page_title: 231st Brigade (United Kingdom)
section_title: Sicily and Italy
hierarchical_section_title: 231st Brigade (United Kingdom) / Second World War / Sicily and Italy
caption_attribution_description: English: The British Army in Italy 1943 Troops resting beside a bulldozer after fighting a fire on a landing craft which was hit during a surprise landing in the enemy's rear at Porro Di S. Venere, 8 September 1943.
context_page_description: The 231st Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in both World War I and World War II. In each case it was formed by redesignation of existing formations. In the World War I it fought in Palestine and on the Western Front, while in World War II it served in the Allied invasion of Sicily, Italy and the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.
context_section_description: The Allied invasion of Sicily was to be the first of three amphibious assault landings conducted by the 231st Brigade during the war. The brigade was constituted as an independent brigade group under the command of Brigadier Roy Urquhart, later famous as commander of the 1st Airborne Division, which was destroyed at Arnhem in September 1944. After some hard fighting, including the 2nd Devons at Regalbuto amongst the foothills of Mount Etna, the Germans were driven from Sicily and the Allies prepared to invade Italy. Despite the success of the relatively brief campaign, the brigade sustained almost 600 casualties, with the 1st Hampshires losing over 300 men, the 1st Dorsets 189 and the 2nd Devons 113. The campaign ended in mid-August and the 231st Brigade was withdrawn for a short rest to prepare for the next operation.
  The 231st Brigade's second assault landing was at Porto San Venere on 7 September 1943, when the Allies invaded Italy. They were now experienced amphibious assault troops. After this, the 231st Brigade became an integral part of the veteran 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and was recalled to England with the division, to prepare for the Allied invasion of Normandy, scheduled for the spring of 1944. In February 1944 Brigadier Sir A. B. G. Stanier assumed command of the brigade.
caption: Troops of the 231st Brigade resting beside a bulldozer after fighting a fire on a landing craft which was hit during a surprise landing in the enemy's rear at Porro Di S. Venere, Italy, 8 September 1943.
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