| The Brigade is commanded from it's Headquarters in Brecon. The Brigade has a Regular Army Signals Regiment, a Regular Army Infantry Battalion and six Territorial Army units. These Territorial Army units consist of an Engineer Militia, an Artillery Regiment, an Infantry Battalion, a Logistics Support Regiment, a Field Hospital and an Electrical & Mechanical Engineer Battalion. |
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There are three Cadet Training Teams, two Army Youth Teams and the Wales University Officer Training Corps. Within the Brigade's area there are 155 Army Cadet Force Detachments and 5 Combined Cadet Force Contingents.
The Brigade area also encompasses two Army Training Estates based at Sennybridge and Castlemartin, the HQ Joint Services Mountain Training Centre Indefatigable on Anglesey and the Infantry Training Centre (Wales).
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160 (Wales) Brigade exercises in various formats throughout Wales which includes the "Cambrian Patrol", the British Army's premier patrolling event, the Wales Skill at Arms Competition, Exercises Executive Stretch and Medical Stretch.
The Brigade, as the focus for Military Aid to the Civil Community, maintains a close relationship with the National Assembly, Emergency Services and the 22 Unitary Authorities of Wales, with regard to requests from these organisations to respond to any emergency throughout the Principality. |
| Wales has always contributed significantly to the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom. It provides 8% of Regular Army recruits from only 4% of the population. Within the Brigade there are currently 1,558 Regular Army, 2,368 TA soldiers and 3,078 Cadets. |
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THE BRIGADE LOCATION
The Welsh Division of the Territorial Force originated in 1908 and had under command the North Wales, South Wales and Cheshire Infantry Brigades. In 1910 a further Brigade, The Welsh Border Infantry Brigade, was formed and added to the Division. On 13 May 1915 the Division was allocated the number "53", with the Brigades being numbered 158 (North Wales) Brigade, 159 (Cheshire) Brigade and 160 (Welsh Border) Brigade. During World War I, 160 (Welsh Border) Brigade served in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine.
In 1920 the Territorial Force was reconstituted as 53 (Welsh) Division, commanding the North Wales, South Wales and the Welsh Border Brigades. Brigade numbers were reallocated in 1923 with the South Wales Brigade being numbered 160. Throughout World War II, 160 (South Wales) Infantry Brigade served with 7th Armoured Division, 52 Infantry Division but predominately with 53 (Welsh) Division in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
In May 1953 it was re-designated 160 (South Wales) Infantry Brigade. On reformation in 1984, the Brigade was again re-designated 160 (Welsh) Infantry Brigade and now extended to take in the whole of the principality under command of Headquarters Wales.
Today it's title is 160 (Wales) Brigade and is located at The Barracks, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7EA, e-mail 160bde@gtnet.gov.uk. This is also home to the South Wales Borderers Museum. (www.rrw.org.uk)
MAJOR GENERAL B T WILSON CB DSO, who commanded 53 (Welsh) Division in 1939, developed this insignia. It takes the form of a red letter W, the base of which is on a horizontal bar on a green background. It has been said that the W stood for Wales with the bar being symbolic of a firm base from which to mount an attack. The centre inverted V was also said to represent the spearhead of an attack with the sides of the letter representing the outflanking movements. Other more poetic explanations are that it is symbolic of a Bardic crown, or the traditional tall hats of the women of Wales, or even the original idea for the Millennium Dome?
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BRIGADE COMMANDER
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Brigadier Aitken was born in Jamaica in 1956, but his family emigrated and settled in South Wales near Cwmbran. He was educated in England and commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Wales in 1977.
He served with the Royal Regiment of Wales as a Platoon Commander (1977 - 80), Adjutant (1984 - 86), Company Commander (1990 - 92) and Commanding Officer (1995 - 97). Other tours include ADC to the General Officer Commanding Wales (1981), a secondment to the Brigade of Gurkhas (1982 - 84), Chief of Staff 54 Infantry Brigade (1988 - 90), Instructor at the School of Infantry (1992 - 93) and staff posts at Headquarters Land Command (1994 - 95), MOD (1997) and Headquarters Adjutant General (1997 - 2000). He was Commander British Forces in Bosnia for the six months prior to becomimg Commander 160 (Wales) Bde in May 2001.
Brigadier Aitkin is married to Joanna and they have two sons, Freddie, born in 1994 and James, born in 1996.
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Whilst every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, personnel must confirm details through the chain of command or with their Administrative Office before taking any action or making any commitment.
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Last Reviewed: 9 Oct 01
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