130th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 130th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Territorial Force, part of the British Army. The brigade was originally created as the Devon and Cornwall Brigade of the Wessex Division, later 43rd (Wessex) Division, in 1908.

First World War

In 1914, the Wessex Division was sent to India to replace Regular Army battalions in the garrison there. One battalion of the brigade, the 1/5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry remained in the United Kingdom and served with the 61st Division. In December 1914 the divisions of the Territorial Force, and their component brigades, were given numbers. The Devon and Cornwall Brigade became the 130th Infantry Brigade. In India, the original battalions were transferred to British Indian Army brigades, remaining in India throughout the First World War.

Between the wars

The brigade was recreated in 1920 when the Territorial Force was reformed as the Territorial Army. It again formed part of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, controlling battalions from Devon and Cornwall. In 1939, the Territorial Army was doubled in size as the possibility of another European conflict became inevitable and the original 130th Brigade became part of the 45th (Wessex) Division. A new 130th Infantry Brigade was formed from battalions of the Hampshire Regiment and the Dorset Regiment.

Second World War

The reformed 130th Infantry Brigade served with the division throughout the Second World War and spent from 1939 until June 1944 in intensive training throughout the United Kingdom, particularly in Kent. They were training for the invasion of France and landed in Normandy in late June 1944. They fought in the Normandy Campaign, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine Crossing.

First World War Order of Battle

Battles

Commanders

Brigadier B.A. Coad (left)

Component Units in World War II

Post-War

The 130th (West Country) Infantry Brigade formed part of the 43rd Division in the post-Second World War Territorial Army, controlling battalions from Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. It was disbanded in 1961.

External links