57th Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 57th Brigade was a formation of the British Army during both World War I and World War II. Its composition and role differed significantly between the two conflicts.

World War I

During World War I, the 57th Brigade was part of the 19th (Western) Division. It served on the Western Front throughout the war. The brigade was composed primarily of battalions from various regiments, rotated as the war progressed, and participated in major battles including the Battle of Loos, the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Messines, the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), and the German spring offensive of 1918. Specific battalions assigned to the brigade varied over the course of the war, but typically included infantry battalions from regiments such as the West Yorkshire Regiment, the Gloucestershire Regiment, and others.

World War II

In World War II, the 57th Brigade was initially part of the 19th (London) Armoured Brigade and later the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. During this period, it served as a motor brigade, providing motorized infantry support. It played a key role in the Battle of France in 1940. After being evacuated from Dunkirk, the brigade was reformed and later deployed to North Africa, where it fought in the Western Desert Campaign and the Battle of El Alamein. Subsequently, it participated in the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Italian Campaign. During the campaign in Northwest Europe (post D-Day), the 57th Brigade was disbanded in August 1944, with its units being used to reinforce other formations within the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.