7th Armoured Division

The 7th Armoured Division fought in the campaigns of the Western Desert and in Italy returning to Britain at the end of 1943 to take part in the Normandy Landings.

Parts of the Division landed on D-Day and advanced to within 3 miles of Bayeux. On 10th June, the Division took part in an attack from Bayeux towards Tilly-sur-Seulles and was held up at Villers-Bocage on 13th/14th June. The Division was one of three armoured divisions that took part in Operation GOODWOOD, an attack East of Caen, 18th-21st July. Later in the campaign, the Division took part in an attack from Caen towards Falaise, 25th July–2nd August.

(Major General GWEJ Erskine up to 3rd Aug 44; Major General GL Verney after 4th Aug 44).


22nd Armoured Brigade.

1st Royal Tank Regiment.
5th Royal Tank Regiment.
4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). Left on 29th July.
1st Bn. The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consorts Own).

5th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Dragon Guards. Joined on 29th July.

131st Infantry Brigade.

1st /5th Bn. The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey).
1st /6th (Bermondsey) Bn. The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey)..
1st/7th (Southwark) Bn. The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey).


Divisional Troops.

11th Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own).

3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery.
5th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery.

146th (Pembroke & Cardiganshire) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
65th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery.
15th (Isle of Man) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.

4th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers
621st Field Squadron, Royal Engineers.
143rd Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers.

7th Armoured Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals.