Brigadier-General Robert Montgomery Ovens, commanding the 149th Brigade, 50th Division, examining a German Pickelhaube brought in by a tommy of the 1/5th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Toutencourt, October 1916.
The brigade was mobilized on the outbreak of the war and posted to the Tyne Defences. The battalions were given fractional designations (e.g. 1/4th Battalion) with the formation of the 2nd Line battalions in 1914.[a] In April 1915, the brigade was posted to France and on 14 May was redesignated as 149th (Northumberland) Brigade (the division became 50th (Northumbrian) Division).[3]
The 50th Division had crossed the Sambre and reached Solre-le-Château on 10 November 1918 when it was relieved. Demobilization started in December and by 19 March 1919 the division had ceased to exist in France.[5]
The Northumbrian Division was reformed again in England on 1 April 1920[5] with the same composition as pre-war.[10] The four original battalions were reformed in the Territorial Army on 7 February 1920.[11][12][13][14]
5th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was converted to a searchlight battalion on 1 November 1938 as 5th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (53rd Searchlight Regiment),[12] assigned to 30th (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Brigade.
7th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was converted to a machinegun battalion[17] in Northumbrian Area, Northern Command[18] and the brigade ceased to exist.
^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.[2]
^British divisions on the Western Front were reduced from a 12-battalion to a 9-battalion basis in February 1918 (brigades from four to three battalions).[9]
Becke, Major A.F. (1936). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56). London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN1-871167-12-4.
United Kingdom
British Army
