159th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
| 159th (Welsh Border) Infantry Brigade 159th Infantry Brigade |
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|---|---|
_Insignia.svg)
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| Active | 1921–1946 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
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| Branch |
 Territorial Army
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| Type |
Infantry Motorised infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of |
53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division 11th Armoured Division |
| Nickname(s) | "The Black Bull" |
| Engagements |
Battle of Normandy Operation Epsom Operation Goodwood Operation Bluecoat Falaise Pocket Operation Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Western Allied invasion of Germany |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Charles E. Hudson VC |
The 159th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army. Part of the Territorial Army (TA), the brigade was assigned to the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division and served with the division in the early stages of World War II until May 1942 when it was transferred to be the motorised infantry element of the 11th Armoured Division. The brigade would serve with the 11th Armoured in North-west Europe from June 1944 to May 1945.
The brigade was formed in the Territorial Army by the redesignation of the 159th (Cheshire) Infantry Brigade, after most of its battalions were amalgamated or posted elsewhere. Assigned to the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division, the 159th (Welsh Border) Infantry Brigade was composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions of the Monmouthshire Regiment and the 1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment, all originally from the 160th (South Wales) Infantry Brigade.
In the late 1930s, there was an increasing need to strengthen the anti-aircraft defences of the United Kingdom, and so many infantry battalions of the Territorial Army were converted into anti-aircraft or searchlight units, of either the Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers. As a result, on 1 November 1938, the 1st (Rifle) Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment was converted into an artillery role, becoming 1st (Rifle) Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment (68th Searchlight Regiment) In the same year the 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment was swapped for the 4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry of the 160th (South Wales) Infantry Brigade. In 1939 the brigade was redesignated 159th Infantry Brigade.
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