51st Indian Infantry Brigade
The 51st Indian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that saw active service in the Indian Army during the Second World War. It took part in the Arakan Campaign and in the immediate post-war period reoccupied Malaya.
History
The 51st Indian Infantry Brigade was formed in December 1941, in India, and initially assigned to HQ Rawalpindi District. It was transferred to the 20th Indian Infantry Division in April 1942, and transferred again in August 1942 to the 25th Indian Infantry Division where it remained until the end of the war.The brigade moved to the Arakan in March 1944 where it remained until April 1945 before returning to India. It took part in actions at Mayu Peninsula, at Kangaw and at Tamandu.
At the end of the war, it took part in Operation Zipper, landing in Malaya on 9 September 1945 and reaching Kuala Lumpur by 13 September. It remained in Malaya with 25th Division until February 1946 then returned to India where it was disbanded in May.
Order of battle
The following units served with the brigade during and after the Second World War:- 17th Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry '
- 8th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment '
- 16th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment '
- 8th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment '
- 2nd Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment '
- 51 Brigade Signal Section
- 51 Brigade Workshop Section, IAOC '
- 51 LAD Type E/F, IEME
- 75 Field Post Office ''''
Commanders
The brigade had the following commanders in the Second World War:| From | Rank | Name | Notes |
| 7 April 1942 | Brigadier | T.H. Angus | |
| 6 November 1944 | Brigadier | R.A. Hutton | |
| 11 December 1944 | Lt. Col. | K.S. Thimayya | acting |
| 13 January 1945 | Brigadier | R.A. Hutton | |
| 22 September 1945 | Brigadier | J.M.K. Bradford | |
| 20 January 1946 | Brigadier | R.A. Hutton |
2014-2016 Brigadier J.S. Yadav, VSM