25th Army Tank Brigade

The 25th Army Tank Brigade was a British Army formation active during World War II. It served with the British First Army and the British Eighth Army during the battles in North Africa and Italy.

History

Churchill tanks of 25th Tank Brigade going forward to support 1st Canadian Division, Italy, 17 May 1944. This was the first deployment of Churchills in Italy

The unit was formed on 3 September 1939 as a 2nd Line Territorial Army Tank Brigade, but had very few tanks. On 28 May 1940 it was converted to the 2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade in recognition of this lack of tanks, but reconverted back on 10 December 1940 and then to the 25th Tank Brigade on 1 June 1942.^[1]

It fought in Tunisia under the British First Army and in the Italy as part of the British Eighth Army.

Commanding officers

• Brig. T.D. Murray
• Brig. R.H. Maxwell
• Lieut.Col. D. Dawnay (acting)
• Brig. J.N. Tetley
• Brig. E.W.H. Clarke

Structure (1943—44)

• North Irish Horse
• 142nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps
• 51st (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment

See also

• British Army Order of Battle - September 1939

External links

• 25 Army Tank Brigade at Orders of Battle.com

Notes

References

• Hughes, David; Ryan, David A.; Rothwell, Steve (2002). British Tank and Armoured Brigades, 79th Armoured Division, Armoured Car Regiments, African, Malayan and other Colonial Forces. The British Armies in World War Two: An Organizational History Four. George F. Nafziger. ISBN 1-58545-085-5. 
• Joslen, H. F. (1990). Orders of Battle, Second World War 1939-1945 (reprint ed.). London: London Stamp Exchange. ISBN 0-948130-03-2.