| 5th London Brigade 141st (5th London) Brigade 141st (5th London) Infantry Brigade 141st (London) Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
_Division_insignia.png) British 47th (2nd London) Division insignia | |
| Active | 1908–19 1920–36 1939–44 1944–45 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Territorial Army |
| Type | Infantry Brigade |
| Part of | 47th (1/2nd London) Division |
| Engagements | First World War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Charles FitzClarence George Colborne Nugent Francis Stewart Montague-Bates |
The141st (5th London) Brigade (141 Bde) was aninfantrybrigade of theTerritorial Army, part of theBritish Army, that served in theFirst World War and remained in the United Kingdom throughout theSecond World War.
When theTerritorial Force was created in 1908 under theHaldane Reforms, the existing volunteer units in the London area were brought together into a newLondon Regiment and organised into two divisions with a full complement of infantry brigades and supporting arms.5th London Brigade formed part of2nd London Division, with the following composition:[1][2][3][4][5]
The outbreak of war on 4 August saw 5th London Brigade atPerham Down onSalisbury Plain, where it had just arrived for its annual training camp with the rest of 2nd London Division. They were immediately recalled to London to complete their mobilisation and by mid-August 5 London Brigade had reached its war station roundHatfield, Hertfordshire.[2][3][6] The County of London Territorial Force Association immediately began raising '2nd Line' battalions, which quickly led to the formation of a duplicate 2/5th London Brigade (eventually180th Brigade); consequently 5th London Brigade was renumbered 1/5th and its battalions were similarly prefixed (1/17th–1/20th).[7][8][9][10]
In October 1914, 2nd London Division was selected for service on theWestern Front and progressive training was carried out through the winter. 5th London Bde was the leading element of the division to land in France on 9 & 10 March 1915. In May the division (already known in France simply as 'The London Division' to distinguish it from the Regular Army2nd Division) took its place in the line and was designated47th (1/2nd London) Division, with the brigades numbered consecutively: 5th London became141st (1/5th London) Brigade.[2][11]
During the First World War, the brigade was engaged in the following operations:[2][3][4][12]
1915
1916
1917
1918
There were few changes to the brigade's prewar Order of Battle during the campaign:[2][3][13]
After theArmistice, 47th Division was engaged in railway repair and then settled down aroundBéthune to await demobilisation. This began in January, and the last troops left France on 10 May 1919. The brigade was demobilised atFelixstowe in May–June 1919.[2][3][14]
47th Division and its subformations began to reform in the redesignatedTerritorial Army in 1920.[2][3][15] 141 Bde was reformed with its original battalions, and with brigade HQ at the Duke of York's Headquarters.[16]
In the 1930s, reorganisation of the TA saw the brigade's units being retasked (the 19th and 20th Bns became searchlight regiments in 1935) and posted away. The brigade was disbanded in 1936.[17]
The rapid expansion of the TA after theMunich Crisis saw 5th London Brigade re-formed with Second Line TA battalions, to provide a duplicate of2nd London Infantry Brigade. 5th London Brigade resumed its number as141 (London) Brigade on 21 November 1940.[18]
The composition of 141st (London) Brigade during theSecond World War was as follows:[18][19][20]
The 141st Infantry Brigade did not see any active service in the Second World War. It mobilised as a motor brigade, but became a conventional infantry brigade in June 1940. Between April and October 1944 it was responsible for an embarkation sector inSouthampton for theNormandy landings. The brigade was disbanded on 27 October 1944.[18] On 17 November 1944,220th Brigade (which had recently joined 47th Division, now reformed as a reserve division) was renumbered141st Infantry Brigade, but without any London connection. The new brigade had the following composition:[20][25]
The brigade was not included in theTerritorial Army when it reformed in 1947, although three of its traditional battalions (London Rifle Brigade, London Scottish and London Irish Rifles) formed the bulk of168th (Lorried) Infantry Brigade in56th (London) Armoured Division.[26]
141 Brigade was commanded by the following officers:[27][28][29]