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{{redirect|5th Mounted Brigade|another formation designated 5th Mounted Brigade|Yeomanry Mounted Brigade}}
{{For|a similarly numbered formation in existence at the same time|13th Indian Cavalry Brigade}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{infobox military unit
|unit_name=1st South Midland Mounted Brigade 1st (1st South Midland) Mounted Brigade 5th Mounted Brigade 13th Cavalry Brigade
|image=
|caption=
|dates=1908 – April 1920
|country={{flagcountry|UKGBI}}
|allegiance=[[British Crown]]
|branch={{army|United Kingdom|23px}} {{flag|British India|23px}}
|type=[[Yeomanry]], [[Cavalry]]
|role=
|size=[[Brigade]]
|command_structure=[[2nd Mounted Division]] [[Imperial Mounted Division]] [[5th Cavalry Division (British Indian Army)|5th Cavalry Division]]
|garrison=St John's, [[Warwick]]
|garrison_label=HQ (peacetime)
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles=[[First World War]]
*[[Gallipoli 1915]]
*[[Sinai and Palestine Campaign|Egypt and Palestine 1916–18]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|battle_honours_label=
|disbanded=
|flying_hours=
|website=

|commander1=
|commander1_label=
|commander2=
|commander2_label=
|commander3=
|commander3_label=
|commander4=
|commander4_label=
|notable_commanders=[[Philip James Vandeleur Kelly]]

|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
|identification_symbol_3=
|identification_symbol_3_label=
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}}
The '''1st South Midland Mounted Brigade''' (later numbered as the '''5th Mounted Brigade''') was a [[yeomanry]] [[brigade]] of the [[British Army]], formed as part of the [[Territorial Force]] in 1908.

It served dismounted in the [[Gallipoli Campaign]] before being remounted to serve in the [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign]] in the [[First World War]].

In April 1918, it was merged with elements of the [[3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade]] to form '''13th Cavalry Brigade'''. It remained in Palestine after the end of the war on occupation duties.

==Formation==
{{1st South 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 southern part of the [[The Midlands, England|English Midlands]], predominantly [[Gloucestershire]], [[Warwickshire]] and [[Worcestershire]].<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==
===1st South Midland Mounted Brigade===
The brigade was embodied on 4 August 1914 upon the outbreak of the [[First World War]]. It moved to [[East Anglia]]<ref name=Rinaldi59>{{harvnb|Rinaldi|2008|p=59}}</ref> and joined the [[1st Mounted Division]]. On 2 September it was transferred to the [[2nd Mounted Division]] and in mid November 1914 it moved with its division to [[Norfolk]] on coastal defence duties.<ref name=Rinaldi36>{{harvnb|Rinaldi|2008|p=36}}</ref>

====Egypt====
In April 1915, the 2nd Mounted Division moved to [[Egypt]], the brigade arriving at [[Alexandria]] on 24 April.<ref name=WestlakeGal>{{harvnb|Westlake|1996|pp=258,280,281,283}}</ref> In May 1915 the brigade was designated '''1st (1st South Midland) Mounted Brigade'''.<ref name=Becke14/>

It was dismounted in August 1915 and took part in the [[Gallipoli Campaign]].<ref name=James35>{{harvnb|James|1978|p=35}}</ref> Each regiment left a [[Squadron (army)|squadron]] [[Headquarters#Military|headquarters]] and two [[troop]]s (about 100 officers and men) in Egypt to look after the horses.<ref name=James34>{{harvnb|James|1978|p=34}}</ref>

====Gallipoli====
The brigade landed at "A" Beach, [[Landing at Suvla Bay|Suvla Bay]] on the night of 17 August and moved into reserve positions at Lala Baba on the night of 20 August. On 21 August it advanced to Chocolate Hill under heavy fire and took part in the attack on Hill 112.<ref name=WestlakeGal/>

Due to losses during the [[Battle of Scimitar Hill]] and wastage during August 1915, the [[2nd Mounted Division]] had to be reorganised. On 4 September 1915, the [[1st Composite Mounted Brigade]] was formed from the 1st (1st South Midland), [[2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade|2nd (2nd South Midland)]] and [[Yeomanry Mounted Brigade|5th (Yeomanry) Mounted Brigade]]s.<ref name=Becke17>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=17}}</ref> The brigade formed a battalion sized unit '''1st South Midland Regiment'''.<ref name=Becke13>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=13}}</ref> The brigade embarked for [[Mudros]] on 31 October and returned to Egypt in December 1915 where it was reformed and remounted.<ref name=Becke17/>

===5th 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;" |
'''5th Mounted Brigade''' Organisation, July 1917<ref name=Perry54>{{harvnb|Perry|1992|p=54}}</ref>
*[[Warwickshire Yeomanry]]
*[[Royal Gloucestershire Hussars]]
*[[Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars]]
*16th Machine Gun Squadron
*5th Mounted Brigade Signal Troop
*5th Mounted Brigade [[Field Ambulance]], [[Royal Army Medical Corps|RAMC]]
*5th Mounted Brigade Mobile Veterinary Section
|}
The brigade left the 2nd Mounted Division on 3 and 4 January 1916 for Es Salhia.<ref name=Becke14>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|p=14}}</ref> The brigade served as Corps Troops in Egypt from 21 January 1916.<ref name=Perry55>{{harvnb|Perry|1992|p=55}}</ref> On 31 March 1916, the remaining Mounted Brigades were numbered in a single sequence.<ref name=James36>{{harvnb|James|1978|p=36}}</ref> As a consequence, the 1st South Midland Mounted Brigade was redesignated as '''5th Mounted Brigade''' on 20 April.<ref name=Becke14/>

[[File:Lady Butlers Charge at Huj.jpg|thumb|[[Charge at Huj]], by [[Elizabeth Thompson|Lady Butler]]]]
The 16th Machine Gun Squadron was formed as the Cavalry MG Squadron and joined the brigade in January 1917<ref name=Perry55/> and in the same month, the brigade joined the newly formed [[Imperial Mounted Division]]. With the division, it took part in the [[First Battle of Gaza|First]] and [[Second Battle of Gaza|Second]] Battles of Gaza.<ref name=Perry56>{{harvnb|Perry|1992|p=56}}</ref>

The brigade remained with the Imperial Mounted Division when it was renamed [[Australian Mounted Division]] on 30 June 1917. With the division, it took part in the [[Third Battle of Gaza]] including the [[Battle of Beersheba (1917)|Capture of Beersheba]] and the [[Battle of Mughar Ridge]]. It also resisted the Turkish counter-attacks in the [[Battle of Jerusalem (1917)|Turkish Defence of Jerusalem]].<ref name=Perry56/> Three of the brigade's squadrons took part in the [[charge at Huj]], the last British cavalry charge against enemy guns.

===13th 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;" |
'''13th Cavalry Brigade''' Organisation, September 1918<ref name=Perry26>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=26}}</ref>
*[[Royal Gloucestershire Hussars]]
*[[9th Hodson's Horse]]
*[[18th King George's Own Lancers]]
*19th Machine Gun [[Squadron (army)|Squadron]]
*13th Cavalry Brigade Signal Troop
*13th Combined Cavalry [[Field Ambulance]], [[Royal Army Medical Corps|RAMC]]
*13th Mobile Veterinary Section
|}
In March 1918, the [[2nd Indian Cavalry Division]] was broken up in France. The Canadian ([[Canadian Cavalry Brigade]]) and British units (notably [[7th Dragoon Guards]], [[8th Hussars]] and [[N Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|N]] and [[X Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|X Batteries]] [[Royal Horse Artillery|RHA]]) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt.<ref name=Perry20>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=20}}</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 2nd Mounted Division{{efn|Not to be confused with the original [[2nd Mounted Division]] that fought dismounted at Gallipoli.}} was formed<ref name=Perry28>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=28}}</ref> on the Indian Establishment{{efn|[[British Indian Army]] standard whereby brigades only retained one British regiment or battalion and most support units were Indian (artillery excepted).}} and the 5th Mounted Brigade was assigned to it.<ref name=Perry27>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=27}}</ref>

On 24 April 1918, the 5th Mounted Brigade was merged with elements of the [[3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade]]:<ref name=Perry26/>
*the [[Royal Gloucestershire Hussars]] remained with the brigade
*the [[Warwickshire Yeomanry]]<ref name=James29>{{harvnb|James|1978|p=29}}</ref> left the brigade and was merged with the [[South Nottinghamshire Hussars]]<ref name=James26>{{harvnb|James|1978|p=26}}</ref> (of [[7th Mounted Brigade]]) to form B Battalion, [[Machine Gun Corps]]. It was posted to France, arriving in June
*the [[Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars]] left the brigade on 5 May and became the [[XX Corps (United Kingdom)|XX Corps]] Cavalry Regiment<ref name=James31>{{harvnb|James|1978|p=31}}</ref>
*[[9th Hodson's Horse]] joined from 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade
*[[18th King George's Own Lancers]] joined from 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade
*16th Machine Gun Squadron remained with the brigade (but appears to have been renumbered)<ref name=Perry54/><ref name=Perry26/>
*5th Mounted Brigade Signal Troop remained with the brigade
*in April, 5th Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance merged with Ambala Cavalry Field Ambulance to form 5th Combined Cavalry Field Ambulance
*in April, 5th Mounted Brigade Mobile Veterinary Section merged with Ambala Mobile Veterinary Section to form 5th Cavalry Mobile Veterinary Section
On 22 July 1918, the 2nd Mounted Division was renumbered as the [[5th Cavalry Division (British Indian Army)|5th Cavalry Division]] and the brigade as '''13th Cavalry Brigade'''. The sub units (Signal Troop, Combined Cavalry Field Ambulance and Mobile Veterinary Section) were renumbered on the same date.<ref name=Perry26/>

The brigade remained with 5th Cavalry Division for the rest of the war, taking part in the [[Battle of Abu Tellul|Affair of Abu Tellul]], [[Battle of Megiddo (1918)|Battle of Megiddo]], [[Capture of Damascus (1918)|Capture of Damascus]], and [[Battle of Aleppo (1918)|Occupation of Aleppo]].<ref name=Perry28/>

After the [[Armistice of Mudros]], the brigade remained with 5th Cavalry Division in Palestine as part of the occupation forces. However, demobilization began immediately: the [[14th Cavalry Brigade (British Indian Army)|14th Cavalry Brigade]] was broken up in September 1919, the [[15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigade]] in January 1920, and the rest of the division (and the brigade) in April 1920.<ref name=Perry28/>

==Commanders==
The 1st South Midland Mounted Brigade<ref name=Becke1011>{{harvnb|Becke|1936|pp=10,11}}</ref> / 5th Mounted Brigade<ref name=Perry53>{{harvnb|Perry|1992|p=53}}</ref> / 13th Cavalry Brigade<ref name=Perry25>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=25}}</ref> had the following commanders:
{| class="wikitable"
! From !! Rank !! Name
|-
| 28 June 1914|| [[Colonel]] || rowspan=2 | [[Edgar Askin Wiggin|E.A. Wiggin]] (until 4 September 1915){{efn|Brigade was absorbed in [[1st Composite Mounted Brigade]] 4 September to 1 December 1915; Brigadier-General Wiggin took command of 1st Composite.}}
|-
| 5 August 1914 || [[Brigadier-General]]
|-
| 1 December 1915 || Brigadier-General || E.A. Wiggin
|-
| October 1917 || 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>
|-
| 4 December 1917 || Brigadier-General || [[Philip James Vandeleur Kelly|P.J.V. Kelly]], [[Order of St Michael and St George|CMG]], DSO<ref name=NZMR/>
|-
| 7 October 1918 || Brigadier-General || [[George Alexander Weir|G.A. Weir]], DSO<ref name=NZMR/>
|}

==See also==

* [[13th Indian Cavalry Brigade]] existed at the same time but was unrelated other than having the same number
* [[2/1st South Midland Mounted Brigade]] for the 2nd Line formation.
* [[British yeomanry during the First World War]]


==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==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
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Westlake | first = Ray
| year = 1996
| title = British Regiments at Gallipoli
| publisher = Leo Cooper
| location = Barnsley
| isbn = 0-85052-511-X
}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Cavalry brigades of the British Indian Army, Military units and formations established in 1908, Military units and formations disestablished in 1920, 1908 establishments in the British Empire
|description=
}}

[[Category:Brigades of India in World War I|CB13]]
[[Category:Cavalry brigades of the British Indian Army]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1908]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1920]]
[[Category:1908 establishments in the British Empire]]

13th Cavalry Brigade British Indian Army - Revision history

CleanupBot at 16:13, 13 August 2023