233rd Brigade was formed at Zeitun, near
Cairo, on 25 May 1917, as part of
75th Division, which was being organised by the British
Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) from
Territorial Force battalions arriving as reinforcements from
India. The
War Office ordered that
Indian Army battalions should also be included in order to speed up the formation of the Division, and 233rd Brigade was formed on this basis.
Order of Battle The following units served in 233rd Brigade: •
102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers •
108th Infantry •
119th Infantry (The Mooltan Regiment) •
122nd Rajputana Infantry : and joined from
Mesopotamia 25 July 1918)
Commanders The following officers commanded 233rd Brigade during this period: • Brig-Gen
The Hon Edward Colston • Brig-Gen E.H. Wildblood (from 16 October 1919)
Service 233rd Brigade took over the Rafa defences in
Sinai in June 1917, and only joined 75th Division on 18 August that year. It took part in the EEF's invasion of Palestine beginning with the
Third Battle of Gaza on 27 October 1917, culminating in the Capture of Gaza (6–7 November) and Junction Station (13–14 November), and the
Battle of Nebi Samwil (20–24 November). In the Spring of 1918, 233rd Brigade was involved in the actions at Tell 'Asur (11–12 March) and
Berukin (9–11 April). During General
Allenby's final offensive (the
Battles of Megiddo, 233rd Brigade took part in the
Battle of Sharon (19 September). At the end of the fighting on 19 September, 75 Division went into reserve until the
Armistice with the Turks was signed on 31 October. Demobilisation began early in 1919, but the 75th Division was selected for the Army of Occupation of Palestine. The reduced division formed one composite brigade under the command of Brig-Gen Colston of 233rd Brigade. In March 1919 it returned to garrison duty in Egypt, and other units were attached for this work. Finally, 233rd Brigade was disbanded on 16 March 1920. ==Second World War==