The 183rd (2nd Gloucester and Worcester) Brigade was an infantrybrigade formation of the British Army in both World Wars
First World War
The brigade was formed during the First World War in 1914, as a duplicate of the 144th (1/1st Gloucester and Worcester) Brigade, from men in the Territorial Force who, for various reasons, did not volunteer to serve overseas when asked at the outbreak of war. As a result, the brigade acted mainly in a reserve role, sending drafts of trained infantrymen to the 144th Brigade, and it also acted in a home defence role. Assigned to the 61st (2nd South Midland) Division, the brigade served on the Western Front from May 1916.[1][2]
The brigade disbanded in 1919 after the war, along with the rest of the Territorial Force which was later reformed in 1920 as the Territorial Army. Throughout the spring and summer of 1939, the Territorial Army was doubled in size as a consequence of war with Nazi Germany becoming an increasing possibility. Subsequently, the brigade was reformed in the Territorial Army, now as the 183rd Infantry Brigade, in 1939, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War in September. The brigade was assigned to the 61st Infantry Division. However, the brigade never saw active service overseas and remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war, including a few months spent on anti-invasion duties in Northern Ireland.[3]
Order of battle
The brigade was originally composed as follows:[3]
On 9 April 1944 Brigade HQ ceased to command its units and became 'HQ Residue Concentration Area' in preparation for Operation Overlord. On 18 July 1944 it reverted to its normal role and new units came under command:[3]
4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment (returned 21 July, left 28 August 1944)
Maj A.F. Becke,History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2b: The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th), with the Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions, London: HM Stationery Office, 1937/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, ISBN 1-847347-39-8.
Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/London: London Stamp Exchange, 1990, ISBN 0-948130-03-2/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6.
