fbpx
Wikipedia

139th (Sherwood Foresters) Brigade

April 18, 2024

The 139th (Sherwood Foresters) Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in the First World War with the 46th (North Midland) Division. Later designated the 139th Infantry Brigade, the brigade also saw service with the 46th Infantry Division in the Second World War.

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Brigade
139th (Sherwood Foresters) Brigade
139th Infantry Brigade
Active1908-1919
1920-1936
1939-1946
Country United Kingdom
Branch Territorial Army
TypeInfantry
SizeBrigade
Part of46th (North Midland) Division
46th Infantry Division

Origins edit

When Volunteer Infantry Brigades were introduced in 1888, the Volunteer Battalions of the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) formed part of the North Midland Brigade, although from 1901 to 1906 they formed a separate Sherwood Foresters Brigade.[1] When the Volunteer Force was subsumed into the new Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms in 1908, a new Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Brigade was formed, as part of the North Midland Division. The brigade was composed of four Volunteer battalions of the Sherwood Foresters: the 5th (Derbyshire), 6th, 7th (Robin Hood Rifles) and 8th.[1][2]

First World War edit

King George V inspected the division on 19 February 1915, shortly before its departure for France, and gave permission for the Notts & Derby Brigade to change its title to Sherwood Foresters Brigade.[2][3][4] (However, its 2nd Line duplicate, formed in January 1915, remained the 2/1st Notts & Derby Brigade throughout the war.)[5] In May, when the TF formations were numbered, the brigade became 139th (Sherwood Foresters) Brigade in the 46th (North Midland) Division.[2]

The brigade saw service with the 46th Division throughout the First World War in the trenches of the Western Front from 1915 to 1918.

Order of battle, First World War edit

Between the wars edit

Disbanded after the war in 1919, the brigade was reformed as the 139th (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire) Infantry Brigade in the Territorial Army and again assigned to the 46th (North Midland) Division. However, in 1936 the division was disbanded and its HQ was redesignated 2nd Anti-Aircraft Division. The 6th and 7th Sherwood Foresters were both transferred to the Royal Engineers and converted into anti-aircraft searchlight battalions.[7] The 5th and 8th Sherwood Foresters were both transferred to the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division. With all of its battalions posted away, the 139th Infantry Brigade was disbanded.

Second World War edit

The brigade number was reactivated again when the Territorial Army was doubled in size in spring and summer 1939, in order to meet the threat of Nazi Germany. The 139th Infantry Brigade, formed as a 2nd Line duplicate of 148th Infantry Brigade, was assigned to the 46th Infantry Division, which itself was formed as a duplicate of the 49th Division.

The brigade saw service with the 46th Division throughout the Second World War, which began in September 1939. Sent to France with the rest of 46th Division in April 1940 to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), the brigade was both poorly equipped and trained and lacked any of their signals, artillery, engineer or other support units. The division was sent, along with the 12th and 23rd divisions, to complete their training and to help construct defences and airfields. As a result, the division was battered when facing the German Army's blitzkrieg during the Battle of France in May 1940 and was forced to retreat to Dunkirk had to be evacuated to England.

 
Sherman tanks supporting infantrymen of the 2/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, 46th Division, near Coldazzo on the Gothic Line, 30 August 1944.

After being evacuated, the brigade and division spent the next few years on home defence and training to repel an expected German invasion which never arrived. In late 1942 the 46th Division was sent to North Africa where it became part of British First Army and saw action in the final stages of the Tunisia Campaign. The division did not see service in Sicily but landed at Salerno in September 1943 as part of the US Fifth Army during the initial invasion of Italy. The brigade saw service in Italy until late 1944, transferring to Greece to help calm the Greek Civil War, and returning to Italy in April 1945 for the final offensive, but did not take part in any actual fighting.

Order of battle, Second World War edit

Th brigade was constituted as follows:[8][9]

From 23 December 1942 to 3 February 1943 the brigade was constituted as a brigade group with the following additional units under command:[8]

Commanders edit

  • 1911–1917: Charles Tyrell Shipley
  • 1917–1918: George Glas Sandeman Carey
  • 1918–1918: Phillip Richard Wood
  • 1918–1919: John Harington
  • 1920–1924: Godfrey Davenport Goodman[11]
  • 1924–  : B. A. Smith[12]

Victoria Cross recipients edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Army List, 1888–1908
  2. ^ a b c Becke, Pt 2a, pp. 61–7.
  3. ^ Anon, The Robin Hoods, p. 39.
  4. ^ MacDonald, p. 32.
  5. ^ Becke, Pt 2b, pp. 17–23.
  6. ^ "The 46th (North Midland) Division of the British Army in 1914-1918". from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  7. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ a b Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990, ISBN 0-948130-03-2/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6, p. 325.
  9. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ 46th Recce Regiment at Recce Corps website.
  11. ^ Who Was Who, vol. V, p. 433.
  12. ^ "No. 33971". The London Gazette. 14 March 1924. p. 2231.

References edit

  • Anon, 'The Robin Hoods': 1/7th, 2/7th and 3/7th Battns Sherwood Foresters, J & H Bell, 1921/Uckfield: Naval and Military Press, 2009, ISBN 1-847349-92-7.
  • A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56), London: HM Stationery Office, 1935/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-39-8.
  • A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions, London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-39-8.
  • Alan MacDonald, A Lack of Offensive Spirit? The 46th (North Midland) Division at Gommecourt, 1st July 1916, West Wickham: Iona Books, 2008, ISBN 978-0-9558119-0-6.

April 18, 2024
139th, sherwood, foresters, brigade, infantry, brigade, british, army, that, active, service, first, world, with, 46th, north, midland, division, later, designated, 139th, infantry, brigade, brigade, also, service, with, 46th, infantry, division, second, world. The 139th Sherwood Foresters Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service in the First World War with the 46th North Midland Division Later designated the 139th Infantry Brigade the brigade also saw service with the 46th Infantry Division in the Second World War Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Brigade139th Sherwood Foresters Brigade139th Infantry BrigadeActive1908 19191920 19361939 1946Country United KingdomBranchTerritorial ArmyTypeInfantrySizeBrigadePart of46th North Midland Division46th Infantry Division Contents 1 Origins 2 First World War 2 1 Order of battle First World War 3 Between the wars 4 Second World War 4 1 Order of battle Second World War 5 Commanders 6 Victoria Cross recipients 7 Notes 8 ReferencesOrigins editWhen Volunteer Infantry Brigades were introduced in 1888 the Volunteer Battalions of the Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment formed part of the North Midland Brigade although from 1901 to 1906 they formed a separate Sherwood Foresters Brigade 1 When the Volunteer Force was subsumed into the new Territorial Force TF under the Haldane Reforms in 1908 a new Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Brigade was formed as part of the North Midland Division The brigade was composed of four Volunteer battalions of the Sherwood Foresters the 5th Derbyshire 6th 7th Robin Hood Rifles and 8th 1 2 First World War editKing George V inspected the division on 19 February 1915 shortly before its departure for France and gave permission for the Notts amp Derby Brigade to change its title to Sherwood Foresters Brigade 2 3 4 However its 2nd Line duplicate formed in January 1915 remained the 2 1st Notts amp Derby Brigade throughout the war 5 In May when the TF formations were numbered the brigade became 139th Sherwood Foresters Brigade in the 46th North Midland Division 2 The brigade saw service with the 46th Division throughout the First World War in the trenches of the Western Front from 1915 to 1918 Order of battle First World War edit 1 5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment 1 6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment 1 7th Robin Hood Rifles Battalion Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment left February 1918 1 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment 1 4th Battalion Black Watch Royal Highlanders joined and left November 1915 1 3rd City of London Battalion London Regiment Royal Fusiliers joined and left November 1915 139th Machine Gun Company Machine Gun Corps formed 16 February 1916 moved to 46th Battalion Machine Gun Corps 26 February 1918 139th Trench Mortar Battery formed 9 March 1916 6 Between the wars editDisbanded after the war in 1919 the brigade was reformed as the 139th Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Infantry Brigade in the Territorial Army and again assigned to the 46th North Midland Division However in 1936 the division was disbanded and its HQ was redesignated 2nd Anti Aircraft Division The 6th and 7th Sherwood Foresters were both transferred to the Royal Engineers and converted into anti aircraft searchlight battalions 7 The 5th and 8th Sherwood Foresters were both transferred to the 49th West Riding Infantry Division With all of its battalions posted away the 139th Infantry Brigade was disbanded Second World War editThe brigade number was reactivated again when the Territorial Army was doubled in size in spring and summer 1939 in order to meet the threat of Nazi Germany The 139th Infantry Brigade formed as a 2nd Line duplicate of 148th Infantry Brigade was assigned to the 46th Infantry Division which itself was formed as a duplicate of the 49th Division The brigade saw service with the 46th Division throughout the Second World War which began in September 1939 Sent to France with the rest of 46th Division in April 1940 to join the British Expeditionary Force BEF the brigade was both poorly equipped and trained and lacked any of their signals artillery engineer or other support units The division was sent along with the 12th and 23rd divisions to complete their training and to help construct defences and airfields As a result the division was battered when facing the German Army s blitzkrieg during the Battle of France in May 1940 and was forced to retreat to Dunkirk had to be evacuated to England nbsp Sherman tanks supporting infantrymen of the 2 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment 46th Division near Coldazzo on the Gothic Line 30 August 1944 After being evacuated the brigade and division spent the next few years on home defence and training to repel an expected German invasion which never arrived In late 1942 the 46th Division was sent to North Africa where it became part of British First Army and saw action in the final stages of the Tunisia Campaign The division did not see service in Sicily but landed at Salerno in September 1943 as part of the US Fifth Army during the initial invasion of Italy The brigade saw service in Italy until late 1944 transferring to Greece to help calm the Greek Civil War and returning to Italy in April 1945 for the final offensive but did not take part in any actual fighting Order of battle Second World War edit Th brigade was constituted as follows 8 9 2 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment 2 5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters redesignated 5th Battalion on 1 March 1943 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters until 28 December 1939 139th Infantry Brigade Anti Tank Company formed 17 August 1940 joined 46th Reconnaissance Battalion 10 July 1941 10 16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry from 28 December 1940 From 23 December 1942 to 3 February 1943 the brigade was constituted as a brigade group with the following additional units under command 8 70th West Riding Field Regiment Royal Artillery 229th Anti Tank Battery Royal Artillery 379th Light Anti Aircraft Battery Royal Artillery 270th Field Company Royal Engineers C Squadron 46th Recce RegimentCommanders editThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items February 2021 1911 1917 Charles Tyrell Shipley 1917 1918 George Glas Sandeman Carey 1918 1918 Phillip Richard Wood 1918 1919 John Harington 1920 1924 Godfrey Davenport Goodman 11 1924 B A Smith 12 1940 1943 Raleigh Chichester Constable 1943 1943 Robert Stott 1943 1945 Allen BlockVictoria Cross recipients editSergeant William Henry Johnson 1 5th Derbyshire Battalion Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment Great War Acting Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Vann 1 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment Great War Captain Geoffrey Vickers 1 7th Robin Hood Rifles Battalion Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment Great WarNotes edit a b Army List 1888 1908 a b c Becke Pt 2a pp 61 7 Anon The Robin Hoods p 39 MacDonald p 32 Becke Pt 2b pp 17 23 The 46th North Midland Division of the British Army in 1914 1918 Archived from the original on 10 March 2015 Retrieved 29 March 2015 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 23 September 2015 Retrieved 16 March 2016 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link a b Lt Col H F Joslen Orders of Battle United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War 1939 1945 London HM Stationery Office 1960 London London Stamp Exchange 1990 ISBN 0 948130 03 2 Uckfield Naval amp Military Press 2003 ISBN 1 843424 74 6 p 325 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 16 March 2016 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link 46th Recce Regiment at Recce Corps website Who Was Who vol V p 433 No 33971 The London Gazette 14 March 1924 p 2231 References editAnon The Robin Hoods 1 7th 2 7th and 3 7th Battns Sherwood Foresters J amp H Bell 1921 Uckfield Naval and Military Press 2009 ISBN 1 847349 92 7 A F Becke History of the Great War Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2a The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st Line Territorial Force Divisions 42 56 London HM Stationery Office 1935 Uckfield Naval amp Military Press 2007 ISBN 1 847347 39 8 A F Becke History of the Great War Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2b The 2nd Line Territorial Force Divisions 57th 69th with the Home Service Divisions 71st 73rd and 74th and 75th Divisions London HM Stationery Office 1937 Uckfield Naval amp Military Press 2007 ISBN 1 847347 39 8 Alan MacDonald A Lack of Offensive Spirit The 46th North Midland Division at Gommecourt 1st July 1916 West Wickham Iona Books 2008 ISBN 978 0 9558119 0 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 139th Sherwood Foresters Brigade amp oldid 1175105043, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.