4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment served as part of 148th Independent Infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland from December 1940 to April 1942.
By December 1940, 4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment had already seen action in 145th Infantry Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division. This Division had departed for France on 17th January 1940. The following month, 4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment exchanged with 2nd Battalion Gloucester Regiment. This put the Berkshires in Major-General Bernard Montgomery’s 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
In the wake of the enemy invasion of Belgium and France, 4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment was depleted to fewer than 40 soldiers as they made their way to the coast. Following the Dunkirk Evacuation, the Battalion trained intensively, improving their fitness and morale. At this time, they remained unassigned to a field formation and carried out defensive duties at Avonmouth Dockd and Filton Aerodrome, Bristol, England.
In December 1940, the well-trained 4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment joined 148th Independent Infantry Brigade, already under the command of British Troops Northern Ireland.
Training in Co. Antrim
On 9th September 1941, 4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment took part in a tactical training exercise using various methods to cross the River Maine between the towns of Antrim and Ballymena, Co. Antrim.
