The 42nd Royal Tank Regiment (42 RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Army from 1938[1] until 1956. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps.
| 42nd Royal Tank Regiment | |
|---|---|
 Cap badge of the Royal Tank Regiment | |
| Active | November 1938 – October 1956 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Armoured |
| Size | One regiment |
| Part of | Royal Armoured Corps |
| Motto(s) | Fear Naught |
| March | Quick: "My Boy Willie" (all RTR regiments) Slow: "The Royal Tank Regiment Slow March" |
Mobilisation
editThe unit was formed on 1 November 1938 by converting the 7th (23rd London) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, a Territorial Army (TA) infantry battalion, into a tank unit. For a short while it was 42nd (7th (23rd London) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment) Battalion of the Royal Tank Corps before the corps was redesignated the Royal Tank Regiment in 1939.[2][3]
World War II
editThe regiment was mobilised on the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939 as part of 21st Army Tank Brigade, composed of three TA battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment.[4]
The unit formed part of 1st Army Tank Brigade in 1941–42, serving with it in the Western Desert Campaign including the Second Battle of El Alamein.[5]
For the invasion of Northern Europe in 1944, it was equipped with Canal Defence Light Grant tanks. These were not used in battle.[citation needed]
Postwar
editFrom 1947, when the TA was reconstituted, the regiment was in 22nd Armoured Brigade under the 56th (London) Infantry Division.[6]
In 1956, the regiment was converted back to infantry, becoming the 23rd London again.[3][7]
Notes
edit- ^ "Between the Wars - The Royal Tank Regiment Association". Royaltankregiment.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ "42 Royal Tank Corps". Ordersofbattle.com. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ a b 23rd Londons at Regiments.org.
- ^ Joslen, p. 200.
- ^ Joslen, pp. 195, 566.
- ^ Watson, TA 1947
- ^ "The London Regiment". Queensroyalsurreys.org.uk. 1 April 1908. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
References
edit- Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
External links
edit- Merseyside RTR (Brian Gill's website)
- Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth – Regiments.org (archive site)
- Graham Watson, The Territorial Army 1947
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