18th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 18th Infantry Brigade was a British Army brigade during the First World War and Second World War.

First World War

The brigade was formed from a mixture of regular and New Army battalions, and was part of the 6th Infantry Division. It saw action on the Western Front.

Component units

• 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
• 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment (until November 1915)
• 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
• 11th (Service) Battalion, Essex Regiment (from 71st Bde. October 1915)
• 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (to 71st Bde. October 1915)
• 14th (Service) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (from November 1915, disbanded February 1918)
• 1/16th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (until February 1916)

Second World War

Originally designated as Cairo Area and 18th Infantry Brigade it ceased to exist when in May 1940 it was absorbed by HQ Cairo Sub-Area.

In July 1943 the Brigade was reformed from 7th Motor Brigade as the 18th (Lorried) Infantry Brigade. It was disbanded in Italy on 1 January 1945 due to an acute manpower shortage throughout the British Army at the time with all available replacements being sent to the 21st Army Group in the North West Europe Campaign. It was part of the 1st Armoured Division and fought in the Italian Campaign with many other different formations, such as the 1st Infantry Division, who they served with in the Battle of Anzio.

Commanders

• Brig. O.H. Tidbury
• Brig. M.D. Erskine
• Brig. A.D. McKechnie

Component units

• 1st Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
• 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade
• 9th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry - formerly the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons
• 14th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
• 53rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery – (organised as Infantry)

External links

• 18th Infantry Brigade at Orders of Battle.com