The 5th Guards Armoured Brigade was an armoured brigade of the British Army, a component unit of the Guards Armoured Division, that served in the Second World War in North-west Europe from June 1944 until May 1945.

History

This brigade was converted from the 20th Infantry Brigade (Guards) on 15 September 1941. It was stationed in the United Kingdom on training and home defence duties, anticipating a potential

German invasion German invasion may refer to: Pre-1900s * German invasion of Hungary (1063) World War I * German invasion of Belgium (1914) * German invasion of Luxembourg (1914) World War II * Invasion of Poland * German invasion of Belgium (1940) ...

. The brigade remained in the United Kingdom until 30 June 1944 when it arrived in Normandy with the rest of the Guards Armoured Division as part of

Operation Overlord Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allies of World War II, Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Front (World War II), Western Europe during World War II. The operat ...

. The brigade served throughout the North West Europe Campaign. On 12 June 1945 it was converted to the 5th Guards Brigade.

Commanders

* Brig. W.A.F.L. Fox-Pitt * Lieut. Col. R. Myddleton * Brig. C.M. Dillwyn-Venables-Llewelyn * Brig. Norman Wilmshurst Gwatkin 1943–45

Component Units

Structure upon formation in 1941: * Headquarters * 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards - Armoured * 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards - Motorized Infantry * 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards - Armoured * 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards - Armoured

References

External links

* * Armoured brigades of the British Army in World War II Military units and formations established in 1941 Guards Division (United Kingdom) Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 {{UK-mil-unit-stub

History

Commanders

Component Units

See also

References

External links