159th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps
| 159th 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 |
159th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (159 RAC) was a short-lived armoured regiment of the British Army's Royal Armoured Corps serving in India during World War II.
Origin
159 RAC was formed on 15 July 1942 by the conversion to the armoured role of 10th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment.[1] In common with other infantry battalions transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps, the personnel of 159 RAC would have continued to wear their Glosters cap badge on the black beret of the RAC.[2]
Service
159 RAC embarked for passage from the United Kingdom to India on 26 October 1942, arriving on 20 December and moving to Nira Camp near 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 10th Glosters and coming under command of 72 Indian Infantry Brigade.[3]
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.