35th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 35th Armoured Brigade was an armoured brigade formation of the British Army, created during World War II. The brigade was never deployed in combat, remaining in the UK to act as a home defence and training unit, providing replacements for other formations.

35th Army Tank Brigade
35th Tank Brigade
35th Armoured Brigade
Formation sign of the 35th Army Tank Brigade and subsequent.[1]
Active1941–1945
Disbanded31 August 1945
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchBritish Army
TypeArmoured brigade
RoleHome Defence
Training

Unit history

The unit was formed in the UK on 1 December 1941 when the 225th Independent Infantry Brigade was converted to armour and renamed the 35th Army Tank Brigade[2][3] as part of Northern Command.[4] On 1 January 1942, its units were renamed, with the 10th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) becoming the 151st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps, the 11th Battalion, King's Regiment (Liverpool) becoming the 152nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps, and the 15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry becoming the 155th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps.[5] They were equipped with the Canal Defence Light, a Matilda II or Churchill (and later M3 Grant) tank, fitted with a turret containing a 13 million candlepower (12.8 million candela) searchlight, designed to dazzle, disorient, and temporarily blind the enemy.[6][7]

The 151st Regiment RAC was detached on 4 August 1942,[8][9] to join the 25th Army Tank Brigade, and was replaced by the 49th Royal Tank Regiment on 16 August, the brigade having been renamed 35th Tank Brigade the previous day,[2] and transferred to the command of GHQ Home Forces on 8 August.[4] On 10 April 1943, the brigade was transferred to the 79th Armoured Division, returning to the command of GHQ Home Forces on 27 April 1944.[4] On 13 July 1944, the 43rd Royal Tank Regiment was added to the brigade, to replace the 49th RTR, which had been detached on 30 April to join the 1st Tank Brigade of the 79th Armoured. The 8th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps joined on 17 September 1944, and the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and Warwickshire Yeomanry were added to the brigade on 27 March 1945. On 16 June 1945, the 1st Battalion, Royal Gloucestershire Hussars and the Yorkshire Hussars were also added.[8][9] On 14 July, it was renamed the 35th Armoured Brigade;[2] it was disbanded on 31 August 1945.[8][9]

Order of battle
Sources[8][9][10]
Unit From To
151st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps1 January 19424 August 1942
152nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps1 January 194231 August 1945
155th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps1 January 194231 August 1945
49th Royal Tank Regiment16 August 194230 April 1944
43rd Royal Tank Regiment13 July 194430 May 1945
8th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps17 September 194413 July 1945
Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry27 March 194531 August 1945
Warwickshire Yeomanry27 March 194531 August 1945
1st Battalion, Royal Gloucestershire Hussars16 June 194531 August 1945
Yorkshire Hussars16 June 194531 August 1945

Commanding officers

Brigadier H. T. de B. Lipscomb was appointed Commanding Officer of the 35th Brigade on 4 December 1941, remaining in post for the entirety of the unit's existence.[11]

See also

References
Notes
  1. Cole p. 127
  2. "35 Army Tank Brigade Unit Histories". Orders of Battle Military Unit Database. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  3. Joslen (1960), pp. 208 & 388.
  4. "35 Army Tank Brigade Unit Superiors". Orders of Battle Military Unit Database. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  5. Forty (1998), pp. 50–51.
  6. "Tank Infantry Mark II A12, Matilda CDL (E1949.353)". The Tank Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  7. "Now It Can Be Told! – Tanks That Turn Night Into Local Day". The War Illustrated. 9 (220): 470. 23 November 1945. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  8. "Organization of British Tank Brigades 1939–1945" (PDF). Combined Arms Research Library. U.S. Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  9. "Organization of British Armoured Brigades 1939–1945" (PDF). Combined Arms Research Library. U.S. Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  10. "35 Army Tank Brigade Battalions". Orders of Battle Military Unit Database. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  11. "35 Armoured Brigade Command Appointments". Orders of Battle Military Unit Database. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
Bibliography
  • Cole, Howard (1973). Formation Badges of World War 2. Britain, Commonwealth and Empire. London: Arms and Armour Press.
  • Forty, George (1998). British Army Handbook 1939–1945. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-1403-3.
  • Joslen, H. F. (1960). Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945. London: HM Stationery Office.
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