43rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

43rd (Wessex) Brigade
Active	1914-1944 1985-Present
Country	Great Britain
Branch	British Army
Type	Regional Command
Role	Support to the Field Army
Size	Brigade
Part of	4th Division

The British Army's 43rd Infantry Brigade was originally created during World War I as part of the 14th (Light) Division. It was reformed as a Lines of Communication security force in North Africa during the Second World War.

In November 1943 it was redesignated as the 40th Infantry Division a division created for deception purposes. The brigade was disbanded in Sicily in June 1944.

In 1985 43rd (Wessex) Brigade was formed as one of the new one star Headquarters principally as a National Defence Brigade commanding the Territorial Army in the south west of England. Due to its south-west location, it assumed the history and badge of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division rather than the old 43rd Infantry Brigade. In 1995 the restructuring programme within the British Army saw an increase in the brigade's responsibility to include regional and bugetary aspects working to a new superior headquarters - 3rd Division. The Strategic Defence Review of 1998 further increased the brigade's responsibility and as from 1 April 1999 came under the command of Headquarters 4th Division, and moved from Exeter to Bulford in September 1999 to establish the new Headquarters 43rd (Wessex) Brigade.

Composition Today

• The Royal Wessex Yeomanry (RHQ Bovington) (TA)
• 6th Battalion The Rifles (HQ Exeter) (TA)
• 243 Field Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps (HQ Keynsham) (TA)
• 155 (Wessex) Transport Regiment (HQ Plymouth) (TA)
• Bristol University Officers Training Corps (HQ Bristol) (TA)
• Exeter University Officers Training Corps (HQ Exeter) (TA)