220th Brigade (United Kingdom)

Active9 November 1916–8 April 1918
1 November 1940-17 November 1944

Country

Branch

TypeInfantry Brigade

220th Infantry Brigade
Active	9 November 1916–8 April 1918 1 November 1940-17 November 1944
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry Brigade
Role	Training and Home Defence

220th Brigade was a Home Service formation of the British Army during the First and Second World Wars.

Composition

220 Brigage was raised in late 1916 as part of 73rd Division, which had the dual role of training men for overseas drafts and providing forces for home defence.^[1]

The following infantry battalions served in 220 Brigade during the war:^[1]

2/4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, joined 9 November 1916 from 189th (2nd York and Durham) Brigade disbanded 21 December 1917.^[2]
2/5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, joined 9 November 1916 from 189th (2nd York and Durham) Brigade, disbanded 21 December 1917.^[2]
17th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, formed November 1916, disbanded 5 November 1917.^[2]
273rd Graduated Battalion, joined by 23 July 1917, became 52nd (Graduated) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry 27 October 1917, went to 206th (2nd Essex) Brigade March 1918.^[3]
274th Graduated Battalion, joined by 9 July 1917, became 52nd (Graduated) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment 27 October 1917, went to 205th (2nd Welsh Border) Brigade March 1918^[4]

On 21 December 1917 orders were issued to break up 73rd Division. Disbandment began in January 1918 and its last elements disappeared on 8 April 1918.^[1]

Second World War

Origin

A new brigade under the title of 220th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) was formed for service in the United Kingdom on 1 November 1940, largely from battalions from East Anglian regiments.^[5]

Service

After a brief spell attached to the East Anglian 18th Infantry Division, the 220th Brigade became part of Norfolk County Division on 24 December 1940.^[5] On 18 November 1941 the Norfolk County Division became 76th Infantry Division, a low establishment division (with a reduced allotment of equipment) intended for home defence.^[6] The 220th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) was re-designated as the 220th Infantry Brigade.^[5]

On 1 September 1944, the 76th Divisional headquarters was disbanded and the 220th Brigade became part of 47th Infantry (Reserve) Division^[7] On 27 October 1944 the 47th Division's 141st (5th London) Brigade was disbanded, and on 17 November the 220th Brigade was re-designated 141st Infantry Brigade, but with no London connection.^[5]

Order of battle

The following units served in 220 Brigade:^[5]

On formation (18th Infantry Division) and part of the Norfolk County Division.
- 23rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (until 5 July 1941)
- 9th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment (until 17 November 1941)
- 9th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (until 17 November 1941)
- 7th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment (5 November 1940–17 November 1941)
As part of the 78th Infantry Division
- 9th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment (18 November 1941–17 December 1942)
- 9th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (18 November 1941–6 September 1942)
- 7th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment (18 November 1941–13 September 1942)
- 1/5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (9 September 1942–27 January 1943)
- 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment (13 September 1942–17 November 1943)
- 18th Battalion, Welch Regiment (13 December 1942–18 November 1943)
- 6th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (16 December 1942–26 October 1943)
- 5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (28 January 1943–25 July 1944)
- 9th (Caernarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (16 October 1943–22 July 1944)
- 2/6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (27 October 1943–24 July 1944)
- 6th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) (19 November 1943–27 July 1944)
- 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (27 July 1944–31 August 1944)
- 9th Battalion, Dorset Regiment (8 August 1944–31 August 1944)
- 6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (14 August 1944–31 August 1944)

v t e British infantry brigades of the Second World War (List for 1-100 and list for 101-308 and named)
Regular Army	1st Gibraltar 1st (Guards) 1st (Malta) 1st Malayan 1st SDF 2nd Gibraltar 2nd 2nd (Malta) 2nd Malayan 2nd SDF 3rd 3rd (Malta) 4th 4th (Malta) 5th 5th Guards 6th 6th Guards 7th 7th (Guards) 7th Motor 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th (Guards) 21st 22nd Guards 22nd 23rd 24th (Guards) 25th 26th 28th 29th 30th 30th (Guards) 31st 32nd (Guards) 33rd (Guards) 38th (Irish) 42nd 43rd 52nd 56th 61st 66th 71st 72nd 73rd 103rd 140th 141st 178th 185th 200th Guards 201st Guards 201st 202nd 203rd 204th 205th 206th 207th 208th 209th 210th 211th 212th 213th 214th 215th 216th 217th 218th 219th 220th 221st 222nd 223rd 224th 225th 226th 227th 228th 231st 232nd 233rd 234th 301st 302nd 303rd 304th 305th 306th 307th 308th
Territorial Army	1st London 2nd London 3rd London 4th London 5th London 6th London 26th 27th 28th 35th 36th 37th 44th 45th 46th 53rd 54th 55th 69th 70th 113th 114th 115th 125th 126th 127th 128th 129th 130th 131st 132nd 133rd 134th 135th 136th 137th 138th 139th 140th (London) 141st (London) 143rd 144th 145th 146th 147th 148th 150th 151st 152nd 153rd 154th 155th 156th 157th 158th 159th 160th 161st 162nd 163rd 164th 165th 166th 167th (London) 168th (London) 169th (London) 176th 177th 182nd 183rd 184th 197th 198th 199th
East Africa:	1st 2nd 5th 7th (N Rhodesia) 21st 22nd 25th 26th 27th 27th (N Rhodesia) 28th 29th 30th 31st
West Africa:	1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 23rd (Nigeria) 24th (Gold Coast)
Other:	116th Royal Marines 117th Royal Marines Adriatic Cairo Canal Central Hong Kong Jewish Kowloon Malta Northern Southern Vis Western

220th Brigade (United Kingdom)

Composition

Second World War

Origin

Service

Order of battle

Commanders

Notes

References

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