Highland Mounted Brigade

The Highland Mounted Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army, organised in 1908. After service in the Gallipoli Campaign and in the defence of Egypt, it was absorbed into the 2nd Dismounted Brigade in February 1916.

Highland Mounted Brigade
Active1908–February 1916
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeYeomanry
SizeBrigade
HQ (peacetime)Inverness
EngagementsWorld War I
Gallipoli 1915
Egypt 1916

Formation
Highland Mounted Brigade
Organisation on 4 August 1914
Assigned units
A Squadron at Cupar
B Squadron at Dunfermline
C Squadron at Dundee
D Squadron at Forfar
A Squadron at Roybridge
B Squadron at Lochmaddy, North Uist
C Squadron at Skeabost, Skye
D Squadron at Beauly
E Squadron at Kyle of Lochalsh
F Squadron at Dornoch
G Squadron at Alness
H Squadron at Inverness
  • Brigade troops
Transport and Supply Column, ASC,
Inverness
  • Source
  • Conrad, Mark (1996). "The British Army, 1914".

Under the terms of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw.7, c.9), the brigade was formed in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force. It consisted of three yeomanry regiments, a horse artillery battery and ammunition column, a transport and supply column and a field ambulance.[1]

As the name suggests, the units were drawn from the Scottish Highlands.[2]

World War I

The brigade was embodied on 4 August 1914 and placed under First Army of Central Force. It moved to the Huntingdon area and then to Lincolnshire in November 1914.[3] In April 1915, the brigade moved to Norfolk until August 1915 when it was dismounted.[4]

Gallipoli

On 8 September 1915, the brigade boarded RMS Andania[5] at Devonport and sailed for Alexandria, Egypt arriving on 18 September.[4] On 26 September it landed at Gallipoli where it joined 2nd Mounted Division.[6] The brigade remained at Suvla until evacuated on the night of 19/20 December 1915. It left 2nd Mounted Division on 22 December. It was transported to Alexandria via Imbros (20-24 December) and Mudros (24-26 December), arriving on 28 December and went to Sidi Bishr Camp.[7]

Egypt

In late December 1915, the brigade returned to Egypt. It served on Suez Canal defences[8] and as part of the Western Frontier Force.[9]

In February 1916, Highland Mounted Brigade was absorbed into the 2nd Dismounted Brigade[10] (along with the 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade[11]). 2nd Dismounted Brigade was later renamed as 229th Brigade in the 74th (Yeomanry) Division.[12]

Commanders

The Highland Mounted Brigade had the following commanders:[13]

FromRankName
9 September 1914Brigadier-GeneralLord Lovat (sick 11 October 1915)
12 October 1915Lieutenant-ColonelA. Stirling (acting)
24 October 1915Brigadier-GeneralA. Stirling

See also

References
  1. Westlake 1992, p. 15
  2. Conrad, Mark (1996). "The British Army, 1914". Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  3. Rinaldi 2008, p. 58
  4. James 1978, pp. 18,19,24
  5. Westlake 1996, pp. 257,269,270
  6. Becke 1936, p. 17
  7. Becke 1936, p. 14
  8. Baker, Chris. "74th (Yeomanry) Division". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  9. Chappell, PB. "Miscellaneous Units Serving Overseas". The Regimental Warpath 1914-18. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  10. James 1978, p. 35
  11. James 1978, p. 36
  12. Becke 1937, p. 117
  13. Becke 1936, p. 10

Bibliography
  • Becke, Major A.F. (1936). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42-56). London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-12-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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)
  • Rinaldi, Richard A (2008). Order of Battle of the British Army 1914. Ravi Rikhye. ISBN 978-0-97760728-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Westlake, Ray (1992). British Territorial Units 1914-18. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-168-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Westlake, Ray (1996). British Regiments at Gallipoli. Barnsley: Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-85052-511-X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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