301st Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

By the end of 1944, 21st Army Group was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among the infantry.[1] At the same time the German Luftwaffe was suffering from such shortages of pilots, aircraft and fuel that serious aerial attacks on the United Kingdom could be discounted. In January 1945 the War Office began to reorganise surplus anti-aircraft and coastal artillery regiments in the UK into infantry battalions, primarily for line of communication and occupation duties in North West Europe, thereby releasing trained infantry for frontline service.[2][3] The 301st Brigade was the first of seven brigades formed from these new units.[4][5]

The 301st Infantry Brigade was formed on 15 January 1945 within Scottish Command from the following Territorial Army RA units:[4]

• 616th Infantry Regiment, Royal Artillery[6] formed by 508th (Tynemouth) Coast Regiment RA (TA)[7]
• 617th Infantry Regiment, Royal Artillery[8] formed by 512th (East Riding) Coast Regiment RA (TA)[9]
• 619th Infantry Regiment, Royal Artillery[10] formed by 524th (Lancashire and Cheshire) Coast Regiment RA (TA)[11]

Brigadier J. Vicary was appointed to command the 301st Brigade on 26 January 1945. After infantry training, the brigade came under the orders of 21st Army Group on 9 May, and landed on the Continent on 15 May (a week after VE Day), where it came under the command of First Canadian Army.

• Major L. F. Ellis, "History of the Second World War: United Kingdom Military Series: Victory in the West", Volume II: "The Defeat of Germany", London: HMSO, 1968/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, ISBN 1-84574-059-9.
• Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2003, ISBN 1-84342-474-6.

• The Royal Artillery 1939–45