| Unit Name: | 305th Infantry Brigade |
| Dates: | Formed 22 January 1945 |
| Country: |  United Kingdom |
| Branch: | British Army |
| Type: | Infantry Brigade |
| Role: | Lines of Communication |
The 305th Infantry Brigade was a formation of the British Army organised from surplus Royal Artillery (RA) personnel retrained as infantry towards the end of the Second World War.
By the end of 1944, 21st Army Group was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among the infantry.[1] In January 1945, the War Office began to reorganise surplus anti-aircraft and coastal artillery regiments in the UK into infantry battalions, primarily for line of communication and occupation duties in North West Europe, thereby releasing trained infantry for frontline service.[2] [3] the 305th Brigade was one of seven brigades formed from these new units.[4] [5]
The 305th Infantry Brigade was formed on 22 January 1945 by conversion of the Headquarters of the 49th Anti-Aircraft Brigade within 2nd Anti-Aircraft Group. It was commanded by Brigadier R.C. Foot, followed by Brigadier M.A. Carthew from 4 July 1945, and comprised the following Territorial Army RA units:[4] [5]
After infantry training, including a short period attached to the 55th (West Lancashire) Infantry Division, the 305th Brigade came under the orders of 21st Army Group on 18 April 1945, and landed on the Continent two days later.[4]