4th Mechanized Brigade (United Kingdom)
| 4th Mechanized Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of the 4th Mechanized Brigade |
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| Active | 1939 - 1945 1976-Present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Mechanized Brigade |
| Part of | 3rd Mechanised Division |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Brigadier R B Bruce |
The 4th Mechanized Brigade is a British Army brigade.
The 4th Armoured Brigade was formed during the Second World War, as an armoured brigade of the 7th Armoured Division.[1] The brigade was reclassified as a mechanized brigade in December 2006, and is currently based in Catterick Garrison, England, forming part of the 3rd Mechanised Division.
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[edit] History
In 1939, at the start of the Second World War this brigade changed its title from Heavy Armoured Brigade (Egypt) to 4th Armoured Brigade. On 27 July 1941 it handed over its units to the 1st Army Tank Brigade and received new units from Egypt. It was reformed again when the HQ arrived in Sicily and it took control of new units there.
The 4th Armoured Brigade saw service in North Africa, Sicily and Italy and in the North West Europe Campaign. Although it served under many different formations it was most famous as part of the 7th Armoured Division, the Desert Rats.
The brigade spent many years in Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine. On its return to the United Kingdom it was transferred from 1st Armoured Division to 3rd Mechanised Division.
Famous former members include Murray Walker (former BBC Motor sports commentator).
[edit] Order of battle
[edit] Second World War
[edit] Current Formation
- 4 Mechanized Brigade Units 2011
- 204 Signal Squadron (Signals and Brigade HQ)
- The Queen's Royal Lancers (Formation Reconnaissance)
- The Royal Dragoon Guards (Armoured)
- 1st Battalion, Scots Guards (Armoured Infantry)
- 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border) (Mechanized Infantry)
- 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) (Light Role)
- 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, Royal Scots Borderers (Light Role Infantry)
- 4th Regiment Royal Artillery (Self Propelled Artillery)
- 21 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers
- 1 Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
[edit] Commanders
During World War II[2]
- 3 September 1939 - 1 November 1939 Lieutenant-Colonel HRB Watkins
- 1 November 1939 - 16 November 1939 Brigadier JAL Caunter
- 16 November 1939 - 5 December 1939 Lieutenant-Colonel HRB Watkins
- 5 December 1939 - 8 May 1941 Brigadier JAL Caunter
- 8 May 1941 - 26 June 1942 Brigadier AH Gatehouse
- 26 June 1942 - 7 July 1942 Brigadier AF Fisher
- 7 July 1942 - 4 October 1942 Brigadier WG Carr
- 4 October 1942 - 18 November 1942 Brigadier MG Roddick
- 18 November 1942 - 10 December 1942 Colonel RCG Joy
- 10 December 1942 - 24 January 1943 Brigadier CBC Harvey
- 24 January 1943 - 27 February 1943 Brigadier DS Newton-King
- 27 February 1943 - 30 December 1943 Brigadier JC Currie
- 30 December 1943 - 16 March 1944 Brigadier HJB Cracroft
- 16 March 1944 - 26 June 1944 Brigadier JC Currie
- 26 June 1944 - 27 June 1944 Colonel JL Young
- 27 June 1944 - 25 January 1945 Brigadier RMP Carver
- 25 January 1945 - 22 February 1945 Lieutenant-Colonel GC Hopkinson
- 22 February 1945 - 31 August 1945 Brigadier RMP Carver
Recent Commanders
- 1976-1978 Brigadier HDA Langley
- 1981-1984 Brigadier CRL Guthrie
- 1994-1996 Brigadier FR Dannatt
- 1996-1998 Brigadier DJ Richards
- 1998-2000 Brigadier WR Rollo
- 2005-2007 Brigadier CM Deverell
- 2007-2009 Brigadier J Free[3]
- 2009-2011 Brigadier R Felton[4]
- 2011-Present Brigadier R B Bruce[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Brigade MOD website page
- ^ Orders of Battle
- ^ 5,000 'Rats' spotted in Basra Defence News, 11 December 2007
- ^ Brigadier salutes move to Garrison Northern Echo, 17 February 2009
- ^ 4th Mechanized Brigade 11 April 2011
[edit] External links
- 4th Mechanized Brigade - Official MOD Homepage
- British Army Locations from 1945 British Army Locations from 1945
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