British 10th Armoured Division
Encyclopedia
The 10th Armoured Division was a British Army
armoured division active from 1941-44 and 1956-57. It was formed from the 1st Cavalry Division
, a 1st Line Yeomanry unit. The 1st Cavalry Division had been serving in Palestine. The division was converted from cavalry to armour and redesignated from 1 August 1941.
units. The division was originally under command of HQ British Troops Palestine and Transjordan, but transferred to Ninth Army
when the headquarters was redesignated on 1 November 1941. It later was transferred into Egypt, serving under HQ Middle East, XXX Corps, Eighth Army
, and X Corps
. The division fought at the Battles of Alam Halfa
and El Alamein
. It was disbanded on 15 June 1944 in Egypt
.
10th Armoured Division was also briefly active after the war ended in Libya in the 1950s, incorporating 25th Armoured Brigade, but was disbanded in July 1957. The 25th Armoured Brigade was formed in 1952 to provide an operational headquarters for the troops in Libya. The Royal Scots Greys arrived in Libya in 1952, and stayed until 1955. Other units of the brigade from 1952 were the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
, 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
, and the 14th/20th King's Hussars
. In May and June 1956 the brigade was hastily expanded to division status as 10th Armoured Division, with the intention of invading Egypt from the west during the Suez Canal Crisis. Planning was halted when it was found that such an invasion was banned under the terms of Britain's treaty with Libya. The Armoured Brigade Signals Squadron was expanded to 10th Armd Div Signals in May-June 1956, based in Tripoli
. It began to wind up in April 1957, and disbanded completely in September 1957.
of the division during the Second World War.
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...
armoured division active from 1941-44 and 1956-57. It was formed from the 1st Cavalry Division
British 1st Cavalry Division
The 1st Cavalry Division was a regular Division of the British Army during the First World War where it fought on the Western Front. During the Second World War it was a second line formation, formed from Yeomanry Regiments...
, a 1st Line Yeomanry unit. The 1st Cavalry Division had been serving in Palestine. The division was converted from cavalry to armour and redesignated from 1 August 1941.
History
The divisional sign was a fox's mask, representing the hunting tradition of the formation's cavalry and YeomanryYeomanry
Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...
units. The division was originally under command of HQ British Troops Palestine and Transjordan, but transferred to Ninth Army
Ninth Army (United Kingdom)
The Ninth Army was a formation of the British Army during World War II, formed on 1 November 1941 by the re designation of Headquarters, British Troops Palestine and Transjordan...
when the headquarters was redesignated on 1 November 1941. It later was transferred into Egypt, serving under HQ Middle East, XXX Corps, Eighth Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
, and X Corps
X Corps (United Kingdom)
The X Corps was a British Army formation in the First World War and was later reformed in 1942 during the North African campaign of the Second World War as part of the Eighth Army.- First World War :...
. The division fought at the Battles of Alam Halfa
Battle of Alam Halfa
The Battle of Alam el Halfa took place between 30 August and 5 September 1942 south of El Alamein during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. Panzerarmee Afrika—a German-Italian force commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel—attempted an envelopment of the British 8th Army,...
and 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...
. It was disbanded on 15 June 1944 in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
10th Armoured Division was also briefly active after the war ended in Libya in the 1950s, incorporating 25th Armoured Brigade, but was disbanded in July 1957. The 25th Armoured Brigade was formed in 1952 to provide an operational headquarters for the troops in Libya. The Royal Scots Greys arrived in Libya in 1952, and stayed until 1955. Other units of the brigade from 1952 were the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1992.It was formed in India in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and 7th Dragoon Guards , as the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards; it gained the distinction Royal in 1935...
, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The 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...
, 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
East Surrey Regiment
The East Surrey Regiment was a regiment in the British Army formed in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 31st Regiment of Foot and the 70th Regiment of Foot...
, and the 14th/20th King's Hussars
14th/20th King's Hussars
The 14th/20th King's Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1922 to 1992.- History :Originally styled the 14th/20th Hussars, the regiment was created in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 14th King's Hussars and the 20th Hussars, as part of the reductions in the Army...
. In May and June 1956 the brigade was hastily expanded to division status as 10th Armoured Division, with the intention of invading Egypt from the west during the Suez Canal Crisis. Planning was halted when it was found that such an invasion was banned under the terms of Britain's treaty with Libya. The Armoured Brigade Signals Squadron was expanded to 10th Armd Div Signals in May-June 1956, based in Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
. It began to wind up in April 1957, and disbanded completely in September 1957.
General Officer Commanding
Four men served as the General Officer CommandingGeneral Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
of the division during the Second World War.
| Appointed | General Officer Commanding |
| 1 August 1941 | Major-General John Clark John George Walters Clark John George Walters Clark CB, MC was a British army officer in both World War I and World War II.-Early life:Clark was commissioned into the 16th The Queen's Lancers in 1911 and fought with them during World War I. In 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross... |
| 26 June 1942 | Major-General Alexander Gatehouse Alexander Gatehouse Major-General Alexander Hugh Gatehouse DSO & bar MC was a British Army officer who commanded 10th Armoured Division during World War II.-Military career:... |
| 18 December 1942 | Major-General Charles Norman Charles Norman Major-General Charles Wake Norman CBE was General Officer Commanding Aldershot District.-Military career:Educated at Eton College, Norman was commissioned into the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry in 1910.... |
| 12 January 1943 | Major-General Horace Birks Horace Birks Major General Horace Leslie Birks CB DSO was a British Army officer who commanded 10th Armoured Division during World War II.-Military career:... |
| 1955 | Major-General Rodney Moore James Newton Rodney Moore General Sir Rodney Moore, GCVO KCB CBE DSO was a senior British Army officer.-Military career:Educated at Harrow School and the Royal Military College Sandhurst, Moore was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards in 1925. From 1942 to 1944 he was General Staff Officer 1 Guards Armoured Division... |
8th Armoured Brigade
- 3rd Royal Tank Regiment3rd Royal Tank RegimentThe 3rd Royal Tank Regiment was an armoured regiment of the British Army until 1992. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. It originally saw action as C Battalion, Tank Corps in 1917....
- Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons)
- Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers)Sherwood Rangers YeomanryThe Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry is one of the five squadrons of the Royal Yeomanry , an armoured regiment of the Territorial Army. Designated as 'S' Squadron, the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry's current role is to support the Formation Reconnaissance Regiments and the Joint Chemical Biological Nuclear...
- The Staffordshire Yeomanry
9th Armoured Brigade
- Royal Wiltshire YeomanryRoyal Wiltshire YeomanryThe Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom established in 1794. It was disbanded as an independent Territorial Army unit in 1967, a time when the strength of the TA was greatly reduced...
- The Warwickshire Yeomanry
- Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry
- 11th Bn. The King's Royal Rifle Corps
- later removed for use as an Independent Brigade
Support Units
- 1st Household Cavalry RegimentLife Guards (British Army)The Life Guards is the senior regiment of the British Army and with the Blues and Royals, they make up the Household Cavalry.They originated in the four troops of Horse Guards raised by Charles II around the time of his restoration, plus two troops of Horse Grenadier Guards which were raised some...
- 2nd The Derbyshire Regiment
- 1st Regiment, Royal Horse ArtilleryRoyal Horse ArtilleryThe regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
- 104th (Essex YeomanryEssex YeomanryThe Essex Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army raised in 1797. The regiment recruited volunteers from the county of Essex in the East of England.-Origins:...
) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery - 84th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- 53rd (The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regt. Royal Artillery
- 101st Light Anti-Aircraft Regt. Royal Artillery
- 10th Armoured Division Signal Regiment
See also
- British Armoured formations of the Second World WarBritish Armoured formations of the Second World WarThe British Armoured formations of the Second World War refers to the Armoured Divisions and Independent Armoured and Tank Brigades deployed by the British Army during the Second World War. They had two types of armoured vehicle. The Infantry tank which was heavily armoured and slow, designed to...