122nd Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 122nd Brigade was a formation of the British Army during the First World War.

History

The 122nd Brigade was raised as part of the New Army also known as Kitchener's Army, and assigned to the 41st Division.

1916

On 15 September 1916, troops of the 122nd Brigade, led by a Mark I tank, entered the eastern part of Flers on the Somme and took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. This was the first time tanks had been deployed on the Western Front. The village of Flers itself was taken by the 122nd Brigade which had a total casualty roll of 1,200 out of 1,800 who went into action.

1918

The 122nd Brigade also fought in the Battle of the Lys and the Escaut.

Order of Battle

• 12th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment (Bermondsey)
• 15th (Service) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (2nd Portsmouth)
• 11th (Service) Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment (Lewisham), disbanded in March 1918
• 18th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (Arts and Crafts)
• 122nd Machine Gun Company, from May 1916 to March 1918
• 122nd Trench Mortar Battery, from June 1916

Official sources

War diaries

• The National Archives of the UK (TNA): WO 95/2632/1 (01/05/1916–31/07/1916)
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA): WO 95/2632/2 (01/08/1916–30/09/1916)
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA): WO 95/2632/3 (01/10/1916–31/10/1916)
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA): WO 95/2632/4 (01/11/1916–31/12/1916)
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA): WO 95/2632/5 (01/01/1917–30/04/1917)
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA): WO 95/2632/6 (01/05/1917–30/06/1917)
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA): WO 95/2633/1 (01/07/1917–31/10/1917)
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA): WO 95/2633/2 (01/03/1918–31/10/1919)
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA): WO 95/4243 (01/11/1917–28/02/1918)

See also

• British infantry brigades of the First World War

References