43rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 43rd Infantry Brigade was a brigade of the British Army during the First and Second World Wars, and later, as 43 (Wessex) Brigade, a regional headquarters from 1985 to 2014.

43 (Wessex) Brigade
Insignia of the 43 (Wessex) Brigade
Active1914–1944
1985–2014
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeRegional Command
RoleSupport to the Field Army
SizeBrigade
Part ofSupport Command
Garrison/HQJellalabad Barracks, Tidworth Camp

First World War

The brigade was created during World War I as part of the 14th (Light) Division, part of Kitchener's Army.

Order of Battle

Second World War

It was reformed as a Lines of Communication security force in North Africa during the Second World War. The brigade was redesignated on 9 November 1943 as the 40th Infantry Division for deception purposes. The brigade was in Sicily for "internal security duties on lines of communications".

Order of Battle

These battalions "were given brigade designations; and every effort was made to appear to be a division. This included the adoption of a divisional sign featuring the diamond and acorn of the Great War 40th Div.; these were made up locally and worn on uniform by the personnel of the 'division' – in reality, three battalions of low medical category men armed with personal weapons only and with a skeleton complement of transport." (Chappell, p. 23)

The brigade was disbanded, still in Sicily, in June 1944.

Modern era

In 1985 the 43rd (Wessex) Brigade was formed as one of the new one-star Headquarters, principally as a National Defence Brigade commanding the Territorial Army in the south west of England.

The Brigade assisted with recruiting and public relations in its area, which encompassed Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, the Channel Islands and Isles of Scilly.[2] Its responsibilities included the annual Ten Tors walking challenge on Dartmoor.[2]

Order of Battle (1989)

In 1995 the restructuring programme within the British Army saw an increase in the brigade's responsibility to include regional and budgetary aspects working to a new superior headquarters: 3rd Division. The Strategic Defence Review of 1998 further increased the brigade's responsibility and as from 1 April 1999 it came under the command of Headquarters 4th Division, and moved from Exeter to Bulford in September 1999 to establish the new Headquarters 43rd (Wessex) Brigade.

Order of Battle (2007)
  • Royal Wessex Yeomanry
  • The Rifle Volunteers
  • Exeter University Officer Training Corps (UOTC)
  • Bristol University Officer Training Corps (UOTC)
  • Affiliated Commander for ACF and CCF in the South West of England

The 43 (Wessex) Brigade was transferred to 4th Division on 1 April 2007, and then came under Support Command in late 2011.[3]

Disbandment

The brigade was disbanded at Jellalabad Barracks, Tidworth, in December 2014 under the Army 2020 plan. Units and personnel from the brigade merged with Royal Artillery regiments to form 1st Artillery Brigade and Headquarters South West.[4][5]

Order of Battle on disbandment
  • The Royal Wessex Yeomanry (RHQ Bovington) (TA)
  • 6th Battalion The Rifles (HQ Exeter) (TA)
  • 155 (Wessex) Transport Regiment (HQ Plymouth) (TA)
  • Bristol University Officers Training Corps (HQ Bristol) (TA)
  • Exeter University Officers Training Corps (HQ Exeter) (TA)
  • 243 Field Hospital (Wessex) (RHQ Keynsham) (TA)
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References
  1. Joslen, H.F. Lt. Col. p. 288. ISBN 9781843424741.
  2. "43 (Wessex) Brigade". British Army. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014.
  3. "Army structure". Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  4. "Historic change of command parade in South West". Wessex Reserve Forces' & Cadets' Association. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  5. "43 (Wessex) Brigade Lowers Flag For Last Time". Forces TV. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
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