203rd (2nd North Wales) Brigade

  • This article covers the Welsh brigade formed during World War I; for the brigade formed during World War II see 203rd Infantry Brigade.
203rd (2nd North Wales) Brigade
Active 1915- 1918
Country  United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Type Infantry Brigade
Role Home Defence
Part of 68th (2nd Welsh) Division

203rd (2nd North Wales) Brigade was a formation of the British Army during World War I.

Origin

On the outbreak of war in August 1914, the four Territorial Force battalions (4th – 7th) of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers comprised the North Wales Brigade of the Welsh Division.[1][2] In common with the rest of the Territorial Force, these battalions immediately began forming 'Second Line' duplicate battalions composed of recruits and men enlisted for home service only. In May 1915 the original brigade became 158th (North Wales) Brigade in 53rd (Welsh) Division. Similarly the Second Line brigade became 203rd (2nd North Wales) Brigade in 68th (2nd Welsh) Division.

Composition

On formation, 203rd Bde comprised the following battalions:[1]

  • 2/4th (Denbighshire) Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers (disbanded March 1918)
  • 2/5th (Flintshire) Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers (disbanded 16 March 1918)
  • 2/6th (Carnarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers (disbanded 8 September 1917)
  • 2/7th (Merioneth and Montgomery) Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers (disbanded 12 September 1917)

Service

68th Division did not go overseas even after the Military Service Act 1916 made it possible to send second line Territorials to war zones.[3] The division and its components remained as part of the home defences of Britain, training and supplying drafts to other units overseas. The original units dwindled and were eventually disbanded.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.1914-1918.net/rwf.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.1914-1918.net/53div.htm
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-12-16. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
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