DIVISIONAL ORGANISATION

 

 

During its history the 7th Armoured Division had several different organisation structures. Most of them are as follows, in date order, although obviously some units may have fought with the division in between the dates show.

The key orders of battle shown are; Late 1939, June 1940, November 1940, May-June 1941, (Battleaxe), November 1941 (Crusader), April 1942 (Gazala), October 1942 (El Alamein), February 1943 (Tunisia),  September 1943 (Italy), June 1944 (Normandy) and January 1945 (Germany).

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The Western Desert Force - Late 1939

The Light Armoured Brigade

The Heavy Armoured Brigade

7th Hussars

1st Royal Tank Regiment

8th Hussars

6th Royal Tank Regiment

11th Hussars

 

 

 

The Pivot Group

 

3rd RHA

 

'F' Bty, 4th RHA

 

1st Kings Royal Rifle Corp

 

 

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Order Of Battle - June 1940

4th Armoured Brigade

7th Armoured Brigade

7th Hussars

1st Royal Tank Regiment

6th Royal Tank Regiment

8th Hussars

 

 

Divisional Troops

Support Group

11th Hussars

4th RHA

3rd RHA 

1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps

 

2nd Rifle Brigade

 

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Order Of Battle - November 1940 (Compass). See Campaigns and engagements - 1940 for details of the engagements

4th Armoured Brigade

Royal Engineers

7th Hussars

2nd (Cheshire) Field Squadron

2nd Royal Tank Regiment 

(less 'B' squadron with 3rd Hussars, 7th Armoured Brigade)

141st Field Park Troop

6th Royal Tank Regiment*

RAMC

'B' Squadron, 3rd Hussars (with 2nd RTR)

2/3rd Cavalry Field Ambulance

One Battery, 3rd RHA

3/3rd Cavalry Field Ambulance

   

7th Armoured Brigade

RASC

3rd Hussars 

(less 'B' squadron with 2nd RTR, 4th Armoured Brigade)

No. 5 Company

8th Hussars

No. 58 Company

1st Royal Tank Regiment

No. 65 Company

One Battery, 3rd RHA

No. 550 Company

'B' Squadron, 2nd RTR (with 3rd Hussars)

4th New Zealand Reserve Coy

 

1st Supply Issue Section RIASC

Support Group

 

4th RHA

RAOC

1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Divisional Workshops

2nd Rifle Brigade

Divisional Ordnance Field Park

 

Divisional Forward Delivery Workshop Section

Divisional Troops

1st Light Repair Section

3rd RHA (less two Batteries)

2nd Light Repair Section

106th RHA

3rd Light Repair Section

11th Hussars (including No. 2 Armoured Car Company, Royal Air Force, attached as 'D' Squadron (RAF))

 

Division Signals

 

270th Field Security Section

 

* 6th RTR was detached from the Division for Operation Compass supporting 'Selby Force' (drawn from the British garrison of Mersa Matruh) and 7th RTR on the attacks on Maktila, near Sidi Barrani.

 

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Order Of Battle - June 1941 (Battleaxe). See Campaigns and engagements - 1941 for details of the engagements.

4th Armoured Brigade

Royal Engineers

4th Royal Tank Regiment

2nd (Cheshire) Field Squadron

7th Royal Tank Regiment

141st Field Park Troop

 

 

7th Armoured Brigade

RASC

2ndRoyal Tank Regiment

No. 5 Company

6th Royal Tank Regiment

No. 58 Company

 

No. 65 Company

Support Group

No. 550 Company

1st RHA

4th New Zealand Reserve Coy

4th RHA

1st Supply Issue Section RIASC

1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps

 

2nd Rifle Brigade

RAOC

 

Divisional Workshops

Divisional Troops

Divisional Ordnance Field Park

3rd RHA

Divisional Forward Delivery Workshop Section

106th RHA

1st Light Repair Section

11th Hussars

2nd Light Repair Section

Division Signals

3rd Light Repair Section

 

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Order Of Battle - November 1941 (Crusader and Sidi Rezegh). See Campaigns and engagements - 1941 for details of the engagements.

4th Armoured Brigade

Royal Engineers

2nd RHA

4th Field Squadron

8th Hussars

143rd Field Park Troop

3rd Royal Tank Regiment

 

5th Royal Tank Regiment

RASC

2nd Scots Guards

No. 5 Company

 

No. 30 Company

7th Armoured Brigade

No. 58 Company

7th Hussars

No. 65 Company

2nd Royal Tank Regiment

No. 67 Company

6th Royal Tank Regiment

No. 550 Company

 

 

22nd Armoured Brigade *

RAMC

2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars

2nd Light Field Ambulance

3rd County of London Yeomanry

13th Light Field Ambulance

4th County of London Yeomanry

15th Light Field Ambulance

 

7th Light Field Hygiene Section

Support Group

 

3rd RHA

RAOC

4th RHA

Divisional Workshops

1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Divisional Ordnance Field Park

2nd Rifle Brigade

Light AA Regiment Workshops

60th Field Regiment RA

In each Brigade and Support Group

203 Bty, 51st Field Regiment RA

One Light Repair Section

 

One Light Recovery Section

Divisional Troops

One Ordnance Field Park

102nd RHA

 

King's Dragoon Guards

 

11th Hussars

 

4th South African Armoured Car Regiment

 

1st Light AA Regiment RA

 

Division Signals

 

* Attached from 13 Corps as 1st Armoured Division had not arrived in North Africa at this time.

 

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 Order Of Battle - April 1942 (Gazala). See Campaigns and engagements - 1942 for details of the engagements

4th Armoured Brigade

RASC

1st RHA

No. 5 Company

8th Hussars

No. 30 Company

3rd Royal Tank Regiment

No. 58 Company

5th Royal Tank Regiment

No. 67 Company

1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps

No. 432 Company

 

No. 550 Company

7th Motor Brigade

 

4th RHA

RAMC

2nd Rifle Brigade

2nd Light Field Ambulance

9th Rifle Brigade

7th Light Field Ambulance

9th Kings Royal Rifle Corps

14th Light Field Ambulance

 

15th Light Field Ambulance

Divisional Troops

 

102nd RHA

 

King's Dragoon Guards

RAOC

15th Light AA Regiment RA

Divisional Workshops

Division Signals

Divisional Ordnance Field Park

 

15th Light AA Regiment Workshops

Royal Engineers

In each Brigade - one workshop

4th Field Squadron

 

143rd Field Park Troop

 

 

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Order Of Battle - October 1942 (El Alamein). See Campaigns and engagements - 1942 for details of the engagements

4th Light Armoured Brigade [1]

Royal Engineers

3rd RHA

4th Field Squadron

One Squadron - 8th Hussars

21st Field Squadron

4th Hussars (forming composite regiment with 8th Hussars as 4th/8th Hussars)

143rd Field Park Squadron

Royal Scots Greys

 

2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry

RASC

1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps

No. 5 Company [5]

 

No. 10 Company

22nd Armoured Brigade [8]

No. 58 Company

1st Royal Tank Regiment

No. 67 Company

5th Royal Tank Regiment

No. 287 Company

4th County of London Yeomanry

No. 432 Company

4th Field Regiment RA [2]

No. 507 Company

97th Field Regiment RA 

 

1st Rifle Brigade

RAMC

 

2nd Light Field Ambulance

131st (Queens) Brigade

7th Light Field Ambulance

1/5th Queens Royal Regiment

14th Light Field Ambulance [5]

1/6th Queens Royal Regiment

15th Light Field Ambulance

1/7th Queens Royal Regiment

 

53rd Field Regiment RA [4]

RAOC

Two Btys, 57th Anti tank Regt. RA [2]

Divisional Workshops

11th Field Company RE

Divisional Ordnance Field Park

 

Light AA Regiment Workshops

Divisional Troops

In each Brigade

11th Hussars [6]

One Workshop

15th Light AA Regiment RA

One Ordnance Field Park

65th Anti tank Regt. RA (Norfolk Yeomanry)

 

44th Reconnaissance Regiment [3]

 

Division Signals

 

REME [7]

 

7th Armoured Troops Workshop

 

22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop

 

131st Brigade Workshop

 

15th Light AA Regiment Workshop

 

Notes:

[1] As Independent Armoured Brigade under Divisional Command.

[2] Attached from 44th Infantry Division.

[3] Attached from 44th Infantry Division, for Mine clearance.

[4] Attached from HQ Middle East Forces.

[5] Attached to 4th Light Armoured Brigade.

[6] Attached to 4th Light Armoured Brigade, until 1st November 1942.

[7] Formed when REME was created on 1st October 1942.

[8] Temporarily replaced by 8th Armoured Brigade (as a XXX Corps unit) from November 1942 to 18th February 1943, while refitting. 8th Armoured Brigade. See below;

 

 

8th Armoured Brigade

   

3rd Royal Tank Regiment

1st Bn The Buffs

Nottinghamshire (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry

5th RHA

The Staffordshire Yeomanry

146th Field Regiment RA

 

Order Of Battle - 1st Fighting Free French Brigade October 1942 (Attached for the opening stages of El Alamein)

1st Fighting Free French Brigade HQ

 

Brigade Signals

1st Fighting French Flying Column

2nd Bn. French Foreign Legion

Armoured Car Squadron

3rd Bn. Infanterie Marine Pacifique

Anti-Tank Troop

2nd Anti-Aircraft Company

1st. Fighting French Tank Company

1st. Fusiliers Marine

1st Moroccan Spahis

2nd Fighting French Anti-tank Company

1st Fighting French Engineer Company Column

22nd North African Anti-tank Company

Anti-Aircraft Troop, 1st Bn. French Foreign Legion

 

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Order Of Battle - Tunisia February to May 1943 (Race to Tunis). See Campaigns and engagements - 1943 for details of the engagements

4th Light Armoured Brigade [1]

Royal Engineers

3rd RHA

4th Field Squadron

Royal Dragoons

21st Field Squadron

Kings Dragoon Guards

143rd Field Park Squadron

2nd Kings Royal Rifle Corps

 

  

RASC

22nd Armoured Brigade

No. 5 Company [3]

1st Royal Tank Regiment

No. 10 Company

5th Royal Tank Regiment

No. 58 Company

4th County of London Yeomanry

No. 67 Company

5th Field Regiment RHA [2]

No. 287 Company

1st Rifle Brigade

No. 432 Company

   

No. 507 Company

131st (Queens) Brigade

RAMC

1/5th Queens Royal Regiment

2nd Light Field Ambulance

1/6th Queens Royal Regiment

7th Light Field Ambulance

1/7th Queens Royal Regiment

14th Light Field Ambulance [3]

11th Field Company RE

15th Light Field Ambulance

  

 

Divisional Troops

RAOC

11th Hussars

Divisional Workshops

15th Light AA Regiment RA

Divisional Ordnance Field Park

146th Field Regiment RA

Light AA Regiment Workshops

65th Anti tank Regt. RA (Norfolk Yeomanry)

In each Brigade

Division Signals

One Workshop

  

One Ordnance Field Park

REME [4]

 

7th Armoured Troops Workshop

 

22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop

 

131st Brigade Workshop

 

15th Light AA Regiment Workshop

 

Notes:

[1] As Independent Armoured Brigade under Divisional Command.

[2] Divisional Troops attached to support 22nd Armoured Brigade.

[3] Attached to 4th Light Armoured Brigade.

[4] Formed when REME was created on 1st October 1942.

 

 

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Order Of Battle - September 1943 (Italy). See Campaigns and engagements - 1943 for details of the engagements

22nd Armoured Brigade

Royal Engineers

1st Royal Tank Regiment

4th Field Squadron

5th Royal Tank Regiment

621st Field Squadron

4th County of London Yeomanry

143rd Field Park Squadron

1st Rifle Brigade

 

 

RASC

131st (Queens) Brigade

No. 5 Company

1/5th Queens Royal Regiment

No. 58 Company

1/6th Queens Royal Regiment

No. 67 Company

1/7th Queens Royal Regiment

No. 287 Company

'C' Company, 1st Cheshire Regt. [1]

No. 432 Company

 

No. 507 Company

Divisional Troops

 

11th Hussars

RAMC

King's Dragoon Guards [1]

2nd Light Field Ambulance

Division Signals

131st Field Ambulance

 

70th Field Hygiene Section

Royal Artillery

21st Mobile Casualty Clearing Station

3rd RHA

3rd Field Surgical Team

5th RHA

7th Field Transfusion Unit

15th Light AA Regiment RA

132nd Mobile Dental Unit

24th Field Regiment RA [2]

135th Mobile Dental Unit

65th Anti tank Regt. RA (Norfolk Yeomanry)

 

69th Medium Regiment RA [2]

RAOC

146th Field Regiment RA [2]

Divisional Ordnance Field Park

 

 

REME

 

7th Armoured Troops Workshop

 

22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop

 

131st Brigade Workshop

 

15th Light AA Regiment Workshop

 

Notes:

[1] Attached from X Corps

[2] Attached from 2nd AGRA, X Corps

 

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Order Of Battle - June 1944 (Normandy). See Campaigns and engagements - 1944 for details of the engagements.

22nd Armoured Brigade

Royal Engineers

1st Royal Tank Regiment

4th Field Squadron

5th Royal Tank Regiment

621st Field Squadron

4th County of London Yeomanry [1]

143rd Field Park Squadron

1st Rifle Brigade

 

 

RASC

131st (Queens) Brigade

No. 58 Company

1/5th Queens Royal Regiment

No. 67 Company

1/6th Queens Royal Regiment

No. 507 Company

1/7th Queens Royal Regiment

 

No. 3 Support Company, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

 

 

 

Divisional Troops

RAMC

8th Hussars

2nd Light Field Ambulance

11th Hussars [2]

131st Field Ambulance

Division Signals

29th Field Dressing Station

 

70th Field Hygiene Section

Royal Artillery

134th Mobile Dental Unit

3rd RHA

 

5th RHA

RAOC

15th Light AA Regiment RA

Divisional Ordnance Field Park

65th Anti tank Regt. RA (Norfolk Yeomanry)

22nd Armoured Brigade Ordnance Field Park

 

131st Brigade Ordnance Field Park

REME

 

7th Armoured Troops Workshop [3]

Royal Armoured Corps

22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop

No 263 Forward Delivery Squadron

131st Brigade Workshop

 

15th Light AA Regiment Workshop

 

Notes:

[1]  Replaced by 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, August 1944 and merged with 3rd CLY to form 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry

[2]  Part of VIII Corps until August 1944, when they permanently rejoined the Division.

[3]  Became 812th Armoured Troops Workshop after re-designation on 7th Armoured Troops Workshop on 28th September 1944, but still often referred to my former name until end of 1944.

 

Click here for a list of the locations of the above units in the Spring of 1944

 

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Order Of Battle - January 1945 (Germany). See Campaigns and engagements - 1945 for details of the engagements

22nd Armoured Brigade

Royal Engineers

1st Royal Tank Regiment

4th Field Squadron

5th Royal Tank Regiment

621st Field Squadron

5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

143rd Field Park Squadron

1st Rifle Brigade

 

 

RASC

131st Infantry Brigade

No. 58 Company

1/5th Queens Royal Regiment

No. 67 Company

2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment

No. 133 Company

9th Bn Durham Light Infantry

No. 507 Company

No. 3 Support Company, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

 

 

 

Divisional Troops

RAMC

8th Hussars

2nd Light Field Ambulance

11th Hussars

131st Field Ambulance

Division Signals

29th Field Dressing Station

 

70th Field Hygiene Section

Royal Artillery

134th Mobile Dental Unit

3rd RHA

 

5th RHA

RAOC

15th Light AA Regiment RA

Divisional Ordnance Field Park

65th Anti tank Regt. RA (Norfolk Yeomanry)

22nd Armoured Brigade Ordnance Field Park

 

131st Brigade Ordnance Field Park

REME

 

812th Armoured Troops Workshop [1]

Royal Armoured Corps

22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop

No 263 Forward Delivery Squadron

131st Brigade Workshop

 

15th Light AA Regiment Workshop

 

[1]  Formed by re-designation on 7th Armoured Troops Workshop on 28th September 1944

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Listed Order of Battle are: Late 1939, June 1940, November 1940, May-June 1941, (Battleaxe), November 1941 (Crusader), April 1942 (Gazala), October 1942 (El Alamein), February 1943 (Tunisia),  September 1943 (Italy), June 1944 (Normandy) and January 1945 (Germany).

 

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