When the Volunteer Force was subsumed into the new Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms in 1908, the 1st and 2nd Lothian Volunteer Infantry Brigades (previously the Forth Brigade) became the Lothian Brigade (TF). It was not included in the Lowland Division with the rest of the TF units from Southern Scotland, but formed an independent brigade in Scottish Coastal Defences.[1][2]
On the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, the Lothian Brigade of the Territorial Force (TF) mobilised at Edinburgh under Brigadier-General H.F. Kays as part of Scottish Coastal Defences, with the following units under command:[3][4][5][6]
Almost immediately (31 August 1914), TF units were authorised to raise 2nd battalions formed from those men who had not volunteered for, or were not fit for, overseas service, together with new volunteers.[7] A 2nd Lothian Brigade was formed from these units, but the two brigades merged again as the 1st Line battalions progressively went overseas in late 1914 and early 1915 to reinforce Regular Army formations or join the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division (TF).[6][8][9]
Other units were also posted to the Lothian Brigade for short periods in early 1915, including Special Reserve (former Militia) battalions:[3]
3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
Early in 1915 the 2nd Line TF battalions were raised to full strength to form 2nd Line divisions such as the 65th (2nd Lowland) Division, and began to form Reserve (3rd Line) units.[7] Once again the remaining Home Service men were separated out in May 1915 to form Coast Defence Battalions (termed Provisional Battalions from June 1915).[12] The Special Reserve battalions of the Lothian Brigade were split off into a separate Special Reserve Brigade (6 June 1915) and the Lothian Brigade was first retitled Scottish Provisional Brigade (1 July 1915) and then 1st Provisional Brigade.[3]
The composition of 1st Provisional Brigade was then as follows:[3]
12th Scottish Provisional Battalion (formed from home service details of 4th and 5th Battalions, King's Own Scottish Borderers; joined 22 May, left 10 June 1915)[13]
18th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) (formed June 1915 at Edinburgh from Depot companies of 15th, 16th and 17th Battalions; left 25 October 1915)[4][5][11]
In April 1916, 1st Provisional Brigade moved by train from Edinburgh, first to the Bishops Stortford area, the on 25 April to the East Kent coast on 25 April. Brigadier-General A.G. Duff took over from Brig.-Gen. Kay, and the brigade came under the orders of 67th (2nd Home Counties) DivisioninSouthern Army. The brigade was now billeted as follows:[3][16]
10th (Scottish) Provisional Battalion (formed from home service details of 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles);[13] absorbed 12th Scottish Prov. Bn April 1916) – Deal
The Military Service Act 1916 swept away the Home/Foreign service distinction, and all TF soldiers became liable for overseas service, if medically fit. The Provisional Brigades thus became anomalous, and on 1 January 1917 the remaining battalions were formed into numbered battalions of their parent units in new Mixed Brigades and Home Service Divisions. Part of their role was physical conditioning to render men fit for drafting overseas, alongside units of the Training Reserve. 1st Provisional Brigade became 221st Infantry Brigade, with its subunits redesignated as follows:[3][12]
1203rd (Lowland) Battery and Ammunition Column, RFA (later 414th Battery and 414th Ammunition Column, RFA, at Sandwich[17])
221st Brigade Train, ASC (later 833rd Horse Transport Company, ASC)
329th (Lowland) Field Ambulance, RAMC
The brigade remained guarding the Kent coast throughout 1917, occasionally enduring bombing attacks from German Zeppelins and aircraft. Brigadier-General J. Marriott took over command in May 1917. On 25 October 1917 the title of the formation was changed to 221st Mixed Brigade (reflecting its all-arms rather than purely infantry composition).[3]
On 12 February 1918 the brigade was transferred from the command of 67th Division in Southern Army to the Cyclist Division under Eastern Command, with only minor changes in deployment.[3]
With the war coming to an end, the brigade received orders for disbandment on 7 November 1918. The battalions dispersed in the following March and April (being formally disbanded in July) and Brigade HQ closed on 11 April 1919.[3]
Maj A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: the Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56), London: HM Stationery Office, 1935/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN1-84734-739-8.
Maj A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions, London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN1-84734-739-8.
Gen Sir Martin Farndale, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Forgotten Fronts and the Home Base 1914–18, Woolwich: Royal Artillery Institution, 1988, ISBN 1-870114-05-1.
J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol II, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-009-X.
Brig E.A. James, British Regiments 1914–18, London: Samson Books, 1978, ISBN 0-906304-03-2/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2001, ISBN 978-1-84342-197-9.
War Office, Army Council Instructions Issued During January 1916, London: HM Stationery Office, 1916.
United Kingdom
British Army
