The 224th Brigade was a Home Defence formation of the British Army in World War I and World War II. It existed under several variations of the 224th Brigade title.
On the outbreak of World War I the Territorial Force immediately mobilised for home defence, but shortly afterwards, its units were authorised to raise 2nd battalions formed from those men who had not volunteered for, or were not fit for, overseas service, together with new volunteers, while the 1st Line went overseas to supplement the Regulars. Early in 1915 the 2nd Line TF battalions were raised to full strength to form new divisions, and began to form Reserve units to supply drafts. The remaining Home Service men were separated out in May 1915 to form brigades of Coast Defence Battalions. The 4th Provisional Brigade was formed mainly from details of regiments from Wales and North-West England, with the following composition:
In March 1916 the Provisional Brigades were concentrated along the South and East Coast of England. The units of the brigade moved from their home depots to Norfolk, where it was attached to 64th Division under the control of Northern Army of Central Force, with its battalions billeted across Norfolk as follows:
The Military Service Act 1916 swept away the Home/Foreign service distinction, and all TF soldiers became liable for overseas service, if medically fit. The Provisional Brigades thus became anomalous, and at the end of 1916 their units became numbered battalions of their parent units. Part of their role was physical conditioning to render men fit for drafting overseas. The 4th Provisional Brigade became the 224th Mixed Brigade in December 1916, with its units re-designated as shown below: In May 1918 each of the Mixed Brigades was called upon to provide a battalion to reconstitute the 59th Division, which had been virtually destroyed during the German Spring Offensive. The Brigade supplied the 23rd Cheshire Regiment to the 178th Brigade and immediately raised a new 24th Battalion, Cheshires to take over its coast defence duties. The brigade remained with this composition until the end of the war, after which it was demobilised.
4th Provisional Battery became 1206th Battery RFA
2/1st Home Counties Heavy Battery RGA
4th Provisional Field Company became 643rd Field Company and 224th Mixed Brigade Signal Section RE
46th Provisional Battalion became 23rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
In 1940, during World War II, the brigade number was reactivated for the 224th Independent Infantry Brigade , formed for service in the United Kingdom under the South Wales Area headquarters of Home Forces on 10 October 1940. It was commanded by Brigadier P. Gottwaltz, and comprised newly raised infantry battalions After a brief spell attached to 59th Infantry Division, 224th Brigade became part of the Durham and North Riding County Division on 11 March 1941. The brigade was disbanded on 22 December 1941.
