11th Armoured Division

The 11th Armoured Division was raised in the United Kingdom on 9th March 1941. It remained in the U.K. until sailing for Normandy, and had not seen active service until landing in France.

The 11th Armoured Division took part in the battle on the River Odon (Operation EPSOM) to the West of Caen, 25th-29th June. The Division was one of three armoured divisions that took part in Operation GOODWOOD, an attack East of Caen, 18th-21st July where the Division led the assault and lost 126 tanks on the first day of the attack. Later in the campaign, the Division took part in an attack from Caen towards Falaise, 25th July–2nd August and then the battle for the Falaise Gap, 16th-20th August in which large German forces were surrounded and destroyed. Its commander, Major General Roberts, was at the time of the campaign only 37 years old and the youngest divisional commander in the British Army.

(Major General GPB Roberts).


Headquarters, 11th Armoured Division & Signal Section.

29th Armoured Brigade.

Headquarters, 29th Armoured Brigade & Headquarters Squadron.
3rd Royal Tank Regiment.
23rd Hussars.
2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry.
8th Bn. The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) (The London Rifle Brigade).

159th Infantry Brigade.

Headquarters, 159th Infantry Brigade & Signal Section.
3rd Bn. The Monmouthshire Regiment.
4th Bn. The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.
1st Bn. The Herefordshire Regiment.


Divisional Troops.

2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry.
No. 270 Forward Delivery Squadron, Royal Armoured Corps.
2nd Household Cavalry Regiment.
2nd Independent Machine Gun Company, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.

Headquarters, 11th Armoured Divisional Royal Artillery.
13th Regiment (Honourable Artillery Company), Royal Horse Artillery.
151st (Ayrshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
75th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery.
58th (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

Headquarters, 11th Armoured Divisional Royal Engineers.
13th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers.
612th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers.
147th Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers.
10th Bridging Troop, Royal Engineers.

11th Armoured Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals.

Headquarters, 11th Armoured Divisional Royal Army Service Corps.
171st Armoured Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
174th Infantry Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
173rd Divisional Troops Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
287th General Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps.

Headquarters, 11th Armoured Divisional Royal Army Medical Corps.
18th Light Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
179th Light Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps.
7th Field Dressing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps.
76th Field Hygiene Section, Royal Army Medical Corps.

Headquarters, 11th Armoured Divisional Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
29th Armoured Brigade Workshops, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
159th Infantry Brigade Workshops, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.

11th Armoured Divisional Ordnance Field Park, Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

11th Armoured Divisional Postal Unit, Royal Engineers.

11th Armoured Divisional Provost Company, Corps of Military Police.