The 225th Brigade was a Home Defence formation of the British Army in World War I and World War II. It existed under several variations of the 225th Brigade title.
On the outbreak of World War I the Territorial Force immediately mobilised for home defence, but shortly afterwards, 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 units to supply drafts. The remaining Home Service men were separated out in May 1915 to form brigades of Coast Defence Battalions.
5th Provisional Brigade
5th Provisional Brigade was formed mainly from details of regiments from East and South-East England, with the following composition:
5th Provisional Yeomanry Squadron from details of 1st and 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigades and Shropshire Yeomanry
63rd Provisional Battalion from details of 8th Battalion Middlesex Regiment
65th Provisional Battalion
68th Provisional Battalion
69th Provisional Battalion. This battalion was formed on 19 June 1915 at Tunbridge Wells by amalgamating the Home Service men of the 3/4th and 2/5th Battalions of the Queen's Regiment. After working on coast defences the battalion moved to Lowestoft in July to join 5th Provisional Brigade.
During the autumn of 1915, 5th Provisional Brigade was stationed in Suffolk, attached to 58th Division for administration, and to 1/1st Mounted Division for operations. In April 1916 2/1st East Anglian Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery joined the brigade and remained with it until the end of the war. By July 1916 the brigade was under the control of Northern Army of Central Force, with its battalions billeted as follows:
The Military Service Act 1916swept 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. 5th Provisional Brigade became 225th Mixed Brigade in December 1916, with its units redesignated as follows:
5th Provisional Battery became 1207th Home Counties Battery RFA
5th Provisional Field Company became 604th Home Counties Field Company RE
63rd Provisional Battalion became 32nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
65th Provisional Battalion became 15th Battalion, Essex Regiment
5th Provisional Brigade Train became 837 Company ASC
In May 1918 each of the Mixed Brigades was called upon to provide a battalion to reconstitute the 59th Division, which had been virtually destroyed during the German Army's Spring Offensive. 225th Mixed Brigade supplied 15th Essex to 177th Brigade and immediately raised a new 18th Battalion Essex Regiment to take over its coast defence duties. The brigade remained with this composition until the end of the war, after which it was demobilised.
World War II
Formation and Service
The 225th Independent Infantry Brigade was formed for service in the United Kingdom on 14 November 1940, during World War II. It was commanded by Brigadier J.W. Pendlebury and initially consisted of newly raised infantry battalions from North-West England. Upon formation the 225th Brigade came under Western Command until 10 February 1941 when it briefly came under command of 54th Infantry Division. On 12 March 1941, the Brigade became part of the newly created Northumberland County Division. The Northumberland County Division was broken up on 30 November 1941, when the headquarters of 225th Independent Infantry Brigade was re-designated HQ 35th Army Tank Brigade. Its infantry battalions were converted to the armoured role as shown:
