The 2nd Infantry Brigade was a formation of the

New Zealand Military Forces , image = New Zealand Army Logo.png , image_size = 175px , caption = , start_date = , country = , branch = ...

raised for service abroad with the

New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

during the First World War. As part of the

New Zealand Division The New Zealand Division was an infantry division of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force raised for service in the First World War. It was formed in Egypt in early 1916 when the New Zealand and Australian Division was renamed after the detachmen ...

, it participated in several major battles on the Western Front from 1916 to 1918 before being disbanded in 1919. There was also a 2nd Infantry Brigade in the New Zealand

Territorial Force The Territorial Force was a part-time volunteer component of the British Army, created in 1908 to augment British land forces without resorting to conscription. The new organisation consolidated the 19th-century Volunteer Force and yeomanry i ...

that existed from 1924 to 1964.

History

First World War

It was formed in

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

in 1916 for service with the

on the Western Front. Its original commander was

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

William Garnett Braithwaite Brigadier General William Garnett Braithwaite, (21 October 1870 – 15 October 1937) was a British Army officer who participated in the Boer War and the First World War. Born in England in 1870, he joined the British Army in 1891. He served w ...

, a

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

officer on secondment to the

New Zealand Military Forces , image = New Zealand Army Logo.png , image_size = 175px , caption = , start_date = , country = , branch = ...

. Upon formation, the brigade consisted of four infantry battalions: the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment; the 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment; the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment; and the 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment. This was later changed, though, when several battalions were swapped between the 1st and 2nd Brigades, resulting in the 1st Battalions of the Canterbury and Otago Regiments replacing the 2nd Battalions of the Auckland and Wellington Regiments. This placed all the North Island battalions in the 1st Brigade while all the South Island formations were in the 2nd Brigade. 2nd infantry brigade & Godley, 1917

Brigadier General Herbert Hart took over as brigade commander in February 1918, after the 4th Brigade was disbanded due to manpower constraints. At this time, the 2nd Brigade received a large number of reinforcements from the 4th Brigade. The brigade fought in several major engagements including the Battles of Broodseinde, Messines and Passchendaele. It was disbanded in early 1919 following the cessation of hostilities in Europe.

Territorial Force

There was also a formation in the New Zealand

(TF) that from 1924 was designated 2nd Infantry Brigade until 1964 at which time it was disbanded (it was originally known as Wellington Infantry Brigade from 1910 to 1920 and then Central Infantry Brigade from 1921 to 1923). During the Second World War, this TF brigade was part of 4th Division and then 1st Division, both of which served on the Home Front in New Zealand.

Notes

References

* * * * * {{Anzac, state=collapsed Military units and formations established in 1916 Infantry brigades of New Zealand Brigades of New Zealand in World War I