38th Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 38th Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army that was active during World War I. It was composed of volunteers of Kitchener's Army and served in the Gallipoli and Mesopotamian campaigns.

38th Brigade
ActiveAugust 1914 – March 1919
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
SizeBrigade
Part of13th (Western) Division
EngagementsWorld War I

History

38th Brigade was organised as part of 13th (Western) Division, which came into existence as a result of Army Order No 324 of 21 August 1914 authorising the formation of six new volunteer infantry divisions (the 'First Kitchener Army' or 'K1'). The division was organised by Western Command and the brigades began to assemble on Salisbury Plain.[1]

Composition

The following units served with the brigade:[1]

Service

The brigade sailed from Avonmouth in June 1915 and landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in July. It was evacuated to Egypt in December 1915. In February 1916 it moved to Mesopotamia and fought in that theatre until the end of the war. It was disbanded in 1919.[1]

Later formation

See main article: British 38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade

In January 1942 38th Brigade was reformed by converting 210th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) into a frontline formation. It was composed of Irish battalions and was titled 38th (Irish) Brigade. It fought with distinction through the Tunisian and Italian campaigns of World War II.[2]

38 (Irish) Brigade was reformed yet again in 2007 as a component of the present-day British Army.

Notes

  1. "The 13th (Western) Division in 1914-1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  2. Joslen, p. 373.

References

  • Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2003, ISBN 1843424746.
  • The Long, Long Trail
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