X Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery

X Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery was a brigade of the Royal Horse Artillery which existed in the early part of the 20th Century. It served as a training formation (as X (Reserve) Brigade, RHA) in the First World War before being dissolved at the end of the war.

Formation
Royal Horse Artillery brigades did not exist as an organizational or operational grouping of batteries until 1 July 1859 when the Horse Brigade, Royal Artillery was formed. The brigade system was extend to five (later six) brigades when the horse artillery of the Honourable East India Company had been transferred to the British Army in 1861. These brigades were reduced to five in 1871, then to three (of 10 batteries each) in 1877 and to two (of 13 batteries each) in 1882. The brigade system was finally abolished in 1889.

As battery designations were tied to the brigade that the battery was assigned to, batteries were redesignated in a bewildering sequence as they were transferred between brigades. For example, E Battery of C Brigade (E/C Bty) might become N Battery of A Brigade (N/A Bty) upon transfer. Henceforth, batteries were designated in a single alphabetical sequence in order of seniority from date of formation.

The brigade system was revived in 1901. Each brigade now commanded just two batteries and a small staff (a Lieutenant-Colonel in command, an adjutant and a brigade sergeant major). Initially, batteries were not assigned to brigades in any particular order, but in 1906, at the insistence of Edward VII, brigades were redesignated so that batteries were roughly in order of seniority (hence I Brigade commanded A Battery and B Battery).

X Brigade, RHA was formed on 1 March 1901 as XII Brigade-Division, RHA with P Battery and R Battery. In 1903 it was redesignated as XII Brigade, RHA and was stationed at Mhow, India. On 1 October 1906, it was redesignated as X Brigade, RHA.

By the time World War I broke out, the brigade was at Woolwich attached to 4th Cavalry Brigade. On mobilization, the brigade took on a training role and was redesignated X (Reserve) Brigade, RHA. It remained at Woolwich throughout the war. On 18 October 1916, AA Battery was reformed and joined the brigade.

At the end of the war, the brigade was broken up. P and R Batteries were transferred to IV Brigade, AA Battery transferred to VIII Brigade and the brigade ceased to exist by October 1919.