70th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

.Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 70th Infantry Brigade
abbreviation= 70th Inf Bde


Caption=
dates= 1939 - 1944
country= Great Britain
allegiance=
branch= British Army
type= Infantry
role=
size= Brigade
command_structure=British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
equipment=
Commanders=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol= (as part of 49th Division)
identification_symbol_2=
nickname= The Polar Bears
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Epsom, Invasion of Normandy
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours= The Odon Valley, Juvigny, Mezidon

The 70th Infantry Brigade was a British Territorial Army unit during the First and Second World Wars.

History

Originally part of the 23rd Division during World War I, the Brigade was reformed in the interwar period as part of the British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division [cite web|url= http://home.adelphia.net/~dryan67/orders/nc.html |title= Northern Command on 3 September 1939| accessdate=2008-03-05] . It was transferred to the British 23rd (Northumbrian) Division under which it was involved in the Battle of France in 1940 and the retreat from Dunkirk [cite web | url=http://www.wargunner.co.uk/more/bef.htm#23rd%20Division | title =British Expiditionary Force 1940 - 23rd Div| accessdate=2003-03-05] .

After escaping France, the brigade became part of the British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division. It went with the division to Iceland in 1941 for a chilly garrison stay, before returning to England in November of that year. It spent the remaining two and half years training before landing in Normandy on 12 June 1944. [ cite book|title=Breaking the Panzers|last=Baverstock|first=Kevin|year=2002|isbn=0750928956|pages = 2-27]

During Operation Martlet, the prepartory attack for Operation Epsom that took place on 25 June 1944, the brigade was heavily engaged around the village of Rauray with elements from the 12th SS Panzer and 26th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiments of 12th SS Panzer Division [cite book
last = Meyer
first = Hubert
authorlink =
coauthors =
editor =
others =
title = The 12th SS: The History of the Hitler Youth Panzer Division
origdate =
origyear = 2005
origmonth =
url = http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CELzdzkM2OkC
format =
accessdate =
accessyear =
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edition =
series =
date =
year =
month =
publisher = Stackpole Books
location =
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isbn = 0811731987
oclc =
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pages = 393
chapter =
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quote =
ref = ] . The Brigade then fought a bloody battle around Rauray as Kampfgruppe Weidinger of 2nd SS Panzer Division counter-attacked between 29 June and 1 July. [Baverstock, pp.47-152] For this it was given the battle honour of 'The Odon' [cite web |url= http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=1898&Tab=Ubh |title= Orders of Battle.com - 70th Brigade Honours| accessdate=2008-03-05]

Thereafter it fought south of Tilly-sur-Seulles, before following the 49th Division's initial drive during I Corps' drive to the Seine in late August. On 19 August, the brigade was withdrawn from the frontline and began to disband to fill the increasing gap in available infantry reinforcements. [Baverstock, pp.162-177] . By 19 October 1944, it ceased to exist [cite web |url= http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=1898&Tab=Uhi |title= Orders of Battle.com - 70th Brigade History| accessdate=2008-03-05] . Its place in the 49th Division was taken by the 56th Independent Infantry Brigade.

Commanders

* Brig. P. Kirkup
* Brig. P.P. King
* Brig. E.C. Cooke-Collis

Component Units (WW1)

11th Bn Sherwood Foresters [cite web|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike.briggs76/11th%20Btn.htm |title= Chesterfield Sherwoods on the Somme| accessdate=2008-03-05]

Component Units (WW2)

* 10th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
* 11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
* 1st Bn. The Tyneside Scottish

References

Bibliography

*Baverstock, Kevin. "Breaking the Panzers: The Bloody Battle for Rauray". Sutton Publishing, 2002. ISBN 0-7509-2895-6
*Delaforce, Patrick. "The Polar Bears". Sutton Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0750931949
*
* [http://www.ddaycasualties.com/49div.htm "Casualties for 49th Division"]
*Public Record Office, WO 171/653, Headquarters War Diary of 70th Infantry Brigade from January - July 1944