302nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
302nd Infantry Brigade was a headquarters formed by the British Army towards the end of World War II that never completed its organisation.
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] 302nd was formed on 15 January 1945 as one of a proposed eight brigade headquarters organised to command these new units. However, no brigade commander was appointed and no units were posted to the brigade, which was disbanded on 7 March 1945.[4]
Notes
- ^ Ellis, pp. 141–2.
- ^ Ellis, pp. 369, 380.
- ^ http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/infidx/index.html
- ^ Joslen, p. 398.
References
- 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.
- Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.