| Highland Light Infantry Brigade 157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade 157th Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1902-1919 1920–1947[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Infantry Mountain Air Landing |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division |
| Engagements | First World War Second World War |
The157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade was aninfantrybrigade of theBritish Army. The brigade fought in both theFirst and theSecond World Wars, assigned to52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division.
TheHighland Light Infantry Brigade was originally a Volunteer Infantry Brigade formed in 1902 when the formerGlasgow Brigade of theVolunteer Force was split up. The four Volunteer Battalions of theHighland Light Infantry (HLI) constituted one brigade, while the four Volunteer Battalions of theCameronians (Scottish Rifles) formed the other (the Scottish Rifles Brigade, later the156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade of the TF).[2]
From 1902 to 1908 the Highland Light Infantry Brigade had the following composition:[2]
The Brigade Headquarters (HQ) was atHamilton, later at 2 West Regent Street, Glasgow. Initially the brigade commander was the Officer Commanding the 26th and 71st Regimental Districts (the HLI districts), later it wasColonel R.C. MacKenzie, former commanding officer of the 1st VB, HLI.[2]
After theVolunteers were subsumed into the newTerritorial Force (TF) under theHaldane Reforms of 1908,[3][4] the Highland Light Infantry Brigade formed part of theLowland Division of the TF with the following composition:[5][6][7][8]
Upon the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the Lowland Division was mobilised immediately for full-time war service. In May 1915 the brigade became the157th (1/1st Highland Light Infantry) Brigade and the division the52nd (Lowland) Division. The battalions were also redesignated with the '1/' prefix, 1/4th HLI. This was to avoid confusion with the 2nd Line duplicates which were also forming up and training as the196th (2/1st Highland Light Infantry) Brigade of65th (2nd Lowland) Division. The 2nd Line units consisted mainly of those few men who did not volunteer foroverseas service when asked at the outbreak of war, together with the many recruits, and were intended to act as a reserve for the 1st Line units being sent overseas. During the war the brigade and division served in theMiddle East and later on theWestern Front.
The composition of the brigade was as follows:[6][9][10][11]
After the First World War both the brigade and division were disbanded, as was the rest of the Territorial Force. With the creation of theTerritorial Army in 1921, the brigade was reconstituted within the 52nd Division as the157th (Highland Light Infantry) Infantry Brigade, again composed of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th battalions of the Highland Light Infantry, and remained this until 1938.[13]
In 1938, due to an increasing need to strengthen the anti-aircraft defences of the country, the 7th Battalion, HLI was transferred to theRoyal Artillery and converted into83rd (7th (Blythswood) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry) Anti-Aircraft Brigade, Royal Artillery.[14] In the same year the 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion was redesignated 1st Battalion,Glasgow Highlanders[15] but still retained the Highland Light Infantry as its parent regiment. In the following year the brigade was redesignated as157th Infantry Brigade.
During theSecond World War, the brigade served with the 52nd Division duringOperation Aerial in France in mid-1940 to cover the withdrawal of theBritish Expeditionary Force (BEF) beingevacuated from France. In 1942 to June 1944 the division was trained inmountain warfare, but was never used in the role. They were then trained in airlanding operations but were again never utilised in the role. In October 1944 they were sent to Belgium to join the21st Army Group and were attached to theFirst Canadian Army and fought in theBattle of the Scheldt. The brigade took part inOperation Blackcock in 1945 and ended the war by theRiver Elbe.
James Cassels, a futurefield marshal andChief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS), was a brigade major with this brigade from May 1940−October 1941.
The 157th Infantry Brigade was constituted as follows during the war:[16]
On 12 August 1944 the brigade was organised as a Brigade Group to be the sea echelon for 52nd (L) Division's projected airlanding operations. 157 Brigade Group moved to NW Europe independently with the following additional units under command:[16]
The brigade and attached units reverted to divisional command when 52nd (L) Division arrived by sea in October to take part in ground operations.
The following officers commanded the 157th Infantry Brigade during the war:[17]