147th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

2nd West Riding Brigade 147th (2nd West Riding) Brigade 147th Infantry Brigade
49th Division insignia, 3rd pattern, Second World War, worn by the brigade from 1943.
Active	1908–19 1920–46 1946–67
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Territorial Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Brigade
Part of	49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
Nickname(s)	The Polar Bears
Engagements	World War I World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Brig.-Gen. Richard Sugden
Insignia
147th brigade First World War battle patches (1917).	Top (l-r)1/4th, 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/7th Duke of Wellington's Regiment, worn on the back of the collar. Lower (l-r) 147th MG company, 147th trench mortar battery.
49th Infantry Division badge pre and early Second World War II (first pattern).	In white metal.
49th Infantry Division patch, second pattern.	Adopted in Icelend.

The 147th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army, part of the Territorial Force (Territorial Army after 1920), that served in both World War I and World War II with the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division.

The brigade was raised in 1908 upon the creation of the Territorial Force as the 2nd West Riding Brigade, part of the West Riding Division. The brigades' composition was of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Volunteer battalions of the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).

The division was mobilised in early August 1914 when the Great War began and, when asked, most of the men volunteered for Imperial Service.

In May 1915 the division was numbered as the 49th (West Riding) Division and the brigade became 147th (1/2nd) West Riding Brigade. The battalions were also redesignated, adopting the '1/' prefix (1/4th DWR) to distinguish them from the 2nd Line battalions being formed at the same time in 186th (2/2nd West Riding) Brigade, part of 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division. Most of these 2nd Line units consisted of the few men who did not originally wish to serve overseas, or were not eligible, and the battalions were to act as a reserve for the 1st Line units when they were sent overseas. However, following the Military Service Act 1916, most of these did end up being sent overseas.

The brigade served with the division mainly in the Great War in the trenches of the Western Front. During the war the brigade was awarded a Victoria Cross belonging to Private Arthur Poulter of the 1/4th Battalion.