79th Armoured Division
A Divisional Headquarters
was formed on 14 August 1942 on a Basic Organization No V, which changed
in January 1943 to Basic Organization No VII. It served in the UK under
Northern Command. In April 1943 the division was reorganized and the composition
changed. The role of the division was now to carry out the development
of all specialized armour, and technique, and for advising on its use.
It now served under GHQ Home Forces (27.4.1943-22.5.1944) pending the invasion
of Europe, upon which it was designated to 21 Army Group (23.5.1944-31.8.1945).
From 12 August 1944 onwards the division actually served in NW Europe.
General Officer Commanding (GOC):
| 08.09.1942 (acting) | Brig. G.McI.S. Bruce |
| 16.10.1942 | Maj.Gen. P.C.S. Hobart |
| 02.06.1943 | Maj.Gen. Sir P.C.S. Hobart |
Divisional
Troops
(up to April 1943)
Royal Armoured
Corps (RAC)
| 162nd Royal Armoured Corps Regiment | 10.02.1942-10.01.1943 |
| 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry | 10.01.1943-25.03.1943 |
Royal Engineers
(RE)
| 18th Field Squadron RE | 10.09.1942-02.03.1943 |
| 19th Field Squadron RE | 08.09.1942-25.03.1943 |
| 508th Field Park Squadron RE | 10.09.1942-12.02.1943 |
Royal Signals
(Sigs)
| 79th Armoured Divisional Signals | 07.01.1943-00.04.1943 |
Royal Artillery
(RA)
| 142nd Field Regiment RA | 11.09.1942-20.04.1943 |
| 150th Field Regiment RA | 16.09.1942-27.03.1943 |
| 55th Anti-Tank Regiment RA | 12.09.1942-12.04.1943 |
| 119th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA | 10.09.1942-12.04.1943 |
(from April 1943 onwards)
Royal Armoured
Corps (RAC)
| 43rd Battalion The Royal Tank Regiment | 06.08.1943-14.05.1944 |
| The Staffordshire Yeomanry | 17.09.1944-17.04.1945 |
| 11th Battalion The Royal Tank Regiment | 02.10.1944-01.11.1944 |
| 1st Battalion The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry | 07.10.1944-01.11.1944 |
Royal Engineers
(RE)
| 5th
General Headquarters Troops Engineers,
from 06.05.1943 5th Assault Troops RE, from 26.10.1943 5th Assault Regiment RE |
27.04.1943-25.11.1943 |
| 6th
General Headquarters Troops Engineers,
from 06.05.1943 6th Assault Troops RE, from 26.10.1943 6th Assault Regiment RE |
27.04.1943-25.11.1943 |
| 42nd
Assault Troops RE,
from 26.10.1943 42nd Assault Regiment RE |
28.09.1943-25.11.1943 |
| 149th Field Park Squadron RE | 19.09.1943-28.09.1943 |
| 149th Assault Park Squadron RE | 29.08.1943-09.05.1944 |
Royal Signals
(Sigs)
| 79th Armoured Divisional Signals | 00.04.1943-31.08.1945 |
Royal Artillery
(RA)
| 142nd Field Regiment RA | 11.09.1942-20.04.1943 |
| 150th Field Regiment RA | 16.09.1942-27.03.1943 |
| 55th Anti-Tank Regiment RA | 12.09.1942-12.04.1943 |
| 119th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA | 10.09.1942-12.04.1943 |
Brigades
(up
to April 1943)
| 27th Armoured Brigade | 08.09.1942-13.04.1943 |
| 185th Infantry Brigade | 08.09.1942-12.04.1943 |
(from
April 1943 onwards)
| 35th Tank Brigade | 10.04.1943-26.04.1944 |
| 1st Tank Brigade | 07.05.1944-16.10.1944 |
| 31st Tank Brigade | 04.09.1944-01.02.1945 |
| 31st Armoured Brigade | 02.02.1945-28.08.1945 |
| 27th Armoured Brigade | 14.04.1943-08.10.1943 |
| 30th Armoured Brigade | 17.10.1943-19.06.1945 |
| 1st Assault Brigade RE,
from 10.05.1944-16.01.1945 plus Assault Park Squadron, from 23.04.1945: 1st Armoured Engineer Brigade |
26.11.1943-26.06.1945 |
| 33rd Armoured Brigade | 18.01.1945-03.04.1945 & 24.04.1945-21.08.1945 |
Literature