8 Brigade

History of the 8th (Infantry) Brigade

The 8th (Infantry) Brigade has a long and distinguished lineage which dates back to the Pre-Federation Boer War in 1899-1902. The 8th (Infantry) Brigade, as it was more commonly known, has included in its ranks many units over the years. This page outlines the Brigade's Battle Honours, past Commanders and a brief history of the significant events occurring during its existence, in its various forms.

Headquarters 8th Brigade traces its origins back to the 1st Australian Imperial Force when it was raised as part of the 5th Division. During World War I it took part in a number of actions, including:

Battle of Fromelles, July 1916

Occupation of Bapaume, March 1917

Polygon Wood, September 1917

Villers Bretonneux, April 1918

Hindenburg Line, September 1918

Between the World Wars Headquarters 8th Infantry Brigade was located at Mosman, Sydney. Units under command included the 17th Infantry Battalion, then located at North Sydney.

During World War II the Headquarters operated in defence of Australia. Between 1940 and 1942 the 8th Infantry Brigade was tasked to defend Sydney in the event of attack. In 1942 it transferred to Western Australia as part of 2nd Division, where it remained for two years. From 1944 to 1945 the 8th Infantry Brigade took part in the Liberation of New Guinea, advancing along the north coast of New Guinea, winning battle honours at Sio - Sepak River and Madang.

Since World War II Headquarters 8th Brigade has been disbanded and re-raised a number of times. It was last raised as Headquarters 8th Task Force at Moore Park Barracks in 1981. In 1982 the Headquarters moved to Mosman, and was retitled Headquarters 8th Brigade.

For more information on the history of the 8th (Infantry) Brigade, click on one of the links below.

Battle Honours
History Timeline
The Commanders

Battle Honours
1st Australian Imperial Force (AIF) - WW1
8th Brigade AIF
29^th Battalion	30^th Battalion	31^st Battalion	32^nd Battalion
South Africa 1899-1902	South Africa 1900-1902	South Africa 1901-1902	South Africa 1899-1902
Somme 1916-1918	Somme 1916-1918	Somme 1916-1918	Somme 1916-1918
Bapaume 1917	Bapaume 1917	Bapaume 1917	Bapaume 1917
Bullecourt 1917	Bullecourt 1917	Bullecourt 1917	Bullecourt 1917
Ypres 1917	Ypres 1917	Ypres 1917	Ypres 1917
Polygon Wood 1917	Polygon Wood 1917	Polygon Wood 1917	Polygon Wood 1917
Ancre 1918	Ancre 1918	Ancre 1918	Ancre 1918
Amiens, Albert 1918	Amiens, Albert 1918	Amiens, Hindenburg Line 1918	Amiens, Albert 1918
Hindenburg Line 1918	St Quentin Canal, Hindenburg Line 1918		St Quentin Canal, Hindenburg Line 1918

2nd Australian Imperial Force
8th Aust Infantry Brigade (AIF) - WW2
4^th Battalion	30^th Battalion	35^th Battalion
Liberation of Australia and New Guinea South West Pacific 1944-45	Sio - Sepak River Madang Liberation of Australia and New Guinea	Sio - Sepak River Liberation of Australia and New Guinea

The 8th Brigade History - Timeline
1 Jul 1912	Headquarters 8 Brigade raised Commanding 25th, 26th, 29th & 31st Infantry Battalions
20 Jul 1915	Headquarters 8 Brigade AIF raised Commanding 29th, 30th, 31st & 32nd Inf Battalions Served with distinction in France, Belgium and on the Hindenburg Line
26 Apr 1919	Headquarters 8 Brigade AIF disbanded
1919 - 1 Jan 1943	Headquarters 8 Brigade Commanding 4th, 30th & 35th Battalions
Nov 1944	Headquarters 8 Brigade is retitled - 8th Australian Infantry Brigade (AIF) Served with distinction in Australia, New Guinea, & South West Pacific
1946	Headquarters 8 Brigade disbanded
1948	Headquarters 8 Brigade re-raised
30 Jun 1960	Headquarters 8 Brigade disbanded
1 Jul 1960	Reformed as 2 Battalion RNSWR Battle Group
26 Oct 1966	Headquarters 8 Task Force raised
30 Jun 1975	Headquarters 8 Task Force disbanded
1 Jul 1975	Headquarters RNSWR raised and commanding 1/19th, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 17th and 41st Battalions
1 Jul 1981	Headquarters 8th Brigade re-raised Commanding 2nd, 17th & 41st Battalions
1 Dec 1998	Headquarters 8th Brigade moved to Dundas Commanding 12/16 Hunter River Lancers (APC), 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 8th Combat Engineer Regiment, 2nd/17th & 41st Infantry Battalions & 8th Brigade Administrative Support Battalion

8th Brigade Commanders
8th Brigade AIF
20 Jul 1915 - 26 Apr 1919	COL (later MAJ GEN) E. Tivey CG, CMG, DSO, VD
8th Brigade AMF
1 Jul 1912 - 20 Jul 1917	COL G.R. Campbell VD
1 May 1921 - 30 Apr 1926	COL (later LT GEN) Sir Iven Giffard Mackay KBE, CMG, DSO, VD, Croix De Guerre
1 May 1926 - 30 Apr 1934	BRIG E.C. Norrie CB, DSO, VD
1 May 1934 - 14 May 1938	BRIG (later MAJ GEN) C.A. Callaghan CB, CMG, DSO, VD
15 May 1938 - 30 Apr 1940	BRIG M.B.B. Keatinge MC VD
1 May 1940 - 17 Aug 1944	BRIG C.E. Cameron MC, VD.
18 Aug 1944 - 9 Oct 1945	BRIG M.A. Ferguson DSO, MC and Bar, ED.
10 Oct 1945 - 14 Feb 1946	COL (later LT GEN) Sir A. Garrett KBE, CB, CBE.
2 Feb 1948 - 30 Jun 1952	BRIG (later GEN) Sir Ivan Dougherty CBE, DSO, ED.
1 Jul 1952 - 1 Jul 1956	BRIG G.S. Cox DSO MC, ED.
2 Jul 1956 - 1 Jul 1959	BRIG (later MAJ GEN) A.C. Murchinson AO, MC, RFD, ED.
2 Jul 1959 - 30 Jun 1960	BRIG J. McCarthy MC, ED.
1 Jul 1960 - 30 Jun 1961	BRIG (later MAJ GEN) the Honourable S.L.M Eskell ED, MLC.
1 Jul 1961 - 30 Jun 1964	COL P.H. Pike OBE, ED.
1 Jul 1964 - 30 Jun 1965	COL (later MAJ GEN) E.S. Marshall OBE, ED.
1 Jul 1965 - 30 Nov 1968	BRIG K. Stringfellow
1 Dec 1968 - 30 Nov 1971	BRIG (later MAJ GEN) J.M.L MacDonald MBE, ED.
1 Dec 1971 - 30 Jun 1975	BRIG J.A. Fox ED
1 Jul 1981 - 30 Apr 1983	BRIG (later MAJ GEN) R.G. Fay AO, RFD, ED.
1 May 1983 - 31 Dec 1984	BRIG I.R. Way
1 Jan 1985 - 31 Mar 1987	BRIG (later MAJ GEN) J.D. Keldie MC.
1 Apr 1987 - 31 Mar 1988	BRIG P. Carey AM RFD, ED.
1 Apr 1988 - 31 Mar 1990	BRIG DR Leece RFD, ED.
1 Apr 1990 - 31 Dec 1992	BRIG J.P. Keefe RFD.
1 Jan 1993 - 31 Dec 1995	BRIG (later MAJ GEN) C. Hoeben AM, RFD.
1 Jan 1996 - 30 Nov 1997	BRIG N.R. Turner AM, RFD.
1 Dec 1997 - 31 Dec 2000	BRIG R.P. Irving AM, RFD.
1 Jan 2001 -	BRIG P.M. Couch CSC, RFD

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