638th (Brecknock) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

The 1st Breckonshire Rifle Volunteers were a territorial unit of the British Army. The regiment was first formed in 1860 as a volunteer battalion of the The South Wales Borderers, but later converted to antiaircraft artillery before amalgamted in 1955.

Prewar
The Breckonshire volunteers were first formed in 1860 as the 1st Administrative Battalion, Breckonshire Rifle Volunteers. After formation, the battalion had the following structure;


 * Battalion Headquarters in Brecon
 * 1st Breckonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in Brecon [Raised 10 September 1859]
 * 2nd Breckonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in Brynmawr
 * 3rd Breckonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in Crickhowell
 * 4th Breckonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in Hay
 * 5th Breckonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in Builth
 * 6th Breckonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps in Talgarth [Raised in 1861[

In 1878 a new corps was formed, the 7th Breckonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, and based in Celn. Eventually, in 1880 following the Cardwell Reforms, the battalion was re-designated as the 1st Breckonshire Rifle Volunteers. That next year, the regiment became the volunteer battalion of the South Wales Borderers. By 1881 following the Childers Reforms, the regiment was renamed as the 1st (Breckonshire) Volunteer Battalion.

In 1907, Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane announced a series of reforms, which would effect mostly the Volunteers and Yeomanry. These two groups were merged to form the "Territorial Force". On 1 April 1908 the Territorial Force was born. These reforms formed fourteen divisions, fourteen mounted brigades, and coastal defence troops. As part of these reforms, all of the volunteer battalions were renamed loosing their "volunteer" title and gaining regional or regular titles.

As a result of the Haldane Reforms, the battalion was re-designated as The Breckonshire Battalion and re-organised into the following structure;


 * Battalion Headquarters in Brecon
 * 1st Group under Major D W E Thomas VD
 * A Company in Brecon under Lieutenant D Jones
 * B Company in Brynmawr under Lieutenant H W Evans
 * C Company in Crickhowell under Lieutenant E F Cockcroft
 * D Company in Hay-on-Wye under Lieutenant E H Musgrove
 * 2nd Group under Major J J Watkins
 * E Company in Wuilth Wells and Llanwrtyd Wells under Lieutenant H A Morgan
 * F Company in Talgarth under Lieutenant W J Prichard
 * G Company in Cefn-Coed under Lieutenant G D E Thomas
 * H Company in Ystradgynlais, Brynamman, and Seven Sisters under Lieutenant W R Lewis

In 1914, the battalion's honourable colonel and commanding officer was Joseph Henry Russell Bailey, 2nd Baron Glanusk.

World War I
During World War I, the battalion formed three duplicates, being the 1/1st, 2/1st, and 3/1st Breckonshire battalions.

1/1st Breckonshire Battalion
The 1/1st Breckonshire Battalion was formed in August 1914 and mobilised and consolidated in Brecon. This new battalion was formed as part of the separation of the 1st group within the former Breckonshire Battalion. After mobilisation, the battalion was part of the South Wales Brigade within the Welsh Division. On 29 October 1914 the battalion was removed from the brigade and sailed from Southampton with the Home Counties Division and moved to Bombay.

On 3 December 1914 the battalion moved to Aden, arriving on 16 December 1914 and joined the Aden Brigade. In August 1915 the battalion returned to Bombay and joined the Mhow Brigade within the 5th (Mhow) Division. After moving back to Bombay, the battalion remained in India for the remainder of the war. Finally in 1918 the battalion was demobilised and put into suspended animation.

2/1st Breckonshire Battalion
The 2/1st Breckonshire Battalion was formed from the 2nd Group of the former Breckonshire Battalion. After mobilising, the battalion was consolidated in Brecon and organised as a second line home service unit. In late 1915 the battalion joined the 68th (2nd Welsh) Division and was moved to Bedford. Finally in November 1916 the battalion was absorbed into the 2/7th Battalion The Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Wrentham.

3/1st Breckonshire Battalion
The 3/1st Breckonshire Battalion was formed in Brecon in April 1915 as a depot/training unit. After consolidating, the battalion moved to Milford Haven. On 8 April 1916 the battalion was renamed as the 1st Reserve Battalion. Finally in August 1917 the battalion merged with the 1st Reserve Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment.