1st Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)
| 1st Armoured Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | World War II |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Armoured |
| Engagements |
Battle of Greece Battle of El Alamein |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Willoughby Norrie |
The 1st Armoured Brigade was a regular British Army unit formed on 3 September 1939, by the redesignation of the 1st Light Armoured Brigade.
Second World War History
At the start of the war, the brigade was based in the United Kingdom, initially as part of the 1st Armoured Division and then as part of the newly formed 2nd Armoured Division. In November 1940, it was shipped to Egypt, arriving on 1 January 1941.[1] In March 1941, the brigade was dispatched to Greece as part of General Maitland Wilson's unsuccessful attempt at stopping the German invasion. On 29 April 1941, the brigade was evacuated to Egypt.
The 1st Armoured Brigade served in the Western Desert Campaign with the 7th Armoured Division at the Battle of El Alamein. The brigade was disbanded on 21 November 1942.
Commanders
- Brig. C.W.M. Norrie
- Brig. H.V.S. Charrington
- Brig. R.C. Keller
- Brig. E.C.N. Custance
- Brig. D.A. Stirling
- Brig. A.F. Fisher
- Brig. G.N. Todd
Composition during World War II
- 4th Queen's Own Hussars
- 1st King's Dragoon Guards
- 3rd The King's Own Hussars
- 3rd Royal Tank Regiment
- 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
- 1st Royal Tank Regiment
- 6th Royal Tank Regiment
- 1st Rangers, King's Royal Rifle Corps (later 9th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps)
- 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery - equipped with 36 x 2 pounder Anti-Tank guns Greece and Crete campaigns.
- 11th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
References
See also
- British Armoured formations of the Second World War
External links
- 1 Armoured Brigade at Orders of Battle.com