101st Logistic Brigade

101 Logistic Brigade
Insignia of the 101 Logistic Brigade
Active	1999-Present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Logistics Support Brigade
Part of	3rd Division (United Kingdom)
Commanders
Notable commanders	Tim Cross

101 Logistic Brigade came into being during 1999 and is subordinate to HQ Force Troops Command. It was formerly known as the Combat Services Support Group (UK) (CSSG(UK)). Under the Army 2020 plan, it has shifted under 3rd Division (United Kingdom).

History

The brigade's first commander was Tim Cross, then a brigadier. 101 Logistic Brigade, which wears the Blackadder tactical recognition flash after the famous television series, was formed in 1999 from what was the Combat Service Support Group (CSSG).

The CSSG was the successor to the Force Maintenance Area (FMA), which was already using the Blackadder flash following its formation in 1990 in the deserts of Saudi Arabia. The then commander of the FMA, Brigadier Martin White, recognised the need for a sense of identity and found inspiration in a letter from his daughter in which she quipped 'I hope you have a cunning plan'. And so it was not long before the transit camps in the port of Al Jubail were named after characters from the programme: Baldrick Lines, Blackadder Camp, Meltchett Lines and Camp Bob.

Then-Brigadier Patrick Cordingley puts it differently. He says that '...the engineers from 39 Engineer Regiment had also constructed a tented camp for another two thousand on some hard standing in the port to house logisticians who were likely to remain there after the rest of us deployed into the desert. This quickly became known, first unofficially and then officially, as Baldrick Lines, after the hapless manservant in the Blackadder television series. (The soldiers adopted Blackadder as something of a mascot. Baldrick's catchphrase, 'I have a cunning plan', became a running joke for the next six months and later on in the campaign the logisticians even adopted a Blackadder arm badge). ) As part of Theatre Troops (until Army 2020) it is able to deploy logistic force elements, including Brigade Headquarters, worldwide, in order to support the UK's military contribution to a national, NATO or a multi-national force.

Current Formation

• 101 Logistic Brigade in Aldershot
  • 156 Supply Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Liverpool (Army Reserve)
  • 5 Force Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Cottesmore
  • Supporting 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade:
    • 3 Close Support Logistic Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Aldershot
    • 10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment in Aldershot
    • 151 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Croydon (Army Reserve - paired with 10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment)
    • 1 Armoured Medical Regiment in Tidworth
    • 6 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Tidworth (paired with 101 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers of 102 Logistic Brigade)
  • Supporting 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade:
    • 4 Close Support Logistic Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Abingdon
    • 27 Theatre Logistic Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Abingdon
    • 154 (Scottish) Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Dunfermline (Army Reserve - paired with 27 Theatre Logistic Regiment)
    • 4 Armoured Medical Regiment in Aldershot
    • 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Tidworth
    • 103 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Crawley (Army Reserve - paired with 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion)
  • Supporting 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade:
    • 1 Close Support Logistic Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Bicester
    • 9 Theatre Logistic Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Hullavington
    • 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Cardiff (Army Reserve - paired with 9 Theatre Logistic Regiment)
    • 5 Armoured Medical Regiment in Tidworth
    • 3 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Tidworth
    • 105 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Bristol (Army Reserve - paired with 3 Armoured Close Support Battalion)

External links

• 101 Logistic Brigade - on British Army official website