79th Armoured Division
Churchill Tank Equipped Units Insignia


79th Armoured Division

History
A Divisional Headquarters was formed on 14 August 1942 on a Basic Organization No V, which changed in January 1943 to Basic Organization No VII. It served in the UK under Northern Command. In April 1943 the division was reorganized and the composition changed. The role of the division was now to carry out the development of all specialized armour, and technique, and for advising on its use. It now served under GHQ Home Forces (27.4.1943-22.5.1944) pending the invasion of Europe, upon which it was designated to 21 Army Group (23.5.1944-31.8.1945). From 12 August 1944 onwards the division actually served in NW Europe.

General Officer Commanding (GOC):
08.09.1942 (acting) Brig. G.McI.S. Bruce
16.10.1942 Maj.Gen. (later 'Sir') P.C.S. Hobart.

Major-General Hobart's Farewell Message sent when his Division was disbanded 20 August 1945.

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Arm of Service Insignia of the three Churchill equipped units

31st Tank Brigade


  Brigade Headquarters


  11th Royal Tank Regiment 1


  1st Fife & Forfar Yeomanry 2


   Royal Armoured Corps Regiments 3


Notes:
1 From 2.11.44 - 22.12.44
2 From 2.11.44 - 1.2.45. Crocodile equipped.
3 144th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps, 23.8.44 - 31.8.44.
3 141st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps, 5.9.44.1.2.45.
Brigade renamed 1.2.45.

31st Armoured Tank Brigade - Crocodile Equipped


  Brigade Headquarters


  7th Royal Tank Regiment


  1st Fife & Forfar Yeomanry


  141st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps


See Unit Tank Photographs and/or Names


7th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment.


141st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps.


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1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers - Hobart's Funnies Equipped


  Brigade Headquarters


  5th Assault Regiment


  6th Assault Regiment


  42nd Assault Regiment

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Photographs of the Division's Hobart's Funnies
Click on the first page of six, grouped by type.

Vehicle Names by Unit

81st Squadron, 6th Assault Regiment
    Bridgelayers: Flint  Fanfare

82nd Squadron, 6th Assault Regiment
     Bobbins: Lancer  Leviathon  Lifeguard  Lightning  Loyal  Lucifer
    Bridgelayers: Legionnaire  Lough Swilly
    Fascine Carriers: Lamur  Leopard  Leveret  Loch Ness  Lough Neagh  Lynx
    Pushers: Loch Leven  Lough Comb

222nd Squadron, 43th Assault Regiment
   :  :AVREs: Sabre  :Scimitar
  :  :Bridgelayer: Sepoy

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