38th (Irish) Brigade is an administrative headquarters formation of the British Army. It served as a fully functional infantry brigade during the Second World War, composed of Northern Ireland line infantry regiments, and fought with distinction in the Tunisian and Italian Campaigns. Disbanded after the war in 1947, it was reformed in 2007 and today serves as the regional formation for Northern Ireland, headquartered at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn.
History
Second World War
The brigade was originally formed in 1914 as one of the brigades of the 13th (Western) Division (Kitchener's Army) and fought in the First World War. It was reformed on 13 January 1942 by re-designating the 210th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) at the instigation of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who wanted a brigade with direct Irish connections. Its original constituent battalions were:
- 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
- 6th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (disbanded 5 August 1944)
- 2nd Battalion, London Irish Rifles
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (joined 26 July 1944)
The brigade landed in North Africa on 22 November 1942 as part of the British First Army, attached to the 6th Armoured Division. In March 1943 it transferred to the 78th Battleaxe Infantry Division and played a lead role in the capture of German defensive positions in the mountains north of Medjez-el-Bab. The brigade was the first marching troops to enter Tunis on 8 May 1943.
It subsequently saw action in the Allied invasion of Sicily (notably the capture of Centuripe) and throughout the Italian Campaign, including the advance to the Volturno Line, the Battle of Monte Cassino, and fighting at Lake Trasimene. The brigade ended the war on occupation duties in Carinthia, southern Austria, before being formally disbanded in April 1947.
Twenty-first century
The brigade was reformed on 1 August 2007 as HQ Northern Ireland and 38th (Irish) Brigade, replacing the former HQ Northern Ireland. It came under the 2nd Division and later the 1st (United Kingdom) Division under the Army 2020 programme. Today it is the regional brigade responsible for administering the British Army within Northern Ireland.
Current role
The brigade provides the Civil Contingency Reaction Force for Northern Ireland and is regionally aligned with the Republic of Ireland as part of defence engagement. Its current organisation includes the 38th (Irish) Brigade Cadet Training Team and the 1st and 2nd Northern Ireland Battalions of the Army Cadet Force.
Motto
"Ubique et Semper Fidelis" — "Everywhere and Always Faithful"
Notable commanders
- Brigadier Morgan O'Donovan (12 January 1942 – 1 July 1942)
- Brigadier Nelson Russell (1 July 1942 – 20 February 1944)
- Brigadier Thomas (Pat) Scott (from 20 February 1944)
- Brigadier Jamie Murray (current, as of September 2019)
