49th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

The brigade started its existence as part of the 16th (Irish) Division, part of Kitchener's Army in the First World War. The 16th Division served through the war on the Western Front. == Cold War ==

The 49th Brigade also served in Kenya during the Mau Mau Uprising from 1953 to 1955–6, incorporating the 1st Battalion, Royal Northumbrian Fusiliers, and the 1st Battalion, Royal Innskilling Fusiliers, joined by the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, from January 1955. It consisted of 5th and 7th Battalions, Royal Anglian Regiment, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, 3rd Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, the Royal Yeomanry, equipped with Fox armoured cars, 100th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery, with 105mm Light Guns, and 307 OP Battery RA (V). The Division was tasked with the wartime rear-area security of the I (BR) Corps sector, behind the forward armoured divisions, during any Soviet thrust into Western Europe. == 1990s to disbandment ==

Following the end of the Cold War, the Brigade was reorganised as 49 (East Midlands) Brigade on 1 April 1992, and then as 49 (East) Brigade on 1 April 1995 following the merger with 54 (East Anglia) Brigade. Under Army 2020, 49 (East) Brigade was merged with 7th Armoured Brigade to become 7th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters East on 13 February 2015. == Structure in 1989 ==

Below is the structure of the brigade in 1989, just before the end of the Cold War. • Headquarters 49th (Eastern) Infantry Brigade'''' • Headquarters 49th Infantry Brigade and Signal Troop, Royal Corps of Signals (V), Chilwell • 49th Infantry Brigade Defence and Employment Section, Royal Pioneer Corps (V) • The Royal Yeomanry (V), in Chelsea, London • 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (V), in Coventry • Warwickshire Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers • 5th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment (V), in Peterborough • 7th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment (V), in Leicester • 5th (Shropshire and Herefordshire) Battalion, The Light Infantry (V), in Shrewsbury • ''3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's)'' (V), in Wolverhampton • 100th (Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (V) (Field Artillery), in Grove Park, London ==References==