150th INFANTRY BRIGADE (50th [Northumbrian] Division) in the Middle East June 1941-June 1942

A rare in it’s original printing (1946) Western Desert Brigade history. It served in the Middle East and was overrun and forced to surrender after suffering heavy losses during the Battle of Gazala in the North African Campaign. Many British tanks were lost and the Panzerarmee had regained the initiative. Compiled by officers in PoW camps in Italy & revised in Switzerland in 1944.

150th Infantry Brigade served in the Middle East and was overrun and forced to surrender during the Battle of Gazala in the North African Campaign. For almost 72 hours (29-31 May 1942) during the battle the 150th Brigade and the 44th Royal Tank Regiment held out against Erwin Rommel’s concentrated attacks, without any support. Early on 30 May elements of the Afrika Korps attempted to break through the brigade’s position but drew off after taking losses. Next day the Italian Trieste Division and German 90th Light Division attacked, but made little progress against a defence that they described as ’skilful and stubborn’. On 1 June Rommel reinforced the attackers with the 21st Panzer Division and more artillery, and the assault was resumed after heavy dive-bombing. Early in the afternoon 150th Bde was overcome by a series of concentric attacks and overrun, Brigadier Haydon was killed, and the survivors (including Brigadier O’Carroll) became prisoners of war. On 1 June the German Army finally forced their surrender.