1st Mechanised Brigade (United Kingdom)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Mechanised Brigade


caption=Insignia of 1st Mechanised Brigade
dates= 1914 - present day
country= Great Britain
allegiance=
branch= British Army
type= Mechanised Infantry
role=
size=
command_structure=3rd (UK) Mechanised Division
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
identification_symbol=
march=
mascot=
battles=World War I
Battle of Mons
First Battle of the Marne
Battle of the Aisne
First Battle of Ypres
Battle of Aubers Ridge
Battle of Loos
Battle of the Somme (1916)
Battle of Pozières
Third Battle of Ypres
Battle of Épehy
World War II
Battle of France
Fondouk
El Kourzia
Tunis
Battle of Monte Cassino
Liri Valley -
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=The 1st Infantry Brigade is a British Army formation with a long history including service during the First and Second World Wars .

History

Initially as 1st (Guards) Brigade, the formation was part of 1st Division during World War I. On formation of the Guards Division in August 1915, the Brigade lost 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards and 1st Battalion, Scots Guards and was redesignated without the Guards reference in its title. It was with the 1st Division throughout the war.

As the 1st Guards Brigade, it was again part of the regular army British 1st Infantry Division during the Battle of France in June 1940. It fought through the North African campaign as part of the First Army, and served with many divisions during the Italian Campaign.

At the end of the war, back as part of the 1st Infantry Division, it was transferred to Palestine for internal security duties.

After the war the brigade only remained in Palestine for a short time. It was transferred to Egypt 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 during the EOKA insurgency for a period in 1957-8.

By the early 1980 the brigade, having lost its 'Guards' title some time before, had been based in the UK for many years, forming the UK Mobile Force earmarked to reinforce Denmark in the event of a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. After the end of the Cold War it was reassigned as part of the new 3rd (UK) Division and subsequently became a Mechanised Brigade. It is now headquartered at Tidworth.

Commanders (World War 2)

*Brig. M.B.Beckwith-Smith
*Brig. F.A.V. Copland-Griffiths
*Brig. S.A. Foster
*Brig. P.G.S. Gregson-Ellis
*Brig. J.C. Haydon
*Brig. C.A.M.D. Scott
*Brig. G.L. Verney

Battles and Engagements (World War 2)

* Fondouk - 7th to 11 April 1943
* El Kourzia - 22nd to 26 April 1943
* Tunis - 5th to 12 May 1943
* Battle of Monte Cassino - 11th to 18 May 1944
* Liri Valley - 18th to 30 May 1944

Structure (World War 2)

*3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards
*2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards
*2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
*8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
*3rd Battalion, Welsh Guards
*1st Battalion, The Welch Regiment

Current Formation

1 Mechanized Brigade Units 2008
* 1 Mechanised Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (215 Signal Squadron))
* 2nd Royal Tank Regiment (Armoured)
* Household Cavalry Regiment (Formation Reconnaissance) - detached until 2010 to 11th Light Brigade
* 1st Battalion, Irish Guards (Light Role)
* 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh (Armoured Infantry)
* 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Staffords) (Armoured Infantry)
* 4th Battalion, The Rifles (Mechanised Infantry)
* 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Self Propelled Artillery) - detached until 2010 to 11th Light Brigade
* 22 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
* 6th Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
* 158 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police
* 16 CS Medical Squadron, 3rd CS Medical Regiment Royal Army Medical Corps

ee also

* British 1st Infantry Division
* British 6th Armoured Division

External links

* [http://orbat.com/site/ww2/drleo/index.htm Battle and Unit History Site]
*
* [http://www.army.mod.uk/1mechbde/index.htm 1 Mech Brigade's site today]