British 22nd Armoured Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 22nd Armoured Brigade, a British Army
brigade, was formed as the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade on 3 September 1939 with three Yeomanry (Territorial Army) mechanised cavalry regiments (2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) and the 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).
under command at various times of the 7th, 1st and 10th Armoured Divisions (remaining with 7th Armoured Division from El Alamein onwards), the Italian Campaign
through to the campaign in North West Europe. It was involved in Operation Crusader
, the Siege of Tobruk
, Battle of Gazala
, Battle of Alam el Halfa, Battle of El Alamein
, the Tunisia Campaign
, and the Capture of Naples
.
From 1947 onward for a time it was part of the newly re-incorporated Territorial Army's 56th (London) Armoured Division
. At that time it comprised the City of London Yeomanry, the Westminster Dragoons
, the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)
, and 42nd Royal Tank Regiment.
In the 1980s it again became part of 1st Armoured Division and the British Army of the Rhine
.
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...
brigade, was formed as the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade on 3 September 1939 with three Yeomanry (Territorial Army) mechanised cavalry regiments (2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars was a unit of the British Army.Raised in 1795 following William Pitt's 1794 order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain, through various re-organisations, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars remain today on the establishment of the Territorial...
, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) and the 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).
History
This formation fought in the Western Desert CampaignWestern Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
under command at various times of the 7th, 1st and 10th Armoured Divisions (remaining with 7th Armoured Division from El Alamein onwards), the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
through to the campaign in North West Europe. It was involved in Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army between 18 November–30 December 1941. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk....
, the Siege of Tobruk
Siege of Tobruk
The siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 240 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War...
, Battle of Gazala
Battle of Gazala
The Battle of Gazala was an important battle of the Second World War Western Desert Campaign, fought around the port of Tobruk in Libya from 26 May-21 June 1942...
, Battle of Alam el Halfa, Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
, the Tunisia Campaign
Tunisia Campaign
The Tunisia Campaign was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African Campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces. The Allies consisted of British Imperial Forces, including Polish and Greek contingents, with American and French corps...
, and the Capture of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.
From 1947 onward for a time it was part of the newly re-incorporated Territorial Army's 56th (London) Armoured Division
British 1st London Division
The 56th Infantry Division was a British Territorial Army division of the First and Second World War. The division's insignia was the sword from the coat of arms of the City of London.- First World War:...
. At that time it comprised the City of London Yeomanry, the Westminster Dragoons
Westminster Dragoons
The Westminster Dragoons are central London’s only Territorial Army cavalry unit. One of the Royal Yeomanry's five squadrons, their current role is to support the Formation Reconnaissance Regiments and the Joint Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Regiment on operations by providing...
, the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)
3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry
The 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry was formed in July 1944 by the amalgamation at Carpiquet Airfield in Normandy of the two existing Sharpshooters' regiments: the 3rd County of London Yeomanry and 4th County of London Yeomanry , both of which were veterans of the 8th Army...
, and 42nd Royal Tank Regiment.
In the 1980s it again became part of 1st Armoured Division and the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
.
Component Units during World War II
- 1st Royal Tank Regiment1st Royal Tank RegimentThe 1st Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. It was originally formed as 1st Battalion, Royal Tank Corps in 1934....
- 5th Royal Tank Regiment5th Royal Tank RegimentThe 5th Royal Tank Regiment was an armoured regiment of the British Army until 1969. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps...
- 2nd Royal Gloucestershire HussarsRoyal Gloucestershire HussarsThe Royal Gloucestershire Hussars was a unit of the British Army.Raised in 1795 following William Pitt's 1794 order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain, through various re-organisations, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars remain today on the establishment of the Territorial...
- 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)3rd/4th County of London YeomanryThe 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry was formed in July 1944 by the amalgamation at Carpiquet Airfield in Normandy of the two existing Sharpshooters' regiments: the 3rd County of London Yeomanry and 4th County of London Yeomanry , both of which were veterans of the 8th Army...
- 4th County of London Yeomanry3rd/4th County of London YeomanryThe 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry was formed in July 1944 by the amalgamation at Carpiquet Airfield in Normandy of the two existing Sharpshooters' regiments: the 3rd County of London Yeomanry and 4th County of London Yeomanry , both of which were veterans of the 8th Army...
- 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon GuardsThe 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1922 to 1992, when it was amalgmated into the Royal Dragoon Guards.-The beginning:...
- 1st Rifle Brigade