British Infantry Battalions in Indian Infantry Brigades

Discussion in 'British Indian Army' started by DavidW, May 31, 2012.

  1. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Would the British Battalion in an Indian Infantry Brigade be built around the British Army Middle East War Establishment, or the Indian Army War Establishment?
     
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    As far as I can see, both British and Indian battalions were the same in the Middle East. An Indian battalion probably retained a proportion of non-combat support personnel of the 'sweeper' category as well as the involvement in the preparation of food. Also, battalions fresh from India probably had the Vickers LMG on establishment initially. Many British-Indian units adapted ad-hoc anti-tank platoons before British units, often with older and captured equipment.
     
  3. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thank you, that's most informative.
     
  4. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    David,

    I copied this from the 1 Royal Sussex Regt war diary (WO169/365) 1940.

    Hopefully it is of interest,

    Regards

    Tom
     

    Attached Files:

  5. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Great stuff Tom.

    Do you have anything on equipment as well as personnel?
     
  6. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    David,

    I only copied a couple of pages from the war diary - can't remember why now either! The attached page contains some details of transport arrangements at least.

    BTW I just had a thought - were the 1 R Sussex in an Indian Infantry Brigade. I can't remember! I have got some stuff on the Essex battalion overrun on 1 Jul 42 with 18 Indian Bde, I'll try to dig that out over the next week or so and post it here.

    Regards

    Tom
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    One more thing. On 18 Nov 41 all three brigades had an A/T Coy.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  8. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Tom,

    Yes 1 R Sussex were in 7 Indian Brigade.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  9. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  10. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  11. red ling

    red ling Member

    Hello,
    My father served with the 1st Bat The Royal Sussex which was with the 4th Indian Division part of the 7th Armoured Brigade in North Africa from 1940 -1941. If you click my avatar there are photos in which you might be interested.
     
  12. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Hi Red Ling

    Very interesting pictures. 1 Royal Sussex was in 7 Indian Brigade, part of 4 Indian Division. They had an 'interesting' time during Operation Crusader, including having to break out of Benghazi on 29 Jan 1942 by moving through the desert behind German/Italian lines.

    All the best

    Andreas
     

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