By the end of 1944,
21st Army Group was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among the infantry.[1] In January 1945, the
War Office began to reorganise surplus anti-aircraft and coastal artillery regiments in the UK into infantry battalions, primarily for lines of communication and occupation duties in
North West Europe, thereby releasing trained infantry for frontline service.[2][3] 306th was one of seven brigades formed from these new units.[4][5]
Composition
306th Infantry Brigade was formed on 22 January 1945 by the conversion of Headquarters
55th Light AA Bde, which was part of
2 Anti-Aircraft Group. It was commanded by Brigadier W.R. Harvey and comprised the following
Territorial Army RA units:[4][5][6]
After infantry training, including a short period attached to
Southern Command, 306 Bde came under the orders of 21st Army Group on 4 May 1945, and landed on the
Continent three days later.[4]
Lionel Ellis, "History of the Second World War: United Kingdom Military Series: Victory in the West", Volume II: "The Defeat of Germany", London: HMSO, 1968/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004,
ISBN1-84574-059-9.
Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press.
ISBN978-1-84342-474-1.
Norman E. H. Litchfield, The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges), Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992,
ISBN0-9508205-2-0.
B.R. Mullaly, The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers), Bristol: White Swan Press, 1955.