The 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was formed under the British Empire in India as an infantry formation for service in the Second World War. It was raised under the administrative authority of the British Indian Army in 1939 and remained in active service till 1945. In September 1939, it was reformed and attached with the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade. Afterwards it was allotted to the 4th Indian Infantry Division. The troops took part in several conflicts and campaigns of the British Government of India.
The 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was initially stationed in Egypt and actively participated in the conflicts in North Africa. It was later sent to Sudan in the year 1941 along with the 5th Indian Infantry Division. Eventually the brigade went back to the 4th Division Command. Then the troops participated in the Syria Lebanon Campaign. Later the British Indian infantry brigade was again stationed in North Africa and functioned under the command of the 10th Indian Infantry Division, the 5th Indian Infantry Division, the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division and the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. The troops provided significant military service during the Tunisian Campaign. Later it served during the Greek Civil War and the Italian Campaign under the 4th Division.
Formation of 5th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 5th Indian Infantry Brigade included several military units of the British Indian army. These are mentioned below-
* 1st Royal Fusiliers (September 1939 to August 1941)
* 25th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Artillery (September 1939 to September 1940)
* 3/1st Punjab Regiment (September 1939 to February 1942)
* 3/14th Punjab Regiment (February 1941)
* 4/6th Rajputana Rifles (September 1939 to July 1943; February to April 1944)
* 4/11th Sikh Regiment (January to March 1941; August to November 1944)
* 1st Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Artillery (June 1941 to July 1941)
* 2/3rd Australian Infantry Battalion (June 1941)
* 1st Essex Regiment (August 1941 - September 1941)
* 1st The Buffs (October 1941 - December 1941)
* 1st Welch Regiment (January 1942 - April 1942)
* 8th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Artillery (February 1942)
* 1/6th Rajputana Rifles (December 1941 - February 1942; July 1943 - April 1944)
* 18th Field Company, Indian Engineers (May 1941 - October 1941)
* 1/4th Essex Regiment (April 1942 - August 1944; November 1944 - August 1945)
* 3/10th Baluch Regiment (April 1942 - February 1943; June 1944 - August 1945)
* 1/9th Gurkha Rifles February (1943 - August 1945)
* 1st Westminster Regiment January (1944)
* 2/7th Gurkha Rifles (August 1944 - September 1944)
Commanding Officers of 5th Indian Infantry Brigade
The most prominent commanders of the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade are listed as follows-
* Brigadier Theophilus J. Ponting (September 1939 to June 1940)
* Brigadier Wilfrid Lewis Lloyd (June 1940 to September 1941)
* Brigadier Dudley Russell (September 1941 to December 1942)
* Brigadier Donald R.E.R. Bateman (December 1942 to April 1944)
* Brigadier John C. Saunders-Jacobs (April 1944 to 1946)