2nd Indian Infantry Brigade

The 2nd Indian Infantry Brigade was an erstwhile infantry establishment of the British Indian Army. It remained in active service from the year 1939 to 1945. The brigade was raised in September 1939 under the supervision of the British Empire in India during the Second World War. The 2nd Indian Infantry Brigade was designated as the 16th (Independent) Indian Infantry Brigade in October 1940. Later the troops were sent to Burma in November 1941. The unit took part in the Battle of Sittang Bridge and suffered heavy casualties.

The 2nd Indian Infantry Brigade was later re-designated as the 116th Indian Infantry Brigade in September 1942. Later it was allotted to the 39th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade included several infantry battalions. After a period of 6 months, each of the battalions was posted on the front as a part of the fighting divisions.

Formation of 2nd Indian Infantry Brigade
The 2nd Indian Infantry Brigade incorporated a number of British Indian Army units. These are listed below-
* 1st The Devonshire Regiment (September 1940)
* 4/12th Frontier Force Regiment (September 1940)
* 2/8th Punjab Regiment (June 1940 - September 1940)
* 2/8th Punjab Regiment (March 1940)
* 1st East Yorkshire Regiment (March 1940 - September 1940)

The re-designated 16th Indian Infantry Brigade included the following regiments-
* 1/9th Jat Regiment (October 1940 - March 1941)
* 2/1st Gurkha Rifles (October 1940 - April 1941)
* 4/12th Frontier Force Regiment (October 1940 - March 1941)
* 1/9th Jat Regiment (October 1941 - July 1942)
* 1/7th Gurkha Rifles (October 1941 - December 1941)
* 4/1st Gurkha Rifles (July 1941 - October 1941)
* 4/12th Frontier Force Regiment (October 1941 January 1942)
* 4th Burma Rifles (January 1942)
* 7th Burma Rifles (December 1941 January 1942)
* 1/7th Gurkha Rifles (January February 1942)
* 2nd The King`s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (February 1942)
* 2nd Burma Rifles (February 1942)
* 4/12th Frontier Force Regiment (February 1942 to September 1942)
* 4th Burma Rifles (February 1942 to March 1942)
* 3rd Burma Rifles (February 1942 to March 1942)
* 7/9th Jat Regiment (July 1942 - September 1942)
* 8th Burma Rifles (February 1942 to March 1942)
* 7/10th Baluch Regiment (February 1942 - May 1942)
* 2nd The Duke of Wellington`s Regiment (February 1942 - May 1942)

The battalions of the re-structured 116th Indian Infantry Brigade are mentioned as follows-
* 7/9th Jat Regiment (September 1942 - September 1943)
* 1st Assam Regiment (March 1943 - August 1943)
* 7/14th Punjab Regiment (December 1942 - August 1943)
* 1/8th Gurkha Rifles (April 1943 - November 1943)
* 2/8th Punjab Regiment (August 1943 - March 1944)
* 2/7th Rajput Regiment (August 1943 - December 1943)
* 6/11th Sikh Regiment (August 1943 - December 1943)
* 5/3rd Madras Regiment (March 1944 - September 1944)
* 2nd The Ajmer Regiment IAS (March 1944 - September 1944)
* 4th Jammu and Kashmir Infantry IAS (April 1944 - September 1944)
* 1/3rd Madras Regiment (September 1944 - January 1945)
* 2nd Green Howards (May - September 1944)
* 6/6th Rajputana Rifles (September 1944 - April 1945)
* 16/6th Rajputana Rifles (September 1944 - March 1945)
* 6/19th Hyderabad Regiment (September 1944 - April 1945)
* 1st Cameronians (October 1944 - March 1945)
* 8/6th Rajputana Rifles (February 1945- August 1945)
* 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment (October 1944 - April 1945)
* 1st Gloucestershire Regiment (April 1945 - August 1945)
* 1/7th Rajput Regiment (June 1945 - August 1945)
* 18th King Edward VII`s Own Cavalry (May 1945 - August 1945)