Unit Name: | 1st Dismounted Brigade |
Dates: | February 1916–October 1916 |
Type: | Dismounted Yeomanry |
Size: | Brigade |
Battles: | World War I |
The 1st Dismounted Brigade was a formation of the British Army in World War I. It was formed in Egypt in February 1916 by absorbing the Lowland and Scottish Horse Mounted Brigades. The brigade was on Suez Canal defences attached to the 52nd (Lowland) Division and was broken up in October 1916.
The 1st Dismounted Brigade was formed in Egypt in February 1916 by absorbing the Lowland Mounted Brigade and the Scottish Horse Mounted Brigade.[1]
The Scottish Horse Mounted Brigade had served dismounted in the Gallipoli Campaign from September to December 1915 with the 2nd Mounted Division before being withdrawn to Egypt. Similarly, the Lowland Mounted Brigade served in Gallipoli from October until 30 December 1915 with 52nd (Lowland) Division when it was evacuated to Mudros. It was transferred to Egypt, arriving on 7 February 1916 and was immediately absorbed into the 1st Dismounted Brigade. On formation, the 1st Dismounted Brigade was commanded by Br-Gen Marquis of Tullibardine (former commander of the Scottish Horse Mounted Brigade) and consisted of:
From 8 February 1916, the brigade was attached to the 52nd (Lowland) Division in No. 3 (Northern) Section, Suez Canal Defences. The brigade remained with 52nd (Lowland) Division until 16 October 1916 when the brigade was dissolved.
On 27 September 1916, 3rd Scottish Horse was converted to form 26th (Scottish Horse) Squadron, Machine Gun Corps. It also provided a company to the Lovat's Scouts which formed the 10th (Lovat's Scouts) Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. The battalion was transferred to Salonika, arriving 20 October, where it joined 82nd Brigade, 27th Division.
On 1 October 1916, 1st Scottish Horse and 2nd Scottish Horse were amalgamated to form 13th (Scottish Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Black Watch.[2] The battalion was transferred to Salonika, arriving 21 October, where it joined 81st Brigade, 27th Division.
In October 1916, the remnants of the 1st Dismounted Brigade (Ayrshire Yeomanry and Lanarkshire Yeomanry) were absorbed into 2nd Dismounted Brigade which was later renamed as 229th Brigade in the 74th (Yeomanry) Division.