217th Brigade (United Kingdom)

217th Brigade was a Home Service formation of the British Army during the First and the Second World Wars.

217th Brigade
217th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)
Active14 November 1916–8 April 1918
20 October 1940-22 December 1941
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry Brigade
RoleTraining and Home Defence

First World War

217th Brigade was formed in late 1916 as part of 72nd Division, which had the dual role of training men for overseas drafts and providing forces for home defence.[1] The original second line Territorial Force battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers were transferred to the brigade on 14 November 1916 from 188th Brigade, which had been part of 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division until that division was disbanded in July 1916.[2][3] On 21 December 1917 orders were issued to break up 72nd Division. Disbandment began in January 1918 and its last elements dispersed on 8 April 1918.[1]

Order of Battle

The following infantry battalions served in the brigade:[1]

Second World War

Formation and Service

A new brigade under the title of 217th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) was formed for service in the United Kingdom on 20 October 1940 under the Northumbrian Area headquarters. At first it was composed of infantry battalions from North-East England.[6] The 217th Brigade transferred to the Durham and North Riding County Division when that formation was created on 12 March 1941. The Divisional headquarters ceased to function on 1 December 1941, and 217th Brigade HQ disbanded on 22 December, all its battalions having been previously posted away.[6][7]

Order of Battle

The following units served in the brigade:[6]

Commanders

The following officers commanded the brigade:[6]

  • Brig R.E. Holmes à Court
  • Brig E. Woodhouse (from 12 March 1941)

Notes
  1. "The Long, Long Trail – Researching soldiers of the British Army in the Great War of 1914-1919".
  2. "The Long, Long Trail – Researching soldiers of the British Army in the Great War of 1914-1919".
  3. "The Long, Long Trail – Researching soldiers of the British Army in the Great War of 1914-1919".
  4. "The Long, Long Trail – Researching soldiers of the British Army in the Great War of 1914-1919".
  5. "The Long, Long Trail – Researching soldiers of the British Army in the Great War of 1914-1919".
  6. Joslen, p. 380.
  7. Joslen, p. 110.
  8. "115 Light AA Regiment RA (TA)". Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. Forty, p. 51.

References
  • George Forty, "British Army Handbook 1939-1945", Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 1998, ISBN 0-7509-1403-3.
  • Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
  • The Long, Long Trail
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