1st Light Armoured Brigade
1st Armoured Brigade
1st Armoured Brigade Group
ActiveUntil November 1942
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeArmoured formation
RoleArmoured warfare
SizeBrigade
Part ofBEF
Force HQ Greece
Eighth Army
EngagementsBattle of France
Battle of Mount Olympus
Second Battle of El Alamein
Commanders
BrigadierWilloughby Norrie, 1st Baron Norrie
(Acting) Lieutenant-ColonelReginald Keller

The 1st Armoured Brigade, raised as the 1st Light Armoured, on 14 April 1940 its designation changed to 1st Armoured Brigade Group, an armoured formation of the British Army.

History

At the start of World War II, 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 used for tank delivery from August to October 1942 before being disbanded on 21 November 1942.[2]

Order of Battle

The Order of battle of the brigade during the war was:[3] (day/month/year), units in order of precedence.

Armoured Brigade Establishment

Greece Deployment Group (The following units were attached when the brigade was engaged in Greece between 26/02/41–1/05/41)

Armoured Brigade Group (March–June 1942)

Commanding Officers

Commanding officers of the brigade included:[3]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "1 Armoured Brigade".
  2. ↑ Taylor, Dick (2022). Armoured Warfare in the British Army 1939-1945. Pen & Sword Military. p. 282. ISBN 9781399081030.
  3. 1 2 Joslen, pp.144–5.
  4. ↑ Frederick, Volume I, p. 243.

References

  • Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
  • J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660-1978, Volume I, Wakefield, UK: Microform Academic Publishers, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.


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