8th Infantry Brigade | |
---|---|
Active | 1914-1918 1927-1934 1939-1945 1969-2006 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Infantry brigade |
Size | Brigade |
Part of | HQ Northern Ireland |
Garrison/HQ | Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly |
Engagements | First World War Second World War The Troubles |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Brig. Frank Witts Brig-Gen. Arthur Hoskins Edward Cass |
Insignia | |
Abbreviation | 8th Inf Bde |
The 8th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars, before being disbanded and reactivated in the 1960s. The brigade was finally being disbanded in 2006. It was formed before the First World War as part of the 3rd Division. As part of that division it spent the entire war on the Western Front from 1914 to 1918 in the First World War. The brigade was also active during the Second World War.
The brigade, part of the 3rd Division, was serving in England on the outbreak of the First World War. [1]
The commanders of the 8th Infantry Brigade during the First World War were: [2]
The brigade was in the United Kingdom upon the outbreak of the Second World War, when it was under the command of Brigadier Frank Witts.
The composition was: [3]
Reactivated in the mid-late 1960s, the 8th Brigade was part of the 5th Division before arriving in Northern Ireland after the beginning of The Troubles, reporting to GOC Northern Ireland. It was based at Ebrington Barracks, Derry, and covered the north and northwest of the province. The Brigade Headquarters moved to Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly, County Londonderry in October 2003. The brigade was disbanded and handed over responsibility to HQ 39th Infantry Brigade, based at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn, on 1 September 2006. [4]
During 1989, the 8th Infantry Brigade had the following structure:
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