11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade | |
---|---|
Active | 2014–present as brigade/RPOC hybrid |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Communications brigade and regional point of command |
Size | Brigade |
Part of | 3rd UK Division |
Garrison/HQ | Venning Barracks, Donnington, Shropshire, England. |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Brigadier Alexander J. Smith |
The 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade is a signal formation of the British Army's 3rd UK Division. [1] Its headquarters is located at Venning Barracks, in Donnington in Shropshire.
The brigade was formed as 11th Signal Group in Liverpool in 1967. It became 11th Signal Brigade in 1982 and was redesignated 11th (ARRC) Signal Brigade in 1992 and reverted to 11th Signal Brigade in 1997. [2] In November 2014, in accordance with the Army 2020 reorganisation, 11th Signal Brigade amalgamated with 143 (West Midlands) Brigade to create a new formation, based at Venning Barracks in Donnington, named 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade, with an additional role as a regional brigade for army regular and reserve units in the West Midlands counties. A formation parade took place at Donnington on 15 November 2014. [3]
One of the brigade's responsibilities is to provide administrative support for around 8,000 Army personnel who are based in the region, as well as forming a vital link between the Army and its local communities. [4] The brigade has five Regular Army signal regiments and five Army Reserve signal regiments. Under Army 2020, it is the Regional Point of Command for the West Midlands. [5] In addition, it has command responsibilities for the Army Cadet Forces and some of the Army Reserve units in the region. [4]
The current operational structure of the brigade, which is based at Venning Barracks, Donnington (to move to Beacon Barracks, Stafford), is: [6] [7]
This regional command now administers all units in the following counties; Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and West Midlands County. The following groups fall under administrative command of the group: [8] [9] [10]