24th Lancers

The 24th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army that existed from late 1940 to mid-1944. Assigned to the 8th Armoured Brigade, the regiment fought during the Invasion of Normandy before being disbanded in July 1944. After disbandment, the regiment's personnel were sent to other cavalry regiments as reinforcements.

24th Lancers
24th Lancers' cap badge ca 1941[1]
Active30 December 1940 – 24 July 1944
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeCavalry
RoleArmoured
SizeRegiment
Part of29th Armoured Brigade
8th Armoured Brigade.
EngagementsSecond World War
North-West Europe 1944
Operation Perch
Battle of Villers-Bocage
Operation Epsom
Operation Martlet

History

The regiment was raised in December 1940 from a cadre of personnel taken from the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 17th/21st Lancers; despite its numerical designation, the regiment shared no lineage with the earlier 24th Light Dragoons.[2] It was initially assigned to the 29th Armoured Brigade, which formed part of the 11th Armoured Division,[3] but it was reassigned to the 8th Armoured Brigade on 8 February 1944.[4][5]

Sherman VC Firefly of 24th Lancers near Saint-Léger, 11 June 1944.

With the 8th Armoured Brigade, the regiment landed on Gold Beach, in the second wave of the Operation Overlord landings, supporting the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. The regiment landed on 7 June 1944 (D+1).[6] Equipped with Sherman tanks, shortly after landing the regiment was involved in the fighting around Putot-en-Bessin and Villers Bocage. After intensive action in the Tilly-sur-Seulles, Fontenay-le-Pesnel, Tessel Wood and Rauray areas, the regiment was disbanded towards the end of July 1944 due to heavy casualties and limited reinforcements, and its personnel were transferred to other regiments. Most of these men went to the 23rd Hussars or other units of the 8th Armoured Brigade, or the 29th Armoured Brigade in the 11th Armoured Division.[2] Since D-Day, the regiment had lost 41 officers and men killed in action, along with 98 wounded or missing.

Battle honours

The 24th Lancers was awarded the following battle honours for service in the Second World War:[2]

Putot en Bessin, Villers Bocage, Tilly sur Seulles, The Odon, Fontenay le Pesnil, Defence of Rauray, North-West Europe 1944

References
  1. Anon, Regimental Badges and Service Caps, London: George Philip & Sons, 1941.
  2. "24th Light Dragoons & 24th Lancers at regiments.org by T.F.Mills". Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 2006-02-16.
  3. Joslen 1990, p. 180
  4. Joslen 1990, p. 160
  5. Bellis 1994, p. 15
  6. Brigadier G.E. Prior-Palmer. "A Short History of the 8th Armoured Brigade Chapter IV". Warlinks. Retrieved 28 November 2015.

Bibliography
  • Bellis, Malcolm A. (1994). Regiments of the British Army 1939–1945 (Armour & Infantry). London: Military Press International. ISBN 0-85420-999-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Joslen, Lt-Col H.F. (1990) [1st. Pub. HMSO:1960]. Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939–1945. London: London Stamp Exchange. ISBN 0-948130-03-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Willis, Leonard (1985). None Had Lances: The Story of the 24th Lancers. 24th Lancers Old Comrades Association. ISBN 978-095107180-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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