24th Infantry Brigade, Philippine Scouts
Organized
August 26, 1922
Redesignated
March 23, 1925 as HHC, 24th Brigade
June 26, 1929 as HHC, 24th Brigade, Philippine Scouts
August 24, 1936 as HHC, 24th Infantry Brigade (PS) (Inactive)
Inactivated
October 1, 1930
Disbanded
November 11, 1944
The 24th Infantry Brigade, Philippine Scouts, was an element of the Philippine Division, U.S. Army, based at Ft. Santiago, Manila, Philippines. Constituted as a Regular Army unit in 1921 and organized in 1922, it oversaw the 15th Infantry and 31st Infantry Regiments.
In 1929, the Army redesignated it a Philippine Scout organization and inactivated shortly thereafter in 1930. The Army transferred the 15th and 31st Infantries out of its command in 1931 and reassigned the inactive 43rd and 44th Infantry Regiments (PS) to the brigade. The unit remained inactive until its disbandment in 1944.
History
Formation and pre-Philippine Scout Period
The Army organized the 24th Infantry Brigade on August 26, 1922 at Ft. Santiago, Manila, Philippines, and assigned to the Philippine Division. Its subordinate units were the 15th Infantry from 1922-23; 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry from 1923-1929, and the 31st Infantry from 1922-1929.
According to Lt. Col. Steven Clay, “brigade commanders exercised actual command of the brigade only for short periods during the annual department maneuvers.” A full-time commanding general was named only once⏤Brig. Gen. Charles J. Symmonds took charge just in time for the 1926 maneuvers. Otherwise, the commander of the brigade was the commander of the 31st Infantry Regiment. And though the brigade had a staff, they also conducted additional duties within the Philippine Division and Department. For example, HQ Company, 24th Brigade also served as the HQ, Philippine Department. [1]
Redesignation as a Philippine Scout Unit
On June 26, 1929, the Army inactivated the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment and relieved the 31st Infantry Regiment from the Philippine Division. At the same time, the 24th Brigade was redesignated as a Philippine Scout unit and the inactive 43rd and 44th Infantry Regiments (PS) were assigned to it. Because it did not have any active subordinate units, the Army inactivated the 24th Brigade (PS) on October 1, 1930. It remained inactive until its disbandment on November 11, 1944. [1]
Brigade Commanders [1]
No commander assigned
August 26, 1922 - July 31, 1924
Col. Harry G. Bishop
August 1, 1924 - December 4, 1924
Col. Willis Uline*
December 4, 1924 - December 21, 1925
Lt. Col. H. Clay M. Supplee*
December 21, 1925 - January 17, 1926
* Concurrently the commander of the 31st Infantry [2]
Brig. Gen. Charles J. Symmonds
January 18, 1926 - February 22, 1926
Col. Daniel G. Berry*
February 22, 1926 - February 15, 1928
Col. James M. Kimbrough*
February 15, 1928 - March 11, 1930
Col. Earle W. Tanner*
March 11, 1930 - October 1, 1930
Bibliography
[1] “HHC, 24th Infantry Brigade (Philippine Division).” US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, by Steven E. Clay, vol. 1, Combat Studies Institute Press, 2010, p. 308.
[2] Clay, 383.