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4th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)

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4th Cavalry Brigade
Active1815
1900
1914–1919
1939–1941
Country United Kingdom
AllegianceBritish Crown
Branch British Army
TypeCavalry
SizeBrigade
Part of2nd Cavalry Division (First World War)
1st Cavalry Division (Second World War)
EngagementsNapoleonic Wars
Battle of Waterloo

First World War

Western Front

Second World War

Anglo-Iraqi War
Syria–Lebanon campaign
Battle of Palmyra
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Sir John Ormsby Vandeleur
The Hon Sir Cecil Edward Bingham
James Joseph Kingstone

The 4th Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry brigade of the British Army. It served in the Napoleonic Wars (notably at the Battle of Waterloo), in the First World War on the Western Front where it was initially assigned to The Cavalry Division before spending most of the war with the 2nd Cavalry Division, and with the 1st Cavalry Division during the Second World War.

History

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Napoleonic Wars

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From June 1809, Wellington organized his cavalry into one, later two, cavalry divisions (1st and 2nd) for the Peninsular War.[1] These performed a purely administrative, rather than tactical, role;[2] the normal tactical headquarters were provided by brigades commanding two, later usually three, regiments.[3] The cavalry brigades were named for the commanding officer, rather than numbered.[a] For the Hundred Days Campaign, he numbered his British cavalry brigades in a single sequence, 1st to 7th.[b] The 4th Cavalry Brigade consisted of:

It was commanded by Major General Sir John Ormsby Vandeleur.[10]

The brigade took part in the Battle of Waterloo. During the battle, the 11th Light Dragoons suffered 63 casualties (12 killed, 28 wounded, 23 missing), the 12th Light Dragoons 111 (47 killed, 64 wounded) and the 16th Light Dragoons just 30 (10 killed, 20 wounded).[11] This represented a loss rate of about 15%.[c]

Second Boer War

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Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in late 1899, a 4th Cavalry Brigade was established under the command of Major-General John Dickson.[13] The brigade was composed of squadrons from the 7th Dragoon Guards, 8th Hussars and 17th Lancers, with drafts from the 19th Hussars and 1st Dragoons, and was mobilized for service on 1 January 1900, leaving for South Africa the following month.[14] The Mounted Infantry for the brigade was 300 men strong, and was drawn from the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, the 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, the 1st Battalion Yorkshire Light Infantry, the 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment, the 4th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, and the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, with a machine-gun section from the 2nd Battalion Liverpool Regiment.[15] The No. 20 Field Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps was attached to the brigade.[16]

First World War

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Mobilization

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4th Cavalry Brigade was a peacetime formation of the British Army, based in Eastern Command. At the outbreak of the war, it was headquartered at Canterbury and commanded the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) (at Canterbury), 3rd (King's Own) Hussars (at Shorncliffe) and 4th Signal Troop, Royal Engineers (at Canterbury). A number of units were attached to the brigade: the 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars at Hounslow, the Woolwich-based X Brigade, RHA (P and R Batteries), II Brigade, RHA (consisting of just C Battery and based at Canterbury) and King Edward's Horse of the Special Reserve (based at Chelsea).[17]

On mobilization, the brigade was brought up to its full – three regiment – strength with the addition of the Household Cavalry Composite Regiment;[d] 4th Cavalry Brigade Field Ambulance also joined[19] and the attached units departed at this point.[e] The brigade joined The Cavalry Division along with 1st, 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Brigades and moved to France in August 1914.[24]

Early actions

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With The Cavalry Division, the brigade took part in a number of actions during the early war of movement: the Battle of Mons (23–24 August), the Battle of Le Cateau (26 August), the action at Néry (1 September), the Battle of the Marne (6–9 September) and the Battle of the Aisne (12–15 September).[24]

The brigade was transferred to the 2nd Cavalry Division on 14 October 1914 to bring it up to the standard three brigade strength. It remained with the division on the Western Front until the end of the war.[25]

2nd Cavalry Division

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In 1914, the brigade, with the division, took part in First Battle of Ypres, notably the battle of Gheluvelt (29–31 October).[26] On 11 November, the Household Cavalry Composite Regiment was broken up and its constituent squadrons rejoined their parent regiments.[18] The 1/1st Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars, a Yeomanry regiment, joined in its place.[27]

In 1915, the division was in action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle (10–12 March 1915) and the Second Battle of Ypres notably the Battle of St Julien (26 April–3 May) and the Battle of Bellewaarde Ridge (24–25 May).[26]

On 28 February 1916, a Machine Gun Squadron was formed from the machine gun sections of the brigade's constituent regiments.[28]

1916 saw no notable actions, but in 1917 the division saw action in the Battle of Arras (First Battle of the Scarpe, 9–11 April). and the Battle of Cambrai (the Tank Attack of 20–21 November, the Capture of Bourlon Wood of 24–28 November and the German Counter-Attack of 30 November–3 December).[26] At other times, the brigade formed a dismounted unit and served in the trenches as a regiment under the command of the brigadier.[29]

War of movement

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1918 saw the return of the war of movement and the division took part in the First Battle of the Somme notably the Battle of St Quentin (21–23 March), the Battle of the Lys (Battle of Hazebrouck of 14–15 April), the Battle of Amiens (8–11 August) and the Second Battle of the Somme (Battle of Albert of 21–23 August and the Second Battle of Bapaume of 31 August–3 September).[30]

The division was then split up with the 4th Cavalry Brigade serving with Third Army. The brigade took part in the battles of the Hindenburg Line, notably the Battle of the Canal du Nord (27 September–1 October) and the Pursuit to the Selle (9–12 October). Its final action was to take part in the Advance in Picardy (17 October–11 November) including the Battle of the Sambre (4 November), still with Third Army.[30]

Armistice

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At the Armistice, the brigade had reached Erquelinnes with Third Army. On 15 November, the division was re-assembled near Maubeuge and ordered to advance into Germany as an advance screen for Fourth Army and form part of the Occupation Force. The move began on 17 November, Ciney and Rochefort were reached five days later.[30]

In late December, the division moved to winter quarters south and south-east of Liège. It remained here until 30 January 1919 when it exchanged regiments with 1st and 3rd Cavalry Divisions then gradually moved back to England. The Division ceased to exist at midnight 31 March / 1 April 1919.[30]

Order of battle

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Squadron from the 1st Life Guards August 1914, attached to the Household Cavalry Composite Regiment, preparing to leave for France.
Unit From To
Household Cavalry Composite Regiment Mobilization 11 November 1914[f]
6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) Mobilization
3rd (King's Own) Hussars Mobilization
1/1st Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars 11 November 1914[g]
J Battery, RHA 16 September 1914[h]
4th Signal Troop, Royal Engineers Mobilization
4th Cavalry Brigade Field Ambulance Mobilization 16 October 1914[i]
4th Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron, MGC 28 February 1916[32]

Second World War

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The 4th Cavalry Brigade was reformed in October 1939 and took command of a composite regiment of Household Cavalry and two Yeomanry regiments (North Somerset Yeomanry and Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry).[33] It joined the 1st Cavalry Division when it was formed on 31 October 1939.[34]

With the 1st Cavalry Division, the 4th Cavalry Brigade departed the United Kingdom in February 1940, transited across France, and arrived in Palestine on 20 February 1940. It served as a garrison force under British Forces, Palestine and Trans-Jordan.[35]

From 6 May 1941 the brigade, together with a battalion of infantry from the Essex Regiment, a mechanised regiment from the Arab Legion and supporting artillery was organised as Habforce for operations in Iraq including the relief of the base at RAF Habbaniya and the occupation of Baghdad. Following this, in July 1941 it was placed under the command of I Australian Corps and was involved in operations against the Vichy French in Syria, advancing from eastern Iraq near the Trans-Jordan border on Palmyra to secure the Haditha – Tripoli oil pipeline.[36]

On 1 August 1941, the Division was converted into the 10th Armoured Division[34] and the 4th Cavalry Brigade into the 9th Armoured Brigade.[35] 9th Armoured Brigade would later take part in the Second Battle of El Alamein and the Italian Campaign.[37]

Order of battle

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Unlike in the First World War, when brigade compositions rarely changed, there was considerable movement of units between the 4th, 5th and 6th Cavalry Brigades in the Second World War.

Unit From To
Household Cavalry Composite Regiment 13 November 1939 12 January 1941
1st Household Cavalry Regiment[j] 13 January 1941 31 July 1941
North Somerset Yeomanry 15 November 1939 21 March 1941[k]
Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 3 December 1939 2 October 1940[l]
8 January 1941[l] 31 July 1941
Warwickshire Yeomanry 22 March 1941[m] 31 July 1941

Of the three regiments with the brigade when it was converted to an armoured formation:

  • the 1st Household Cavalry Regiment converted into an Armoured Regiment in 9th Armoured Brigade before becoming the Reconnaissance Regiment for 10th Armoured Division.[38]
  • the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry converted into an Armoured Regiment in 9th Armoured Brigade.[41] It fought in the Second Battle of El Alamein and the Italian Campaign.[42]
  • the Warwickshire Yeomanry converted into an Armoured Regiment in 9th Armoured Brigade.[41] It also fought at El Alamein and throughout the Italian Campaign.[43]

Commanders

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The 4th Cavalry Brigade had the following commanders during the First World War:[25]

From Rank Name
Mobilization Brigadier-General Hon. C.E. Bingham
30 May 1915 Brigadier-General T.T. Pitman (sick 8–16 December 1916, leave 17–29 December 1916)
8 December 1916 Lieutenant-Colonel S.R. Kirby (acting)
17 December 1916 Lieutenant-Colonel A. Dugdale (acting)
30 December 1916 Brigadier-General T.T. Pitman
24 March 1918 Lieutenant-Colonel S.R. Kirby (acting)
9 April 1918 Brigadier-General C.H. Rankin

The 4th Cavalry Brigade had the following commanders during the Second World War:[35]

From Rank Name
23 October 1939 Brigadier J.J. Kingstone
28 June 1940 Lieutenant-Colonel A.A. McBean (acting)
2 July 1940 Brigadier J.J. Kingstone
27 February 1941 Lieutenant-Colonel A.H. Ferguson (acting)
9 May 1941 Brigadier J.J. Kingstone
29 June 1941 Brigadier J.G.E. Tiarks

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ This could be a source of confusion as brigades acquired new commanders, or they moved between brigades. For example, Fane's Brigade became De Grey's Brigade from 13 May 1810 when Henry Fane went to Estremadura;[4] De Grey's Brigade was broken up 29 January 1812.[5] On 20 May 1813, Fane took over Slade's Brigade;[6] the second Fane's Brigade was unrelated to the original one although coincidentally, and to add to the potential confusion, the 3rd Dragoon Guards served in both.[7]
  2. ^ The British cavalry included five regiments of the King's German Legion.[8][9]
  3. ^ 11th Light Dragoons had a strength of 442, 12th Light Dragoons 433, and 16th Light Dragoons 440.[12]
  4. ^ The Household Cavalry Composite Regiment was formed on mobilization by taking one squadron from each of the Household Cavalry regiments (1st Life Guards at Hyde Park, 2nd Life Guards at Regent's Park and the Royal Horse Guards at Windsor).[18]
  5. ^ 19th Hussars was split up, with squadrons attached to the 4th, 5th and 6th Infantry Divisions as divisional cavalry squadrons;[20] X Brigade, RHA remained at Woolwich throughout the war in a training role as X (Reserve) Brigade, RHA;[21] C Battery, RHA joined XIV Brigade in 7th Division at Lyndhurst on formation;[22] and King Edward's Horse was later split up, with squadrons attached to the 12th, 47th and 48th Infantry Divisions as divisional cavalry squadrons.[23]
  6. ^ Household Cavalry Composite Regiment broken up and the squadrons rejoined their parent regiments.[18]
  7. ^ 1/1st Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars joined from 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade to replace the Household Cavalry Composite Regiment.[27]
  8. ^ J Battery, RHA joined from 5th Cavalry Brigade and was permanently attached to 4th Cavalry Brigade.[31]
  9. ^ 4th Cavalry Brigade Field Ambulance transferred to 2nd Cavalry Division when the brigade joined the division.[31]
  10. ^ Household Cavalry Composite Regiment was redesignated 1st Household Cavalry Regiment.[38]
  11. ^ North Somerset Yeomanry transferred to 5th Cavalry Brigade.[39]
  12. ^ a b Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry transferred to, and returned from, 6th Cavalry Brigade.[40]
  13. ^ Warwickshire Yeomanry transferred from 6th Cavalry Brigade.[40]

References

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  1. ^ Reid 2004, p. 79
  2. ^ Haythornthwaite 1990, p. 103
  3. ^ Reid 2004, p. 75
  4. ^ Reid 2004, p. 80
  5. ^ Reid 2004, p. 83
  6. ^ Reid 2004, p. 85
  7. ^ Reid 2004, pp. 79–86
  8. ^ "The Anglo-Allied Army at napoleonic-literature.com". Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Wellington's Army in 1815". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  10. ^ Smith 1998, p. 540
  11. ^ Smith 1998, p. 544
  12. ^ "Battle of Waterloo". Napolun.com. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  13. ^ "No. 27168". The London Gazette. 23 February 1900. p. 1260.
  14. ^ "The War – The fourth Cavalry Brigade". The Times. No. 36054. London. 1 February 1900. p. 10.
  15. ^ "The War – The fourth Cavalry Brigade". The Times. No. 36059. London. 7 February 1900. p. 8.
  16. ^ "The War – Embarcation of Troops". The Times. No. 36069. London. 19 February 1900. p. 12.
  17. ^ Conrad, Mark (1996). "The British Army, 1914". Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  18. ^ a b c James 1978, p. 11
  19. ^ Becke 1935, p. 5
  20. ^ James 1978, p. 12
  21. ^ Clarke 1993, p. 59
  22. ^ Becke 1935, p. 84
  23. ^ James 1978, p. 15
  24. ^ a b Becke 1935, p. 6
  25. ^ a b Becke 1935, p. 10
  26. ^ a b c Becke 1935, p. 14
  27. ^ a b James 1978, p. 26
  28. ^ Baker, Chris. "Cavalry units of the Machine Gun Corps". The Long Long Trail. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  29. ^ Becke 1935, p. 11
  30. ^ a b c d Becke 1935, p. 15
  31. ^ a b Becke 1935, p. 12
  32. ^ Baker, Chris. "The 2nd Cavalry Division in 1914–1918". The Long Long Trail. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  33. ^ "4 Cavalry Brigade". ordersofbattle.com. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  34. ^ a b Joslen 2003, p. 33
  35. ^ a b c Joslen 2003, p. 189
  36. ^ Rothwell, Steve. "Orders of Battle: Arab Legion". Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  37. ^ Joslen 2003, p. 163
  38. ^ a b Bellis 1994, p. 10
  39. ^ Joslen 2003, p. 190
  40. ^ a b Joslen 2003, p. 191
  41. ^ a b Bellis 1994, p. 20
  42. ^ Mileham 1994, p. 117
  43. ^ Mileham 1994, p. 115

Bibliography

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  • Becke, Major A.F. (1935). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1. The Regular British Divisions. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-09-4.
  • Bellis, Malcolm A. (1994). Regiments of the British Army 1939–1945 (Armour & Infantry). London: Military Press International. ISBN 0-85420-999-9.
  • Clarke, W.G. (1993). Horse Gunners: The Royal Horse Artillery, 200 Years of Panache and Professionalism. Woolwich: The Royal Artillery Institution. ISBN 09520762-0-9.
  • Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1990). The Napoleonic Source Book. London: Guild Publishing.
  • James, Brigadier E.A. (1978). British Regiments 1914–18. London: Samson Books Limited. ISBN 0-906304-03-2.
  • 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.
  • Mileham, Patrick (1994). The Yeomanry Regiments; 200 Years of Tradition. Edinburgh: Canongate Academic. ISBN 1-898410-36-4.
  • Reid, Stuart (2004). Wellington's Army in the Peninsula 1809–14. Vol. 2 of Battle Orders Series. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-517-1.
  • Smith, Digby (1998). The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.
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