This page is a work in progress. The details provided are reliable but the page does not yet include a complete analysis of all the brigades and battalions, and details of a given unit’s locations and its place in the command structure may not be complete.
Background
In June 1915 the War Office authorised the raising of a number of Provisional Battalions, to be grouped into Provisional Brigades. The manpower would be provided by posting men of the depots and “third-line” training units of the Territorial Force who were classified “for home service only”. This classification may have been due to their medical rating or that they had not signed the Imperial Service Obligation. Had they not signed, the army could not legally transfer them to a different unit and this raised a question in the House of Commons. On 21 June 1915 it was confirmed that these battalions were not considered to be a new corps for the purposes of the Army Act and were simply for “ease of administration”. It was not the intention to separate home service men belonging to the same unit or in any way affect their military identity as a menber of the TF unit into which they had enlisted. In other words, it was a compromise way around the law that enabled a man to remain associated with his unit of enlistment but also to be usefully employed.
Although in some cases a given provisional battalion was wholly manned by troops from a single regiment, the battalion was not considered to be part of that regiment and did not refer to the regiment in its title.
Men who were serving with the provisional battalions became available for posting or transfer if they were medically reclassified as fit for general service, and from the introduction of the Military Service Act 1916 were also deemed available for overseas service if they met the medical standards required.
By March 1916 there were 40 Provisional Battalions under command of Provisional Brigades and another 19 that were independent and unbrigaded.
The Provisional Brigades also included provisional units of Royal Engineers, Army Service Corps, Royal Field Artillery and Royal Army Medical Corps. They were later called Mixed Brigades.
On 1 January 1917 under Army Council Instruction 2364 of 1916 the provisional infantry battalions were returned to the regimental system but not necessarily to the regiments that had originally formed them. Some of the brigades were disbanded as the various units under their command were transferred elsewhere.
Brigades
1st Provisional Brigade
Headquartered at Deal in Kent. Later named 221st Mixed Brigade
1st to 12th Scottish Provisional Battalions all came under its command
Field Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery
Field Company, Royal Engineers
Signal Section, Royal Engineers
Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Brigade Company, Army Service Corps (in late 1916 was renamed as 833 (Horse Transport) Company)
2nd Provisional Brigade
Initially commanded by Brigadier-General E. H. Rodwell. Later named 222nd Mixed Brigade and based at Margate.
21st, 22nd, 24th to 27th Provisional Battalions
Field Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery
Field Company, Royal Engineers
Signal Section, Royal Engineers
Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Brigade Company, Army Service Corps (in late 1916 was renamed as 834 (Horse Transport) Company)
3rd Provisional Brigade
Headquartered at Holt and later at Sheringham, Norfolk. Later named 223rd Mixed Brigade
43rd, 62nd, 64th and 67th Provisional Battalions
Date unknown: 43rd Bn moved to 9th Provisional Brigade
Yeomanry Squadron
Field Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery
2/1st Highland (Fifeshire) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (joined September 1916)
Field Company, Royal Engineers
Signal Section, Royal Engineers
Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Brigade Company, Army Service Corps
4th Provisional Brigade
Headquartered at North Walhsam and later at Norwich. Later named 224th Mixed Brigade
46th, 47th, 48th and 49th Provisional Battalions
Yeomanry Squadron
Field Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery
Field Company, Royal Engineers
Signal Section, Royal Engineers
Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Brigade Company, Army Service Corps
5th Provisional Brigade
Headquartered at St Olaves, Norfolk
63rd, 65th, 68th and 69th Provisional Battalions
Yeomanry Squadron
Field Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery
Field Company, Royal Engineers
Signal Section, Royal Engineers
Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Brigade Company, Army Service Corps
6th Provisional Brigade
Headquartered at Saxmundham in Suffolk
61st, 66th, 100th, 101st and 102nd Provisional Battalions (all left November 1916, see below)
Field Battery, Royal Field Artillery (left by 27 November 1916 to become “A” Battery, 350 Brigade RFA in 71st Division)
Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery (left by 27 November 1916 and became 71st Divisional Ammunition Column)
Field Company, Royal Engineers (left to join 71st Division by 14 November 1916)
Signal Section, Royal Engineers (left to join 71st Division by 7 November 1916)
Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (left to join 71st Division by 26 November 1916)
Brigade Company, Army Service Corps (left to join 71st Divisional Train by 28 November 1916, renamed as 821 (Horse Transport) Company)
7th Provisional Brigade
Headquartered at Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. Later named 226th Mixed Brigade
29th, 82nd, 106th, 107th and 108th Provisional Battalions
Yeomanry Squadron
Field Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery
Field Company, Royal Engineers
Signal Section, Royal Engineers
Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Brigade Company, Army Service Corps
8th Provisional Brigade
Headquartered at Maldon in Essex
28th, 70th, 81st and 83rd Provisional Battalions (all left November 1916, see below)
Field Battery, Royal Field Artillery (left by 20 November 1916 to become “A” Battery, 352 Brigade RFA in 72nd Division)
Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery (left by 20 November 1916 and became 72nd Divisional Ammunition Column)
Field Company, Royal Engineers (left to join 72nd Division by 20 November 1916)
Signal Section, Royal Engineers (left to join 72nd Division by 20 November 1916)
Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (left to join 72nd Division by 4 December 1916)
Brigade Company, Army Service Corps (left to join 72nd Divisional Train by 4 December 1916, renamed as 825 (Horse Transport) Company)
9th Provisional Brigade
Headquartered at Margate, Kent
41st, 42nd, 43rd and 45th Provisional Battalions (all left November 1916, see below)
Yeomanry Squadron
Field Battery, Royal Field Artillery (left by 4 December 1916 to become “A” Battery, 354 Brigade RFA in 73rd Division)
Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery (left by 20 November 1916 and became 73rd Divisional Ammunition Column)
Field Company, Royal Engineers (left to join 73rd Division by 20 November 1916)
Signal Section, Royal Engineers (left to join 73rd Division by 20 November 1916)
Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (left to join 73rd Division by 23 November 1916)
Brigade Company, Army Service Corps (left to join 73rd Divisional Train by 20 November 1916, renamed as 829 (Horse Transport) Company).
10th Provisional Brigade
Headquartered at Herne Bay in Kent
21st, 84th, 85th and 86th Provisional Battalions
Yeomanry Squadron
Field Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery
Field Company, Royal Engineers
Signal Section, Royal Engineers
Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Brigade Company, Army Service Corps
11th Provisional Brigade
Headquartered at Wimbledon Common
Battalions
1st Scottish Provisional Battalion
Formed by 4th Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders and located at Balnagask, Aberdeen.
2nd Scottish Provisional Battalion
Formed by Gordon Highlanders at Greenock. At Aberfeldy in September 1915, Greenock in April 1916 and Sandwich in October 1916.
3rd Scottish Provisional Battalion
January 1917: became 16th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
4th Scottish Provisional Battalion
Formed by Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) merged into 11th Provisional Battalion by Sept 1916 at Sandwich
5th Scottish Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in May 1915 to be formed from 9th Battalion of Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) and Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. Located at Dudhope Castle at Dundee.
6th Scottish Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from 4th, 5th and 6th Battalions of Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment). At Methil and Leven in April 1916.
7th Scottish Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from 7th and 8th Battalions of Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment). At Kinghorn in August 1915 to April 1916, then merged into 5th Scottish Provisional Battalion.
8th Scottish Provisional Battalion
Formed by Highland Light Infantry at Lanark in June 1915.
9th Scottish Provisional Battalion
January 1917: became 21st Highland Light Infantry. Known to have been at Deal, Sandwich and Ramsgate at various points in its existence.
10th Scottish Provisional Battalion
January 1917: became 15th Battalion, Scottish Rifles (Cameronians). At Bruntsfield School, Edinburgh in February 1916, later at Deal.
11th Scottish Provisional Battalion
Guilford Camp, Sandwich, Kent
January 1917: became 11th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
12th Scottish Provisional Battalion
Formed by 4th and 5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Merged into 10th Scottish Provisional Battalion April 1916.
21st Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from 4th and 7th Battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers. Located at Cambois near Blyth but by July 1916 at Herne Bay in Kent under 10th Provisional Brigade.
January 1917: renamed as the 35th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
22nd Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from 5th and 6th Battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers. January 1917: became 36th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.
24th Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from 4th and 5th Battalions of the Yorkshire Regiment. At Clacton-on-Sea in April 1916. Became 18th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment.
25th Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from 4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment and 5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. At St Osyth, moved to Thanet in April 1917. Became 27th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.
26th Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Battalions of the West Yorkshire Regiment and the 5th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), 4th and 5th Battalions of King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and 4th and 5th Battalions of the York & Lancaster Regiment. At North Somercoates in December 1915.
27th Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from 4th, 6th and 7th Battalions of the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment). At Withernsea in April 1915 and Theddlethorpe in January 1916.
28th Provisional Battalion
Tillingham, Essex
Under command of 8th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 215th Infantry Brigade, 72nd Division
January 1917: became 13th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
29th Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from the TF Battalions of the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment)
Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
Under command of 7th Provisional Brigade
January 1917: became 21st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
41st Provisional Battalion
Westgate, Kent
Under command of 9th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 218th Infantry Brigade, 73rd Division
January 1917: became 12th Battalion, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
42nd Provisional Battalion
Broadstairs, Kent
Under command of 9th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 218th Infantry Brigade, 73rd Division
January 1917: became 14th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
43rd Provisional Battalion
Margate, Kent
Under command of 9th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 218th Infantry Brigade, 73rd Division
January 1917: became 26th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment)
44th Provisional Battalion
Ramsgate, Kent
Under command of 9th Provisional Brigade
45th Provisional Battalion
Margate, Kent
Under command of 9th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 219th Infantry Brigade, 73rd Division
January 1917: became 28th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
46th Provisional Battalion
Created by 4th and 5th Battalions of the Cheshire Regiment
At Walcott and later Happisburgh, Norfolk
Under command of 4th Provisional Brigade
January 1917: became 23rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
47th Provisional Battalion
Created by TF Battalions of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Mundesley, Norfolk
Under command of 4th Provisional Brigade
January 1917: became 23rd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
48th Provisional Battalion
Created by TF Battalions of the Monmouthshire and Herefordshire Regiments
Cromer, Norfolk
Under command of 4th Provisional Brigade
January 1917: became 4th Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
49th Provisional Battalion
Created by TF Battalions of the Southg Lancashire Regiment
Hemsby, Norfolk
Under command of 4th Provisional Brigade
January 1917: became 14th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment
61st Provisional Battalion
At Benacre and later at Wrentham, Suffolk
Under command of 6th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 212th Infantry Brigade, 71st Division
January 1917: became 11th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment
62nd Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in May 1915 to be formed from 4th Battalion of Northamptonshire Regiment and the 1st Cambridgeshire Regiment
Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
Under command of 3rd Provisional Brigade
January 1917: became 9th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
63rd Provisional Battalion
Gorleston, Norfolk
Under command of 3rd Provisional Brigade
January 1917: became 14th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
64th Provisional Battalion
Weybourne, Norfolk
Under command of 3rd Provisional Brigade
Date unknown: moved to 5th Provisional Brigade
65th Provisional Battalion
Yarmouth, Norfolk: also known as 65th Yarmouth Battalion
Under command of 5th Provisional Brigade
66th Provisional Battalion
Dunwich, Suffolk
Under command of 6th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 213th Infantry Brigade, 71st Division
January 1917: became 16th Battalion, Essex Regiment
66th Provisional Battalion
Dunwich, Suffolk
Under command of 6th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 213th Infantry Brigade, 71st Division
January 1917: became 16th Battalion, Essex Regiment
67th Provisional Battalion
Ckey-next-the Sea, Norfolk
Under command of 3rd Provisional Brigade
68th Provisional Battalion
Lowestoft, Suffolk: also known as 68th Yarmouth Battalion
Under command of 5th Provisional Brigade
69th Provisional Battalion
Lowestoft, Suffolk: also known as 69th Yarmouth Battalion
Under command of 5th Provisional Brigade
70th Provisional Battalion
Burnam-on-Crouch, Essex
Under command of 8th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 215th Infantry Brigade, 72nd Division
January 1917: became 13th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
81st Provisional Battalion
Southminster, Essex
Under command of 8th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 215th Infantry Brigade, 72nd Division
January 1917: became 18th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
82nd Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from TF Battalions of the Gloucestershire Regiment
Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
Under command of 7th Provisional Brigade
January 1917: became 17th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
83rd Provisional Battalion
West Mersea, Essex
Under command of 8th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 216th Infantry Brigade, 72nd Division
January 1917: became 10th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
84th Provisional Battalion
Herne Bay, Kent
Under command of 10th Provisional Brigade
83rd Provisional Battalion
West Mersea, Essex
Under command of 8th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 216th Infantry Brigade, 72nd Division
January 1917: became 10th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
85th Provisional Battalion
Herne Bay, Kent
Under command of 10th Provisional Brigade
83rd Provisional Battalion
West Mersea, Essex
Under command of 8th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 216th Infantry Brigade, 72nd Division
January 1917: became 10th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
86th Provisional Battalion
Herne Bay, Kent
Under command of 10th Provisional Brigade
100th Provisional Battalion
Formed from 1st (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment
Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Under command of 6th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 212th Infantry Brigade, 71st Division
January 1917: became 29th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment
101st Provisional Battalion
Southwold, Suffolk
Under command of 6th Provisional Brigade
November 1916: transferred to 212th Infantry Brigade, 71st Division
January 1917: became 30th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment
102nd Provisional Battalion
Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Under command of 6th Provisional Brigade
106th Provisional Battalion
Merged into 108th Provisional Battalion
107th Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from TF Battalions of the Gloucestershire Regiment
Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
Under command of 7th Provisional Brigade
January 1917: became 31st (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment
108th Provisional Battalion
Authorised by the War Office in June 1915 to be formed from TF Battalions of the Gloucestershire Regiment
Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
January 1917: became 32nd (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment