153rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
| 153rd Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active |
2 September 1939 - 12 June 1940 August 1940 - 1945 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 51st (Highland) Infantry Division |
| Battle honours |
Battle of France North Africa Sicily Normandy Holland Belgium Germany |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Brigadier Douglas Alexander Graham (CBE, DSO and bar, MC, Croix de Guerre) |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
 As part of 51st Division |
The 153rd Infantry Brigade, part of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, was an infantry brigade of the British Army that fought during both the First and Second world wars. It was raised in 1908, as the 2nd Highland Brigade, upon the creation of the Territorial Force and was later redesignated the 153rd (2nd Highland) Brigade. The division was referred to as the "Highway Decorators" by other divisions who became used to discovering the 'HD' insignia painted wherever the Highlanders had passed through.
Along with its sister brigade, the 152nd Brigade, the 153rd was effectively destroyed when it surrendered at St Valery-en-Caux on 12 June 1940. It was reconstituted from the 27th Infantry Brigade of the 9th (Highland) Infantry Division, which was reorganised in August 1940 as the new 51st Division. It went on to serve in almost all of the major battles in North Africa, Sicily and North-west Europe.
Campaign Honours
- Battle of France - 1939-1940 (destroyed)
- Battle of El Alamein - 1942
- Operation Supercharge - 1942
- Operation Pugilist - 1943
- Operation Husky - 1943
- Operation Overlord - 1944
- Operation Astonia - 1944
- Battle of the Scheldt - 1944
- Battle of the Bulge - 1944/45
- Operation Plunder - 1945
Order of Battle
First World War
- 1/6th Battalion, Black Watch
- 1/7th Battalion, Black Watch
- Shetland Companies, Gordon Highlanders
- 1/4th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
- 1/5th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
- 1/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
Original 153rd Infantry Brigade (1939-1940)
- 4th Battalion, Black Watch
- 5th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
- 6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
Reconstituted 153rd Infantry Brigade (1940-1945)
- 5th Battalion, Black Watch
- 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
- 5/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders