The brigade, part of the 3rd Division, was serving in England on the outbreak of the First World War.

[1] The commanders of the 8th Infantry Brigade during the First World War were:[2] The brigade was in the United Kingdom upon the outbreak of the Second World War, when it was under the command of Brigadier Frank Witts.

The composition was:[3] Reactivated in the mid-late 1960s, the 8th Brigade was part of the 5th Division before arriving in Northern Ireland after the beginning of The Troubles, reporting to GOC Northern Ireland.

It was based at Ebrington Barracks, Derry, and covered the north and northwest of the province.

The Brigade Headquarters moved to Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly, County Londonderry in October 2003.