60th Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 60th Brigade was a formation of the British Army during both World War I and World War II.

World War I:

The brigade was raised as part of the 20th (Light) Division in 1914. Throughout the war, it served on the Western Front. Its constituent battalions were typically drawn from light infantry and rifle regiments. Specific battalions within the brigade changed over time, but generally included units from the King's Royal Rifle Corps, the Rifle Brigade, and sometimes other light infantry regiments. The brigade participated in numerous major battles, including the Somme, Passchendaele, and the Spring Offensive. After the war, the brigade was disbanded as part of the demobilization process.

World War II:

The 60th Brigade was reformed in 1939 as part of the 20th Infantry Division. It initially consisted of Territorial Army battalions. During the Battle of France in 1940, the 20th Infantry Brigade was part of the force sent to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The division suffered heavy losses and was evacuated from Dunkirk. The 60th Brigade was later converted to a training formation. It was redesignated as the 215th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) in December 1941 and then the 215th Independent Infantry Brigade (Reserve) on 20 December 1942, serving in a home defence role. The brigade was eventually disbanded.