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{{about||the similarly named [[Infantry]] brigade|North Midland Brigade|a similarly numbered formation in existence at the same time|12th Indian Cavalry Brigade}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}

{{infobox military unit
|unit_name=North Midland Mounted Brigade 22nd Mounted Brigade 12th Cavalry Brigade
|image=
|caption=
|dates=1908 – 1921
|country={{flagcountry|UKGBI}}
|allegiance=[[British Crown]]
|branch={{army|United Kingdom|23px}} {{army|British India|23px}}
|type=[[Yeomanry]], [[Cavalry]]
|role=
|size=[[Brigade]]
|command_structure=[[1st Mounted Division]] [[ANZAC Mounted Division]] [[Yeomanry Mounted Division]] [[4th Cavalry Division (British Indian Army)|4th Cavalry Division]]
|garrison=[[Leicester]]
|garrison_label=HQ (peacetime)
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
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|battles=[[First World War]]
* [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign|Egypt and Palestine 1916–18]]
|anniversaries=
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|battle_honours_label=
|disbanded=
|flying_hours=
|website=

|commander1=
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|commander2=
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|commander4=
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|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol=
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}}
The '''North Midland Mounted Brigade''' (later numbered as the '''22nd Mounted Brigade''') was a [[yeomanry]] [[brigade]] of the [[British Army]], formed as part of the [[Territorial Force]] in 1908.

It served in the [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign]] in the [[First World War]].

In April 1918, it was merged with elements of the [[2nd (Sialkot) Cavalry Brigade]] to form '''12th Cavalry Brigade'''. It remained in Palestine after the end of the war on occupation duties.

==Formation==
{{North Midland Mounted Brigade}}
Under the terms of the [[Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907]] (7 Edw.7, c.9), the brigade was formed in 1908 as part of the [[Territorial Force]]. It consisted of three [[yeomanry]] regiments, a [[horse artillery]] [[Artillery battery|battery]] and ammunition column, a transport and supply column and a [[field ambulance]].<ref name=Westlake15>{{harvnb|Westlake|1992|p=15}}</ref>

As the name suggests, the units were drawn from the northern part of the [[The Midlands, England|English Midlands]], predominantly [[Leicestershire]], [[Lincolnshire]] and [[Staffordshire]].<ref name=Conrad>{{cite web|url = http://marksrussianmilitaryhistory.info/BRIT14.html|title = The British Army, 1914|last1 = Conrad|first1 = Mark|year = 1996|accessdate = 21 February 2013}}</ref>

==First World War==
===North Midland Mounted Brigade===
The brigade was embodied on 4 August 1914 and assigned to Third Army of the Central Force. It moved to [[Norfolk]] and joined [[1st Mounted Division]] in September 1914<ref name=Rinaldi59>{{harvnb|Rinaldi|2008|p=59}}</ref> replacing the [[Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade]]. It remained with 1st Mounted Division until October 1915 when it departed (as a mounted formation) for the [[Mediterranean Basin|Mediterranean]].<ref name=Becke6>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=6}}</ref>

The [[Leicestershire Yeomanry]] left the brigade in late October 1914 and was posted to the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF), joining the [[7th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Cavalry Brigade]].<ref name=Rinaldi59/> It was initially replaced by the [[Welsh Horse Yeomanry]] before it transferred to the [[Eastern Mounted Brigade]] in February 1915.<ref name=James30>{{harvnb|James|1978|p=30}}</ref> In May 1915, the [[East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry]] joined to bring the brigade back up to a three regiment strength.<ref name=James31>{{harvnb|James|1978|p=31}}</ref>

The brigade was replaced in 1st Mounted Division by its [[2/1st North Midland Mounted Brigade|2nd Line]]. On 27 October 1915, the brigade departed [[Southampton]] on ''[[RMS Victorian]]'', ''Mercian'' and ''Nessian'' for [[Macedonian front|Salonika]]. The destination was changed at sea, and the brigade disembarked at [[Alexandria]] between 10 and 20 November 1915, then moved to [[Cairo]].<ref name=Becke6/> On arrival in Egypt, the North Midland Mounted Brigade was assigned to the [[Western Frontier Force]].<ref name=Perry51>{{harvnb|Perry|1992|p=51}}</ref>

===22nd Mounted Brigade===
{| class="toccolours" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; font-size: 85%; background:whitesmoke; color:black; width:25em; max-width: 50%;" cellspacing="5"
| style="text-align: left;" |
'''22nd Mounted Brigade''' Organisation, July 1917<ref name=Becke32>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=32}}</ref>
* [[Staffordshire Yeomanry|Staffordshire Yeomanry (Queen's Own Royal Regiment)]]
* [[Lincolnshire Yeomanry]]
* [[East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry]]
* 18th Machine Gun [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]]
* 22nd Mounted Brigade Signal Troop
* 1/North Midland Cavalry [[Field Ambulance]], [[Royal Army Medical Corps|RAMC]]
* 3/1st North Midland Mobile Veterinary Section
|}
On 31 March 1916, the remaining Mounted Brigades were numbered in a single sequence. As a consequence, the North Midland Mounted Brigade was redesignated as '''22nd Mounted Brigade'''.<ref name=James36>{{harvnb|James|1978|p=36}}</ref> The 18th Machine Gun Squadron was formed on 8 January 1917.<ref name=Perry51/>

The brigade joined the [[ANZAC Mounted Division]] in February 1917<ref name=Perry51/> and took part in the [[First Battle of Gaza|First]] and [[Second Battle of Gaza|Second]] Battles of Gaza.<ref name=Perry52>{{harvnb|Perry|1992|p=52}}</ref>

The complete brigade was transferred to the newly formed [[Yeomanry Mounted Division]] on 6 July 1917, joining it at el Fuqari.<ref name=Becke33>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=33}}</ref> From 31 October it took part in the [[Third Battle of Gaza]], including the [[Battle of Beersheba (1917)|Battle of Beersheba]] and the Capture of the Sheria Position. It took part in the [[Battle of Mughar Ridge]] on 13 and 14 November and the [[Battle of Nebi Samwil]] from 17 to 24 November. From 27 to 29 November, it withstood the Turkish counter-attacks during the [[Battle of Jerusalem (1917)|Capture of Jerusalem]].<ref name=Becke34>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=34}}</ref>

===12th Cavalry Brigade===
{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; font-size: 85%; background:whitesmoke; color:black; width:25em; max-width: 50%;" cellspacing="5"
| style="text-align: left;" |
'''12th Cavalry Brigade''' Organisation, September 1918<ref name=Perry22>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=22}}</ref>
* [[Staffordshire Yeomanry|Staffordshire Yeomanry (Queen's Own Royal Regiment)]]
* [[6th King Edward's Own Cavalry]]
* [[19th Lancers (Fane's Horse)]]
* 18th Machine Gun [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]]
* 12th Cavalry Brigade Signal Troop
* 12th Combined Cavalry [[Field Ambulance]], [[Royal Army Medical Corps|RAMC]]
* 12th Mobile Veterinary Section
|}
In March 1918, the [[1st Indian Cavalry Division]] was broken up in France. The British units (notably [[6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons]], [[17th Lancers]], [[1/1st Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons]] and [[A Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|A]], [[Q Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|Q]] and [[U Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|U Batteries]] [[Royal Horse Artillery|RHA]]) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt.<ref name=Perry16>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=16}}</ref>

By an [[Egyptian Expeditionary Force]] GHQ Order of 12 April 1918, the mounted troops of the EEF were reorganised when the Indian Army units arrived in [[Theater (warfare)|theatre]]. On 24 April 1918, the Yeomanry Mounted Division was ''indianized''{{efn|British divisions were converted to the [[British Indian Army]] standard whereby brigades only retained one British regiment or battalion and most support units were Indian (artillery excepted).}} and its title was changed to 1st Mounted Division,<ref name=Becke24>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=24}}</ref> the third distinct division to bear this title.{{efn|See [[1st Mounted Division]] and [[3rd Mounted Division]].}}

On 24 April 1918, the 22nd Mounted Brigade was merged with elements of the [[2nd (Sialkot) Cavalry Brigade]]:<ref name=Becke33/>
* the [[Staffordshire Yeomanry]] remained with the brigade
* the [[Lincolnshire Yeomanry]] and the [[East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry]] left the brigade on 7 April and were merged to form D Battalion, [[Machine Gun Corps]]. It was posted to France, arriving on 1 June
* [[6th King Edward's Own Cavalry]] joined from 2nd (Sialkot) Cavalry Brigade
* [[19th Lancers (Fane's Horse)]] joined from 2nd (Sialkot) Cavalry Brigade
* 18th Machine Gun Squadron remained with the brigade
* 22nd Mounted Brigade Signal Troop remained with the brigade
* on 24 April, 1/North Midland Cavalry Field Ambulance merged with Sialkot Cavalry Field Ambulance to form 22nd Combined Cavalry Field Ambulance
* on 26 and 27 April, 3/1st North Midland Mobile Veterinary Section merged with Sialkot Mobile Veterinary Section to form 22nd Mobile Veterinary Section
On 22 July 1918, the 1st Mounted Division was renumbered as the [[4th Cavalry Division (British Indian Army)|4th Cavalry Division]] and the brigade as '''12th Cavalry Brigade'''.<ref name=Perry22/> The sub units (Signal Troop, Combined Cavalry Field Ambulance and Mobile Veterinary Section) were renumbered on the same date.<ref name=Becke33/>

The brigade remained with 4th Cavalry Division for the rest of the war, taking part in the [[Battle of Megiddo (1918)|Battle of Megiddo]] and the [[Capture of Damascus (1918)|Capture of Damascus]].<ref name=Perry24>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=24}}</ref>

After the [[Armistice of Mudros]], the brigade remained with 4th Cavalry Division in Palestine as part of the occupation forces. However, demobilization began immediately and by May 1919 most of the British units had been repatriated. The division was finally broken up in 1921.<ref name=Perry24/>

==Commanders==
The North Midland Mounted Brigade<ref name=Becke2>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=2}}</ref> / 22nd Mounted Brigade<ref name=Becke31>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=31}}</ref> / 12th Cavalry Brigade<ref name=Perry21>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=21}}</ref> had the following commanders:
{| class="wikitable"
! From !! Rank !! Name
|-
| 1 September 1911 || [[Colonel]] || rowspan=2 | [[Coventry Williams]]
|-
| 5 August 1914 || [[Brigadier-General]]
|-
| 12 March 1916 || Brigadier-General || [[William Bromley-Davenport (British Army officer)|W. Bromley-Davenport]]
|-
| 29 November 1916 || Brigadier-General || [[Frederick Fryer (British Army officer)|F. A. B. Fryer]]
|-
| 29 November 1916 || Brigadier-General || [[Percy Desmond FitzGerald|P. D. FitzGerald]], [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]], [[psc (British Army)|psc]]<ref name=NZMR>{{cite web | url=http://www.nzmr.org/dmc_1917.html | title=Commanders of the Desert Mounted Corps | accessdate=3 January 2016 | publisher=NZMR Association }}</ref>
|-
| 7 April 1918 || Brigadier-General || [[John Tyson Wigan|J. T. Wigan]], [[Order of St Michael and St George|CMG]], DSO<ref name=NZMR/>
|}

==See also==

* [[12th Indian Cavalry Brigade]] existed at the same time but was unrelated other than having the same number
* [[2/1st North Midland Mounted Brigade]] for the 2nd Line formation
* [[British yeomanry during the First World War]]


==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|20em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book
| last = Becke | first = Major A.F.
| year = 1936
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42-56)
| publisher = His Majesty's Stationery Office
| location = London
| isbn = 1-871167-12-4
}}
* {{cite book
| last = James | first = Brigadier E.A.
| year = 1978
| title = British Regiments 1914–18
| publisher = Samson Books Limited
| location = London
| isbn = 0-906304-03-2
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Perry | first = F.W.
| year = 1992
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5A. The Divisions of Australia, Canada and New Zealand and those in East Africa
| publisher = Ray Westlake Military Books
| location = Newport
| isbn = 1-871167-25-6
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Perry | first = F.W.
| year = 1993
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions
| publisher = Ray Westlake Military Books
| location = Newport
| isbn = 1-871167-23-X
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Rinaldi | first = Richard A
| year = 2008
| title = Order of Battle of the British Army 1914
| publisher = Ravi Rikhye
| isbn = 978-0-97760728-0
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Westlake | first = Ray
| year = 1992
| title = British Territorial Units 1914-18
| publisher = Osprey Publishing
| isbn = 978-1-85532-168-7
}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Cavalry brigades of the British Indian Army, Military units and formations established in 1908, Military units and formations disestablished in 1921, 1908 establishments in India
|description=
}}

[[Category:Brigades of India in World War I|CB12]]
[[Category:Cavalry brigades of the British Indian Army]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1908]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1921]]
[[Category:1908 establishments in India]]

12th Cavalry Brigade British Indian Army - Revision history

CleanupBot at 16:03, 13 August 2023