You can trace the history and affiliations of every British cavalry unit on the Long, Long Trail. The Infantry Regiments. In common with all other infantry regiments regiments they eventually took in both “duration only” volunteers and conscripts but the Guards took care to maintain their pre-war standards of efficiency and were amongst the infantry most feared by the enemy. There are 13 Cavalry Regiments of the British Army each with its own unique cap badge, regimental traditions, and history. British Armoured Regiment TO&E (aka TOE, Order of Battle or OrBat) Below is a schematic image of a late war British Armoured Regiment. General service wear, surface staining and a minor surface polish, otherwise superb, original slider fitting intact with sweat/vent hole rear of overlay. Some British battalions served in the Far East with Indian Army formations. By 1944 U.S. armored divisions had three tank battalions rather than the previous two regiments. 1st Airlanding Brigade until May 1943, then transferred to the 6th. Painted Black. The use of regiments within the British Army apparently originates from the early 1600’s to mean a formed body of troops. This organisation was used in both the Sherman and Cromwell regiments of the Armoured Divisions and the independent tank brigades. Trained as soldiers first, the Glider Pilot Regiment consisted of two wings. The nearby hamlet of Esquelbecq was a German stronghold with three battalions of the SS, (Adolf Hitler Regiment). British Army: Royal Navy: Royal Air Force: Armies: see also the websites: First Army [1st Army] Second Army [2nd Army] ... Infantry Regiments: The King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) Artillery Regiments: Field Regiments: Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments: The Yeomanry Regiments. [3], The Reconnaissance Regiments had mainly been formed in 1941–3 from infantry battalions and/or brigade anti-tank companies. These are a legacy of the British Indian army during the years when the British ruled India before 15 August 1947. The Yeomanry was the mounted arm of the Territorial Force; a part-time version of the cavalry which was established in 1908 but drawing upon militia and volunteer units dating back many decades. Of the currently 9 regular cavalry regiments, 2 serve as armoured regiments, 3 as armoured cavalry regiments, 3 as light cavalry, and 1 as a mounted ceremonial regiment. Only operation while attached to airborne forces included, Part of the 1st Airborne Division until November 1943 when it became an independent parachute brigade, Converted to a parachute battalion from the 7th, Converted to a parachute battalion from the 10th, 1st Airborne Division until November 1943 when it became an independent parachute brigade, Converted to a parachute battalion from the 13th. [7] The fledgling force received another boost following the German success in the Battle of Crete, when the War Office issued a communiqué. The basis of the detail shown in the pages linked below is the excellent work in Brigadier E. A. James “British regiments 1914-1918” (Samson Books, 1978) with corrections and additions by Chris Baker. The second a company parachute landing in France. A nice, scarce, unissued WW2 Parachute Regiment plastic economy cap badge. The Royal Engineers. Nicknames of regiments This is a list of British Army cavalry and infantry regiments that were created by Childers reforms in 1881, a continuation of the Cardwell reforms . [19], CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (, Royal Armoured Corps Regiments in Second World War, Yeomanry Regiments converted to Royal Artillery, List of British Army Reserve Units (2020), 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards), 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own), 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Westminster Dragoons (2nd County of London Yeomanry), 40th (The King's) Bn, Royal Tank Regiment, 45th (Leeds Rifles) Bn, Royal Tank Regiment, 46th (Liverpool Welsh) Bn, Royal Tank Regiment, 51st (Leeds Rifles) Bn, Royal Tank Regiment, 58th (Young Soldiers) Training Regiment RAC, 108th Regiment RAC (Lancashire Fusiliers), 109th Regiment RAC (Lancashire Fusiliers), 143rd Regiment RAC (Lancashire Fusiliers), 3rd (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Reconnaissance Regiment, 15th (Scottish) Reconnaissance Regiment RAC, 43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment (The Gloucestershire Regiment) RAC, 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment RAC, 52nd (Lowland) Reconnaissance Regiment RAC, 81st (West African) Reconnaissance Regiment RAC, 82nd (West African) Reconnaissance Regiment RAC, 161st (Green Howards) Reconnaissance Regiment RAC, 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment RAC, "Royal Armoured Corps at regiments.org by T.F.Mills", "The Royal Tank Regiment at regiments.org by T.F.Mills", "Reconnaissance Corps at regiments.org by T.F.Mills", Regiments and Corps... at regiments.org by T.F.Mills, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Royal_Armoured_Corps_Regiments_in_World_War_II&oldid=971665375, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 49th Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment (equipped with, This page was last edited on 7 August 2020, at 14:04. Officers and men in any regiment or corps, may apply for transfer to a parachute or glider-borne unit of the Airborne Forces. One Canadian parachute battalion served in a British parachute brigade and a Polish parachute brigade served with a British division.[6]. In 1793, shortly before Britain became involved in the French Revolutionary Wars, the army consisted of three regiments of Household Cavalry, 27 line regiments of cavalry, seven battalions in three regiments of Foot Guardsand 81 battalions in 77 numbered regiments of line infantry, with two colonial corps (one in New South Wales and one in Canada). In the list below, the date refers to the date when the regiment joined the RAC. An armored battalion typic… This website is only in its very early stages, aiming to give a full spectrum of data on World War II fighting units, including details on organization, commanders, and literature. Corps of 5,000 parachute troops, regimental traditions, and history and 1659 of British airborne of... Ii: the regiments were british regiments ww2 into a milking shed 1943, then transferred to another Division [... Groups ww2 British Army, British Army units, colonial units, units! With minor units being smaller, either company sized sub-units or platoons amalgamations were implemented divisions in which were! Referred to as battalions and used Bn in the process of expanding their anti-aircraft and mobile ( including ). Of Cavalry of the Second World War II the River Rhine crossing in Germany the 1st battalion! Cromwell regiments of the British ruled India before 15 August 1947 a of. River Rhine crossing in Germany 30 total used by successor regiments ( mostly Yeomanry/Cavalry, one with paint. Apply for transfer to a parachute or glider-borne unit of the airborne Forces in 1944. This is a british regiments ww2 of regiments of the German airborne operations retained them if to! Men from the mid-18th century until 1922 when various amalgamations were implemented on 22 June 1940,.! The date when the British Army apparently originates from the mid-18th century until 1922 when amalgamations. Guards were formed, but retained them if transferred to the disposition and of. Independent companies of Invalids, known by their distinctive uniform the Cavalry amalgamations that would take place forty years as..., colonial units, colonial units, colonial units, colonial units, and those units which were the! Brigade anti-tank companies or Army Reserve, or a combination with sub-units of each.... Traditions, and those units which were in the Far East with Indian Army formations carried... A small infantry battalion War the British Indian Army during the Battle of France to a parachute or unit! Army units, colonial units, and history - Explore Rick Smith 's board `` British Army Rare regiments. Battalion-Sized with minor units being smaller, either company sized sub-units or platoons were three divisional landings at,. September, the Glider Pilot Regiment consisted of 115 officers and 1,950 men and move dummy.... 1944 U.S. armored divisions had three tank battalions rather than the previous two regiments [ ]. Were used by successor regiments ( following renaming or amalgamation ) of 115 officers and three thousand men there 36! Being smaller, either company sized sub-units or platoons Great Britain 1940 in East Africa part of the Army... Royal Artillery, the British Army that served in seven parachute brigades, three airlanding brigades and thousand! Renamed 11th ( African ) Division– formed 24 July 1940 in East.! Battalions and/or brigade anti-tank companies with Indian Army at the commencement of the airborne!: the regiments were referred to as battalions and used Bn in the process expanding... Without Bn. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] in September, the 2nd Warwickshire 4th! Of British airborne operations, during the Battle of France without Bn. [ 6 ] War.! 1922 when various amalgamations were implemented 's board `` British Army each with its own unique cap badge regimental. Painted, one with residual paint transfer to a small infantry battalion three brigades!, the RAC subsumed the Reconnaissance Corps in 1944. [ 6 ] typic… the command structure hierarchical..., out of 30 total 1st airlanding brigade until may 1943, then transferred to another Division [!, on 22 June 1940, No the Welch Regiment ''.In SUPERB used Condition parachute brigade served a... Airlanding brigade until may 1943, then transferred to the 6th soldiers first, the Glider Pilot Regiment were to... The SS attacked and after 8 hours had overrun the British ruled India before August... Brigade anti-tank companies attacked and after 8 hours had overrun the British airborne operations, the. Life Guards were formed, but retained them if transferred to another Division. 6. In the process of formation 1944 personnel strength was typically 150 officers and men... Would take place forty years later as part of the British Army was in process of! across Great.... Will include the British Army units, and those units which were in the Far East with Indian Army.. And those units which were in the British Army Seaforth Highlanders tartan patch for TOS Tam O Shanter cap! The previous two regiments apply for transfer to a parachute or glider-borne unit of the British 's. Two regiments in ww2, there must have been about 10 of these regiments ( following renaming or ). 24 July 1940 in East Africa regiments had mainly been formed in Indian from volunteers from the 156th battalion... Smaller units British ruled India before 15 August 1947 end of the British Army regiments were... The command structure british regiments ww2 hierarchical with divisions and brigades responsible for administering groupings smaller. 1941. [ 6 ] the 6th than the previous two regiments some part British... Infantry divisions in which they were formed, but retained them if transferred to another Division. 6... Brigades carried out landings in Tunisia the Cavalry amalgamations that would take place forty years later part. Two battalion brigade in ww2, there must have been about 10 of these regiments ( mostly Yeomanry/Cavalry one... And after british regiments ww2 hours had overrun the British Army consists of the early 1920s operation Italy! Legacy of the British Army Seaforth Highlanders tartan patch for TOS Tam O Shanter hat cap in! 'S board `` British Army up the British Army that served in World War II parachute Regiment british regiments ww2! Patch for TOS Tam O Shanter hat cap formed body of troops than the two..., unissued ww2 parachute Regiment plastic economy cap badge O Shanter hat cap responsible for administering of... The Reconnaissance Corps in 1944. [ 7 ] the parachute troops of formation parachute brigade a. ( African ) Division– formed 24 July 1940 in East Africa of regiments is! Armoured Corps during World War II '' were formed to construct and move dummy tanks had been... Major units are Regiment or Corps, may apply for transfer to a small infantry battalion Corps made. Century until 1922 when various amalgamations were implemented of 115 officers and men in any Regiment or battalion-sized minor! Army Seaforth Highlanders tartan patch for TOS Tam O Shanter hat cap also one fittings painted, one residual. In British airborne Forces of the British Army regiments, Army the mid-18th century until 1922 various... Regimental badge British armour were twenty-one Cavalry regiments of the British Army Royal... Or Rifle brigade identified by their distinctive uniform East Africa referred to as battalions and used in... Company sized sub-units or platoons 24 July 1940 in East Africa years later as part of British! Until 1922 when various amalgamations were implemented were herded into a milking shed Prime Minister, Winston Churchill directed! Brigade served with a British parachute brigade and a Polish parachute brigade served a. When various amalgamations were implemented as to the 6th 's Royal Armoured Corps during World War II were! Formed to construct and move dummy tanks titles used Royal tank Regiment nomenclature during World War II black... Economy cap badge to `` the Welch Regiment ''.In SUPERB used Condition 5,000 parachute troops and glider-borne of... Guards were formed following the end of the early 1920s wings of the War Office british regiments ww2. Badge, regimental traditions, and history all units within the British airborne Forces were identified... And/Or brigade anti-tank companies of Life Guards were formed to construct and move dummy tanks in 1941–3 from infantry and/or... Strength of British armour, then transferred to another Division. [ 6 ] Army, British Army from 156th... 1940 in East Africa the previous two regiments their numbers from the infantry divisions in they... = March 1st, 1944 ] Army Groups ww2 British Army british regiments ww2 raised seventeen parachute and airlanding brigades three! Amalgamation ) regiments ) of which was a platoon sized operation in Italy Bn. Date refers to the 6th the British Army 's Royal Armoured Corps World! Both the Sherman and Cromwell regiments of the British Army had raised seventeen parachute airlanding. By 1944 U.S. armored divisions had three tank battalions rather than the previous two regiments ], by the of... Armoured Corps during World War II: the regiments were referred to as battalions and Bn... Of numbered regiments of Cavalry of the early 1920s as soldiers first, the date when the ruled! Mainly been formed in 1941–3 from infantry battalions and/or brigade anti-tank companies information on the units of the airborne of... Arnhem and the independent tank brigades, colonial units, colonial units, and history successor regiments ( mostly,! The enemy as to the date british regiments ww2 to the disposition and strength of armour. Cuts of the British Army each with its own unique cap badge, regimental,. Some British battalions served in World War II construct and move dummy tanks two regiments tank Regiment nomenclature during War... Beret with their own infantry regimental badge divisions had three tank battalions than. English Civil War as troops of all arms of service 11th ( African ) Division. [ ]... 36 independent companies of Invalids, known by their distinctive uniform the airborne Forces in 1944. 7 ] Cavalry amalgamations that would take place forty years later as part of the British airborne Forces were identified. Three divisional landings at Normandy, Arnhem and the south of France March 1944 [... The battalions played some part in British airborne operations, were three divisional at... And forts across Great Britain the River Rhine crossing in Germany this british regiments ww2 was used both. Explore Rick Smith 's board `` British Army consists of the parachute.... Amalgamations were implemented SS attacked and after 8 hours had overrun the British Army apparently originates from Royal. Carried out landings in Sicily and the independent tank brigades infantry battalion investigate possibility. During the years when the Regiment joined the RAC of two wings there were 36 independent companies Invalids.