JewelWoodcock19 at 22:07, 27 August 2025

2025-08-27T22:07:15Z

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{{For|the First World War formation|7th (Ferozepore) Brigade}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=7th Indian Infantry Brigade
|abbreviation=
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1939–1945
|country= {{flagicon|British Raj}} [[British Raj|British India]]
|allegiance= {{flag|British Empire}}
|branch= [[File:British Raj Red Ensign.svg|26px]] [[British Indian Army]]
|type= [[Infantry]]
|role=
|size= [[Brigade]]
|command_structure=
|equipment=

|Past Commanders=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|notable_commanders= [[Frank Crowther Roberts|Frank Roberts VC]]

|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_2=

|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=[[World War II]]<br>[[Sino-Indian War of 1962]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
}}
The '''7th Indian Infantry Brigade''' was an [[infantry]] [[brigade]] of the [[Indian Army during World War II]]. It was formed in September 1939, by the redesignation of the '''Poona Independent Brigade''' as the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade and renumbered [[4th Indian Infantry Brigade|4th]] in June 1940, A second 7th Brigade was formed in June 1940, and assigned to the [[5th Infantry Division (India)|5th Indian Infantry Division]]. In September 1940, it was reassigned to the [[4th Infantry Division (India)|4th Indian Infantry Division]]. The brigade formed the garrison at [[Mersa Matruh]] in early December 1940. In January 1941, with the rest of the 4th Indian Division were sent to fight in the [[East African Campaign (World War II)|Sudan campaign]].

The brigade moved between the 4th and 5th Indian Divisions command in April 1941, before moving to [[Cyprus]] at the end of the month. Returning to the [[Western Desert Campaign|Western Desert]] (and the 4th Indian Division), it took part in the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]]. After reaching [[Tunisia Campaign|Tunisia]] the brigade come under command of the [[50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division|British 50th Infantry Division]] in March 1943. Returning to the 4th Division the brigade took part in the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] and ended the war in [[Greece]] where the division had been sent to keep the factions apart in the [[Greek Civil War]].

The brigade was destroyed in the [[Sino-Indian War of 1962]]. Its commander, Brigadier [[John Dalvi]], was the highest-ranking officer to be captured by the PLA. Before the Sino-Indian War the 7th Brigade was deemed to be one of the best brigades in the [[Indian Army]]. The unit was disbanded after the war.

==Commanders during World War II==
* Brigadier Sydney A. H. Hungerford (Sep 1939 – Sep 1940)
* Brigadier [[Harold Rawdon Briggs]] (Sep 1940 – May 1942)
* Brigadier John A. Finlay (May 1942 – Oct 1942)
* Brigadier [[Arthur Holworthy]] (Oct 1942 – Jan 1943)
* Brigadier Osmond de T. Lovett (Jan 1943 – Apr 1943) (wounded)
* Lieutenant-Colonel Charles E. A. Firth (Apr 1943 – Jun 1943)
*Brigadier Osmond de T. Lovett (Jun 1943 – )

==Commanders during Sino-Indian War 1962==
* Brigadier [[John Dalvi]] (Jan 1962 – Nov 1962)

==Formation==
* 1st Battalion, [[Royal Sussex Regiment]]
* 2nd (Royal) Battalion, [[11th Sikh Regiment]]
* 4th Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment ''(up to April 1942)''
* [[9th Bhopal Infantry|4th Battalion]], [[16th Punjab Regiment]]
* 1st Battalion, [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]] ''(from April 1942)''

==See also==

* [[List of Indian Army Brigades in World War II]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:British Indian Army brigades]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1939]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945]]

7th Indian Infantry Brigade - Revision history

JewelWoodcock19 at 22:07, 27 August 2025