| 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1908–February 1916 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Yeomanry |
| Size | Brigade |
| HQ (peacetime) | Exeter |
| Engagements | World War I |
The 2nd South Western 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.
| 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade |
|---|
| Organisation on 4 August 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. [2]
As the name suggests, the units were drawn from South West England, predominantly Devon and Somerset, but also a sub-unit from Cornwall. [3]
The brigade was mobilised on 4 August 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War and moved to the Colchester area of Essex in August 1914 where it remained (under Third Army of Central Force [4] ) until September 1915. [5] It was then dismounted, with the horses being taken over by its 2nd Line 2/2nd South Western Mounted Brigade which replaced it in the Home Defence role. [6]
In September 1915 the brigade left Essex for Liverpool. On 24 September it boarded RMS Olympic and sailed the next day. It arrived at Mudros on 1 October and on to Suvla Bay. The Brigade landed in Gallipoli on 9 October and was attached to the 11th (Northern) Division [7] (digging trenches). In November it was in the firing line, attached to the 2nd Mounted Division [8] and 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division. [9] On 19 December it was evacuated to Imbros. [10] In this period, the brigade consisted of the three yeomanry regiments, a signal troop and a field ambulance under the command of Br.-Gen. R. Hoare.
In late December 1915, the brigade landed in Alexandria to help defend Egypt. It served on Suez Canal defences [11] and as part of the Western Frontier Force. [12]
In February 1916, 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade was absorbed into the 2nd Dismounted Brigade [5] (along with the Highland Mounted Brigade [13] ). 2nd Dismounted Brigade was later renamed as 229th Brigade in the 74th (Yeomanry) Division. [14]
The 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade was commanded from 1 April 1912 by Colonel R. Hoare. He was promoted to brigadier general on 5 August 1914 and remained in command until the brigade was absorbed into 2nd Dismounted Brigade. He took command of 2nd Dismounted Brigade on formation, and remained in command when the brigade was converted to 229th Brigade. [14]
The Australian Mounted Division originally formed as the Imperial Mounted Division in January 1917, was a mounted infantry, light horse and yeomanry division. The division was formed in Egypt, and along with the Anzac Mounted Division formed part of Desert Column, Egyptian Expeditionary Force in World War I. The division was originally made up of the Australian 3rd Light Horse Brigade, the reconstituted 4th Light Horse Brigade, and two British yeomanry brigades; the 5th Mounted Brigade and 6th Mounted Brigade.
The 2nd Mounted Division was a yeomanry division that served in the First World War. At the outbreak of war it was assigned to defence of the Norfolk coast. In March 1915 it formed a 2nd Line duplicate of itself, the 2/2nd Mounted Division. Leaving the 2/2nd on coastal defence, it then fought at Gallipoli from April to December 1915, under the command of Major General William Peyton, before being disbanded in January 1916.
The Royal East Kent Yeomanry was a British Army regiment formed in 1794. It saw action in the Second Boer War and the First World War.
The Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry was a British Army regiment formed in 1794. It served in the Second Boer War and the First World War. It amalgamated with the Royal East Kent Yeomanry to form the Kent Yeomanry in 1920.
The Welsh Horse Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army that served in the First World War. The regiment was raised shortly after the outbreak of the war. Initially it served in East Anglia on anti-invasion duties, before being dismounted in 1915 and sent to take part in the Gallipoli Campaign. After withdrawal to Egypt, it was amalgamated with the 1/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry as the 25th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers and served as such throughout the rest of the war. It took part in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign in 1917 and 1918, before being transferred to the Western Front where it remained until the end of the war. The regiment formed 2nd and 3rd Lines in 1914, but these never left the United Kingdom before being disbanded in 1916 and early 1917, respectively. The 1st Line was disbanded in 1919.
The Royal North Devon Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army. First raised in 1798, it participated in the Second Boer War and the First World War before being amalgamated with the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry in 1920 to form the Royal Devon Yeomanry.
The 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade was a yeomanry brigade of the British Army, formed as part of the Territorial Force in 1908.
The London Mounted Brigade was a yeomanry brigade of the British Army, formed as part of the Territorial Force in 1908.
The 2nd Dismounted Brigade was a formation of the British Army in the First World War. It was formed in Egypt in February 1916 by absorbing the Highland Mounted Brigade and the 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade. In October it absorbed the remnants of the 1st Dismounted Brigade. The brigade served as part of the Western Frontier Force and the Suez Canal Defences.
The 3rd Dismounted Brigade was a formation of the British Army in the First World War. It was formed in Egypt in February 1916 by absorbing the Eastern Mounted Brigade and the South Eastern Mounted Brigade. The brigade served as part of the Western Frontier Force and the Suez Canal Defences.
The Eastern Mounted Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army, organised in 1908. After serving dismounted in the Gallipoli Campaign, it was absorbed into the 3rd Dismounted Brigade in Egypt in February 1916.
The South Eastern Mounted Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army, organised in 1908. After service in the Gallipoli Campaign, it was absorbed into the 3rd Dismounted Brigade in Egypt in February 1916.
The Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army. First raised in 1794, it participated in the Second Boer War and the First World War before being amalgamated with the Royal North Devon Yeomanry in 1920 to form the Royal Devon Yeomanry.
The Scottish Horse Mounted Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army, raised in August 1914, during the First World War. After service in the Gallipoli Campaign and in the defence of Egypt, it was absorbed into the 1st Dismounted Brigade in February 1916.
The 1st Dismounted Brigade was a formation of the British Army in World War I. It was formed in Egypt in February 1916 by absorbing the Lowland and Scottish Horse Mounted Brigades. The brigade was on Suez Canal defences attached to the 52nd (Lowland) Division and was broken up in October 1916.
The Lowland Mounted Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army, organised in 1908. After service in the Gallipoli Campaign, it was absorbed into the 1st Dismounted Brigade in February 1916.
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.
The Welsh Border Mounted Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army, organised in 1908. After home defence service, it was posted to Egypt, where it was absorbed into the 4th Dismounted Brigade in March 1916.
The South Wales Mounted Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army, organised in 1908. After home defence service, it was posted to Egypt, where it was absorbed into the 4th Dismounted Brigade in March 1916.
The Yeomanry Mounted Brigade was a formation of the Territorial Force of the British Army, raised in January 1915 during the First World War. After service in the Gallipoli Campaign and with the Western Frontier Force in World War I, it was broken up in March 1916.
