25th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

Last updated

25th Brigade
25th Infantry Brigade
Active5 October 1914 20 March 1919
1 November 1939 31 August 1944
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchFlag of the British Army.svg  British Army
Type Infantry
Size Brigade
Part of 8th Division
50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
47th (London) Infantry Division
Engagements First World War
Battle of Neuve Chapelle
Battle of Aubers Ridge
Battle of the Somme
Battle of Passchendaele
Second Battle of the Somme
Second Battle of Arras (1918)

Second World War

Battle of St Omer-La Bassée
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Reginald Byng Stephens
Clifford Coffin VC
William Havelock Ramsden

The 25th Infantry Brigade was a war-formed infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service during both the First and the Second World Wars.

Contents

The 25th Brigade was formed in October 1914 just after the outbreak of the First World War with battalions withdrawn from overseas garrisons. It formed part of the 8th Division and served with it on the Western Front until the end of the war, in particular taking part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Passchendaele. It was disbanded in March 1919.

The brigade was reformed in November 1939 just after the outbreak of the Second World War. It saw action during the battles of France and Belgium in May 1940, predominantly with the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. After being evacuated at Dunkirk, it remained in the United Kingdom with the 47th (London) Infantry Division until it was disbanded at the end of August 1944.

First World War

The 25th Brigade came into existence on 5 October 1914 (first commanding officer appointed [1] ) as part of the 8th Division shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. It was formed with four regular infantry battalions brought back to the United Kingdom from various overseas garrisons: [2] 2nd Lincolnshire Regiment from Bermuda, [3] 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment from Jhansi, India, [4] 1st Royal Irish Rifles from Aden, [5] and 2nd Rifle Brigade from Kuldana, Murree, India. [6] The brigade concentrated at Hursley Park near Winchester and on 5 and 6 November 1914 it landed at Le Havre. It remained on the Western Front with the 8th Division for the rest of the war. [2]

The brigade saw action at the battles of Neuve-Chapelle (Moated Grange Attack, 18 December 1914), Neuve Chapelle again (10–13 March 1915), Aubers Ridge (9 May 1915), when the brigade commander, Brigadier-General Lowry Cole was killed, [1] and Bois-Grenier (25 September 1915), a diversionary attack for the Battle of Loos. [2] [7]

Infantrymen of the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme, July 1916. Royal Irish Rifles ration party Somme July 1916.jpg
Infantrymen of the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme, July 1916.

In early 1916, the brigade gained a trench mortar battery and a machine gun company. [8] It then fought on the Somme, notably the Battle of Albert on the first day and the attack on Le Transloy on 23–30 October 1916. [2]

In 1917, the brigade took part in operations to follow the Germans in their retreat to the Hindenburg Line (14 March–5 April). It then took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, notable the Battle of Pilckem Ridge (31 July–1 August), the Attack on Westhoek (31 July) where the brigade commander, Brigadier-General Coffin, won the Victoria Cross, [1] and the Battle of Langemarck (16–18 August). [9]

King George V with Major-General Havelock Hudson (commanding 8th Division) walking through the streets of Fouquereuil, where the King was cheered by men of the 25th Brigade, 11 August 1916. The Battle of the Somme, July-november 1916 Q957.jpg
King George V with Major-General Havelock Hudson (commanding 8th Division) walking through the streets of Fouquereuil, where the King was cheered by men of the 25th Brigade, 11 August 1916.

The brigade's machine gun company was moved to the divisional 8th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps on 20 January 1918. [8] In addition, British [lower-alpha 1] divisions on the Western Front were reduced from a 12-battalion to a 9-battalion basis in February 1918 and the brigade from four to three battalions. [10] Thereafter, the brigade commanded three infantry battalions and a trench mortar battery. [8] 1918 saw the return of the war of movement. It had to withstand the German spring offensive in the First Battles of the Somme   Battle of St Quentin (23 March), Actions at the Somme Crossings (24 and 25 March), Battle of Rosieres (26 and 27 March), and Action of Villers-Bretonneux (24 and 25 April) and the Third Battle of the Aisne (27 May–6 June). It then switched over to counter-attack in the Second Battle of Arras (Battle of the Scarpe, 26–30 August) and the Final Advance in Artois in which the 8th Division captured Douai (17 October). [9]

By the time of the armistice of 11 November 1918, the brigade was Pommeroeul (fr), west of Mons. [4] [6] [11] On 16 November it moved back to Tournai and by 18 December had completed a move to the AthEnghien area. Here the division commenced demobilization, a process that was completed on 20 March 1919. [9]

Order of battle

The brigade commanded the following units during the war: [8]

Second World War

The 25th Infantry Brigade was formed in the United Kingdom on 1 November 1939, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War. [13] It was formed with three Territorial Army (TA) infantry battalions transferred from existing TA formations: the 4th Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) from 133rd Infantry Brigade, 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division, the 4th Border Regiment from 126th Infantry Brigade, 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division and the 1st/5th Sherwood Foresters from 148th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division. [14] Initially under War Office Control, on 18 November it moved to France where it joined the Lines of Communication Troops of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). [13]

Men of the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment take up defensive positions by the roadside, May 1940. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France 1939-1940 F4529.jpg
Men of the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment take up defensive positions by the roadside, May 1940.

In May 1940, the brigade was variously assigned to a succession of infantry divisions: 5th (4–9 May), [lower-alpha 3] 50th (Northumbrian) (9–18 May), [lower-alpha 4] 3rd (18–19 May), back to the 50th (19–21 May), 46th (21–26 May) and finally to the 2nd (26–31 May). [13] The brigade saw action at the Battle of St Omer-La Bassée (23–29 May) [13] before it was evacuated at Dunkirk on 31 May 1940. [14]

On return to the United Kingdom, the brigade joined the 47th (London) Infantry Division. It remained with the division in the United Kingdom for the rest of its existence, being disbanded on 31 August 1944. [13] [16]

Order of battle

The brigade commanded the following units during the war: [13] [17]

Commanders

The 25th Brigade had the following commanders during the First World War: [1] [19]

FromRankNameNotes
5 October 1914 Brigadier-General A.W.G. Lowry Cole killed 9 May 1915
9 May 1915Brigadier-General R.B. Stephens
1 April 1916Brigadier-General J.H.W. Pollard
4 September 1916Lieutenant-Colonel R.C. Haig temporary
11 September 1916Brigadier-GeneralJ.H.W. Pollard
11 January 1917Brigadier-General C. Coffin won the Victoria Cross on 31 July 1917; to temporary command of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division on 23 February 1918
23 February 1918 Lieutenant-Colonel A.H.S. Hart-Synnot acting; sick on 10 March 1918
10 March 1918Lieutenant-Colonel R.H. Husey acting
17 March 1918Brigadier-GeneralC. Coffin VC
4 May 1918Lieutenant-Colonel G.E.M. Hill acting
8 May 1918Brigadier-GeneralR.H. Huseywounded and captured on 27 May 1918; died of wounds on 30 May 1918
29 May 1918 Major H.P. Allaway acting
3 June 1918Brigadier-General J.B. Pollock-McCall
7 October 1918Brigadier-General Hon. R.Brand

The 25th Infantry Brigade had the following commanders during the Second World War: [13]

FromRankNameNotes
1 November 1939 Brigadier W.H.O. Ramsden
1 December 1940Lieutenant-Colonel A.H. Blest acting
10 December 1940BrigadierW.H.O. Ramsden
12 December 1940Lieutenant-ColonelA.H. Blestacting
2 January 1941Brigadier E.T.L. Gurdon
26 March 1941BrigadierA.H. Blest

See also

Notes

  1. As distinct from the Australian, Canadian and the New Zealand divisions which remained on a 12-battalion basis.
  2. 1/8th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) originally served with 85th Brigade, 28th Division. It joined the 8th Division on 21 June 1916 when it was amalgamated with the 1/7th Middlesex in 23rd Brigade. It resumed its separate identity on 2 August before joining 25th Brigade. It subsequently transferred to 167th (1st London) Brigade, 56th (1st London) Division on 8 February 1916. [12]
  3. The brigade joined the 5th Infantry Division to replace the 15th Infantry Brigade which had been deployed to Norway. [15]
  4. The 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division was organized pre-war as a two-brigade motor division. The brigade joined to bring it up to the three-brigade standard of an infantry division. [14]
  5. 1 2 The 30th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was redesignated as the 6th Battalion. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)</span> Infantry division of the British Army during the First and Second World Wars

The 8th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that was active in both the First and Second World Wars. The division was first formed in October 1914 during the First World War, initially consisting mainly of soldiers of the Regular Army and served on the Western Front throughout the war, sustaining many casualties, before disbandment in 1919. The division was reactivated in Palestine, under the command of Major-General Bernard Montgomery, in the late 1930s in the years running up to the Second World War before being disbanded in late February 1940. It was briefly reformed in Syria in an administrative role during 1942-3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">44th (Home Counties) Division</span> Military unit

The Home Counties Division was an infantry division of the Territorial Force, part of the British Army, that was raised in 1908. As the name suggests, the division recruited in the Home Counties, particularly Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex.

The 16th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service during the Second Boer War and the First and Second World Wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team</span> Military unit

The 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team is a formation in the British Army with a direct lineage to 7th Armoured Brigade and a history that stretches back to the Napoleonic Wars. It saw active service in the Crimean War, the Second Boer War and both the First and the Second World Wars. In 2014, the 7th Armoured Brigade was re-designated as 7th Infantry Brigade, thereby ensuring that the famed "Desert Rats" continue in the British Army's Order of battle.

The 131st Infantry Brigade, originally the Surrey Brigade was an infantry formation of Britain's Territorial Army that saw service during both the First and the Second World Wars. In the First World War the brigade was in British India for most of the war and did not see service as a complete unit but many of its battalions would see service in the Middle East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">29th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The 29th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade unit of the British Army. It was originally raised in 1914 and saw service during the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War.

The 28th Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised for service in World War I.

The 25th Division was an infantry division of the British Army, raised as part of Lord Kitchener's Third New Army (K3) in September 1914, shortly after the outbreak of the Great War. It served on the Western Front for most of the war.

The 156th Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army. The brigade saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars with the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">231st Brigade (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The 231st Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars. In each case it was formed by redesignation of existing formations. In the First World War, it fought in Palestine and on the Western Front, while during the Second World War it served in the Allied invasion of Sicily, Italy and the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.

The Northumberland Brigade was formed in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force of the British Army with four battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers. The brigade was numbered as 149th (Northumberland) Brigade in 1915 and served with the 50th (Northumbrian) Division on the Western Front throughout World War I. Due to losses suffered in the Ludendorf Offensive in 1918, it had to be comprehensively reorganized. Reformed as the Northumberland Brigade post-war, it was broken up before the outbreak of World War II.

The Durham Light Infantry Brigade was formed in 1902 to command the part-time Volunteer battalions of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI). Previously these had been in a combined Tyne and Tees Brigade with battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers. It consisted of the 1st–4th Volunteer Battalions of the DLI, which were renumbered as the 5th–8th Battalions when the Volunteers were subsumed into the Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms of 1908. Consisting of 6th–9th Battalions, it became part of the TF's Northumbrian Division. During World War I it was numbered as the 151st Brigade on 14 May 1915, when the division became the 50th (Northumbrian) Division. The TF also raised 2nd Line units and formations, and the 190th Brigade was formed in 63rd Division. The 1st Line battalions adopted the prefix '1/'

The Liverpool Brigade, later 165th (Liverpool) Brigade was an infantry brigade of Britain's Volunteer Force that served during World War I with the 55th Division of the British Army. During World War II, again as part of the 55th Infantry Division, the brigade remained in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">140th (4th London) Brigade</span> Military unit

The 140th Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army's Territorial Army (TA) that had its origins in a South London Brigade of the former Volunteer Force. It served on the Western Front in the First World War and was recreated during the Second World War where it served only in the United Kingdom as a training formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">141st (5th London) Brigade</span> Military unit

The 141st Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Territorial Army, part of the British Army, that served in the First World War and remained in the United Kingdom throughout the Second World War.

The 134th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Territorial Force, part of the British Army. It was formed in the First World War as a duplicate of the Hampshire Brigade and was originally formed as the 2nd/1st Hampshire Brigade in 1914–1915 before later being renamed as the 134th Brigade. It was sent overseas to India in December 1914 to relieve Regular Army units for service in France. The brigade remained there for the rest of the war, supplying drafts of replacements to the British units fighting in the Middle East and later complete battalions. By September 1917 the last of its battalions had departed.

The 222nd Infantry Brigade was a Home Service formation of the British Army that existed under various short-lived titles in both the First and Second World Wars

<span class="mw-page-title-main">223rd Brigade (United Kingdom)</span> Home Defence formation of the British Army

The 223rd Brigade was a Home Defence formation of the British Army in the First and the Second World Wars. It existed under several variations of the 223 Brigade title, and was eventually converted into an airborne formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers</span> Reserve unit of the British Army

The 2nd Northumberland Rifle Volunteer Corps, also referred to as the Tynemouth Rifles, was an infantry unit of Britain's part-time force, the Territorial Army. The corps was raised during the expansion of the Volunteer movement in the 1850s and then served with the Territorial Force during the First World War. It converted to an anti-aircraft role just prior to Second World War, and continued to serve until it was amalgamated in 1950.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Becke 1935 , p. 90
  2. 1 2 3 4 Becke 1935 , p. 94
  3. James 1978 , p. 53
  4. 1 2 James 1978 , p. 89
  5. James 1978 , p. 105
  6. 1 2 James 1978 , p. 110
  7. Baker, Chris. "The history of 8th Division in 1914-1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Becke 1935 , p. 92
  9. 1 2 3 Becke 1935 , p. 95
  10. 1 2 Becke 1935 , p. 91
  11. James 1978 , p. 73
  12. Becke 1935, p. 93
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Joslen 2003 , p. 272
  14. 1 2 3 Palmer, Rob (25 June 2014). "50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division (1940)" (PDF). British Military History. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  15. Palmer, Rob (25 June 2014). "5th Infantry Division (1940)" (PDF). British Military History. Retrieved 28 October 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. Palmer, Rob (1 February 2010). "47th (London) Infantry Division (1944-45)" (PDF). British Military History. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  17. Nafziger, George. "British Infantry Brigades 1st thru 215th 1939-1945" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  18. Bellis 1994, pp. 87–88
  19. Petre 2009, p. 82.

Bibliography