The 7th Support Group was a supporting formation within the British 7th Armoured Division, active during the Second World War's Western Desert Campaign.

History

The 7th Support Group was formed from the expansion of the 7th Armoured Division's existing pivot group. The pivot group, and later the support group, controlled the division's motorised infantry, field artillery, anti-tank guns, and light anti-aircraft guns. While the artillery would provide support for the tanks on an attack, the infantry were intended to protect the division's base or occupy territory captured by the tanks and not supplement them. Towards the end of

Operation Crusader Operation Crusader (18 November – 30 December 1941) was a military operation of the Western Desert Campaign during the Second World War by the British Eighth Army (United Kingdom), Eighth Army (with Commonwealth, Indian and Allied contingents) ...

, the support group joined the 1st Armoured Division for a couple of weeks before reverting to the command of the 7th Armoured Division. The 7th Support Group was abolished in February 1942, after Crusader came to an end, following a reorganization of the British armoured forces in North Africa.

Commanders

* Lieutenant-Colonel E. S. B. Williams (acting), form 22 January 1940 * Brigadier William Gott - initially the acting commander from 31 January 1940. Gott was then promoted from Lieutenant-Colonel to Brigadier, to officially become the formations commander from 16 February 1940. * Brigadier John Campbell - Took command on 12 September 1941. During his tenure as commander, Campbell earned the Victoria Cross.

Order of battle

Western Desert Force, 1939

4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery Fourth or the fourth may refer to: * the ordinal form of the number 4 * ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971 * Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision * Fourth (music), a musical interval * ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...

* 1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps * 2nd

Rifle Brigade The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army formed in January 1800 as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" to provide sharpshooters, scouts, and skirmishers. They were soon renamed the "Rifle ...

Operation Compass

* 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery * 1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps * 2nd Rifle Brigade

Operation Battleaxe, June 1941

1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army. It currently serves in the armoured field artillery role, and is equipped with the AS90 self-propelled gun. The regiment is currently based at La ...

* 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery * 1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps * 2nd Rifle Brigade

Operation Crusader, November 1941

3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army. They are currently based at Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland, England. The regiment was constituted in 1939 out of existing batteries. Two of ...

* 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery * 1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps * 2nd Rifle Brigade * 60th (North Midland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery * One Bty, 51st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

Footnotes

References

* * *

External links

British artillery in World War 2

{{British mobile brigades of the Second World War 7 Support Military units and formations established in 1938 Military units and formations disestablished in 1942