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.

History

38th Brigade was organised as part of 13th 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 division was organised by Western Command and the brigades began to assemble on Salisbury Plain.

Composition

The following units served with the brigade:
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.

Later formation

In January 1942 38th Brigade was reformed by converting 210th Independent Infantry Brigade into a frontline formation. It was composed of Irish battalions and was titled 38th Brigade. It fought with distinction through the Tunisian and Italian campaigns of World War II.
38 Brigade was reformed yet again in 2007 as a component of the present-day British Army.