The 212th Brigade was a Home Service formation of the

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during the

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and the

Second World Wars World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

First World War

The 212th Brigade was part of the 71st Division, a Home Service division raised in late 1916. It had the dual role of training men for overseas drafts and providing forces for home defence. The brigade was previously known as the 6th Provisional Brigade.

Order of Battle

The following infantry battalions served in the brigade: *61st Provisional Battalion, became 11th Battalion,

Norfolk Regiment The Royal Norfolk Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army until 1959. Its predecessor regiment was raised in 1685 as Henry Cornwall's Regiment of Foot. In 1751, it was numbered like most other British Army regiments and named ...

*100th Provisional Battalion, became

29th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment 1st (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) was an infantry battalion in the British Army. Rifle Volunteers 1859-1908 It originated in 1859 as the 19th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps, being renumbered the 10th Middlesex Rifl ...

*101st Provisional Battalion, became 30th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment *249th Graduated Battalion, became 51st (Graduated) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment *250th Graduated Battalion, became 52nd (Graduated) Battalion,

Middlesex Regiment The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1966. The regiment was formed, as the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), in 1881 as part of the Childers R ...

On 10 January 1918 orders were issued to break up 71st Division. Disbandment began in January 1918 and its last elements disappeared on 8 April 1918.

Second World War

Formation and Service

A new brigade was formed under the title of the 212th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) for service in the

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on 7 October 1940 by No 12 Infantry Training Group in South Wales Area. It was commanded by Brigadier H.A.R. Aubrey (Brigadier R.B.L. Persse from 13 May 1941) and composed of newly raised infantry battalions.Joslen, p. 375. The brigade moved to North Midland Area (9 February–26 March 1941) and then became an integral part of the new

Lincolnshire County Division The Lincolnshire County Division was a short-lived formation of the British Army, formed in the Second World War. The headquarters were formed on 24 February 1941, becoming operational on 27 March. It ceased to function on 25 November and was di ...

(27 March–20 November 1941). When the county division ceased to function, the brigade was re-designated the 212th Independent Infantry Brigade, coming under the administrative control of 54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division (21 November 1941 – 24 May 1942) and then II Corps District.Joslen, p. 108.

Order of Battle

The composition of 212th Brigade was as follows: * 9th Battalion,

Royal Sussex Regiment The Royal Sussex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that was in existence from 1881 to 1966. The regiment was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment of Foot a ...

''(7 October 1940 — 14 July 1942, converted the next day to the 160 RAC.)''Joslen p. 497 * 6th Battalion,

South Wales Borderers The South Wales Borderers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for 280 years. It came into existence in England in 1689, as Sir Edward Dering's Regiment of Foot, and afterwards had a variety of names and headquarters. I ...

''(7 October 1940 — 14 July 1942, converted the next day to the 158 RAC.)'' * 18th Battalion,

Welch Regiment The Welch Regiment (or "The Welch", an archaic spelling of "Welsh") was an infantry regiment of the line of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1969. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of ...

''(7 October 1940 — 28 May 1941)'' * 10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment ''(7 October 1940 — 14 July 1942, converted the next day to the 159 RAC.)'' The regiments converted to armour were sent to India, where they were reconverted to infantry and made up the newly reformed 72nd Infantry Brigade. On 16 August 1942, the Brigade HQ became an administrative HQ under GHQ Home Forces and eased to function as a command HQ.

Notes

References

* * George Forty, "British Army Handbook 1939-1945", Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 1998, . *
Royal Regiment of Wales website
{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 Military units and formations established in 1916 Infantry brigades of the British Army Infantry brigades of the British Army in World War I Military units and formations disestablished in 1918 Military units and formations established in 1940 Infantry brigades of the British Army in World War II Military units and formations disestablished in 1942