39th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

39th Infantry Brigade
Badge of 39th Infantry Brigade
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Brigade
Part of	13th (Western) Division 3rd Division
Engagements	First World War Suez Canal Cyprus Kenya Aden The Troubles

The 39th Infantry Brigade was a military formation of the British Army that was first established during the First World War and reformed in the 1950s.

The British 39th Infantry Brigade was first formed as part of the 13th (Western) Division in World War I, and was with the Division in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, and Persia for the entire war. The brigade was detached from the division on 1 July 1918 and posted to North Persia Force where it remained until 31 August 1919.

The following units served with the brigade:

The Brigade was not reformed for the Second World War.

The Brigade was reformed in the early 1950s in the United Kingdom, and on the reformation of the 3rd Infantry Division on 1 April 1951, the Brigade became part of it, along with the 19th Infantry Brigade and 32nd Guards Brigade. Its first operational summons was in October that year, when it was moved to Cyprus aboard two aircraft carriers, and then on to Egypt. It took up duties in the south of the canal zone with two battalions, the 1st Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) and 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. It was joined by 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment, soon afterwards.

In October 1952, it was returned to the UK in order to rebuild the strategic reserve, and in February 1953, it was warned for operations in Kenya. Again at a strength of two battalions, 1st Buffs being joined by 1st Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, it arrived in April 1953 and was soon deployed in Kenya's Rift Valley, commanded by Brigadier J.W. Tweedie. After over a year of operations, both the Buffs and Devons were withdrawn and relieved in December 1954 and January 1955, respectively. Reliefs were 1st Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade. The Brigade left Kenya in 1956 for Northern Ireland.