The 19th Indian Infantry Brigade was one of the infantry forces of the British Indian Army. The brigade was formed at Delhi in October 1940 by the British Government of India during the outbreak of the Second World War. The military formation remained in active service from the year 1940 to 1945. The 19th Indian Infantry Brigade was initially allotted to the 8th Indian Infantry Division.
The troops participated in the Anglo Soviet invasion of Iran in August 1941. Later in 1943, it was sent to Italy to take part in the Italian Campaign and was attached to the 2nd New Zealand Division for a brief period in November 1943.Later in December 1943, the infantry brigade was assigned to the British 1st Infantry Division. Eventually the 19th Indian Infantry Brigade was re-assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division and it served under the administration of the Division until the culmination of World War II.
Formation of 19th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 19th Indian Infantry Brigade included many regiments that are listed as follows-
* 1/1st Punjab Regiment (December 1940 - November 1941)
* 3/8th Punjab Regiment (October 1940 - August 1945)
* 1st Essex Regiment (December 1941 - May 1943)
* 2/6th Gurkha Rifles (November 1940 - July 1942)
* 5th Essex Regiment (May 1943 - March 1944)
* 6/13th Frontier Force Rifles (May 1942 - November 1942; February 1943 - August 1945)
* 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (February 1944 - June 1945)
* 19th New Zealand Armoured Regiment (November 1943)
* 1st Jaipur Regiment (September 1944 - October 1944)