5th Guards Armoured Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 5th Guards Armoured Brigade was a Second World War British Army
formation, a component unit of the Guards Armoured Division
.
on 15 September 1941. It was stationed in the United Kingdom
until 30 June 1944 when it arrived in Normandy
as part of the Guards Armoured Division
. The brigade served throughout the North West Europe Campaign
. On 12 June 1945 it was converted to the 5th Guards Brigade.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
formation, a component unit of the Guards Armoured Division
British Guards Armoured Division
The Guards Armoured Division was a Second World War British Army formation.The Guards Armoured Division was formed on 17 June 1941. The division remained in the United Kingdom, training, until 26 June 1944, when it landed in Normandy as part of VIII Corps...
.
History
This brigade was converted from the 20th Infantry Brigade (Guards)British 20th Independent Infantry Brigade (Guards)
The British 20th Independent Infantry Brigade was a British Army brigade in World War II.-History:It served with the 1st Armoured Division during the Battle of France in 1940, briefly defending Boulogne in May 1940 before being successfully evacuated....
on 15 September 1941. It was stationed in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
until 30 June 1944 when it arrived in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
as part of the Guards Armoured Division
British Guards Armoured Division
The Guards Armoured Division was a Second World War British Army formation.The Guards Armoured Division was formed on 17 June 1941. The division remained in the United Kingdom, training, until 26 June 1944, when it landed in Normandy as part of VIII Corps...
. The brigade served throughout the North West Europe Campaign
North West Europe Campaign
The North West Europe Campaign was the name given by the British and Commonwealth armed forces to the two land campaigns they fought on the Western Front during World War II....
. On 12 June 1945 it was converted to the 5th Guards Brigade.
Commanders
- Brig.W.A.F.L. Fox-Pitt
- Lieut.Col. R. Myddleton
- Brig. C.M. Dillwyn-Venables-Llewelyn
- Brig. N.W. Gwatkin
Component Units
- 1st Coldstream GuardsColdstream GuardsHer Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
Armoured - 2nd Grenadier GuardsGrenadier GuardsThe Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
Armoured - 2nd Irish GuardsIrish GuardsThe Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
Armoured - 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards