90th Brigade
90th Brigade was a British Army infantry formation that served with the 30th Division on the Western Front during the First World War.
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Overview
90th Brigade was a wartime infantry formation of the British Army associated with the 30th Division during the First World War. It was created in the rapid expansion of the army that followed Britain's entry into the conflict in August 1914. The first formation belonged to the Fourth New Army, commonly known as K4, and consisted of service battalions connected with Yorkshire regiments: the 13th West Yorkshire Regiment, 9th East Yorkshire Regiment, 11th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and 11th York and Lancaster Regiment. Brigadier-General A. J. A. Wright was appointed to command it in November 1914. The original brigade was affected by the severe shortages that constrained the early Kitchener formations. Uniforms, weapons, equipment, instructors, and training facilities were insufficient, and by spring 1915 the unit remained at an elementary stage of preparation. The War Office consequently converted the K4 battalions into reserve units on 10 April 1915. The original 90th Brigade was redesignated the 2nd Reserve Brigade, while the number 90 was transferred to a new formation drawn from the K5, or locally raised Pals, units. The replacement brigade was formed within the 30th Division and initially comprised four Manchester Regiment battalions recruited in Manchester: the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th Service Battalions, often identified as the Manchester Pals. After training at Heaton Park and Belton Park, the brigade moved to Larkhill for final preparation and crossed to France in November 1915. It concentrated in the Somme area and became part of the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front. A regular battalion, the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, replaced the 19th Manchesters in December 1915 as part of the army's policy of distributing experienced troops among New Army formations. The brigade's first major offensive was the opening of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. Following the advance of other formations of the 30th Division, 90th Brigade attacked toward Montauban. Despite heavy fire and serious casualties, its battalions advanced through Railway Valley, overcame German resistance, entered Montauban, and continued toward Montauban Alley. The brigade also fought during the capture of Trônes Wood and the later operations around the Transloy Ridges. In 1917 it participated in the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line and the battles of Arras, including the First, Second, and Third Battles of the Scarpe. It then took part in the opening phase of the Third Battle of Ypres at Pilckem Ridge. The brigade encountered intense machine-gun and artillery resistance in the wooded terrain around Sanctuary Wood, Chateau Wood, and Glencorse Wood. The operation exposed the continuing effects of earlier losses, and the 30th Division was not employed offensively again during 1917. The British manpower crisis led to further reorganisation in early 1918. The brigade was reduced to three infantry battalions after the disbandment of the 18th Manchesters and the transfer of the 17th Manchesters to another formation. The 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment moved into 90th Brigade from 89th Brigade, while brigade machine-gun companies were consolidated into a divisional Machine Gun Corps battalion. The resulting force comprised the 2nd Bedfordshires, 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, and 16th Manchesters, supported by a trench mortar battery. During the German Spring Offensive, launched on 21 March 1918, the brigade held positions around St Quentin. The 16th Manchesters occupied the forward zone, including Manchester Hill, where Lieutenant-Colonel Wilfrith Elstob directed a determined defence until the position was overwhelmed. Elstob was killed and later received the Victoria Cross posthumously. The brigade suffered catastrophic losses during the offensive but was reconstituted sufficiently to participate in the final battles of the war. Its history illustrates the transformation of Britain's volunteer army, the combat role of the Pals battalions, and the attritional experience of a British infantry brigade on the Western Front.
History
The original 90th Brigade was organised on 19 November 1914 as part of the K4, or Fourth New Army, within the 30th Division. Its four infantry battalions were raised through Yorkshire regimental depots. The brigade trained under conditions of acute shortages, but the K4 formations were not intended to proceed directly to the front in their original form. On 10 April 1915 the War Office converted them into reserve organisations, and 90th Brigade became the 2nd Reserve Brigade. A new 90th Brigade was created on 27 April 1915 when the numbers of the former K4 formations were assigned to K5 divisions. The replacement formation was part of the 30th Division and consisted initially of four Manchester Regiment Pals battalions: the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th Service Battalions. These units were recruited in Manchester and trained first at Heaton Park and then at Belton Park. After final battle training at Larkhill, the brigade embarked for France in November 1915 and joined the British Expeditionary Force in the Somme sector. The brigade was reorganised before its first major action. In December 1915 the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers replaced the 19th Manchesters, reflecting the British Army's practice of mixing experienced regular troops with New Army units. Machine-gun and trench-mortar support was added during the first half of 1916. On 1 July, the opening day of the Somme offensive, the brigade advanced after other elements of the 30th Division had taken their initial objectives. Its troops crossed the exposed approaches near Maricourt and attacked Montauban. German machine-gun fire inflicted severe casualties, but the attack maintained its momentum. The brigade entered Montauban, captured prisoners, and helped secure the surrounding position. Later Somme operations included the fighting for Trônes Wood and the Battle of the Transloy Ridges. During 1917 the brigade served in operations connected with the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Arras battles. At Pilckem Ridge on 31 July, it attacked through difficult wooded ground in the opening stage of the Third Battle of Ypres. Strong German defensive positions, machine-gun fire, artillery, poor communications, and the brigade's accumulated losses limited progress. The 30th Division was subsequently kept out of major offensive employment for the remainder of that year. The brigade underwent major structural changes in February and March 1918. The 18th Manchesters was disbanded, the 17th Manchesters moved to another brigade, and the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment transferred in. Brigade machine-gun companies were absorbed into the divisional Machine Gun Corps organisation. The resulting three-battalion brigade held part of the 30th Division's front near St Quentin when Germany launched its Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918. The forward positions, including Manchester Hill, were attacked after a heavy bombardment and in conditions of mist. The 16th Manchesters and supporting troops resisted until their positions were surrounded and overrun. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilfrith Elstob, who directed the defence, was killed and was later awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. The brigade was effectively destroyed as a coherent fighting formation during the offensive, although it was rebuilt in time for the final Allied operations of 1918. Its wartime record ended with the First World War and it is treated as a defunct historical formation rather than a continuing commercial or military brand.
- 1918
Reorganisation and Spring Offensive
[1]The brigade was reduced to three infantry battalions before suffering devastating losses during the German Spring Offensive around St Quentin.
- 1917
Pilckem Ridge
[1]The brigade fought in the opening attack of the Third Battle of Ypres but was checked by German defensive fire and difficult terrain.
- 1916
Action at Montauban
[1]On the opening day of the Somme, the brigade advanced into Montauban after overcoming heavy resistance and casualties.
- 1915
Original formation converted to reserve
[1]The K4 formations were converted into reserve units, and the original 90th Brigade was redesignated the 2nd Reserve Brigade.
- 1915
Manchester Pals brigade created
[1]The number 90 was assigned to a new K5 brigade composed initially of four Manchester Regiment Pals battalions.
- 1915
Deployment to France
[1]The reconstituted brigade crossed to France in November and joined the British Expeditionary Force in the Somme area.
- 1914
Original brigade formed
[1]The first 90th Brigade was organised within the K4 component of the 30th Division, using four Yorkshire-related service battalions.
Products and positioning
A military formation rather than a commercial brand. Its historical identity was based on British Army service, association with the 30th Division, and the Manchester Pals battalions that formed its principal wartime infantry component.
Marketing campaigns
- 1918German Spring Offensive
Western Front
The brigade defended positions near St Quentin when the German offensive began on 21 March.
Outcome. The formation suffered catastrophic losses and was subsequently reconstituted for the final battles of the war.
- 1917Battle of Arras
Western Front
The brigade took part in the First, Second, and Third Battles of the Scarpe during the Arras offensive.
Outcome. The operations contributed to the wider British advance but did not produce a decisive strategic breakthrough.
- 1917Third Battle of Ypres
Western Front
At Pilckem Ridge, the brigade attacked through heavily defended woodland and encountered intense machine-gun and artillery fire.
Outcome. The brigade failed to reach all of its planned objectives and was not used offensively again that year.
- 1916Battle of the Somme
Western Front
The brigade participated in the opening Somme attack and later operations including the capture of Trônes Wood and fighting on the Transloy Ridges.
Outcome. It captured Montauban and secured its assigned objectives, but sustained heavy casualties.
Brand decisions
1918
Three-battalion reorganisationStrategyBackground
The British Expeditionary Force faced a manpower shortage after prolonged fighting.
Action taken
The 18th Manchesters was disbanded, the 17th Manchesters transferred out, and the 2nd Bedfordshires transferred into the brigade.
Aftermath
The brigade entered the German Spring Offensive with a reduced establishment and was heavily depleted during the resulting defensive battle.
1915
Conversion of the original brigade into a reserve formationStrategyBackground
The K4 units lacked the equipment, instructors, and training needed for immediate overseas service.
Action taken
The War Office converted the original K4 battalions into reserve units and redesignated the brigade as the 2nd Reserve Brigade.
Aftermath
The number 90 was reassigned to a new Manchester Pals formation in the 30th Division.
Sources1 sources
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