A list of references for War Diaries relating to Brigade level. It's likely that I've missed something, so if you can't find something specific, check using Lee's WD search engine Arcre - War Diary Search Engine See List of British Brigades in World War II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ARMOURED ACORN - The Canadian Armour Website
TNA Ref. / Title and content / Date range WO 167/346 1 (Guards) Brigade Headquarters 1939 Sept.-1940 June WO 167/347 1 (Guards) Brigade Anti-Tank Company 1939 Sept.-1940 June WO 166/893 BRIGADES: 1ST. (GUARDS) BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1940 July-Dec. WO 166/895 BRIGADES: 1ST. (GUARDS) BRIGADE: Anti-Tank Company. 1940 July-Dec. WO 166/894 BRIGADES: 1ST. (GUARDS) BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1941 Jan.-Dec. WO 166/6558 BRIGADES: 1 GUARDS ARMOURED BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1942 Jan.-Nov. WO 175/186 H.Q. 1 Guards Brigade 1942 Nov.- 1943 June WO 175/187 R.A.S.C. 1 Guards Brigade 1942 Dec.- 1943 Mar. WO 175/188 R.E.M.E. 1 Guards Brigade 1942 Dec.- 1943 June WO 170/514 1 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1944 Jan.- June WO 170/516 1 Guards Brigade: R.E.M.E. Wksp. 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/515 1 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1944 July - Dec. WO 170/4404 1 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1945 Jan.- Aug. WO 170/4405 1 Guards Brigade: R.E.M.E. Wksp. 1945 Jan.- Sept. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_1st_Infantry_Brigade_(Guards) As the 1st Guards Brigade, it was again part of the regular army British 1st Infantry Division during the Battle of France in June 1940. In 1942 the brigade was transferred into the British 78th Infantry Division (United Kingdom), First Army (United Kingdom) where it acted as a reserve formation for Operation Torch: the allied landings in north western Africa, arriving in Algiers in November 1942. In March 1943, whilst still in Tunisia, the brigade was again transferred- this time to the 6th Armoured Division (United Kingdom). In Feb 1944 the brigade was temporarily separated from the 6th Armoured Division and moved to Italy, where it came under the control of a number of allied divisions in the mixed force U.S. 5th Army. Despite operating in other divisions sectors during this period it was never truly separated from the 6th Armoured Division and after the final Battle of Monte Cassino in May 1944 (where the brigade played a holding "hinge" role during Operation Diadem) it was returned to the 6th Armoured Division, which had been transferred across from Tunisia piecemeal. It was whilst the Battalion was in Cassino that the 1st Guards Brigade was moved to the British Eighth Army. At the end of the war, back as part of the 1st Infantry Division, it was transferred to Palestine for internal security duties. Structure (World War II) 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards 3rd Battalion, Welsh Guards 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st Battalion, The Welch Regiment Commanders (World War II) Brig. M.B.Beckwith-Smith Brig. F.A.V. Copland-Griffiths Brig. S.A. Foster Brig. P.G.S. Gregson-Ellis Brig. J.C. Haydon Brig. C.A.M.D. Scott Brig. G.L. Verney Battles and Engagements (World War II) Fondouk - 7th to 11 April 1943 El Kourzia - 22nd to 26 April 1943 Tunis - 5th to 12 May 1943 Battle of Monte Cassino - 11th to 18 May 1944 Liri Valley - 18th to 30 May 1944
TNA Ref. / Title and content / Date range WO 166/6655 ARMOURED BRIGADES: 5 GUARDS ARMOURED BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1942 Jan.-Dec. WO 166/10733 H.Q. 5 Guards Brigade 1943 Jan.-Dec. WO 171/605 HQ 5 Guards Armoured Brigade 1944 Jan-Dec WO 171/606 Royal Electrical Mechnical Engineers (REME) Workshop 5 Guards Armoured Brigade 1944 Jan-Dec Click here for transcript WO 171/4318 H.Q. 5 Guards Armoured Brigade 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 171/4319 R.E.M.E. Wksp. 5 Guards Armoured Brigade 1945 Jan.- Dec. 5th Guards Armoured Brigade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The 5th Guards Armoured Brigade was a Second World War British Army formation, a component unit of the Guards Armoured Division. This brigade was converted from the 20th Infantry Brigade (Guards) on 15 September 1941. It was stationed in the United Kingdom until 30 June 1944 when it arrived in Normandy as part of the Guards Armoured Division. The brigade served throughout the North West Europe Campaign. On 12 June 1945 it was converted to the 5th Guards Brigade. Component Units 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards 2nd Grenadier Guards Armoured 1st Coldstream Guards Armoured 2nd Irish Guards Armoured Commanders Brig.W.A.F.L. Fox-Pitt Lieut.Col. R. Myddleton Brig. C.M. Dillwyn-Venables-Llewelyn Brig. N.W. Gwatkin
TNA Ref. / Title and content / Date range WO 166/6656 ARMOURED BRIGADES: 6 GUARDS ARMOURED BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1942 Jan.-Dec. WO 171/607 HQ 6 Guards Tank Brigade 1944 Jan-Dec WO 171/608 Ord. Fd. Pk. 6 Guards Tank Brigade 1944 Jan., Apr.-Dec. WO 171/609 Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (REME) Recovery Section 6 Guards Tank Brigade 1944 Aug-Sept WO 171/610 Royal Electrical Mechnical Engineers (REME) Workshop 6 Guards Tank Brigade 1944 May-Dec WO 171/4321 H.Q. 6 Guards Brigade 1945 Jan.- Aug. WO 171/4322 H.Q. 6 Guards Brigade 1945 Sept.- Dec. WO 171/4323 Ord. Fd. Pk. 6 Guards Brigade 1945 Jan.- Nov. WO 171/4324 R.E.M.E. Wksp. 6 Guards Brigade 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 171/8810 H.Q. 6 Guards Brigade 1946 Jan.-June WO 171/8811 R.E.M.E. Wksp. 6 Guards Brigade 1946 Jan.-July 6th Guards Tank Brigade (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The 6th Guards Tank Brigade was formed in 1941 as the 6th Guards Armoured Brigade when Great Britain was under the threat of invasion and more armoured formations were required, permission was granted from King George VI and the Colonels of the Regiments involved and over the summer of 1941, the Infantry of the Guards converted into an armoured formation and so the Guards Armoured Division was formed which contained the 5th Guards Armoured Brigade and the 6th Guards Armoured Brigade. In 1942 all British armoured divisions were reorganised to have one armoured brigade and one motor brigade. The 6th Guards Armoured became an independent tank brigade being renamed as the 6th Guards Tank Brigade. The brigade now equipped with the Churchill tank, served in the North West Europe Campaign landing in Normandy on 20 July 1944. They went onto take part in Operation Bluecoat, Operation Veritable finally ending the war at Lübeck on the Baltic Sea where they captured a U-boat. Formation 4th Armoured Battalion Grenadier Guards 4th Motor Battalion Coldstream Guards 3rd Armoured Battalion Scots Guards 2nd Armoured Battalion Welsh Guards Commanders 15 January 1943 – 3 August 1944 Brigadier GL Verney 3 August 1944 – 16 August 1944 Brigadier Sir Walter Bartellot, Bt 18 August 1944 – 2 February 1945 Brigadier WDC Greenacre
TNA Ref. / Title and content / Date range WO 166/909 BRIGADES: 7TH. (GUARDS) BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1940 July- 1941 Aug. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_7th_Infantry_Brigade_(Guards) The 7th Infantry Brigade (Guards) was a British Army formation in the Second World War, it served with the British 3rd Infantry Division in France and Belgium 1940. On 15 September 1941 it was converted to the Guards Support Group. On 8 December 1941 it was reformed from the British 37th Infantry Brigade serving with British 9th Armoured Division from June 1942 to July 1944 followed by the British 47th Infantry Division from the 10th September 1944 until August 1945 . On 30 September 1944 it was reorganised as a reserve brigade. Structure - As 7th (Guards) Infantry Brigade)-3rd Sept.1939 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
TNA Ref. / Title and content / Date range WO 166/926 BRIGADES: 20TH. (GUARDS) BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1940 May- 1941 Sept. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_20th_Independent_Infantry_Brigade_(Guards) The British 20th Independent Infantry Brigade was a British Army brigade in World War II. It served with the 1st Armoured Division during the Battle of France in 1940, briefly defending Boulogne in May 1940 before being successfully evacuated. On 15 September 1941 the brigade was converted into the 5th Guards Armoured Brigade ; a component of the Guards Armoured Division . It served with distinction through the battles in Normandy, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany . Structure 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards 2nd Battalion, Welsh Guards 5th Battalion, The Loyal Regiment 1st Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment Commanders Brig. Sir Oliver Leese Brig. W.A.F.L.Fox-Pitt
TNA Ref. / Title and content / Date range WO 168/24 24 (Guards) Infantry Brigade 1940 Feb.-May WO 166/927 BRIGADES: 24TH. (GUARDS) BRIGADE GROUP: Headquarters (HQ). 1940 July- 1941 Dec. WO 166/928 BRIGADES: 24TH. (GUARDS) BRIGADE GROUP: Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). 1941 Jan.-Dec. WO 166/929 BRIGADES: 24TH. (GUARDS) BRIGADE GROUP: Reconnaissance Corps. 1941 Feb.-Dec. WO 166/6574 BRIGADES: 24 GUARDS BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1942 Jan.-Sept. WO 175/203 H.Q. 24 Guards Brigade 1943 Jan.- June WO 175/204 R.A.S.C. 24 Guards Brigade 1943 Mar., June WO 175/205 R.E.M.E. 24 Guards Brigade 1943 Feb.- June WO 170/585 24 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1944 Jan.- May WO 170/586 24 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1944 June - Aug. WO 170/587 24 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1944 Sept., Oct. WO 170/588 24 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1944 Nov., Dec WO 170/589 24 Guards Brigade: R.E.M.E. Wksp. 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/590 24 Guards Brigade: Ord. Fd. Pk. 1944 Oct.- Dec. WO 170/4448 24 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1945 Jan.- May WO 170/4449 24 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1945 June - Dec. WO 170/4450 24 Guards Brigade: R.E.M.E. Wksp. 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/4451 24 Guards Brigade: Ord. Fd. Pk. 1945 Jan.- Mar. WO 170/7760 24 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1946 Jan.- June WO 170/7761 24 Guards Brigade: R.E.M.E. Wksp 1946 Jan.- June http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_24th_Infantry_Brigade_(Guards) In 1940 as 24th Guards Brigade, under the command of Brigadier Colin Gubbins, it was part of Lieutenant General H.R.S. Massey's unsuccessful British force that was sent to Norway in April. It arrived in Narvik on April 15, 1940 and was evacuated on June 8, 1940. In 1942-1943 the Brigade formed part of the British 1st Infantry Division and the British 6th Armoured Division during the fighting in Tunisia and Algeria. From December 7, 1943 to August 31, 1945 it served in the Italian Campaign mainly with the 6th South African Armoured Division. As 24th Guards Brigade it was part of the force that liberated Trieste in 1945, but soon afterwards lost its 'Guards' title as the Guards units were withdrawn from the brigade. Order of battle 1939 - 1945: 5th Battalion, Grenadier Guards 1st Battalion, Scots Guards 1st Battalion, Irish Guards 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers 42nd Field Coy, Royal Engineers
TNA Ref. / Title and content / Date range WO 166/946 BRIGADES: 32ND. (GUARDS) BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1941 Sept.-Dec. WO 166/6578 BRIGADES: 32 GUARDS BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1942 Jan.-Dec. WO 166/10758 H.Q. 32 GUARDS BRIGADE 1943 Jan.- Dec. WO 171/638 H.Q. 32 Guards Brigade 1944 Jan.-Dec. WO 171/639 R.E.M.E. Wksp. 32 Guards Brigade 1944 Jan.-Dec. WO 171/4357 H.Q. 32 Guards Brigade 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 171/4358 R.E.M.E. Wksp. 32 Guards Brigade 1945 Jan.- 1946 Feb. WO 171/8826 H.Q. 32 Guards Brigade 1946 Jan.-June WO 171/8827 R.E.M.E. Wksp. 32 Guards Brigade 1946 Jan.-Mar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_32nd_Infantry_Brigade_(Guards) The Brigade was reformed as 32nd Guards Brigade on 1 October 1941, joining the Guards Armoured Division, but did not see active service until it arrived in Normandy on 25 June 1944. It fought throughout the campaign in North West Europe. Component Units during World War II 5th Battalion Coldstream Guards 2nd Battalion Scots Guards 3rd Battalion Irish Guards 1st Battalion Welsh Guards Its commanding officers in World War II included: Brigadier L. Bootle-Wilbraham Brigadier G.L. Verney Brigadier J.C.O. Marriott Brigadier G.F. Johnson Lieutenant-Colonel J.C. Windsor-Lewis Brigadier J.O.E. Vandeleur
TNA Ref. / Title and content / Date range WO 166/947 BRIGADES: 33RD. INDEPENDENT (GUARDS) BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1941 Nov.-Dec. WO 166/6579 BRIGADES: 33 INDEPENDENT GUARDS BRIGADE: Headquarters (HQ). 1942 Jan.-Dec. WO 166/10759 H.Q. 33 INDEPENDENT GUARDS BRIGADE 1943 Jan.- Oct. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33rd_Independent_Infantry_Brigade_(Guards) It was re-formed as 33rd Independent Infantry Brigade(Guards) in October 1941 during the Second World War, under the command of Brigadier J. Jefferson. The Brigade included 6th Battalion Coldstream Guards, 3rd Battalion Irish Guards, and 3rd Battalion Welsh Guards. However the brigade was disbanded on 6 October 1943 without leaving the United Kingdom.
TNA Ref. / Title and content / Date range WO 169/4307 H.Q. 200 GUARDS BRIGADE 1942 Jan.- Mar. WO 169/4308 Pro. Unit 200 GUARDS BRIGADE 1942 May 22nd Guards Brigade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The 22nd Infantry Brigade was formed by the conversion of the 29th Infantry Brigade on 3 September 1939 and in March 1940 became responsible for all the troops in the Mersa Matruh Garrison area. In February 1941 the unit was reformed and renamed the 22nd Guards Brigade on 20 March 1941. It was converted to the 200th Guards Brigade (14 January 1942) and then finally the 201st Guards Motor Brigade (25 May 1942). This Guards Brigade saw extensive service in the North African Campaign. It was forced to surrender on 20 June 1942 when Tobruk was captured by German and Italian forces. It was reformed as the 201st Guards Motor Brigade in Egypt on 14 August 1942. It was eventually sent back to the United Kingdom where it became a training unit for all Guards Regiments.
TNA Ref. / Title and content / Date range WO 169/4309 H.Q. 201 GUARDS MOTOR BRIGADE 1942 Sept.- Dec. WO 169/4310 Wskp. R.E.M.E. 201 GUARDS MOTOR BRIGADE 1942 Oct.- Dec. WO 169/4311 Pro. Unit 201 GUARDS MOTOR BRIGADE 1942 Sept.- Dec. WO 169/8984 H.Q. 201 GUARDS MOTOR BRIGADE 1943 Jan.- June, Sept. WO 169/8985 H.Q. 201 GUARDS MOTOR BRIGADE 1943 Oct.- Dec. WO 169/8986 R.E.M.E. Wksp. 201 GUARDS MOTOR BRIGADE 1943 Jan.- July, Sept. - Dec. WO 169/8987 Provost 201 GUARDS MOTOR BRIGADE 1943 Jan.- Mar. WO 170/636 201 Guards Brigade: H.Q. 1944 Jan.- Mar. WO 170/637 201 Guards Brigade: Ord. Fd. Pk. 1944 Feb.- Apr. WO 170/638 201 Guards Brigade: Ord. Fd. Pk. 1944 May - Sept. WO 170/639 201 Guards Brigade: R.E.M.E. Wksp. 1944 Jan.- Aug WO 166/14359 H.Q. 201 Guards Brigade 1944 Apr.-Dec. WO 166/16457 H.Q. 201 Guards Brigade 1945 Jan.-Dec. 22nd Guards Brigade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Does anyone have information of any kind on the Forward or Tank Delivery Squadron of 5 Guards Armoured Brigade please.Thankyou.