Hi can anyone please tell me the location of where the Guards Armoured Division were based in 1943? Would i be right it was in the Scarborough area? Paul
At the start of July 1943, the Gds Armd Div moved from Norfolk to Yorkshire, changing places with 9 Armd Div. The HQ of Gds Armd Div was at Brompton Hall, Brompton, nr Scarborough. Dave
I believe that many of the Guards Armoured Division unit war diary transcripts are posted on the forum. Try some searching and you can probably find more detailed information Paul.
Here is what I found in the regimental histories regarding locations for 5th Guards Armoured Brigade units during 1943: 1st (Armoured) Battalion Coldstream Guards September 1942 - Moved into barracks in Warminster February 1943 - Did firing at Linney Head March 1943 - Operation Spartan After Spartan - Thetford in East Anglia July 1943 - Guards Armoured Division to the Wolds training area in Yorkshire July 1943 - Battalion located at Duncombe Park, Helmsley 29 April 1944 to Brighton 2nd (Armoured) Irish Guards Early April 1944 left Duncombe Park in Yorkshire wolds for Brighton-Hove area 1st (Motor), 2nd (Armoured) Battalions Grenadier Guards Early October 1942 - Moved to ‘Belisha’ Barracks in Warminster March 1943 - Exercise Spartan June 1943 - Guards Armoured Division to Yorkshire June 1943 - 1st Battalion around Ampleforth with two companies at Gilling East, one coy Oswaldkirk June 1943 - 2nd Battalion Duncombe Park near Helmsley (previously two months at Thetford, Norfolk) taking part in exercises in Stamford Common battle area April 1944 to Brighton I have also attached two scanned pages from the Grenadier Guards history which provide a few more details of the exercises.
Hello Paul I don't know if you would be interested but there is a book by Robert Boscawen called Armoured Guardsmen A War Diary June 1944 - April 1945. Regards Arthur
1st (Motor) Battalion Grenadier Guards left Tilbury in two ships, the SS Ocean Strength and the SS Fort Tremblant, at midday on June 19th. They were both American Liberty ships. The 2nd (Armoured) Battalion Grenadier Guards left England on June 30th on tank landing craft. The 1st (Armoured) Battalion Coldstream Guards embarked at Gosport on June 29th. The 2nd (Armoured) Irish Guards embarked on Landing Craft Tanks as well and landed on July 1st in France. The regimental history does not give the embarkation port, but it probably was also Gosport.
Arthur, apologies for the late reply. The book you mention sounds interesting but i am just interested in the Guards Armoured Division`s 1943 period. Thanks.
24th Lancers - War Diary - has... 7/8/43 Selected Officers and men represented the Regiment in the 11th Armd Div, Cricket team in a match against the Guards Armd Div at Scarborough.
