214th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
| 214th Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Country | Great Britain |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division |
History
In October 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 the experiment with Mixed divisions was abandoned.
The 43rd Division fought in the Battle of Normandy, where it faced off against the German 9th SS Panzer Division at Hill 112, in July 1944 during the Battle for Caen.
It, along with the rest of the Division, were the first British units to cross the Seine river, with an assault crossing at the French town of Vernon opposed by the German 49th Infantry Division (see 'Assault Crossing, The River Seine 1944' by Ken Ford). This enabled the armour of XXX Corps under Gen. Brian Horrocks to thrust across northern France into Belgium.
They later played a major role in Operation Market Garden, as the support to Guards Armoured Division.
They went on to play a small part in the Battle of the Bulge, where it was placed on the Meuse as a reserve, and a large part in the invasion of Germany and the Crossing of the Rhine (Operation Veritable).
By the end of hostilities they had reached the Cuxhaven peninsula of northern Germany.
214th Infantry Brigade
- 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
- 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
- 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
References
Hill 112 - Battles of the Odon 1944 Tim Saunders Battleground Europe Pen & Sword/Leo Cooper ISBN 0-85052-737-6