The 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and m ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division. ...

of the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gur ...

with a long history including service during both the First and the Second World Wars. It was based at Tidworth Camp. Previously, it has been designated 1st (Guards) Brigade, 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Mechanised Brigade (from the 1990s), and under the initial Army 2020 reforms assumed the title of 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade. Under the Future Soldier programme, the brigade merged with the 1st Artillery Brigade to form the 1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team.

History

Following the end of the

Second Boer War The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the South ...

in 1902, the army was restructured and the 1st Guards Brigade was established permanently as part of the 1st Division in the 1st Army Corps, stationed at Aldershot Garrison.

First World War

Initially designated as the 1st (Guards) Brigade, the brigade was part of 1st Division during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fig ...

. Upon creation of the Guards Division in August 1915, the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards and 1st Battalion, Scots Guards moved to 2nd Guards Brigade, and the brigade was redesignated as the 1st Brigade. It was with the 1st Division on the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

throughout the war. It saw action at the Battle of Mons and subsequent Great Retreat, the

First Battle of the Marne The First Battle of the Marne was a battle of the First World War fought from 5 to 12 September 1914. It was fought in a collection of skirmishes around the Marne River Valley. It resulted in an Entente victory against the German armies in the ...

, the First Battle of the Aisne, the First Battle of Ypres, the Battle of Loos, the Battle of Aubers Ridge, the

Battle of the Somme The Battle of the Somme (French: Bataille de la Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place bet ...

, the

Battle of Passchendaele The Third Battle of Ypres (german: link=no, Dritte Flandernschlacht; french: link=no, Troisième Bataille des Flandres; nl, Derde Slag om Ieper), also known as the Battle of Passchendaele (), was a campaign of the First World War, fought by t ...

, the Battle of Pozières and the Battle of Épehy, part of the final

Hundred Days Offensive The Hundred Days Offensive (8 August to 11 November 1918) was a series of massive Allied offensives that ended the First World War. Beginning with the Battle of Amiens (8–12 August) on the Western Front, the Allies pushed the Central Powers ...

, which broke the back of the German Army, leading to an

Armistice An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from the ...

Order of battle

The brigade was composed as follows during the war: * 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards (until August 1915) * 1st Battalion, Scots Guards (until August 1915) * 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) * 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers (until August 1914) * 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (from September 1914) * 1/14th Battalion,

London Regiment London Regiment may refer to two infantry regiments in the British Army: * London Regiment (1908–1938) The London Regiment was an infantry regiment in the British Army, part of the Territorial Force (renamed the Territorial Army in 1921). The ...

(from November 1914, left February 1916) * 10th (Service) Battalion,

Gloucestershire Regiment The Gloucestershire Regiment, commonly referred to as the Glosters, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 until 1994. It traced its origins to Colonel Gibson's Regiment of Foot, which was raised in 1694 and later became the ...

(from August 1915, disbanded February 1918) * 8th (Service) Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (from August 1915, left February 1918) * 1st Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps (formed 26 January 1916, moved to 1st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps 28 February 1918) * 1st Trench Mortar Battery (formed 27 November 1915) * 1st Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) (from February 1918)

Second World War

Remaining active during the interwar period as the 1st (Guards) Brigade, the brigade, still part of the 1st Infantry Division, was sent to France in September 1939 during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and it later took part in the

Battle of France The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of French Third Rep ...

in May–June 1940 and the subsequent Battle of Dunkirk and were evacuated to England, spending the next few years on home defence anticipating a German invasion of England. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France 1939-1940 O1782

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France 1939-1940 O1782

On 11 April 1942, the brigade was redesignated and reorganised as 1st Independent Brigade Group (Guards), with its own support units, until August when it was transferred to the 78th Infantry Division. In late 1942, it took part in the North African Campaign in Operation Torch: the Allied landings in

French North Africa French North Africa (french: Afrique du Nord française, sometimes abbreviated to ANF) is the term often applied to the territories controlled by France in the North African Maghreb during the colonial era, namely Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. ...

, arriving in Algiers in November 1942. The brigade participated in the Run for Tunis and was transferred to the

6th Armoured Division The 6th Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army, created in September 1940 during the Second World War and re-formed in May 1951 in the UK. History The division was formed in the United Kingdom under Northern Command on ...

in early 1943 and saw action in the

Tunisia Campaign The Tunisian campaign (also known as the Battle of Tunisia) was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces from 17 November 1942 to 13 May 1943. The ...

at the Battle of Fondouk, Battle of El Kourzia and Battle of Tunis in April and May 1943. Subsequently, the 1st (Guards) Brigade served on the Italian Front for the rest of the war under command of various divisions, seeing action in the Battle of Monte Cassino (where the brigade played a holding "hinge" role during

Operation Diadem Operation Diadem, also referred to as the Fourth Battle of Monte Cassino or, in Canada, the Battle of the Liri Valley, was an offensive operation undertaken by the Allies of World War II ( U.S. Fifth Army and British Eighth Army) in May 1944, as ...

) and the Battle of Liri Valley in May 1944. The brigade then fought on the

Gothic Line The Gothic Line (german: Gotenstellung; it, Linea Gotica) was a German Defense line, defensive line of the Italian Campaign (World War II), Italian Campaign of World War II. It formed Generalfeldmarschall, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's la ...

and in the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy.

Order of battle

The 1st (Guards) Brigade was constituted as follows during the war:Joslen, p. 225 * 3rd Battalion,

Grenadier Guards "Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it." , colors = , colors_label = , march = Slow: " Scipio" , mascot = , equipment = , equipment ...

* 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards * 2nd Battalion,

Hampshire Regiment The Hampshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot and the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot. The re ...

(until 1 June 1941, rejoined 10 September 1941 until 25 November 1942, rejoined 18 February 1943, left finally 22 February 1943) * 1st Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (disbanded 31 December 1940) * 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (from 25 December 1942 until 16 February 1943) * 3rd Battalion, Welsh Guards (from 1 March 1943) * 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment (from 9 March 1945 until 29 June 1945) Between 11 April 1942 and 7 August 1942 the following units formed the 1st Independent Brigade Group (Guards): * 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders * 1st Independent Brigade Group Machine Gun Company, 1st Battalion,

Royal Northumberland Fusiliers The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Raised in 1674 as one of three 'English' units in the Dutch Anglo-Scots Brigade, it accompanied William III to England in the November 1688 Glorious Revolution an ...

* 1st Independent Brigade Group Reconnaissance Company, Reconnaissance Corps * 17th Field Regiment,

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

* 204th (Oban) Anti-tank Battery, Royal Artillery (from 11 April to 7 August 1942) * 136th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery * 214th Field Company, Royal Engineers * 1st Independent Brigade Group Company,

Royal Army Service Corps The Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) was a corps of the British Army responsible for land, coastal and lake transport, air despatch, barracks administration, the Army Fire Service, staffing headquarters' units, supply of food, water, fuel and d ...

* 152nd Field Ambulance,

Royal Army Medical Corps The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps ...

* 1st Independent Brigade Group Ordnance Company, Royal Army Service Corps

Cold War

After the War, the brigade, having lost its 'Guards' title, was transferred to Palestine for internal security duties and then to

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Med ...

for a few months before going back to Palestine in April 1946. Two years later, as the British mandate over Palestine ended, the brigade and division returned to Egypt. In October 1951, British forces pulled out of Egypt outside of the Suez Canal Zone, and later the brigade returned to the United Kingdom, though it was in

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ...

during the EOKA insurgency for a period in 1957–8. In 1968 the dispatch of the entire 3rd Infantry Division began to be planned, as part of the United Kingdom Mobile Force, to reinforce Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland (LANDJUT). By the mid-1980s the British Army force earmarked as part of the UKMF to reinforce LANDJUT had shrunk to the 1st Infantry Brigade, as it had become. In 1991 just before the end of the Cold War, the brigade's structure was as follows. 1st (United Kingdom Mobile Force) Infantry Brigade, at Jellalabad Barracks, Tidworth Camp * Headquarters 1st Infantry Brigade and 215 Signal Squadron,

Royal Corps of Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield commun ...

, at Jellalabad Barracks, Tidworth Camp ** United Kingdom Mobile Force Battle Casualty Replacements Group ** 601 Tactical Air Control Post (Forward Air Control) ** 602 Tactical Air Control Post (Forward Air Control) ** 610 Tactical Air Control Post (Forward Air Control) — RAF personnel * 13th/18th (Queen Mary's Own) Royal Hussars, at Assaye Barracks, Tidworth Camp (Armoured Reconnaissance, 1 Sqn detached to AMF (L)) * C Squadron,

Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own) The Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 10th Royal Hussars and the 11th Hussars in 1969 and it amalgamated with the 14th/20th King's Hussars to form the King' ...

, at Bhurtpore Barracks, Tidworth Camp (Armoured) * 1st Battalion, Queen's Regiment, at Mooltan Barracks, Tidworth Camp (Mechanised) * 1st Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, at

Kiwi Barracks Bulford Camp is a military camp on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. Established in 1897, the site continues in use as a large British Army base. The camp is close to the village of Bulford and is about northeast of the town of Amesbury ...

, Bulford (Mechanised) * 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry, at Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth (Mechanised) * 26th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, at

Baker Barracks Baker Barracks is a British Army barracks located on Thorney Island around east from Portsmouth, Hampshire. History The barracks were established, on the site of the former RAF Thorney Island airbase, in 1986, when 26th Regiment Royal Artille ...

, Thorney Island (Field Artillery) * 22nd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down * 66 Transport Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport, at Jellalabad Barracks, Tidworth * 158 Provost Company, Royal Military Police, at Bulford Camp * No. 656 Squadron, Army Air Corps, at AAC Netheravon

End of the Cold War

After the end of the Cold War, the brigade was reassigned to the new 3rd (UK) Division and subsequently became a Mechanised Brigade. In 1996, it was deployed to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, with Multi-National Division (South-West); in 2000, it was deployed to

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierra ...

and, in 2002, to

Kosovo Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Eur ...

. The brigade was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick XVIII. It was deployed again in 2014, commanded by

Brigadier Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. In ...

Rupert Jones.

Army 2020

Under Army 2020, it was renamed as 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade and remained at Tidworth Camp, forming part of the Reaction Force as part of the 3rd (UK) Division. Under the programme the Brigade consisted of the following units: * 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade, at

Delhi Barracks Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...

, Tidworth Garrison. ** Household Cavalry Regiment, at Ward Barracks, Bulford Garrison (Armoured Cavalry, equipped with

FV107 Scimitar The FV107 Scimitar is an armoured tracked military reconnaissance vehicle (sometimes classed as a light tank) used by the British Army. It was manufactured by Alvis in Coventry. It is very similar to the FV101 Scorpion, but mounts a high-ve ...

tracked armoured reconnaissance vehicles) **

The Royal Tank Regiment The Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) is the oldest tank unit in the world, being formed by the British Army in 1916 during the First World War. Today, it is the armoured regiment of the British Army's 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade. Formerly known as th ...

, at Tidworth Garrison ** 1st Battalion,

Royal Regiment of Fusiliers The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (often referred to as the Royal Fusiliers or, simply, the Fusiliers) is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division. Currently, the regiment has two battalions: the 1st battalion, part o ...

, at Tidworth Garrison (Armoured Infantry, equipped with Warrior IFV) ** 1st Battalion, Mercian Regiment, at Tidworth Garrison (Armoured Infantry, equipped with Warrior IFV) ** 4th Battalion, The Rifles, at Aldershot (Mechanised Infantry, equipped with Mastiff protected mobility vehicles)

Army 2020 Refine

Under the Army 2020 Refine programme, the 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade was due to form up as the first of two Strike Brigades by 2021. The Brigade then consisted of the following units: * 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade, at

, Tidworth Garrison (to become 1st Strike Brigade in 2021). ** Strike Experimentation Group, at Battlesbury Barracks, Warminster Garrison (a developmental command, overseen by HQ 1st AI Bde) ** Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR), at Ward Barracks, Bulford Garrison (Armoured Cavalry, equipped with

tracked armoured reconnaissance vehicles) ** Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth's Own) (RL), at Cambrai Barracks,

Catterick Garrison Catterick Garrison is a major garrison and military town south of Richmond, North Yorkshire, England. It is the largest British Army garrison in the world, with a population of around 13,000 in 2017 and covering over 2,400 acres (about ...

(Armoured Cavalry, equipped with FV107 Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles) ** 1st Battalion, Scots Guards (1 SG), at Mons Barracks, Aldershot Garrison (Mechanised Infantry, equipped with Mastiff protected mobility vehicles) ** The Highlanders, 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS), at Bourlon Barracks, CatterickThe Red Hackle November 2012
(Mechanised Infantry, equipped with Mastiff protected mobility vehicles) ** 3rd Battalion, The Rifles (3 RIFLES), at Dreghorn Barracks, EdinburghThe Rifles and The Royal Gloucestershire,Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment Newsletter 2013
(Mechanised Infantry, equipped with Mastiff protected mobility vehicles)

Future Soldier

On 1 July under the Future Soldier programme, the brigade merged with 1st Artillery Brigade to form 1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team.

Brigade commanders

The following officers have commanded the brigade:

First World War

* Brigadier-General F. I. Maxse (At mobilization) * Brigadier-General C. Fitzclarence (26 September 1914) * Colonel D. L. MacEwen (12 November 1914 - acting) * Brigadier-General H. C. Lowther (23 November 1914) * Brigadier-General A. J. Reddie (23 August 1915) * Brigadier-General J. R. M. Minshull-Ford (18 October 1917) * Brigadier-General C. J. C. Grant (21 October 1917) * Lieutenant-Colonel Sir T. W. H. J. Erskine, Bt. (29 March 1918 - acting) * Brigadier-General W. B. Thornton (3 April 1918) * Brigadier-General L. L. Wheatley (22 September 1918)

Second World War

Merton Beckwith-Smith (until 31 May 1940, again from 3 June 1940 until 14 July 1940) * Lieutenant Colonel L. Bootle-Wilbraham (

acting Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode. Acting involves a bro ...

, from 31 May 1940 until 3 June 1940) * Brigadier F.A.V. Copland-Griffiths (from 14 July 1940 until 14 April 1943) * Brigadier S.A. Forster (from 14 April 1943 until 24 July 1943) * Brigadier

Philip Gregson-Ellis Major-General Philip George Saxon Gregson-Ellis CB OBE (31 August 1898 – 20 October 1956) was a senior British Army officer who saw active service during both the First World War and the Second World War, where he commanded the 5th Infantry ...

(from 24 July 1943 until 18 January 1944) * Lieutenant Colonel A.G.W. Heber-Percy (acting, from 18 January 1944 until 3 February 1944) * Brigadier J.C. Haydon (from 3 February 1944 until 29 July 1944) * Brigadier C.A.M.D. Scott (from 29 July 1944 until 21 January 1945, again from 13 February 1945 until 11 March 1945) * Lieutenant Colonel E.J.B. Nelson (acting, from 21 January 1945 until 13 February 1945) * Brigadier Gerald Lloyd-Verney (from 11 March 1945)

Post-war

* Brigadier Rodney Moore 1946–1947 * Brigadier George Johnson 1947–1949 * Brigadier George Gordon-Lennox 1952–1954 * Brigadier John McColl 1997–1999 * Brigadier Jonathon Riley 1999–2000 * Brigadier Simon Mayall 2001–2002 * Brigadier Rupert Jones 2012–2014 * Brigadier William Wright 2014–2016 * Brigadier Zachary Stenning 2016–2018 * Brigadier James Martin 2018–2020 * Brigadier Samuel L. Humphris 2020–Present

References

Sources

* Joslen, Lt-Col H.F. (2003) 960 Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield: Naval and Military Press. .

External links

1st Armoured Infantry Brigade

* {{DEFAULTSORT:1 Infantry Brigade (Guards) Infantry brigades of the British Army Infantry brigades of the British Army in World War I Infantry brigades of the British Army in World War II 01 Organisations based in Wiltshire 1914 establishments in the United Kingdom