| Unit Name: | 10th Armoured Division |
| Dates: | 1 August 1941 – 15 June 1944[1] 1956–1957 |
| Country: |  United Kingdom |
| Type: | Armoured |
| Size: | Second World War 13,225–14,964 men[2] 186 tanks |
| Garrison: | Western Desert Tripoli |
| Battles: | North African Campaign |
| Battle Honours: | 30 August–7 September 1942 Alam el Halfa[3] 23 October–4 November 1942 El Alamein |
| Notable Commanders: | Alexander Gatehouse |
The 10th Armoured Division was an armoured formation of division-size of the British Army, raised during the Second World War and was active from 1941–1944 and after the war from 1956–1957. It was formed from the 1st Cavalry Division, a 1st Line Yeomanry unit of the Territorial Army (TA) which had previously been serving in Palestine. The division was converted from cavalry to armour and redesignated from 1 August 1941.
The divisional sign was a fox's mask, representing the hunting tradition of the formation's cavalry and Yeomanry units. The division was originally under command of HQ British Troops Palestine and Transjordan, but transferred to Ninth Army when the headquarters was redesignated on 1 November 1941.[4] It was later transferred into Egypt, serving under HQ Middle East, XXX Corps, British Eighth Army, and X Corps. The division fought at the Battles of Alam Halfa and El Alamein. It was disbanded on 15 June 1944 in Egypt.[5]
The 10th Armoured Division was also briefly active after the war ended in Libya in the 1950s, incorporating 25th Armoured Brigade,[6] but was disbanded in July 1957.[7] The 25th Armoured Brigade was formed in 1952 to provide an operational headquarters for the troops in Libya. Also 1st RTR & 3rd RHA in Canal Zone, Egypt 1954/56 (Not listed on Orbat site). The Royal Scots Greys arrived in Libya in 1952, and stayed until 1955. Other units of the brigade from 1952 were the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery and the 14th/20th King's Hussars. Also the Queens Bays at Sabratha [8] 5th Royal Tank Regiment became part of 25th Armd Bde Gp in Cyrenaica from December 1954 to March 1957 http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-armoured-corps/5th-royal-tank-regiment.html.
In May and June 1956 the brigade was hastily expanded to division status as 10th Armoured Division, with the intention of invading Egypt from the west during the Suez Canal Crisis.[9] Planning was halted when it was found that such an invasion was banned under the terms of Britain's treaty with Libya. The Armoured Brigade Signals Squadron was expanded to 10th Armd Div Signals in May–June 1956, based in Tripoli. It began to wind up in April 1957, and disbanded completely in September 1957.[10]
From 1948 to 1957 22 Engineer Regiment was in Libya, with a short stint in Egypt in October 1951 http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-engineers/regiments---major-units/22-regiment.html. It was under the command of 1st Infantry Division and 10th Armoured Division.
5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards was at Wavell Barracks, Benghazi from December 1965, operating armoured cars, with "A" Squadron at Ziyyi Camp in Cyprus, until the end of 1967.http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-armoured-corps/royal-inniskilling-dragoon-guards.html
| Appointed | General Officer Commanding | |
| 1 August 1941 | Major-General John Clark | |
| 26 June 1942 | Major-General Alexander Gatehouse | |
| 18 December 1942 | Major-General Charles Norman | |
| 12 January 1943 | Major-General Horace Birks | |
| 1955 | Major-General Rodney Moore[11] |
The 10th Armoured Division was constituted as follows during the war:[1]
8th Armoured Brigade (left 16 February 1942, rejoined 27 March 1942, left 30 June 1942, rejoined 17 July 1942, left 21 November 1942)[12]
9th Armoured Brigade (from 9 October 1941, left 25 March 1942, rejoined 14 November 1942, left 27 May 1943)[13]
7th Armoured Brigade (from 3 June 1943, left 11 April 1944)[14]
23rd Armoured Brigade (from 1 June 1944, left 14 June 1944)[15]
7th Motor Brigade (from 12 September 1942, left 23 September 1942)[16]
133rd Lorried Infantry Brigade (from 29 September 1942, left 25 November 1942)[17]
201st Guards Motor Brigade (from 9 January 1943, left 1 February 1943)[18]
Divisional Troops
Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Engineers
Royal Corps of Signals
10th Armoured Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Artillery