junior, second and senior brigade

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by rein, Jul 29, 2012.

  1. rein

    rein Junior Member

    The British infantry division consist out of 3 brigades:
    - junior infantry brigade
    - second infantry brigade
    - senior infantry brigade

    But what does this mean?
    What is the difference between those.
    How can I recognize to what type a brigade belongs?
    Was this system also adopted at regiment/battalion/company level?
     
  2. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Rein,

    There is no difference at all between the senior, second and junior brigades. However seniority is all important in the military. The senior brigade will normally have the lowest number and be the oldest. The junior will have the highest number and be the youngest. On parades the senior unit will go first. If one brigade is to be disbanded then it will the junior brigade that goes first.

    The same applies to battalions in a brigade.

    In WW2 the brigades could be recognised by:
    vehicles had different coloured arm of service squares for each brigade.
    personnel had one two or three red stripes on the arm of the battledress.

    Mike
     
  3. rein

    rein Junior Member

    Thanks for the info.
    So let's take an example:
    6th airborne - 6th airlanding brigade consist out of:

    1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles
    2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
    12th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

    according to the numbers: 1st = senior, 2nd= second, 12th = junior
    that's correct?
     
  4. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Rein,

    Afraid not. Seniority is based on a regiment's place on the 'Order of Precedence' (this is the modern list, there must be a WW2 version somewhere) which is based on the old 'Nth Regiment of Foot' titles. So the list should go:

    12th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (11th Foot)
    2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (43rd/52nd Foot)
    1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles (83rd/86th Foot)

    The two most junior regiments have a pair of numbers as the 'county regiments' were formed from pairs of numbered regiments, except for the first 24 regiments which already had two battalions. The whole thing's a minefield...
     
  5. rein

    rein Junior Member

    idler,

    reading your link, this whole senior, junior system looks for me more a parading thing.
    Does it have some value in combat?
     
  6. idler

    idler GeneralList

    The short answer is no.

    It used to - and I'm going back to horse-and-musket times - in the sense that battalions/regiments would normally deploy right-to left in order of seniority if they had time to worry about such things.

    It's tradition, pure and simple, and will no doubt continue until we're down to a single, 1-battalion regiment; which won't be long now at the rate we're going!
     
  7. rein

    rein Junior Member

    The short answer is no.

    It used to - and I'm going back to horse-and-musket times - in the sense that battalions/regiments would normally deploy right-to left in order of seniority if they had time to worry about such things.

    It's tradition, pure and simple, and will no doubt continue until we're down to a single, 1-battalion regiment; which won't be long now at the rate we're going!
    Thanks for the answer!, think it's now clear enough for me.
     

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