united_kingdom 1st brigade airborne infantry brigade british_army second world war infantry formation assigned serving alongside 1st brigade formed late world war conversion existing infantry brigade previously stationed india 31st initial infantry battalions left form new 6th 6th replaced single new battalion reducing brigade strength quarter brigade saw action occasions second world war operation allied invasion sicily july later operation market garden september second operation fighting 1st rest held overwhelming german odds sustaining heavy losses percent brigade evacuated south rest killed missing prisoners war following german surrender sent norway german garrison later year brigade disbanded formation command brigadier 1st formed october designation 31st returned united_kingdom training mountain warfare british india formation brigade consisted 1st battalion border regiment borders 2nd 2nd battalion royal rifles supporting units brigade original infantry battalions remained order battle men battalions unsuitable airborne service replaced volunteers strength brigade airborne division parachute brigades support infantry battalions brigade artillery engineer reconnaissance units divisional assets change affected brigade occurred left form 6th brigade returned united_kingdom assigned scottish december 2nd unit home defence duties stationed islands brigade infantry battalions consisted men rifle companies support company consisting anti tank pounder guns mortar armed inch mortars vickers machine gun transport brigade normally piloted men wingspan feet length feet maximum load capacity pounds space pilots maximum troops artillery gun trailer general required carry battalion action carried battalion support mortar machine gun operations sicily including 1st left june brigade comprised battalions borders brigadier philip command brigadier having promoted major general given command arrived theatre brigade based area north western mediterranean coast algeria training invasion sicily code named started earnest major general persuaded general commander include invasion sicily wishes commander major general commander lieutenant colonel men concerned insufficient aircraft complete division british pilots infantry familiar concerns proved correct aircraft division brigades invasion assigned orders seize hold bridge prior 1st operation assault bridge river south syracuse brigade hold bridge relieved advance british 1st allocated operation carrying infantry companies scheduled land bridge july coup main operation remainder brigade arrive july number landing zones miles away converge bridge reinforce defence july men brigade seven artillery guns mortars boarded tunisia took bound sicily route encountered strong winds poor visibility times subjected anti aircraft fire avoid gunfire pilots aircraft climbed higher took action confusion surrounding manoeuvres released early crashed sea drowning men remaining landed correct landing zones landed miles away remainder shot failed release returned tunisia platoon infantry landed near bridge commander divided men groups swam river half positions opposite bank bridge captured following simultaneous assault sides platoon dismantled demolition charges fitted bridge dug wait reinforcement relief landed yards bridge exploded landing killing board carrying coup main party landed miles bridge occupants eventually finding way site reinforcements began arrive bridge numbered men men landed captured radio station based warning imminent landings transmitted station previous occupants local italian commander ordered counter attack troops failed message scattered nature landings worked brigade favour able cut telephone wires immediate area forces bridge came repeated attacks italians expected relief appear planned men bridge remained fit fight ammunition result italians recaptured bridge unit arrived bridge mounted successful counter attack prior removal demolition charges bridge prevented italians destroying 1st took fighting withdrawn north_africa july landings sicily losses worst british units involved far amounted killed missing wounded accompanying pilots lost killed missing wounded service mediterranean brigade returned spa lincolnshire reinforced arrival 7th scottish november day landings june 1st strategic reserve standby deploy needed support invasion division brigade assigned operation market garden netherlands entailed airborne divisions capturing bridges subsequently prior operation planned airborne missions france belgium cancelled speed allied advance shortage transport aircraft meant days transport division plan called majority 1st 1st land day parachute brigade head capture bridges brigade secured drop zones units arriving second days division units arrived brigade defensive positions west 1st units arriving second lift companies plus mortar machine gun anti tank platoon sections mortar machine gun anti tank borders contingent amounted september lift successfully carried majority brigade failed arrive technical problems 1st headed brigade dug secure landing grounds dug landing zone drop zone borders landing zone command brigade located brigade headquarters pilots wing equivalent small infantry battalion night september divisional commander major general reported missing brigadier assumed command division colonel replaced brigade commander day problems forced change divisional plan 2nd reached road bridge strong german defences halted battalions decided link 1st attempt reach objective failed break german defenders bad weather england kept planned second lift ground troops arrive delay gave germans time approach landing grounds engage numerous attacks northern perimeter stage commanding officer lieutenant colonel led bayonet charge clear germans area borders repeatedly attacked south landing zone eventually forced guns 1st light regiment break attacks previously decided send second lift join battalion fighting sent 11th lift support 1st responsible defending landing ground attached replace 11th parachute battalion responsible defending landing ground arrival poles day left borders wing field ambulance brigade command day 1st attacked objective link 3rd trapped attack failed allowed rejoin division position trapped germans allowed brigadier resume command brigade dispatched colonel command attack left killed mortar barrage outside 1st holding landing zone expected polish resupply came attack west north west night tried high ground stopped heavy machine gun fire instead dug remainder advancing north railway line encountered strong german defence line unable progress battalions ordered withdraw south railway line northern battalion far enjoyed quiet morning hours took advance south railway companies cut entire battalion transport lost fire pursuing germans battalions crossed landing zone lift landing attempting poles came fire assuming approaching men germans opened fire caused casualties command men remnants troops 1st pulled gathered hoc formation known major command deployed south east defend division artillery line dusk approached wounded rest men dead wounded engaged tanks emerged woods anti tank gun destroyed tank disabled second weapon destroyed moving nearby gun crew dead continued fight tank shortly managed disable killed shell german tank actions received posthumous victoria_cross highest british military decoration arrived perimeter formed took positions south railway line north division headquarters day battalions 1st dispersed wide area borders west line east road remaining companies lay north remnants forming east brigade headquarters established open ground centre divisional area day september defence divisional area divided remaining brigade headquarters 1st west commanded remaining companies borders remnants remained poles major disabled tank wounded machine gun fire positioned division artillery guns destroyed number actions led award victoria cross second medal meant british battalion receive victoria crosses battle second world war germans mount infantry assault divisional area continuous mortar artillery attack instead sector subjected small scale assaults times supported tanks self propelled guns enemy troops attacked borders forced high ground overlooking river finally germans mounted strong assault following landing 1st polish south river attack forced positions regained bayonet charge fighting fierce reports suggested annihilated turned counter attack fact reduced battalion strength men day september battle settled routine small attacks times supported armoured vehicles sniper fire poles dug south river relieved pressure division german forces diverted confront following day began similar way previous days mortar artillery bombardment followed infantry armour trying find gap perimeter defending brigade area repeatedly attacked furthermore food water shortages took toll men foraging parties subjected sniper fire day september german attacks continued enemy engaged artillery south river aircraft royal_air_force broke assaults got started september lieutenant general commander decided reinforce position north rhine instead prepare evacuation survivors evacuation took place night september men left england operation market garden killed evacuated missing prisoners war norway replacements 1st began bring brigade strength replacements brigadier took place injured brigadier germans surrendered involved action including brigade hoc brigade formed divisional artillery sent german occupation forces norway entering norway division responsible maintaining law order areas occupied ensuring german units followed terms surrender securing protecting captured airfields finally preventing sabotage essential military civilian structures landing nearby occupied norwegian capital oslo brigadier commander duration division time norway city chosen norwegian capital centre norwegian german administration brigade returned united_kingdom august disbanded battalions returned conventional infantry role brigade composition commanding officers brigadier brigadier brigadier formation 1st battalion border regiment 2nd battalion south regiment 2nd battalion 1st battalion royal rifles 1st reconnaissance squadron december 1st battalion border regiment 2nd battalion south regiment 7th battalion king scottish field ambulance
1st Airlanding Brigade (United Kingdom)