The 17th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army which provided active service in the Second Boer War and both the First and Second World Wars. It was mainly composed of Regular Army battalions.

History

Second Boer War

During the Second Boer War, the 17th brigade was active in South Africa as part of the 8th Division from early 1900 until the war ended in 1902. It was under the command of Major-General John Edward Boyes, and included the following battalions:

First World War

The 17th Brigade was originally part of the 6th Division during the First World War, The commander was Brigadier General W.R.B. Doran CB DSO on mobilisation. It was transferred to the 24th Division, a New Army division, on 14 October 1915. The brigade saw service mainly on the Western Front.

Order of battle

On mobilisation - August 1914

Component units included:

November 1918

Component units included:

Second World War

The Brigade served with the 5th Infantry Division through most of the Second World War. On 5 May 1942 it was part of Force 121 in the Battle of Madagascar. After this, the 17th Infantry Brigade served in the Allied invasion of Sicily with the British Eighth Army and the Italian Campaign, before taking part in the closing stages of the campaign in Germany.

Order of battle

Component units included: