The 121st Brigade (121 Bde) was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army during World War I. Part of Lord Kitchener's 'New Armies', it served in the 40th Division on the Western Front. The brigade number was reactivated for deception purposes during World War II.
Origin
121st Brigade was a New Army or 'Kitchener's Army' formation raised in October 1915, in 40th Division at Aldershot. An earlier 121 Brigade had been raised in late 1914 as part of the 'Fifth New Army', but when the Fourth New Army was broken up in April 1915 to provide reserve units for the First to Third New Armies, the formations of the Fifth took their place, and the original 121 Bde was renumbered 116th Brigade. By the time the new 120 Bde was organised the flow of volunteers had dwindled, and the standard of height for infantry soldiers had been lowered in order to encourage recruitment. Some of these so-called 'bantams' were well-knit, hardy men, but many others, especially in 121st Bde, were under-developed and unfit. It was estimated that the four battalions in the brigade would provide enough fit men for only two serviceable battalions. To prevent the departure of the division to the Front being indefinitely postponed, the divisional commander asked for fresh units to be drafted in. 121st Brigade was completely reorganised in February 1916. Divisional training was then intensified and the division was warned for overseas service in May 1916.
Initial order of battle
The original units forming 121 Bde were as follows: 12th (Service) Battalion (East Anglian) Suffolk Regiment – formed at Bury St Edmunds in July 1915 as a Bantam battalion 13th (Service) Battalion Green Howards – formed in Richmond, Yorkshire July 1915 as a Bantam battalion 18th (Service) Battalion Sherwood Foresters – formed at Derby on 27 July 1915 as a Bantam battalion; absorbed by 13th Green Howards April 1916 22nd (Service) Battalion Middlesex Regiment – formed at Mill Hill in June 1915 as a Bantam battalion; disbanded 2 April 1916 20th (Service) Battalion (Shoreditch) Middlesex Regiment – from 118 Bde February 1916 21st (Service) Battalion (Islington) Middlesex Regiment – from 118 Bde February 1916 121st Brigade Machine Gun Company – joined June 1916 121st Trench Mortar Battery – formed in France June 1916
Training
Divisional organisation and training was delayed because some of the brigades contained a large proportion of under-developed and unfit men. 121st Brigade had to undergo a drastic weeding-out and the drafting in of new battalions before it was fit for service. This was completed in February 1916. Divisional training was then intensified and it was warned for overseas service in May 1916. Disembarkation was carried out at Le Havre between 2 and 6 June, and 40th Division concentrated in the Lillers area by 9 June ready to take its place in the line. Units went into the trenches attached to formations of I Corps for familiarisation, and then the division took over its own section of line.
Operations
121 Brigade's active service was entirely spent on the Western Front. During 1917 it took part in the following actions:
German retreat to the Hindenburg Line 1917: Capture of Fifteen Ravine, Villers-Plouich, Beaucamp and La Vacquerie 24–25 April Battle of Cambrai 1917: Capture of Bourlon Wood, 23–25 November
Reorganisation
In February 1918, British brigades were reduced to a three-battalion basis and brigade machine gun companies were combined into divisional battalions. 21st Middlesex transferred to 119th Bde in 40th Division, and 121 MG Company joined 40th Bn Machine Gun Corps.
The reorganised brigade took part in the following actions: German spring offensive 1918: Battle of St Quentin 21–23 March First Battle of Bapaume 24–25 March Battle of Estaires 9–11 April Battle of Hazebrouck 12–13 April
Following heavy casualties during the German Spring Offensive of 1918, 40th Division was reduced to two composite brigades. 1st Composite Brigade formed under Brig-Gen J. Campbell of 121 Bde on 18 April had the following composition: A Bn (20th and 21st Bn Middlesex from 119 Bde) B Bn (13th Bn Green Howards) C Bn (12th Bn Suffolk and 13th Bn East Surrey Regiment from 120 Bde) Company, 40th Bn MGC Light Trench Mortar Battery (119th and 121st Batteries) 224th Field Company Royal Engineers Subsection 40th Divisional Ammunition Column Royal Field Artillery 137th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps No 4 Company 40th Divisional Train Army Service Corps