20th Brigade (United Kingdom)
| 20th Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1900 1914–19 1940–41 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 British Army
|
| Type | Infantry Brigade |
| Part of |
1st Division (Second Boer War) 7th Division (World War I) Independent (World War II) |
| Engagements |
Second Boer War World War I: – Western Front – Italian Front World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Maj-Gen Arthur Paget Brig-Gen H.G. Ruggles-Brise Brig-Gen The Hon J.F. Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis |
20th Brigade (20 Bde) was an infantry formation of the British Army first organised in the Second Boer War. In World War I it fought on the Western Front and on the Italian Front as part of 7th Division. It was re-raised under a slightly different title in World War II.
British Army brigades had traditionally been ad hoc formations known by the name of their commander or numbered as an integral part of a division. However, units deployed to the Second Boer War in 1899 were organised into sequentially numbered brigades that were frequently reassigned between divisions. 20th Brigade was formed in South Africa in 1900 under the command of Major-General Arthur Paget as part of Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen's 1st Division. It comprised two regular infantry battalions that were already serving in the theatre and had seen much action, together with two Militia battalions newly arrived from Britain:
The composition of 20 Bde in May–June 1900 was as follows:
When the Militia were embodied in November 1899 and invited to volunteer for overseas service, it had been intended to employ them in garrisons and on lines on communications in order to release Regular troops for frontline service. However, 20th Brigade with its mix of Regulars and Militia was immediately thrown into action during Lord Roberts' advance through the Transvaal. Methuen's 1st Division was assigned to guard Roberts' left flank in the Orange Free State. 20th Brigade assisted General Hunter's 10th Division at Christiana then 1st Division captured Hoopstad by a surprise night attack. Methuen's men earned the nickname of 'the Mobile Marvels' for their hard marching. At the end of May Methuen marched to relieve Lindley, and left 20 Bde there to guard the town while he continued on to relieve Heilbron in June.
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