218th Brigade (United Kingdom)

218th Brigade  (218 Bde) was a Home Service formation of the British Army during World War I and World War II.

World War I
218 Bde was raised in late 1916 as part of 73rd Division, which had the dual role of training men for overseas drafts and providing forces for home defence. The brigade had previously been the 9th Provisional Brigade, without any divisional affiliation.

Composition
The following infantry battalions served in 218 Bde during World War I:
 * 41st Provisional Battalion, became 12th Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) on 1 January 1917; disbanded 29 March 1918.
 * 42nd Provisional Battalion, became 14th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on 1 January 1917; disbanded December 1917.
 * 44th Provisional Battalion, became 26th Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) on 1 January 1917; disbanded 29 March 1918.
 * 267th Graduated Battalion, became 52nd (Graduated) Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, moved to 207th (2nd East Midland) Brigade in January 1918.

On 21 December 1917 orders were issued to break up 73rd Division. Disbandment began in January 1918 and its last elements disappeared on 8 April 1918.

World War II
A new brigade under the title of 218th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) was formed for service in the United Kingdom on 21 October 1940 under the Yorkshire Area headquarters. At first it was primarily composed of infantry battalions from Yorkshire regiments.

Composition
The following units served in 218 Bde:
 * 8th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (until 6 November 1941)
 * 11th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment (until 23 September 1942)
 * 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment (until 12 September 1942)
 * 14th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (until 29 November 1940)
 * 6th (Pioneer) Battalion King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) (29 November 1940–23 May 1941)
 * 7th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry (29 November 1941–13 October 1942)
 * 11th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (11 December 1941–31 January 1942)
 * 2nd Battalion Liverpool Scottish (13 September–9 November 1942, when converted to 89th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery
 * 19th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (27 September–30 October 1942)

Commanders
The following officers commanded 218 Bde:
 * Brig D.C. Butterworth
 * Brig T.F. Given (from 30 July 1941)

Service
218 Bde transferred to Yorkshire County Division when that formation was created on 19 March 1941. The Divisional headquarters became East Riding Coastal Area on 1 December 1941. 218 Bde later transferred to Durham and North Riding Coastal Area, then to Northumbrian District before disbanding on 10 November 1942.