42nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)


The 42nd Infantry Brigade, also known as 42 Brigade, was a brigade of the British Army.

History

The brigade first saw action during the Second Boer War.
The brigade was reformed in August 1914 during World War I as the 42nd Brigade, raised from the first wave of men volunteering for Kitchener's Army. The 42nd Brigade was a component formation of the 14th Division and originally consisted of light infantry regiments but, as the war progressed and casualties mounted, the brigades' original battalions were replaced by non-light infantry regiments.

Order of battle World War I

The brigade was re-formed during World War II as a security force to protect lines of communication in North Africa. In November 1943, the brigade HQ was redesignated as the HQ of the 57th Infantry Division for deception purposes. The brigade was disbanded in July 1944.

Order of battle World War II

Headquarters 42 Brigade was reformed at Fulwood Barracks in 1982, so perpetuating the memory of the 42nd Infantry Division, and became the regional military headquarters for North West England.
Structure in 1989:
Under Army 2020, it was renamed 42nd Infantry Brigade and became the Regional Point of Command for the British Army in the region of North West England and the Isle of Man. Its headquarters were situated at Fulwood Barracks in Preston. Units included:
The brigade was removed from the British Army Order of Battle in January 2017. The brigade was reduced and became Headquarters North West, now part of Regional Command.