158th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps
| 158th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–1943 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Type | Armoured Regiment |
| Part of | Royal Armoured Corps |
| Disbanded | 1 April 1943 |
158th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (South Wales Borderers) (158 RAC) was a short-lived armoured regiment of the British Army's Royal Armoured Corps serving in India during World War II.
Origin
158 RAC was formed on 15 July 1942 by the conversion to the armoured role of 6th Battalion South Wales Borderers.[1] In common with other infantry battalions transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps, the personnel of 158 RAC would have continued to wear their South Wales Borderers cap badge on the black beret of the RAC.[2] Personnel unsuited to fighting i tanks were weeded out by psychiatrists.[3]
Service
158 RAC embarked for passage from the United Kingdom to India on 26 October 1942, arriving on 20 December and moving to Poona. There it came under command of 255 Indian Armoured Brigade. However, there was a change of policy, and on 1 April 1943 the regiment was re-converted to infantry, reverting to its previous title of 6SWB and coming under command of 72 Indian Infantry Brigade.[4]
Notes
References
- George Forty, British Army Handbook 1939-1945, Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 1998, ISBN 0-7509-1403-3.
- Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, Volume I, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2003, ISBN 1843424746.
External links
South Wales Borderers Museum Fact Sheet