First World War The
18th Brigade was formed from a mixture of regular and
New Army battalions, and was part of the
6th Division. It saw action on the
Western Front. • Brigadier-General
W. N. Congreve (at mobilization) • Brigadier-General H. S. Ainslie (29 May 1915) • Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Towsey (5 August 1915 - acting) • Brigadier-General R. J. Bridgford (14 August 1915) • Lieutenant-Colonel C. J. Hobkirk (19 April 1916 - acting) • Brigadier-General W. K. McClintock (29 April 1916) • Brigadier-General H. S. Tew (12 June 1916) • Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Irvine (16 August 1916 - acting) • Brigadier-General R. J. Bridgford (19 August 1916) • Brigadier-General G. S. G. Craufurd (14 September 1917)
Second World War The brigade was originally designated as Cairo Area and 18th Infantry Brigade but ceased to exist when in May 1940 it was absorbed by HQ Cairo Sub-Area. On 20 July 1943 the 18th Brigade was reformed again from the redesignation of the
7th Motor Brigade as the
18th Lorried Infantry Brigade. It was part of the
1st Armoured Division and fought in the
Italian Campaign with many other different formations, such as the
1st Infantry Division, who they served with in the
Battle of Anzio. It was disbanded in
Italy on 1 January 1945 due to an acute manpower shortage throughout the British Army at the time with all available replacements being sent to the
21st Army Group in the
North West Europe Campaign.
Order of battle The original 18th Infantry Brigade was constituted as follows: • 1st Battalion,
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment • 2nd Battalion,
Highland Light Infantry • 1st Battalion,
Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) • 2nd Battalion,
Scots Guards From 20 July 1943 the 18th Lorried Infantry Brigade was constituted as follows: • 1st Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) • 2nd Battalion,
Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) • 9th Battalion,
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry - formerly the
Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons • 14th Battalion,
Sherwood Foresters •
53rd (King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery – (organised as Infantry) Commanders Commanders included: • Brigadier O.H. Tidbury • Brigadier M.D. Erskine • Brigadier A.D. McKechnie ==References==