160th (Wales) Brigade
| 160th (Wales) Brigade | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1914-Present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Type | Regular and Territorial Army |
| Part of | 1st (United Kingdom) Division |
| Garrison/HQ | The Barracks, Brecon |
| Battle honours |
World War I: * Battle of Gallipoli * First Battle of Gaza * Battle of Nablus (1918) World War II: * Battle of Normandy * Battle of Falaise * Battle of the Bulge * Battle of the Reichswald |
160th Infantry Brigade and HQ Wales or Brigâd 160 (Cymru) is a regional brigade of the British Army that has been in existence since 1908. It is not a formation that would be deployed as other brigades like 12th (Mechanised) Brigade would, but is a regional command responsible for all of Wales. The Brigade organises an annual patrolling competition in the Brecon Beacons known as Exercise CAMBRIAN PATROL.
History
The brigade was originally raised in 1908 upon creation of the Territorial Force and was part of the Welsh Division. The brigade fought with the division in the Great War, in the Middle East Eastern theatre, and the Second World War in North-West Europe. In 1915 the brigade was redesignated the 160th South Wales Brigade and the Welsh Division the 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Brigade was reconstituted as a result of British troops being sent to the Western Front during the emergency following the March 1918 Spring Offensive which saw the Allies nearly lose the First World War. After the war the brigade and division were disbanded as was the Territorial Force. However, both the brigade and division were reformed in 1920 in the Territorial Army. The brigade again served with the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the Second World War from June 1944 to May 1945. After World War II the Territorial Army was reorganised as the TAVR and the division was finally deactivated. With the disbandment of 5th Division, the brigade came under the control of the new Support Command based in Aldershot, in April 2012.[1]
Order of Battle
1914–1918 160th (Welsh Border) Brigade
- 2/4th Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
- 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
- 2/4th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
- 2/10th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 1/1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (until February 1915)
- 1/3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (until February 1915)
1918 160th Brigade
- 1/7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
- 1/21st Punjabis
- 1/17th Infantry
- 1st Cape Corps commanded by Brigadier General V. L. N. Pearson.[2]
1939–1945 160th Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
- 4th Battalion, Welch Regiment
- 5th Battalion, Welch Regiment (to 26 August 1944)
- 6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (from 26 August 1944)
Current Formation
- 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh
- 104th Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)
- Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia)
- Welsh Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
Future
Under the Army 2020 concept, 160th (Wales) Brigade will renamed as 160th Infantry Brigade and HQ Wales. It will be one of the seven Adaptable Force brigades. It will comprise 1st Battalion, The Rifles and 6th Battalion, The Rifles.[3]
Citations
- ↑ House of Commons briefing note
- ↑ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 669
- ↑ Army 2020, page 9
References
- Falls, Cyril; A. F. Becke (maps) (1930). Military Operations Egypt & Palestine from June 1917 to the End of the War. Official History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. 2 Part II. London: HM Stationery Office. OCLC 256950972.
External links
- 160 (Wales) Brigade – on British Army official website
- "Brigâd 160 (Cymru)". army.mod.uk. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. (in Welsh)