307th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

307th Infantry Brigade (307 Bde) was a formation of the British Army organised from surplus Royal Artillery (RA) personnel retrained as infantry towards the end of World War II.

307th Infantry Brigade
ActiveFormed 22 January 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry Brigade
RoleLines of Communication

Origin

By the end of 1944, the 21st Army Group was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among its infantry units.[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 307th was one of seven brigades formed from these new units.[4][5]

Composition

The 307th Infantry Brigade was formed on 22 January 1945 by conversion of the 59 AA Bde's headquarters within 2 Anti-Aircraft Group. The brigade had previously formed part of the Orkney and Shetland Defences (OSDEF) of Anti-Aircraft Command. It was commanded by Brigadier H.H.V. Christie initially, although he was later replaced by Brigadier W.W. Allison who filled the role from 1 March to 26 May 1945 until handing over to Brigadier L.K. Lockhart. The brigade consisted of the following Territorial Army RA units:[4][6]

  • 625th Infantry Regiment Royal Artillery – formed from the 95th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA).[7][8]
  • 626th Infantry Regiment, Royal Artillery – formed from the 97th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA).[9][10] (Transferred to 306th Infantry Brigade on 10 March 1945.)[11][12]
  • 631st (Kent) Infantry Regiment, Royal Artillery – formed from the 29th (Kent) Searchlight Regiment RA (TA).[13][14]
  • 623rd Infantry Regiment, Royal Artillery – formed from the 67th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA).[15][16] (Transferred from 306th Infantry Brigade on 10 March 1945.)[11][12]

Service

After infantry training, including a short period attached to Southern Command, the 307th Bde landed on the Continent on 23 April 1945, and came under the orders of the 21st Army Group, later of HQ Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF).[4]

Notes
  1. Ellis, pp. 141–2.
  2. Ellis, pp. 369, 380.
  3. "RA 1939–45: Infantry Regts Index".
  4. Joslen, p. 403.
  5. "RA 1939–45: 307 Infantry Brigade".
  6. "RA 1939–45: 307 Infantry Brigade".
  7. "RA 1939–45: 625 Regiment RA(TA)".
  8. "RA 1939–45: 95 LAA Rgt".
  9. "RA 1939–45: 626 Infantry Rgt".
  10. "RA 1939–45: 97 LAA".
  11. Joslen, pp. 402–3
  12. "RA 1939–45: 306 Infantry Brigade".
  13. "RA 1939–45: 631 Infantry Rgt".
  14. "RA 1939–45: 29 SL Rgt".
  15. "RA 1939–45: 623 Infantry Rgt".
  16. "RA 1939–45: 67 LAA Rgt".

References
  • Ellis, Major L.F. The Defeat of Germany. History of the Second World War: United Kingdom Military Series: Victory in the West, Volume II. London: HMSO, 1968/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-59-9.
  • Joslen, Lt-Col H.F. 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 1843424746.

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