Welsh Border Brigade 160th (Welsh Border) Brigade 160th Infantry Brigade 160th (Wales) Brigade 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales |
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Current shoulder sleeve insignia of the 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales.
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Active | 1908–1919 1920–1946–Present |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Regular and Territorial Army |
Size | Brigade |
Part of |
53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division 1st (United Kingdom) Division |
Garrison/HQ | The Barracks, Brecon, Wales |
Battle honours |
World War I: * Gallipoli Campaign * 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 * Western Allied invasion of Germany |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
Sir John Dill Robert Ross Eric Dorman-Smith Sir Lashmer Whistler |
The 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales or Brigâd 160 (Cymru) is a regional brigade of the British Army that has been in existence since 1908, and saw service during both World War I and World War II, as part of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division. It 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.
The Welsh Border Brigade was originally raised in 1908, upon creation of the Territorial Force, and was part of the Welsh Division. The brigade was composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Volunteer battalions of the Monmouthshire Regiment along with the 1st Battalion of the Herefordshire Regiment.
In 1915 the brigade was redesignated the 160th (1/1st South Wales) Brigade and the Welsh Division the 53rd (Welsh) Division. The brigade fought with the division in the Great War, in the Middle Eastern theatre.
The brigade was reconstituted as a result of British troops being sent to the Western Front during the emergency following the German March 1918 Spring Offensive.
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, now the 160th (South Wales) Infantry Brigade, was again composed of the same four battalions it had before the Great War. However, these were all posted to the 159th (Welsh Border) Infantry Brigade early in the 1920s and were replaced by the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions of the Welch Regiment. The 6th and 7th Battalions were amalgamated as the 6th/7th Battalion, Welch Regiment and the 4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry joined in the same year.