caen.[3][4]
The 214th Brigade, along with the rest of the 43rd Division, were the first British units to cross the River Seine, with an assault crossing at the French town of Vernon opposed by the 49th Infantry Division.[3][5] This enabled the armour of XXX Corps to thrust across northern France and into Belgium. The brigade was later involved in Operation Market Garden, and supported the Guards Armoured Division.[3][6][7] The brigade was later placed along the Meuse as a reserve, during the Battle of the Bulge. It then went on to be engaged in the fighting in the Klever Reichswald (Operation Veritable) and the crossing of the Rhine (Operation Plunder).[3][6][8] By the end of hostilities they had reached the Cuxhaven peninsula of northern Germany.[3]
The 214th Brigade had the following composition:[1][9]
The 214th Brigade had the following commanders:[1]
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