The 143rd Infantry Brigade
The 143rd Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that engaged in active service during both the First and Second World Wars. In the First World War, the brigade was deployed on both the Western Front and later the Italian Front. During the Second World War, it fought in Belgium and France before being evacuated to England, where it remained for the duration of the conflict and was ultimately disbanded in 1946. The brigade was reestablished in the 1980s but was disbanded again under Army 2020 in November 2014.
Formation
Originally known as the Warwickshire Brigade, this formation was created in April 1908 as part of the Haldane Reforms, which established the Territorial Force through the amalgamation of the Yeomanry and Volunteer Force. The brigade was assigned to the South Midland Division, one of the fourteen divisions of the peacetime Territorials, and consisted of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Volunteer Battalions of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
First World War
As the war commenced, the brigade and its division were mobilised on 5 August 1914, following the British declaration of war against Germany. Most members volunteered for Imperial Service, while those who opted out formed the 2nd Line battalions, which became known as the 2nd Warwickshire Brigade.
On 13 May 1915, the division was officially numbered as the 48th (South Midland) Division, leading to the brigade being designated the 143rd (Warwickshire) Brigade. Throughout the Great War, the brigade participated in significant battles, including those at the Somme and Passchendaele, and was later sent to the Italian Front, where it fought at the Piave River and contributed to the end of fighting in Italy with the signing of the Armistice of Villa Giusti.
Order of Battle
- 1/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- 1/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- 1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- 1/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (until September 1918)
- 143rd Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps (formed 8 January 1916)
- 143rd Trench Mortar Battery (formed 14 June 1916)
Interwar Period
After being disbanded in 1919, the brigade was reformed in 1920 as part of the Territorial Army and continued to serve within the 48th Division. However, as the threat of air attacks increased, several infantry battalions were converted into anti-aircraft units, including the 5th Battalion, which transitioned to the Royal Engineers.
In 1938, the infantry brigades were reduced from four battalions to three, necessitating further transfers to the Royal Artillery and reorganizations within the brigade.
Second World War
The 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division was mobilised on 1 September 1939, anticipating the German invasion of Poland. The brigade was officially part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) sent to France in early 1940, playing a crucial role in the battles against the German Army, particularly during the retreat to Dunkirk.
Despite suffering heavy casualties, the brigade was evacuated and reformed in England. It later served as a reserve training formation for the remainder of the conflict, until it was disbanded in 1946.
Order of Battle
- 1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- 1/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
- 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
- 143rd Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company
- 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
- 10th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
- 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
- 11th Battalion, Green Howards
- 5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
- 10th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment
- 11th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
- 11th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
Commanders
- Brigadier J. Muirhead (until 7 June 1940)
- Lieutenant-Colonel (Acting, from 7 to 19 June 1940)
- Brigadier J. Muirhead (from 19 June 1940 until 14 November 1941)
- Lieutenant-Colonel D.B. Bird (Acting, from 14 November until 27 December 1941)
- Brigadier C.D. Marley (from 27 December 1941 until 19 August 1944)
- Brigadier W. Carden Roe (from 19 August 1944)
Post War
Following the Second World War, the brigade was not reformed in the Territorial Army. It was re-raised in 1984 and moved to Shrewsbury in 1986. In 1991, it undertook responsibilities for the Army in Shropshire, Staffordshire, Hereford, Worcester, Warwickshire, and the West Midlands. With the disbandment of the 5th Division, the brigade transitioned under the new Support Command based in Aldershot. In November 2014, it amalgamated with the 11 Signal Brigade to form the 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands. Remaining elements of the brigade were moved to MoD Donnington in 2015.
Victoria Cross Recipients
Private Arthur Hutt, 1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Great War
References
- Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press.
- David Fraser (1999) [1983]. And We Shall Shock Them: The British Army in the Second World War. Cassell military.
External Links
143 (West Midlands) Brigade – on the British Army official website.