8th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 8th Armoured Brigade was a Second World War British Army brigade, formed as part of the 10th Armoured Division.

The 8th was deployed to North Africa where it took part in the Battle of El Alamein and the reulting pursuit of the retreating Axis armies. It was removed from the 10th Armoured, and acted as an independant Armoured Brigade. It fought alongside the 7th Armoured Division and the 2nd New Zealand Division.

Following the Capitulation of the Axis forces in North Africa, the regiment was transferred to Britain where it was slated to take part in the Allied invasion of Europe. Elements of the Brigade were equipped with Duplex-Drive models of the Sherman tank.

On D-Day, 6th June 1944, the brigade landed on Gold Beach near Arromanches and le Hamel, providing support for the 50th (Northumbrian) Division. The Brigade served with the 49th West Riding Division, fighting with distinction in the battles around Rauray in late June.

The brigade served under XXX Corps for the remainder of the war in europe, taking part as a part of the 'Garden' element in Operation Market Garden. It later also took part in the Rhine Crossings in March 1945, supporting the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division.

After the reformation of the Territorial Army in 1947 it joined the 49th Armoured Division as 8 (Yorkshire) Armoured Brigade. The Brigade left the 49th Division in 1956, and later disbanded.

Orders of Battle

North Africa - 1942

• 3rd Bn the Royal Tank Regiment
• The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers)
• The Staffordshire Yeomanry
• 1st Royal Horse Artillery
• 1st Bn The Buffs

Northwestern Europe - 1944-45

• 4th/7th Dragoon Guards
• 24th Lancers (disbanded August 1944)
• 13th/18th Hussars (from August 1944)
• The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers)
• 147 Field Regiment RA (Essex Yeomanry)
• 12th Bn (Queen's Westminsters) The King's Royal Rifle Corps.

BAOR - 1947

• Yorkshire Hussars, York
• Yorkshire Dragoons, Doncaster
• East Riding Yeomanry, Hull
• 45/51 Royal Tank Regiment, Leeds

Sources

• Graham Watson, United Kingdom: The Territorial Army 1947, v 1.0, March 10, 2002, accessible via http://www.orbat.com/site/history/index.html