70th Infantry Brigade

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70th Infantry Brigade
Active 1939 -
Country Great Britain
Allegiance Allies
Branch British Army
Type Infantry
Size Brigade
Part of British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
Nickname The Polar Bears
Insignia
Identification
symbol		 White Bear on Ice Flow

The 70th Infantry Brigade was a British Territorial Army unit during the First and Second World Wars.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally part of the 23rd Division during World War I, the Brigade was reformed in the interwar period as part of the British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division[1]. It was transferred to the British 23rd (Northumbrian) Division under which it was involved in the Battle of France in 1940 and the retreat from Dunkirk[2].

There are some records that indicate that it served in North Africa as part of the 8th Army[3].

In 1942 the brigade became part of the British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division and fought from Normandy (landing from the 12th June onwards[4]) through North West Europe. During Operation Epsom on 1944-06-27 the brigade fought the 49th Infantry regiment of the 12SS Panzer Division[5]. It was given the battle honour of 'The Odon'[6]

It was disbanded on 19 October 1944[7].

[edit] Commanders

  • Brig. P. Kirkup
  • Brig. P.P. King
  • Brig. E.C. Cooke-Collis

[edit] Component Units (WW1)

11th Bn Sherwood Foresters[8]

[edit] Component Units (WW2)

  • 10th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
  • 11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
  • 12th Bn. Durham light Infantry
  • 1st Bn. The Tyneside Scottish

[edit] References

  1. ^ Northern Command on 3 September 1939. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
  2. ^ British Expiditionary Force 1940 - 23rd Div. Retrieved on 2003-03-05.
  3. ^ Military History Network - Order of Battle • Eighth Army (British) (2005-09-20). Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
  4. ^ D_Day Casualties 49th Div OOB. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
  5. ^ Meyer, Hubert [2005]. The 12th SS: The History of the Hitler Youth Panzer Division. Stackpole Books, 393. ISBN 0811731987. 
  6. ^ Orders of Battle.com - 7th Brigade Honours. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
  7. ^ Orders of Battle.com - 7th Brigade History. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
  8. ^ Chesterfield Sherwoods on the Somme. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.


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