| 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 |
The2nd South Western Mounted Brigade was a formation of theTerritorial Force of theBritish Army, organised in 1908. After service in theGallipoli Campaign and in the defence ofEgypt, it was absorbed into the2nd Dismounted Brigade in February 1916.
| 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade |
|---|
| Organisation on 4 August 1914 |
Assigned units
|
|
Under the terms of theTerritorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw.7, c.9), the brigade was formed in 1908 as part of theTerritorial Force. It consisted of threeyeomanry regiments, ahorse artillerybattery and ammunition column, a transport and supply column and afield ambulance.[2]
As the name suggests, the units were drawn fromSouth West England, predominantlyDevon andSomerset, but also a sub-unit fromCornwall.[3]
The brigade was mobilised on 4 August 1914 at the outbreak of theFirst World War and moved to theColchester area ofEssex 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 Line2/2nd South Western Mounted Brigade which replaced it in the Home Defence role.[6]
In September 1915 the brigade left Essex forLiverpool. On 24 September it boardedRMS Olympic and sailed the next day. It arrived atMudros on 1 October and on toSuvla Bay. The Brigade landed inGallipoli on 9 October and was attached to the11th (Northern) Division[7] (digging trenches). In November it was in the firing line, attached to the2nd Mounted Division[8] and53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division.[9] On 19 December it was evacuated toImbros.[10] In this period, the brigade consisted of the three yeomanry regiments, a signaltroop and afield ambulance under the command ofBr.-Gen.R. Hoare.
In late December 1915, the brigade landed inAlexandria to help defendEgypt. It served on Suez Canal defences[11] and as part of theWestern Frontier Force.[12]
In February 1916, 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade was absorbed into the2nd Dismounted Brigade[5] (along with theHighland Mounted Brigade[13]). 2nd Dismounted Brigade was later renamed as229th Brigade in the74th (Yeomanry) Division.[14]
The 2nd South Western Mounted Brigade was commanded from 1 April 1912 byColonel R. Hoare. He was promoted tobrigadier 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 to229th Brigade.[14]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help){{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help){{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)