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).
The Western Desert Force - Late 1939
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The Light Armoured Brigade |
The Heavy Armoured Brigade |
7th Hussars |
1st Royal Tank Regiment |
8th Hussars |
6th Royal Tank Regiment |
11th Hussars |
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The Pivot Group |
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3rd RHA |
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'F' Bty, 4th RHA |
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1st Kings Royal Rifle Corp |
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Go to top, Go to Bottom
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4th Armoured Brigade |
7th Armoured Brigade |
7th Hussars |
1st Royal Tank Regiment |
6th Royal Tank Regiment |
8th Hussars |
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Divisional Troops |
Support Group |
11th Hussars |
4th RHA |
3rd RHA |
1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps |
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2nd Rifle Brigade |
Order Of Battle - November 1940 (Compass).
See Campaigns and engagements - 1940 for details of the engagements
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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) |
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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 |
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1st Supply Issue Section RIASC |
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Support Group |
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4th RHA |
RAOC |
1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps |
Divisional Workshops |
2nd Rifle Brigade |
Divisional Ordnance Field Park |
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Divisional Forward Delivery Workshop Section |
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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)) |
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270th Field Security Section |
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* 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.
Order Of Battle - June 1941 (Battleaxe). See Campaigns and engagements - 1941 for details of the engagements.
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4th Armoured Brigade |
Royal Engineers |
4th Royal Tank Regiment |
2nd (Cheshire) Field Squadron |
7th Royal Tank Regiment |
141st Field Park Troop |
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7th Armoured Brigade |
RASC |
2ndRoyal Tank Regiment |
No. 5 Company |
6th Royal Tank Regiment |
No. 58 Company |
No. 65 Company |
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Support Group |
No. 550 Company |
1st RHA |
4th New Zealand Reserve Coy |
4th RHA |
1st Supply Issue Section RIASC |
1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps |
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2nd Rifle Brigade |
RAOC |
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Divisional Workshops |
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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 |
Order Of Battle - November 1941 (Crusader and Sidi Rezegh).
See Campaigns and engagements - 1941 for details of the engagements.
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4th Armoured Brigade |
Royal Engineers |
2nd RHA |
4th Field Squadron |
8th Hussars |
143rd Field Park Troop |
3rd Royal Tank Regiment |
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5th Royal Tank Regiment |
RASC |
2nd Scots Guards |
No. 5 Company |
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No. 30 Company |
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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 |
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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 |
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7th Light Field Hygiene Section |
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Support Group |
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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 |
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One Light Recovery Section |
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Divisional Troops |
One Ordnance Field Park |
102nd RHA |
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King's Dragoon Guards |
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11th Hussars |
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4th South African Armoured Car Regiment |
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1st Light AA Regiment RA |
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Division Signals |
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* Attached from 13 Corps as 1st Armoured Division had not arrived in North Africa at this time.
Order Of Battle - April 1942 (Gazala). See Campaigns and engagements - 1942 for details of the engagements
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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 |
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No. 550 Company |
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7th Motor Brigade |
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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 |
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15th Light Field Ambulance |
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Divisional Troops |
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102nd RHA |
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King's Dragoon Guards |
RAOC |
15th Light AA Regiment RA |
Divisional Workshops |
Division Signals |
Divisional Ordnance Field Park |
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15th Light AA Regiment Workshops |
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Royal Engineers |
In each Brigade - one workshop |
4th Field Squadron |
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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
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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 |
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2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry |
RASC |
1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps |
No. 5 Company [5] |
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No. 10 Company |
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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 |
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1st Rifle Brigade |
RAMC |
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2nd Light Field Ambulance |
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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 |
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53rd Field Regiment RA [4] |
RAOC |
Two Btys, 57th Anti tank Regt. RA [2] |
Divisional Workshops |
11th Field Company RE |
Divisional Ordnance Field Park |
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Light AA Regiment Workshops |
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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) |
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44th Reconnaissance Regiment [3] |
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Division Signals |
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REME [7] |
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7th Armoured Troops Workshop |
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22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop |
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131st Brigade Workshop |
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15th Light AA Regiment Workshop |
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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;
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8th Armoured Brigade |
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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 |
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2nd Bn. French Foreign Legion |
Armoured Car Squadron |
3rd Bn. Infanterie Marine Pacifique |
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2nd Anti-Aircraft Company |
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1st. Fusiliers Marine |
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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
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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 |
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RASC |
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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 |
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No. 507 Company |
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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 |
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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 |
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REME [4] |
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7th Armoured Troops Workshop |
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22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop |
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131st Brigade Workshop |
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15th Light AA Regiment Workshop |
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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.
Order Of Battle - September 1943 (Italy).
See Campaigns and engagements - 1943 for details of the engagements
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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 |
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RASC |
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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 |
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No. 507 Company |
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Divisional Troops |
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11th Hussars |
RAMC |
King's Dragoon Guards [1] |
2nd Light Field Ambulance |
Division Signals |
131st Field Ambulance |
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70th Field Hygiene Section |
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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) |
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69th Medium Regiment RA [2] |
RAOC |
146th Field Regiment RA [2] |
Divisional Ordnance Field Park |
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REME |
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7th Armoured Troops Workshop |
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22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop |
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131st Brigade Workshop |
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15th Light AA Regiment Workshop |
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Notes:
[1] Attached from X Corps
[2] Attached from 2nd AGRA, X Corps
Order Of Battle - June 1944 (Normandy).
See Campaigns and engagements - 1944 for details of the engagements.
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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 |
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RASC |
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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 |
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No. 3 Support Company, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers |
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Divisional Troops |
RAMC |
8th Hussars |
2nd Light Field Ambulance |
11th Hussars [2] |
131st Field Ambulance |
Division Signals |
29th Field Dressing Station |
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70th Field Hygiene Section |
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Royal Artillery |
134th Mobile Dental Unit |
3rd RHA |
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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 |
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131st Brigade Ordnance Field Park |
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REME |
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7th Armoured Troops Workshop [ 3] |
Royal Armoured Corps |
22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop |
No 263 Forward Delivery Squadron |
131st Brigade Workshop |
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15th Light AA Regiment Workshop |
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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
Order Of Battle - January 1945 (Germany).
See Campaigns and engagements - 1945 for details of the engagements
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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 |
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RASC |
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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 |
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Divisional Troops |
RAMC |
8th Hussars |
2nd Light Field Ambulance |
11th Hussars |
131st Field Ambulance |
Division Signals |
29th Field Dressing Station |
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70th Field Hygiene Section |
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Royal Artillery |
134th Mobile Dental Unit |
3rd RHA |
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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 |
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131st Brigade Ordnance Field Park |
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REME |
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812th Armoured Troops Workshop [1] |
Royal Armoured Corps |
22nd Armoured Brigade Workshop |
No 263 Forward Delivery Squadron |
131st Brigade Workshop |
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15th Light AA Regiment Workshop |
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[
1] Formed by re-designation on 7th Armoured Troops Workshop on 28th September 1944
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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