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. 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. 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
See also
British Armoured formations of World War II
List of British brigades of the Second World War
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