224th Brigade (United Kingdom) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 4th Provisional Brigade 224th Mixed Brigade 224th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
Active	1915–1919 10 October 1940 – 22 December 1941
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry Brigade
Role	Training and Home Defence
Part of	Durham and North Riding County Division (1941)

The 224th Brigade was a special group of soldiers in the British Army. It was formed to help defend Britain during two big wars: World War I and World War II. This brigade had a few different names over the years, but "224th Brigade" was always part of it.

The 224th Brigade in World War I

When World War I began, the Territorial Force (TF) was quickly called up. Its job was to defend Britain at home. Soon after, new groups of soldiers were formed. These were called "2nd battalions." They were made up of men who couldn't go fight overseas. This included those who hadn't volunteered or weren't healthy enough.

In 1915, these home-service soldiers were grouped into "Provisional Battalions." These battalions then formed "Provisional Brigades." The 4th Provisional Brigade was one of these. It was mainly made of soldiers from Wales and North-West England.

How the 4th Provisional Brigade Was Organized

The 4th Provisional Brigade included different types of units:

• 4th Provisional Yeomanry Squadron (cavalry)
• 4th Provisional Battery Royal Field Artillery (artillery guns)
• 4th Provisional Brigade Ammunition Column (carried ammunition)
• 4th Provisional Brigade Field Company Royal Engineers (engineers)
• 46th Provisional Battalion (from Cheshire Regiment soldiers)
• 47th Provisional Battalion (from Royal Welsh Fusiliers soldiers)
• 48th Provisional Battalion (from Monmouthshire Regiment and Herefordshire Regiment soldiers)
• 49th Provisional Battalion (from King's (Liverpool Regiment) and South Lancashire Regiment soldiers)
• 50th Provisional Battalion (from South Wales Borderers and King's Shropshire Light Infantry soldiers; later joined 46th Battalion)
• 51st Provisional Battalion (from Welsh Regiment soldiers)
• 52nd Provisional Battalion (from Lancashire Fusiliers, East Lancashire Regiment, Border Regiment, and Manchester Regiment soldiers)
• 4th Provisional Cyclist Company (cyclists from Hampshire Regiment)
• 4th Provisional Brigade Train Army Service Corps (transport)
• 4th Provisional Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps (medical help)

In March 1916, these Provisional Brigades moved to the South and East Coasts of England. The 4th Provisional Brigade went to Norfolk. Its battalions were spread out in towns like Walcott, Mundesley, Cromer, and Hemsby.

The 224th Mixed Brigade

Later in the war, a new law meant all soldiers could be sent overseas if they were fit. So, the Provisional Brigades changed. In December 1916, the 4th Provisional Brigade became the 224th Mixed Brigade. Its new job was to help train soldiers and get them ready for fighting overseas.

The units were renamed:

• 4th Provisional Battery became 1206th (East Anglia) Battery RFA
• 2/1st Home Counties (Kent) Heavy Battery RGA
• 4th Provisional Field Company became 643rd (East Anglia) Field Company and 224th Mixed Brigade Signal Section RE
• 46th Provisional Battalion became 23rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
• 47th Provisional Battalion became 23rd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
• 48th Provisional Battalion became 4th Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
• 49th Provisional Battalion became 14th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment
• 2/9th (Cyclist) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
• 4th Provisional Brigade Train became 836th Horse Transport Company ASC
• 4th Provisional Field Ambulance became 310th and 312th Field Ambulances RAMC

The brigade stayed like this until the end of the war. After the war, the brigade was disbanded.

The 224th Brigade in World War II

The 224th Brigade was brought back during Second World War in 1940. It was called the 224th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home). Its main job was to defend the United Kingdom. It was formed on October 10, 1940.

After a short time with another division, the 224th Brigade joined the Durham and North Riding County Division on March 11, 1941. The brigade was disbanded on December 22, 1941.

Units of the 224th Brigade in WWII

The 224th Brigade was made up of these battalions:

• 7th Battalion, South Wales Borderers (from October 1940 to November 1941)
• 19th Battalion, Welch Regiment (from October 1940 to May 1941)
• 9th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment (from October 1940 to December 1941)
• 8th Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles (from August 1941)
• 8th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment (from November to December 1941)

The 224th Brigade number has not been used again since then.

External sources

• Chris Baker, The Long, Long Trail
• The Regimental Warpath 1914–1918
• David Porter's work on Provisional Brigades at Great War Forum