1st Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)

Last updated
1st Light Armoured Brigade
1st Armoured Brigade
1st Armoured Brigade Group
ActiveUntil November 1942
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchFlag of the British Army.svg  British Army
TypeArmoured formation
Role Armoured warfare
Size Brigade
Part of BEF
Force HQ Greece
Eighth Army
Engagements Battle of France
Battle of Mount Olympus
Second Battle of El Alamein
Commanders
Brigadier Willoughby Norrie, 1st Baron Norrie
(Acting) Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Keller

The 1st Armoured Brigade, raised as the 1st Light Armoured, later the 1st Armoured Brigade Group, was an armoured formation of the British Army.

Contents

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 disbanded on 21 November 1942.

Order of Battle

The Order of battle of the brigade during the war was: [2] (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: [2]

See also

Notes

  1. "1 Armoured Brigade".
  2. 1 2 Joslen, pp.144–5.
  3. Frederick, Volume I, p. 243.

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References