List of Component Units of the British 4th Armoured Brigade, World War II

This is an order of battle of the British 4th Armoured Brigade during the Second World War. Many units either served with or were briefly attached to the brigade.[1] The order of battle is given for a number of battles the brigade fought in and reflect the changes to the composition of Armoured Brigades as dictated by the War Office, not all of which were, or could be, applied to units in the field.[2]

Order of battle

Egypt September 1939

Titled Heavy Armoured Brigade (Egypt) an Infantry Tank brigade, part of the Armoured Division (Egypt).

Sidi Barrani December 1940
Main article: Battle of Sidi Barrani

Equipped with Cruiser tanks, part of 7th Armoured Division.

Tobruk December 1941
Main article: Operation Crusader

With 7th Armoured Division.

Defence of Alamein 20 July 1942
Main article: First Battle of El Alamein

Organised as an Armoured Brigade Group part of 7th Armoured Division.

Alamein October–November 1942
Main article: Second Battle of El Alamein

A brigade group attached to 7th Armoured Division, then X Corps.

  • 4th/8th Hussars
  • 11th Hussars
  • Royal Scots Greys
  • 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry
  • 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps
  • 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
  • Troop from 42nd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery R.A.
  • Troop from 21st Field Squadron R.E.
  • 5th and 56th Companies R.A.S.C.
  • 14th Light Field Ambulance R.A.M.C.

Mareth Line 16–23 March 1943
Main article: Battle of the Mareth Line

A brigade group attached to X Corps.

  • 1st The Royal Dragoons
  • 1st King's Dragoon Guards
  • 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps
  • 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
  • Troop from 42nd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
  • Troop from 4th Field Squadron R.E.
  • 5th and 56th Companies R.A.S.C.
  • 14th Light Field Ambulance R.A.M.C.

Caen 4–8 July 1944
Main article: Battle for Caen

A brigade group attached to VIII Corps.

The Rhineland 8 February to 1 April 1945
Main article: Operation Veritable
Main article: Operation Plunder

Organised as a brigade group attached at various times to VIII Corps, 11th Armoured Division and XII Corps.

  • Royal Scots Greys
  • 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)
  • 44th Royal Tank Regiment[lower-alpha 3]
  • 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps

Other units also served with the brigade

  • 50th Royal Tank Regiment
  • 1st East Riding Yeomanry
  • 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
  • 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
  • 78th Field Regiment, R.A.

See also

Notes
  1. 4th/8th Hussars was a temporary unit formed in July 1942 by the amalgamation of the 4th and 8th Hussars due to losses in action. The regiments resumed their individual identities in November 1942.[3]
  2. 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade was formed by the redesignation of 1st Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles in January 1941.[4][5]
  3. Between 9–24 March this unit was equipped with specialist armour and trained by 79th Armoured Division in its use. The unit reverted to a normal armoured regiment.

References
  1. Joslen 1990, pp. 153–155
  2. Joslen pp.137-142
  3. Bellis 1994, p. 13
  4. Bellis 1994, pp. 107–108
  5. Westlake 1986, p. 222

Bibliography
  • Bellis, Malcolm A. (1994). Regiments of the British Army 1939–1945 (Armour & Infantry). London: Military Press International. ISBN 0-85420-999-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Joslen, Lt-Col H.F. (1990) [1st. Pub. HMSO:1960]. Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939–1945. London: London Stamp Exchange. ISBN 0-948130-03-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Westlake, Ray (1986). The Territorial Battalions, A Pictorial History, 1859–1985. Tunbridge Wells: Spellmount.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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