188th (2/1st Northumberland) Brigade

July 2014 August 2020 188th (2/1st Northumberland) Brigade 5 January 1915 – 14 November 1916 United Kingdom 23px British Crown United Kingdom 23px Infantry Training and Home Defence Brigade 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division The 188th (2/1st Northumberland) Brigade was formed in 1915 as a 2nd Line infantry brigade of the British Army's Territorial Force. It commanded four battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers in the Home Defence role. It was broken up in November 1916 as its battalions were posted away. History Origin 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. Later, a 3rd Line was formed to act as a reserve, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line units. Similarly, by 1915 most 2nd Line infantry battalions were formed into 2nd Line brigades and divisions with the same title and composition as the pre-war 1st Line formations.http://www.1914-1918.net/63(2N)div.htm The 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division in 1914-1918 The Long, Long Trail Chris Baker 12 July 2014 188th (2/1st Northumberland) Brigade was organised in January 1915 from 2nd Line Territorial Force (TF) units of the Northumberland Fusiliers, and formed part of 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division.http://www.1914-1918.net/northfus.htm The Northumberland Fusiliers The Long, Long Trail Chris Baker 12 July 2014 2 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140902171354/http://1914-1918.net/northfus.htm dead It was a duplicate of the pre-war Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division of the TF (which were numbered 149th (Northumberland) Brigade and 50th (Northumbrian) Division respectively in April 1915).http://www.1914-1918.net/50div.htm The 50th (Northumbrian) Division in 1914-1918 The Long, Long Trail Chris Baker 12 July 2014 Composition The following units served in 188th Brigade: 2/4th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 2/5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 2/6th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 2/7th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers Disbandment The 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division was disbanded on 21 July 1916, and 188th Brigade followed on 14 November. The 2/4th, 2/5th and 2/6th battalions transferred to 217th Brigade in a new 72nd Division.http://www.1914-1918.net/72div.html The 72nd Division in 1914-1918 The Long, Long Trail Chris Baker 12 July 2014 The 2/7th Battalion sailed for Egypt on 20 January 1917 for service as a Garrison battalion.http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/nd-7.htm War Services of Units (including Duplicates) of 7th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at regiments.org by T.F.Mills 2014-07-12 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070715140005/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-england/vinf-no/nd-7.htm 15 July 2007 The divisional number 63 was transferred to the Royal Naval Division, and its 3rd (Royal Marine) Brigade became a new 188th Brigade.http://www.1914-1918.net/63div.htm The 63rd (Royal Naval) Division in 1914-1918 The Long, Long Trail Chris Baker 12 July 2014 See also 149th (Northumberland) Brigade for the 1st Line formation British infantry brigades of the First World War References Bibliography James Brigadier E.A. 1978 British Regiments 1914–18 Samson Books Limited London 0-906304-03-2 External links http://www.1914-1918.net/ The British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918 The Long, Long Trail Chris Baker 12 July 2014 15 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151015192351/http://www.1914-1918.net/ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20051228103659/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/index.htm 28 December 2005 Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth at regiments.org by T.F.Mills Category:Military units and formations in Northumberland Category:Military units and formations established in 1915 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1916 Category:Infantry brigades of the British Army Category:Infantry brigades of the British Army in World War I Category:Royal Northumberland Fusiliers