Guards Support Group (United Kingdom) Explained

Unit Name:	Guards Support Group
Dates:	15 September 1941–1 June 1942
Branch:	British Army
Type:	Armoured Support
Size:	Brigade
Command Structure:	Guards Armoured Division

The Guards Support Group was a brigade size formation within the British Guards Armoured Division. The Support Group (or "pivot group") provided whatever support the division's armoured brigades needed for the operation in hand. It was able to provide motorised infantry, field artillery, anti-tank artillery or light anti-aircraft artillery as needed. It was formed in 1941 by the conversion of the 7th Infantry Brigade (Guards) which had served in the Battle of France, and disbanded in 1942 (prior to seeing any active service) when it was converted into Headquarters, Royal Artillery, for Guards Armoured Division.^[1]

Commanders

The following officers commanded the support group during its existence:^[1]

• • 15 September 1941 – 10 October 1941 Brigadier A. de L. Cazenove 10 October 1941 – 31 May 1942 Brigadier L. C. Manners-Smith

Order of Battle

• 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
• 153rd (Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery – from 10 October 1941
• 21st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery – from 10 October 1941
• 94th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery – from 27 January 1942

See also

• List of British brigades of the Second World War

References

• Boscawen, Robert. Armoured Guardsmen: A War Diary, June 1944 – April 1945. Barnsley, England: Pen & Sword, 2001.
  • Sanders, J, British Guards Armoured Division 1941-1945, Osprey Vanguard, 1979

Notes and References

1. Joslen, p. 214.