10th Provisional Brigade
| 227th (Mixed) Brigade 227th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) 227th (Highland) Infantry Brigade |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1917–1919 1941–1946 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 British Army
|
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | Home Forces (WWI) 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division (WWII) |
| Engagements |
Battle of Normandy Operation Epsom Hill 112 Operation Bluecoat |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
World War II Divisional Insignia Scottish Red Lion Rampant , inside a yellow circle |
227th Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army formed for Home Service under various short-lived titles in World War I and the early part of World War II. Later it was upgraded to a field formation composed of Scottish troops, and saw heavy fighting in the Normandy and North West Europe Campaign.
On the outbreak of World War I the Territorial Force (TF) immediately mobilised for home defence, but shortly afterwards (31 August 1914), its 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, while the 1st Line went overseas to supplement the Regulars. Early in 1915 the 2nd Line TF battalions were raised to full strength to form new divisions, and began to form Reserve (3rd Line) units to supply drafts. The remaining Home Service men were separated out in May 1915 to form brigades of Coast Defence Battalions (termed Provisional Battalions from June 1915).
10th Provisional Brigade was formed with the following composition:
By July 1916 the brigade was at Herne Bay under the control of Southern Army of Central Force.
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 at the end of 1916 their units became numbered battalions of their parent units. Part of their role was physical conditioning to render men fit for drafting overseas. 10th Provisional Brigade became 227th Mixed Brigade at Herne Bay in December 1916, with its units redesignated as follows:
By early 1918 the brigade had moved from Kent to Suffolk, with its HQ at Saxmundham, and was attached to 67th (2nd Home Counties) Division. Here it was joined by the following units:
In May 1918 each of the Mixed Brigades was called upon to provide a battalion (redesignated a Garrison Guard battalion) to reconstitute the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division, which had been virtually destroyed during the German Spring Offensive. 227th Mixed Brigade supplied 11th Somerset Light Infantry and immediately raised a new 13th (Home Service) Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry to take over its coast defence duties. The brigade remained with this composition until the end of the war, after which it was demobilised in June 1919.
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Wikipedia