167th (1st London) Brigade

The 1st London Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in both World War I and World War II.

History

The brigade was first raised in 1908, upon the creation of the Territorial Force, as the 1st London Brigade and was part of the 1st London Division. The brigade served in the First World War mainly in the trenches of the Western Front in Belgium and France.

As the 1st (London) Infantry Brigade it was part of the 1st (London) Division until 28 November 1940 when it was renumbered and converted into the 167th (London) Infantry Brigade, still part of the 1st (London) Division which was also renumbered as the 56th (London) Infantry Division. This brigade saw extensive service in Italy in many battles such as that of the landings at Salerno and the landings at Anzio, Operation Shingle. They finally took part in the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy which effectively ended the Italian Campaign. Throughout the war, the brigade went through many reorganisations.

Commanders

• Brig. C.R. Britten
• Brig. J.C.A. Birch
• Brig. C.E.A. Firth
• Brig. J. Scott-Elliott

Order of Battle World War II

• 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (disbanded 1944)
• 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
• 15th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (until 1941)
• 7th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (from 1941, disbanded 1944)
• 1st Battalion, London Scottish (Gordon Highlanders) (from 1944)
• 1st Battalion, London Irish Rifles (Royal Ulster Rifles) (from 1944)

External links

• 1 London Infantry Brigade at Orders of Battle.com
• 167 Infantry Brigade at Orders of Battle.com