160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales

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.

Formation
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.

First World War
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.

Order of battle

 * 1/1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (to February 1915)
 * 1/2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (to November 1914)
 * 1/3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (to February 1915)
 * 1/1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment (to 24 April 1915)
 * 2/4th Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) (from 24 April 1915 to 31 May 1918)
 * 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (from 24 April 1915 to 30 May 1918)
 * 2/4th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (from 24 April 1915 to 25 August 1918)
 * 2/10th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) (from 24 April 1914 to 19 August 1918)
 * 1/7th (Merioneth and Montgomery) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (joined on 24 June 1918 from 158th (North Wales) Brigade)
 * 160th Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps (formed 11 May 1916, moved to 53rd Battalion, Machine Gun Corps 25 April 1918)
 * 160th Trench Mortar Battery (formed 26 June 1917)
 * 21st Punjabis (from 26 May 1918)
 * 110th Mahratta Light Infantry (joined from Karachi on 28 June 1918, left for 20th Indian Brigade on 19 July)
 * 1st Battalion, Cape Corps (South African, joined 22 July 1918)
 * 17th Infantry (The Loyal Regiment) (from 6 August 1918)

Between the wars
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.

Second World War
The brigade again served with the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the Second World War from June 1944 to May 1945.

From January until June 1944 Lashmer Whistler commanded the 160th Brigade, with the rank of brigadier



Order of battle
The 160th Infantry Brigade was composed as follows during the war:
 * 4th Battalion, Welch Regiment
 * 5th Battalion, Welch Regiment (left 3 August 1944)
 * 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (from)
 * 160th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank company (formed 1 July 1940, disbanded 15 February 1941)
 * 6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (from 4 August 1944)

Commanders
The following officers commanded the 160th Infantry Brigade during the war:
 * Brigadier A.E. Williams (until 10 May 1940)
 * Brigadier R.K. Ross (from 10 May 1940 until 17 September 1942)
 * Brigadier E.E. Dorman-Smith (from 17 September 1942 until 22 November 1943)
 * Lieutenant Colonel C.F.C. Coleman (acting, from 22 November 1943 until 28 January 1944)
 * Brigadier L.G. Whistler (from 28 January 1944 until 22 June 1944)
 * Brigadier C.F.C. Coleman (from 22 June 1944 until 27 May 1945)
 * Lieutenant Colonel H.B.D. Crozier (acting, from 27 May 1945 until 3 June 1945)
 * Brigadier C.F.C. Coleman (from 3 June 1945)

Post war
After World War II the Territorial Army was reorganised as the TAVR. With the disbandment of 5th Division, the brigade came under the control of the new Support Command based in Aldershot, in April 2012.

Current formation
Under the Army 2020 concept, 160th (Wales) Brigade was renamed as 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales. It is one of the seven Adaptable Force brigades. It comprises:


 * 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales in Brecon
 * 1st Battalion, The Rifles in Chepstow
 * 6th Battalion, The Rifles in Exeter (Army Reserve - paired with 1st Battalion, The Rifles)