4th Guards Brigade (United Kingdom)

For a similarly designated, but distinct, formation, see 4th (Guards) Brigade.
4th Guards Brigade
Active 8 February – 17 November 1918
Country  United Kingdom
Branch  British Army
Type Infantry
Size Brigade
Part of 31st Division
Engagements

World War I

Battle of the Lys
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Harold Alexander

The 4th Guards Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army. It was formed by battalions withdrawn from the Guards Division and served with the 31st Division on the Western Front during the First World War. It ended the war as General Headquarters Troops, before being broken up in the Guards Division on 17 November 1918.

History

Formation

In February 1918, British[lower-alpha 1] divisions on the Western Front were reduced from a 12-battalion to a 9-battalion basis (brigades from four to three battalions).[1] The 4th Guards Brigade was formed on 8 February 1918 by taking a battalion from each of the brigades of the Guards Division: the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards from the 1st Guards Brigade, the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards from the 2nd Guards Brigade and the 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards from the 3rd Guards Brigade. It joined the 31st Division at noon on the same day.[2]

War service

The brigade replaced the 94th Brigade in 31st Division, temporarily taking over the 94th Machine Gun Company and the 94th Trench Mortar Battery of that brigade.[2] The 94th Machine Gun Company joined 31st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (as C Company) on 3 March. The 4th Guards Trench Mortar Battery was formed on 19 March, took over the Stokes mortars and 94th Trench Mortar Battery then disappeared.[3]

The brigade remained with the division until 20 May[3] and in that time saw considerable action in the Battle of the Lys in April, particularly the Battle of Estaires, Battle of Hazebrouck and the Defence of Nieppe Forest.[4] It was then withdrawn to GHQ Reserve of the British Expeditionary Force.[3]

Post-war

At the Armistice, the brigade was still part of GHQ Reserve[5] but serving as Corps Troops with the Cavalry Corps.[6] On 17 November, the brigade rejoined the Guards Division at Maubeuge. The battalions rejoined their original brigades and the 4th Guards Brigade Headquarters and Trench Mortar Battery were disbanded.[7]

Order of battle

The following units served in the brigade:[2][3]

Commanders

The brigade had the following commanders:[8]

From Name Notes
8 February 1918 Brigadier-General Lord Ardee gassed, 27 March 1918
27 March 1918 Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. H.R.L.G. Alexander acting
4 April 1918 Brigadier-General Hon. L.J.P. Butler gassed, 24 April 1918
24 April 1918 Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. H.R.L.G. Alexander acting
27 April 1918 Lieutenant-Colonel R.B.J. Crawfurd acting
7 May 1918 Brigadier-General Hon. L.J.P. Butler

Notes

  1. As distinct from the Australian, Canadian and the New Zealand divisions which remained on a 12-battalion basis.

References

Bibliography

External links

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