160th (Welsh) Brigade

{{redirect|Welsh Border Brigade|the [[yeomanry]] formation|Welsh Border Mounted Brigade}} {{Use British English|date=May 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = 160th (Welsh) Brigade 160th Infantry Brigade & HQ Wales 160th (Welsh) Infantry Brigade 160th (South Wales) Brigade Welsh Border Brigade | image = 160th Infantry Brigade logo.svg | image_size = 150px | caption = Current [[shoulder sleeve insignia]] of the 160th (Welsh) Brigade. | dates = 1908–1919, 1920–1947 1947–1967, 1984–present | country = {{flag|United Kingdom}} | branch = {{army|United Kingdom}} | type = Regional Brigade | size = [[Brigade]] | command_structure = [[Regional Command (British Army)|Regional Command]] | garrison = [[The Barracks, Brecon|The Barracks]], [[Brecon]], Wales | garrison_label = Brigade HQ | battles = '''[[First World War]]''': * [[Gallipoli Campaign]] * [[First Battle of Gaza]] * [[Battle of Nablus (1918)]] '''[[Second World War]]''': * [[Operation Overlord|Battle of Normandy]] * [[Falaise Pocket|Battle of Falaise]] * [[Battle of the Bulge]] * [[Operation Veritable|Battle of the Reichswald]] * [[Western Allied invasion of Germany]] | notable_commanders = [[John Dill|Sir John Dill]] [[Robert Knox Ross|Robert Ross]] [[Eric Dorman-Smith]] [[Lashmer Whistler|Sir Lashmer Whistler]] }}

'''160th (Welsh) Brigade''' or '''Brigâd 160 (Cymru)''', is a regional [[brigade]] of the [[British Army]] that has been in existence since 1908, and saw service during both the [[World War I|First]] and the [[World War II|Second World Wars]], as part of the [[53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division]]. It is a regional command responsible for all of [[Wales]]. The Brigade is also regionally aligned with the Eastern European and Central Asian regions as part of defence engagement.<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=2 August 2019|title=Information regarding British Army brigades being regionally aligned|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/878634/20190730-FOI08372_Li_Regionally_Aligned_Bdes_Response_Letter-ArmySec.pdf|access-date=9 April 2020|website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk|publisher=Ministry of Defence UK|quote=Responsible Organisation 160th Infantry Brigade Region Eastern Europe and Central Asia}}</ref>

== Formation == The '''Welsh Border Brigade''' was originally raised in 1908, upon creation of the [[Territorial Force]], and was part of the Welsh Division. The brigade was composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd [[Volunteer Force (Great Britain)|Volunteer]] battalions of the [[Monmouthshire Regiment]] along with the 1st Battalion of the [[Herefordshire Regiment]].

== First World War == In 1915 the brigade was re-designated the '''160th (1/1st South Wales) Brigade''' and the Welsh Division the [[53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division|53rd (Welsh) Division]]. The brigade fought with the division in the [[World War I|First World War]], in the [[Middle Eastern theatre of World War I|Middle Eastern theatre]].

The brigade was reconstituted as a result of British troops being sent to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] during the emergency following the German March 1918 [[German spring offensive|Spring Offensive]].

=== Order of battle ===

* 1/1st Battalion, [[Monmouthshire Regiment]] ''(to February 1915)'' * 1/2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment ''(to November 1914)'' * 1/3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment ''(to February 1915)'' * 1/1st Battalion, [[Herefordshire Regiment]] ''(to 24 April 1915)'' * [[4th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)|2/4th Battalion]], [[Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)]] ''(from 24 April 1915 to 31 May 1918)'' * [[4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment|1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment]] ''(from 24 April 1915 to 30 May 1918)'' * 2/4th Battalion, [[Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)]] ''(from 24 April 1915 to 25 August 1918)'' * [[10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment#2/10th Battalion|2/10th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)]] ''(from 24 April 1914 to 19 August 1918)'' * [[7th (Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers#1/7th (Merionethshire & Montgomeryshire) Battalion|1/7th (Merionethshire & Montgomeryshire) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers]] ''(joined on 24 June 1918 from [[158th (North Wales) Brigade]])'' * 160th Machine Gun Company, [[Machine Gun Corps]] ''(formed 11 May 1916, moved to 53rd Battalion, Machine Gun Corps 25 April 1918)'' * 160th Trench Mortar Battery ''(formed 26 June 1917)'' * [[21st Punjabis]] ''(from 26 May 1918)'' * [[110th Mahratta Light Infantry]] ''(joined from Karachi on 28 June 1918, left for [[20th Indian Brigade]] on 19 July)'' * 1st Battalion, [[Cape Corps]] ''(South African, joined 22 July 1918)'' * [[17th Infantry (The Loyal Regiment)]] ''(from 6 August 1918)''

== Inter-war period == After the war the brigade and division were disbanded as was the Territorial Force. However, both the brigade and division were reformed in 1920 in the [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]]. The brigade, now the '''160th (South Wales) Infantry Brigade''', was again composed of the same four battalions it had before the Great War. However, these were all posted to the [[159th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|159th (Welsh Border) Infantry Brigade]] early in the 1920s and were replaced by the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions of the [[Welch Regiment]]. The 6th and 7th Battalions were amalgamated as the 6th/7th Battalion, Welch Regiment and the 4th Battalion, [[King's Shropshire Light Infantry]] joined in the same year.

== Second World War == The brigade, now composed of two battalions of the [[Welch Regiment]] and one of the [[Monmouthshire Regiment]], together with the rest of the 53rd (Welsh) Division, was mobilised in late August 1939 and soon afterwards Britain declared war on [[Nazi Germany]]. In April 1940 160th Brigade was sent to [[Northern Ireland]] and, after the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF) was [[Dunkirk evacuation|evacuated from France]], the brigade was mainly involved in anti-invasion duties and [[Military exercise|exercises]] training to repel a potential [[Operation Green (Ireland)|German invasion of Northern Ireland]]. In late 1941 160th Brigade, and the rest of the 53rd Division, were sent to [[Southeast England]], where they began years of training for [[Operation Overlord]], the planned [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Invasion of Normandy|invasion of Northern France]]. [[File:The_British_Army_in_North-west_Europe_1944-45_B11257.jpg|left|thumb|[[Infantry]]men of the 4th Battalion, [[Welch Regiment]] advance along a railway embankment during the capture of 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, 25 October 1944.]] On 14 January 1944 [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] [[Lashmer Whistler|Lashmer 'Bolo' Whistler]] was appointed to command 160th Bde. He had just returned to the UK after a successful year commanding the lorried infantry brigade of the famous [[7th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Division]] in [[North African campaign|North Africa]]. General Sir [[Bernard Montgomery]] regarded Whistler as 'the best and most experienced Brigadier in the British Army' and had earmarked him for a future divisional command. Whistler's appointment to 160th Bde was in line with Montgomery's policy of giving experienced leadership to the inexperienced formations in 'Overlord'. Whistler took over command of 160th Bde on 28 January, and the brigade was immediately involved in two corps-level training exercises. In March the 53rd (W) Division's HQ and all its brigade and ancillary HQs took part in Exercise Shudder to study 'thrust line' technique, then in April the division was engaged in Exercise Henry on the [[South Downs]] training area; this included a river crossing and full-scale simulated attack. In May, Exercise Bud practised loading vehicles on to landing craft. Finally, in the last week of May, the brigade began moving into its concentration area at [[Herne Bay]], ready for the invasion.<ref name="joslen348">Joslen, p. 348</ref><ref>Smyth, pp. 101–7.</ref> As a follow-up formation, 53rd (W) Division did not take part in the invasion on [[D Day]] (6 June). The 160th Brigade began loading men and equipment aboard its ships on 20 June, but that night Brigadier Whistler was called away to take over [[3rd (United Kingdom) Division|3rd Division]] whose commander had been wounded in the early fighting in Normandy. Lieutenant-Col [[Charles Coleman (British Army officer)|Charles Coleman]] of the 4th Welch, who had been acting-Brigadier before Whistler's arrival, was promoted to take command permanently.<ref name="joslen348"/><ref>Smyth, p. 108.</ref>

The 160th Brigade landed in Normandy on 28 June and with the rest of the 53rd (W) Division was almost immediately involved in severe [[Attrition warfare|attritional fighting]] around the French city of [[Caen]], facing numerous German [[panzer division]]s, in what came to be known as the [[Battle for Caen]]. The brigade later participated in the [[Second Battle of the Odon]], suffering heavy casualties, which resulted in the 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment being transferred to the [[158th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|158th Brigade]] of the division and replaced by the 6th Battalion, [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]]. The decision was made by the divisional commander, [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Robert Knox Ross|Robert Ross]] (a former commander of the brigade), due to an acute shortage of infantrymen in the British Army at this stage of the war, even more so in finding sufficient numbers of battle casualty replacements (or reinforcements) for three battalions of the same regiment serving in the same brigade, which, like the 160th Brigade, had also suffered many losses.<ref name="joslen348"/>

The brigade went on to fight in the [[Falaise Pocket|Battle of Falaise]], capturing large numbers of [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German troops]] and the subsequent [[Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine]], later playing a minor role in the [[Battle of the Bulge]], a large role in [[Operation Veritable]] in February 1945 and crossing the [[Rhine]] into Germany over a month later, where it took part in the [[Western Allied invasion of Germany]], finally ending the war in [[Hamburg]], Germany.<ref name="joslen348"/> The 160th Brigade remained in Germany on occupation duties until it was [[Demobilization|demobilised]] in late 1946.

=== Order of battle === [[File:The_British_Army_in_North-west_Europe_1944-45_BU2783.jpg|thumb|Men of the 2nd Battalion, [[Monmouthshire Regiment]] in [[Bocholt, Germany]], 29 March 1945. Note the Nazi slogan painted on the wall.]] 160th Infantry Brigade was composed as follows during the war:<ref name="joslen348" />

* 4th Battalion, [[Welch Regiment]] * 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment ''(left 3 August 1944)'' * 2nd Battalion, [[Monmouthshire Regiment]] * 160th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank company ''(formed 1 July 1940, left 15 February 1941 to join [[Reconnaissance Corps#Units|53rd (Welsh) Reconnaissance Battalion]])''<ref>[https://archive.today/20121223085508/http://www.recce.adsl24.co.uk/regts/53rd.htm 53rd (W) Recce Regiment at Recce Corps website.]</ref> * [[6th (Caernarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers]] ''(from 4 August 1944)''

=== Commanders === The following officers commanded 160th Infantry Brigade during the war:<ref name="joslen348" />

* [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] [[Aubrey Williams (British Army officer)|Aubrey Williams]] (''until 10 May 1940'') * Brigadier [[Robert Knox Ross (British Army officer)|Robert Ross]] (''from 10 May 1940 until 17 September 1942'') * Brigadier [[Eric Dorman-Smith]] (''from 17 September 1942 until 22 November 1943'') * [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-Colonel]] [[Charles Coleman (British Army officer)|Charles Coleman]] (''[[Acting (rank)|acting]], from 22 November 1943 until 28 January 1944'') * Brigadier [[Lashmer Whistler]] (''from 28 January 1944 until 22 June 1944'') * Brigadier Charles Coleman (''from 22 June 1944 until 27 May 1945'') * Lieutenant-Colonel H.B.D. Crozier (''acting, from 27 May 1945 until 3 June 1945'') * Brigadier Charles Coleman (''from 3 June 1945'')

== Post War == Following the reformation of the Territorial Army after the end of the war, the brigade was reformed as the 160th (South Wales) Infantry Brigade on 1 April 1947. The brigade was organised as a 'three-battalion' brigade with the [[2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment]] in [[Pontypool]], 4th (Carmarthenshire) Battalion, The Welch Regiment in [[Llanelli]], and 5th (Glamorgan) Battalion, The Welch Regiment in [[Pontypridd]] under its command. The brigade itself remained under the guise of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division during this time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=THE TERRITORIAL ARMY 1947|url=http://www.orbat.info/history/historical/uk/ta47.html|access-date=2021-12-27|website=www.orbat.info}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2003-02-27 |title=Welcome to 160 (Wales) Brigade |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/160brigade/index.htm |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030227131354/http://www.army.mod.uk/160brigade/index.htm |archive-date=27 February 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Though the TA seemed stable in 1947, it was continually cut and reduced in size time and time again from 1950 onwards. In 1961, the first wave of major cuts came when the old territorial divisions were merged with their local districts to become 'Division/Districts', thus the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division became the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division/District that year and the brigade became a regional brigade now just tasked with home defence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wales District|url=http://www.regiments.org/formations/uk-cmdarmy/uk-d-wal.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816075725/http://www.regiments.org/formations/uk-cmdarmy/uk-d-wal.htm|archive-date=16 August 2007|access-date=21 May 2020|publisher=Regiments.org}}</ref> As a result of the [[1966 Defence White Paper]], the TA became the 'TAVR' (Territorial & Army Volunteer Reserve) and was organised into four categories: TAVR I: those units tasked with quick-deployment support, ie: SAS and NATO-specific units; TAVR II: Units tasked with NATO-support and/or deployable as normal TA units were; TAVR III: Home defence infantry and light-equipment only units (reduced to cadres in 1969 and disbanded in 1975), and TAVR IV: Sponsored bands, UOTC, and miscellaneous units.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2007-08-25 |title=TA Command Structure 1967 - 2000 |url=http://www.win.tue.nl/~drenth/BritArmy/Lineage/TACOMMANDSTRUCT67/index.html |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825031114/http://www.win.tue.nl/~drenth/BritArmy/Lineage/TACOMMANDSTRUCT67/index.html |archive-date=25 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Frederick, p. 326</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Paxton|first=J.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l43JDQAAQBAJ&q=HQ+UK+Land+Forces+1972+9+district+headquarters&pg=PA104|title=The Statesman's Year-Book 1972-73: The Encyclopaedia for the Businessman-of-The-World|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK|year=1972|isbn=978-0-230-27101-2|page=104}}</ref>

Following the above changes, the old Division/Districts were renamed as 'Districts', with the 53rd (Welsh) Division/District becoming Wales District and now oversaw all units within Wales, with the TA brigades disappearing shortly thereafter. These changes caused little or no direction in doctrine and training from above the battalion level, thus creating a complicated atmosphere.<ref name=":1"/>

In 1967, with the Territorial Army reorganised, the brigade's battalions were completely reorganised too. The 2nd Monmouths was disbanded and concurrently reconstituted as two units in TAVR II, B (South Wales Borderers) Company in the [[Welsh Volunteers]] based in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] and in TAVR III, forming the whole unit, the [[Monmouthshire (Territorial) Battalion, The South Wales Borderers]] also based in Newport.<ref>Frederick, p. 172</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-01-12 |title=2nd Battalion, The Monmouthshire Regiment [UK] |url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-wales/vinf/mm-2.htm |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112143317/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-wales/vinf/mm-2.htm |archive-date=12 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The 4th Welch was reduced to three companies: in TAVR II, C (Welch) Company in the Welsh Volunteers and in TAVR III, B and C Companies of the 4th (Territorial) Battalion of the Welch Regiment.<ref>Frederick, p. 295</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-11-18 |title=4th Battalion, The Welch Regiment [UK] |url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-wales/vinf/welch-4.htm |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118000044/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-wales/vinf/welch-4.htm |archive-date=18 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Finally, the 5th Welch was reduced to two units: in TAVR II, part of C (Welch) Company, and in TAVR III, B Company in Bridgend part of the 5th/6th (Territorial) Battalion, The Welch Regiment.<ref>Frederick, p. 296</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-11-18 |title=5th/6th Battalion, The Welch Regiment [UK] |url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-wales/vinf/welch-56.htm |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118000143/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-wales/vinf/welch-56.htm |archive-date=18 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> With the wholescale reductions of the TA, the fully territorial brigades and divisions were disbanded and the brigade soon followed suite.<ref name=":1" />

== Cold War == In 1984, as a result of the [[1981 Defence White Paper]], many of the old disbanded territorial brigades were reformed as part of their respective regional districts. These brigades were not like their predecessors however, as with the enhancement of the TA, the brigades became purely administrative headquarters for training.<ref name=":1"/> As part of these changes, '''160th (Welsh) Infantry Brigade''' was reformed as the operational formation of Wales District with its headquarters at The Barracks in Brecon.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=November 2021|title=British Army of the Rhine & Royal Air Force Germany in 1989: Gliederung und Stationierung der britischen Streitkräfte in Deutschland im Jahre 1989|url=https://www.relikte.com/_basis/docs/baor-rafg-3.pdf|access-date=27 December 2021|website=Relics in Lower Saxony & Bremen|publisher=Alterfritz|page=8|language=de}}</ref> The brigade's task was to protect Wales in its role of a home defence brigade. If mobilised, the brigade would have been the 8th Regional AF Headquarters.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Ministry of Defence, ''British Army Master Order of Battle'' for 1991. 16 December 1994. Whitehall, London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 27 December 2021.</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Davies|first=Mark|title=British Orders of Battle & Tables of Organisation and Equipment: 1980–1989|url=https://www.fireandfury.com/orbats/modcwbritish.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=27 December 2021|website=Fire and Fury War Games|pages=5, 31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720104736/http://www.fireandfury.com/orbats/modcwbritish.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2008 }}</ref>

In 1989 the brigade's structure was as follows:

* '''160th (Wales) Brigade'''<ref name=":82">British Army, ''1991 Master Order of Battle'', Ministry of Defence, London. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 13 October 2021.</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web|last=Vieux-Bill|first=Louis|date=May 2021|title=British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989|url=https://www.orbat85.nl/documents/BAOR-July-1989.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=23 October 2021|website=1985 Orders of Battle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602010716/http://www.orbat85.nl/documents/BAOR-July-1989.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2014 }}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web|last=Fritz|first=Alter|date=October 2018|title=British Army of the Rhine & Royal Air Force Germany 1989: Organisation and stationing of the British Armed Forces in Germany in 1989|url=https://www.relikte.com/_basis/docs/baor-rafg-2.pdf|access-date=5 April 2021|website=Relics in Upper Saxony & Bremen|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124224023/https://www.relikte.com/_basis/docs/baor-rafg-2.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":2"/> ** Brigade Headquarters, at [[The Barracks, Brecon|The Barracks]], [[Brecon]]<ref name=":4">Drenth, pp. 10–14</ref> ** 1st Battalion, [[The Royal Regiment of Wales]], at [[Battlesbury Barracks]], [[Warminster Garrison|Warminster]] (Light Infantry) – infantry demonstration unit at the School of Infantry<ref name=":2"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=British Army units from 1945 on - Royal Regiment of Wales|url=https://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/royal-regiment-of-wales.html|access-date=2021-10-26|website=british-army-units1945on.co.uk}}</ref> ** [[3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, TAVR|3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers]] (V), in [[Wrexham]]<ref>Drenth, p. 115</ref> (Light Infantry, Home Defence) ** [[3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Wales|3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales]] (V), at [[Maindy Barracks]], [[Cardiff]]<ref>Drenth, p. 118</ref> (Light Infantry) ** [[4th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Wales|4th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales]] (V), in [[Swansea]]<ref>Drenth, p. 119</ref> (Light Infantry, Home Defence) ** [[104th Regiment Royal Artillery|104th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Artillery]] (V), at [[Raglan Barracks, Newport|Raglan Barracks]], [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] (64 x [[Blowpipe (missile)|Blowpipe MANPADS]])<ref name=":26">Staff Officer's Handbook, p. 36</ref> ** [[157 (Welsh) Regiment RLC|157th (Wales and Midlands) Transport Regiment]], [[Royal Corps of Transport]] (V), at Maindy Barracks, Cardiff<ref name=":36">Sutton, pp. 527–570</ref> ** [[203 (Welsh) Field Hospital|203rd (Welsh) General Hospital]], [[Royal Army Medical Corps]] (V), in [[Cardiff]] (General Hospital){{citation needed|date=December 2021}} By the end of the Cold War, the German Army (''[[Bundeswehr]]'') had a battalion-sized tank (''panzer'') training unit based at the [[Castlemartin Training Area]] in [[West Wales]], which was within the brigade's geographical area. The battalion was equipped with the [[Leopard 1]] [[main battle tank]] and its personnel rotated through for gunnery and/or manoeuvre training.<ref name=":2"/>

After the end of the Cold War, the government published the [[Options for Change]] reform which saw several districts either merge or reduce in size, with some having both. Wales District was part of this later group and on 1 April 1992 merged with [[Western District (British Army)|West Midlands District]] to form the new Wales and Western District. Following these changes, the brigade was moving under the new district which, in March 1995, was merged with North West District and consequently reduced to 5th Division in 1995.<ref name=":1" />

== Twenty-first century == [[File:1 RIFLES Exercising on Sennybridge Training Area MOD 45165154.jpg|thumb|270px|1 Rifles as part of the brigade, 2018.]] By 2003, the brigade was organised as follows:<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-02-27 |title=160 (Wales) Brigade: Territorial Army Units |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/160brigade/ta_units.htm |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030227170248/http://www.army.mod.uk/160brigade/ta_units.htm |archive-date=27 February 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-01-08 |title=HQ 160 (Wales) Brigade |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/160bde/index.htm |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108134200/http://www.army.mod.uk/160bde/index.htm |archive-date=8 January 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2007-01-08 |title=160 (Wales) Brigade |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/5div/org/160_wales_brigade/index.htm |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108180504/http://www.army.mod.uk/5div/org/160_wales_brigade/index.htm |archive-date=8 January 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-04-06 |title=160 (Wales) Brigade - British Army Website |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/10130.aspx |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406095303/http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/10130.aspx |archive-date=6 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-04-13 |title=160 (Wales) Brigade - British Army Website |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/structure/28224.aspx |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413225901/https://www.army.mod.uk/structure/28224.aspx |archive-date=13 April 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

* Brigade Headquarters, at [[The Barracks, Brecon]]<ref name=":3"/> * [[Royal Welsh Regiment]] (Territorial Army; one battalion) – 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, The Royal Welsh from 2007 * [[104th Regiment Royal Artillery|104th Regiment, Royal Artillery]] (Territorial Army; Air Defence) * [[Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers|The Royal Monmouthshire Militia, Royal Engineers]] (Territorial Army) * [[157 (Welsh) Regiment RLC|157th (Wales and Midlands) Logistic Support Regiment]], Royal Logistic Corps (Territorial Army) * Wales University [[Officer Training Corps]] (Territorial Army)

=== Army 2020 === Under the Army 2020 programme, the brigade was renamed the '''160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales''', retaining its regional commitments, but now commanding several regular and territorial (becoming the Army Reserve in 2015) units.<ref name=":362">{{Cite web|title=Transforming the British Army an Update|url=http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2014-0042/20140110-PQ01968B-SOames-A2020-Update-Glossy-U.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=27 December 2021|website=Parliamentary Publishments|publisher=Ministry of Defence (British Army)|publication-date=July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325181706/http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2014-0042/20140110-PQ01968B-SOames-A2020-Update-Glossy-U.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-11 |title=160th Infantry Brigade and HQ Wales - British Army Website |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/28224.aspx |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211043848/http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/28224.aspx |archive-date=11 February 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-29 |title=Brigade history - British Army Website |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/41201.aspx |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029114147/http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/41201.aspx |archive-date=29 October 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2017, the brigade was organised as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-29 |title=Brigade units - British Army Website |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/41200.aspx |access-date=2021-12-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029114139/http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/41200.aspx |archive-date=29 October 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

* Brigade Headquarters, at [[The Barracks, Brecon|The Barracks]], [[Brecon]] * 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, at Clive Barracks, Tern Hill (Light Mechanised Infantry w/ Foxhound MRAPs) * 1st Battalion, The Rifles, at Beachley Barracks, Chepstow (Light Infantry) * 2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (Army Reserve) * 6th Battalion, The Rifles (Army Reserve) * 160th Infantry Brigade & Headquarters Wales Cadet Training Team, at The Barracks, Brecon<ref name=":06">{{Cite web|date=7 December 2021|title=Freedom of Information (Act) request regarding current Army Cadet Training Teams (CTTs)|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/804576/response/1930395/attach/3/20211207%20FOI13531%20Zacchi%20Response%20Letter%20ArmyPolSec.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1|access-date=9 December 2021|website=What do they know?|publisher=Ministry of Defence}}</ref> * Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force, at [[Kinmel Park Training Area|Kinmel Park Camp]], [[Bodelwyddan]]<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Clwyd And Gwynedd Army Cadets|url=https://armycadets.com/county/clwyd-and-gwynedd-acf/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Army Cadets UK|language=en-GB}}</ref> * Dyfed and Glamorgan Army Cadet Force, in [[Bridgend]]<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title=Dyfed And Glamorgan Army Cadets|url=https://armycadets.com/county/dyfed-and-glamorgan-acf/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Army Cadets UK|language=en-GB}}</ref> * Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force, in [[Powys]]<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=Gwent And Powys Army Cadets|url=https://armycadets.com/county/gwent-and-powys-acf/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Army Cadets UK|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Under the Army 2020 Refine programme, the brigade dropped its operational commitments and became simply '''160th (Welsh) Brigade''', responsible for regional duties within Wales. Since 2019, the brigade has no operational units under its control, but does oversee cadets:

* 160th Infantry Brigade & Headquarters Wales Cadet Training Team, at The Barracks, Brecon<ref name=":06" /> * Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force, at [[Kinmel Park Training Area|Kinmel Park Camp]], [[Bodelwyddan]]<ref name=":5" /> * Dyfed and Glamorgan Army Cadet Force, in [[Bridgend]]<ref name=":6" /> * Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force, in [[Powys]]<ref name=":7" />

== Footnotes == {{Reflist}}

== Bibliography == * Capt [[Cyril Falls]], ''History of the Great War: Military Operations, Egypt and Palestine'', Vol II, ''From June 1917 to the End of the War'', Part II, London: HM Stationery Office, 1930/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2013, ISBN 978-1-84574-950-7. * 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/London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990, ISBN 0-948130-03-2/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6. * [[Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet|Sir John Smyth]], ''Bolo Whistler: The Life of General Sir Lashmer Whistler'', London: Frederick Muller, 1967.

[[Category:Infantry brigades of the British Army|160 (Wales) Brigade]] [[Category:British Army Regional Points of Command]] [[Category:Military units and formations in Wales|B160]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1908]] [[Category:Infantry brigades of the British Army in World War I]] [[Category:Infantry brigades of the British Army in World War II]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1967]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1984]]