201st (2/1st Middlesex) Brigade
The 2nd Middlesex Brigade was a 2nd Line Territorial Force Brigade of the British Army in World War I. The brigade was formed as a duplicate of the Middlesex Brigade in October 1914 as part of the 2nd Home Counties Division. As the name suggests, the brigade recruited in Middlesex. In August 1915, in common with all Territorial Force brigades, it was numbered as 201st (2/1st Middlesex) Brigade. Between September 1917 and the end of the year, the brigade was extensively reorganized and lost its territorial identity; henceforth it was known as 201st Brigade.
| 2nd Middlesex Brigade 201st (2/1st Middlesex) Brigade 201st Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | October 1914 – 17 March 1919 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 67th (2nd Home Counties) Division |
| Service | World War I |
History
In accordance with the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw.7, c.9) which brought the Territorial Force into being, the TF was intended to be a home defence force for service during wartime and members could not be compelled to serve outside the country. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, many members volunteered for Imperial Service. Therefore, TF units were split into 1st Line (liable for overseas service) and 2nd Line (home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas) units. 2nd Line units performed the home defence role, although in fact most of these were also posted abroad in due course.[1]
The Brigade served on home defence duties throughout the war, whilst recruiting, training and supplying drafts to overseas units and formations. It was twice warned to prepare to be transferred to Ireland, and in April 1917 for service on the Western Front, but in the event never left England. It was eventually disbanded in March 1919.
Order of battle
The composition of 201st Brigade was as follows (not all the infantry battalions served in the brigade at the same time):[2][3]
- 2/7th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 2/8th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 2/9th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 2/10th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 3/7th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 3/8th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 3/10th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
- 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
- 201st Trench Mortar Battery
- 280th Graduated Battalion, became 51st (Graduated) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
- 281st Graduated Battalion, became 52nd (Graduated) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
- 282nd Graduated Battalion, became 52nd (Graduated) Battalion, South Wales Borderers
- 2/7th Battalion, Essex Regiment
- 52nd (Graduated) Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
References
- Baker, Chris. "Was my soldier in the Territorial Force (TF)?". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- "67th (2nd Home Counties) Division". The Long Long Trail. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- Becke 1937, pp. 78–79
Bibliography
- Becke, Major A.F. (1937). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2B. The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th) with The Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-00-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- James, Brigadier E.A. (1978). British Regiments 1914–18. London: Samson Books Limited. ISBN 0-906304-03-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
External links
- Baker, Chris. "The 67th (2nd Home Counties) Division in 1914-1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- "67th (2nd Home Counties) Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2015.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)