122nd Brigade (United Kingdom)

{{short description|Formation of the British Army during the First World War}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = 122nd Brigade

| image = 122nd brigade only sign WW1.svg

| caption = Brigade sign. This was not worn on the uniform, but on signs and vehicles.

| dates = 1915–1918

| country = {{flag|United Kingdom}}

| allegiance =

| branch = {{army|United Kingdom}}

| type = Infantry

| role =

| size = Brigade

| command_structure =

| nickname =

| patron =

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| colors =

| march =

| mascot =

| anniversaries =

| battles = First World War
* Battle of Flers-Courcelette
* Battle of the Lys and the Escaut

| notable_commanders =

| identification_symbol =

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}}

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

History

File:Troops with tank Flers-Courcelette 1916 IWM Q 5578.jpg (D 17) surrounded by men of the 122nd Brigade whom it led into the eastern part of Flers on 15 September 1916. Photograph taken two days later, on 17 September.{{Cite web |title=A Mark I tank surrounded by troops of 122nd Brigade, 17 September 1916 |url=https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1952-01-33-55-90 |access-date=2 July 2022 |website=National Army Museum}}]]

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.{{Cite book |last=Oldfield |first=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2_zsDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22122nd+brigade%22&pg=PA112 |title=Victoria Crosses on the Western Front: Somme 1916 |publisher=Pen & Sword Books Ltd. |year=2016 |location=Great Britain |pages=112, 117|isbn=978-1-4738-7457-2 }}{{Cite journal |last=McEwen |first=Andrew |date=Autumn 2011 |title="A useful accessory to the infantry, but nothing more": Tanks at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 1916 |url=http://www.canadianmilitaryhistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/2-McEwen-Tanks-at-Courcelette.pdf |journal=Canadian Military History |volume=20 |issue=4 |pages=7–22}} 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.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m4G-BAAAQBAJ&q=%22122nd+brigade%22 |title=The History of the 12th (Bermondsey) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment |publisher=Naval & Military Press |year=1936 |editor-last=Lawford |editor-first=Sir Sydney T. B. |location=United Kingdom |pages=59 |isbn=9781781515853 |editor-last2=Towsey |editor-first2=F. W.}}

= 1918 =

The 122nd Brigade also fought in the Battle of the Lys and the Escaut.{{Cite book |last1=Edmonds |first1=Sir James Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tR0KAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22122nd+brigade%22&pg=RA1-PA443 |title=Military Operations: France and Belgium 1918 |last2=Maxwell-Hyslop |first2=R. |publisher=His Majesty's Stationery Office |year=1947 |volume=V: 26th Sept.–11th Nov. The Advance to Victory |location=London |pages=433–443}}

Order of Battle

12th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment (Bermondsey){{Cite web |title=41st Division |url=https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/41st-division/ |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=The Long, Long Trail |language=en-GB}}
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): [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14055200 WO 95/2632/1] (01/05/1916–31/07/1916)
The National Archives of the UK (TNA): [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14055201 WO 95/2632/2] (01/08/1916–30/09/1916)
The National Archives of the UK (TNA): [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14055202 WO 95/2632/3] (01/10/1916–31/10/1916)
The National Archives of the UK (TNA): [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14055203 WO 95/2632/4] (01/11/1916–31/12/1916)
The National Archives of the UK (TNA): [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14055204 WO 95/2632/5] (01/01/1917–30/04/1917)
The National Archives of the UK (TNA): [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14055205 WO 95/2632/6] (01/05/1917–30/06/1917)
The National Archives of the UK (TNA): [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7354369 WO 95/2633/1] (01/07/1917–31/10/1917)
The National Archives of the UK (TNA): [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7354370 WO 95/2633/2] (01/03/1918–31/10/1919)
The National Archives of the UK (TNA): [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7357365 WO 95/4243] (01/11/1917–28/02/1918)

References

Category:Infantry brigades of the British Army in World War I