Introduction

This document deals with WW2 small-unit organisations for Britain and its Commonwealth. It is a large file; sources on British organisations are easier to find than those for other nations, there are a large number of small and often ad-hoc raiding force organisations, and, I suspect, there is something of the traditional British tendency to "muddle through". It should also be acknowledged that the Commonwealth embraced a wide variety of different nations, and, unlike some participants, was in active combat in every year of the war. Infantry battalions are numbered within their regiment, for example, 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment. Infantry regiments are traditional and administrative rather than combat organisations; in combat organisations, infantry battalions will be directly subordinate to brigades, which are numbered. A battalion number such as 1/7th Queen's indicates a Territorial battalion; during the pre-war expansion of the Territorial Army, battalions were split to double the establishment, so for example 7th Queen's spawned 1/7th and 2/7th Queen's. To add confusion, some regiments, especially Commonwealth infantry, may retain their old regimental number, for example the Canadian 22me Regiment. In RAC units, the regiment is a battalion-sized organisation, made up of squadrons rather than companies. In the early part of the war, both the Royal Tank Regiment and Reconnaissance Corps used the term battalion, but changed to cavalry nomenclature later. Cavalry squadrons are numbered, and here a divided number, such as 3rd/4th Sharpshooters, indicates that regiments have at some time been amalgamated. Within the battalion or regiment, companies or squadrons other than HQ are usually designated with letters, for example D Company. A support company or troop may be designated S. In No. 3 Army commando, troops were from 1942 on numbered in Arabic numerals; in Royal Marine Commandos, they are lettered after the fashion of naval gun turrets, for example X troop. By tradition, 7 RTR does not use the squadron letter "C". Some battalions of foot guards use the designations "Right flank company" and "Left flank company". Rifle platoons are numbered sequentially within each battalion. The first six platoons are normally those in HQ and S companies, so A company, for example, will comprise 7, 8 and 9 platoons. Sections are numbered within the platoon. So, for example, Corporal Owen Cheeseman commanded No. 3 Section, 18 Platoon, D Company, 4th Somerset LI, 129 Infantry Brigade, 43 (Wessex) Division, XXX Corps. Small ad-hoc forces were often designated by a compound of the name of the commander with the word "force", for example, Foleyforce (commanded by Lt Foley), Layforce (commanded by Brig. Laycock), or using an arbitrary name, such as L Force and Bladeforce in Tunisia, or Scissorforce, the ad-hoc grouping of the first 5 Independent Companies deployed to Norway in 1940.

John D Salt 13 February 1999

Contents

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Army tank battalion, 1st Army Tank Brigade, BEF, 1940 [Zaloga 80] Fighting vehicle strengths for the two battalions making up this brigade are: Mk VI light tank 5 7 Matilda I 50 27 Matilda II 23 Carrier 8 8

4th RTR 7th RTR

Comments and corrections These two units, together with 7th and 8th battalions DLI, conducted the Arras counterattack. Armoured regiment, 1940 [Mollo 81] Total strength is 575 all ranks. The regiment has an HQ squadron and 3 tank squadrons. Vehicles include: 10 scout cars 52 cruiser tanks Armoured regiment, May 1942 [Mollo 81] The regiment has 3 squadrons. Weapons include: 55 cruiser tanks 6 CS cruiser tanks 8 AA tanks Comments and corrections The source says that armoured division organisation underwent two minor revisions after this date, in April 1943, adding cruiser and AA tanks, and March 1944, reducing AA tanks but adding cruiser and OP tanks.. Armoured regiment or army tank battalion, Tunisia, 19423 [Messenger 82] The regiment has an HQ squadron, 3 fighting squadrons and 4 AA tanks. RHQ has 4 tanks. Each fighting squadron has an SHQ and 4 troops. SHQ has 4 tanks. Each troop has 3 tanks. Comments and corrections The above shows the organisation used in 8th Army. The source says that in 1st Army, there are 8 AA tanks, and 5 troops per squadron.

Blade Force, Tunisia, 24th November 1943 [Messenger 82]

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

The force is composed of the following elements: 17th/21st Lancers, 3 sqns each with 12 2-pdr Valentines, 6 6-pdr Crusaders and 2 CS Crusaders B Sqn Derbyshire Yeomanry with armoured cars 1 battery of 25-pdr field guns 1 battery of 6-pdr anti-tank guns 1 troop of 40mm Bofors LAA guns B Company 10th Rifle Brigade 1 engineer troop Also attached just before the advance towards Sidi Nsir were: 1st Parachute battalion US 175th field artillery battalion, with 25-pdrs US 1st/1st Armor, with M3 light tanks Armoured regiment, 1943 [C&E 75] The regiment has an RHQ and 3 squadrons. RHQ has 4 tanks and 10 2-man scout cars. Each squadron has an SHQ and 5 troops. Each SHQ has 2 tanks and 2 CS tanks. Each troop has 3 tanks. Army tank battalion, 1943 [C&E 75] The battalion has an Bn HQ, an HQ squadron and 3 squadrons. HQ squadron has 4 cruiser tanks, 9 scout cars and 2 carriers. Each squadron has an SHQ and 5 troops. Each SHQ has 1 infantry or cruiser tank and 2 CS cruiser tanks. Each troop has 3 infantry tanks. Armoured regiment, June 1944 [Reynolds 97] The regiment has an HQ squadron and 3 squadrons. HQ squadron has 11 Stuarts and 4 AA tanks. Each squadron has 4 troops. Each troop has 1 Firefly and 3 Shermans or Cromwells. 3rd Battalion Scots Guards, June 1944 [White 78] The battalion has a Bn HQ, 11 scout cars, a recce troop, and 3 squadrons. Bn HQ has 4 Churchills, an ACV and 3 OP tanks. The recce troop has 12 Stuarts. Each Squadron (Right flank, S, and Left Flank) has an SHQ and 4 troops. Each SHQ has 4 Churchills and an ARV. Each troop has 3 Churchills. 1st Bn Royal Tank Regiment, June 1944 [White 78] The battalion has 4 Humber scout cars, a recce troop and 3 squadrons. The recce troop has 10 Stuarts. Each squadron has an SHQ and 4 troops. Each SHQ has 3 Cromwells. Each troop has 3 Cromwells and 1 Sherman Firefly. 2nd Armoured Regiment, Lord Strathcona's Horse [White 78] The regiment has an RHQ and 3 squadrons. RHQ has 4 Shermans. Each squadron has an HQ troop and 4 troops.

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Each HQ troop has 4 Shermans, except nos 1 and 3 troops which have 3. 91st Anti-tank Regiment Royal Artillery [White 78] The regiment has 2 self-propelled batteries (144 and 146), and 2 towed batteries. Each SP battery has a BHQ and 3 troops (A,B,C and G,H,I). Each BHQ has 1 command tank. Each troop has 4 M-10s, except H troop which has 3. Comments and corrections It is not stated what equipment the towed batteries have, but I would guess at 3 troops each of 4 towed 17-pdrs. Regiment, Royal Marine Armoured Support Group, 1944 [White 78] The regiment has 2 batteries. Each battery has 4 troops. Each troop has 1 Sherman control tank and 4 Centaur 95mm howitzer tanks. Comments and corrections The Royal Marine Armoured Support Group consisted of 2 regiments organised as above, plus 1 independent battery (the 5th battery). 141 Regiment RAC ("The Buffs"), June 1944 [WO291/986] The regiment has an RHQ, an HQ squadron and 3 squadrons. RHQ has 4 Infantry tanks. The HQ Squadron has 9 scout cars. Each squadron has an SHQ and 5 troops. Each SHQ has 1 Infantry tank and 3 scout cars. Each troop has 3 Crocodiles. Comments and corrections "From October '44, so that squadrons could operate in half squadron units, the number of troops per sqn. was reduced to 4, 3 containing 4 Crocodiles each, and one comprising 3 Crocodiles." Crocodile Regiment, 79th Armoured Divison [WO232/95] The regiment has an RHQ, 1 HQ squadron and 3 squadrons. RHQ has 1 infantry tank. HQ squadron has 9 scout cars. Each squadron has an SHQ and 4 troops. Each SHQ has 2 infantry tanks, 2 CS tanks and 1 scout car. 3 troops have 4 Crocodiles, 1 has 3 Crocodiles.

Flail Regiment, 79th Armoured Divison [WO232/95] The regiment has an RHQ and 3 squadrons. RHQ has 3 cruiser tanks (Shermans). Each squadron has an SHQ, an adm troop and 3 flail troops. Each SHQ has 1 cruiser and 2 CS tanks. Each flail troop has 5 flail tanks (Sherman Crab).

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, 79th Armoured Divison [WO232/95] The regiment has a CDL squadron and 2 or 3 Kangaroo squadrons. Each Kangaroo squadron has an SHQ and 4 troops. Each SHQ has 5 Kangaroos. Each troop has 12 Kangaroos. Buffalo Regiment, 79th Armoured Divison [WO232/95] The regiment has 3 squadrons. Each squadron has an SHQ and 5 troops. Each troop has 6 Buffaloes. Armoured Engineer Regiment RE, 79th Armoured Divison [WO232/95] The regiment has a Buffalo squadron and 2 AERE squadrons. The Buffalo squadron has 25 Buffaloes. Each AERE squadron has SHQ and 3 troops. Each SHQ has 2 AVREs. Each troop has 6 AVREs. Supporting armour, Walcheren, 1st November 1944 [Saunders 49] The regiment has 2 Sherman command tanks, 4 bulldozers, 8 AVREs and 10 flail tanks. Comments and corrections This force, carried in 4 LSTs, participated in the attack on Walcheren. 2 command tanks, 2 bulldozers, 6 AVREs and 6 flails were successfully landed. Within 24 hours, all but 2 command tanks and 2 AVREs were drowned.

Supporting armour, Walcheren, 1st November 1944 [WO291/873] The force consist of elements from 1st Lothians, 89 Assault Squadron RE, and 509 and 510 Field Companies RE. 1 Lothians and 89 Assault Squadron RE together have a total strength of 181 all ranks. 509 Field Coy RE have a total strngth of 158 all ranks. 510 Field Coy RE have a total strength of 186 all ranks.

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

The force has the following vehicles: 1 Lothians
Comd Sherman
Original strength

89 Assault Sqn RE Flail 10 4 3 3 1 1 1 AVRE 8 2 4 D7 4 2 1

509 & 510 Field Coys RE D7 5 3 1 1

Not landed
Drowned on beach

Drowned later Mined D+1 Mined D+2 Mined D+4 Mined D+6 Comments and corrections D7s are armoured bulldozers.

Armoured reconnaissance regiment, June 1944 [Reynolds 97] The regiment has an HQ squadron and 3 squadrons. HQ squadron has 11 Stuarts and 4 AA tanks. Each squadron has 19 Cromwells. Cavalry regiment, BEF, 1940 [Zaloga 80] The regiment has 28 Mk VI light tanks and 44 carriers. Cavalry regiment, 1940 [Mollo 81] The regiment has 28 light tanks and 44 carriers. Armoured car regiment, 1943 [C&E 75] Organisation of this regiment is said to vary. One version, stated to be for use in desert, is: The regiment has an RHQ, an HQ section, and 3 squadrons. Each squadron has an SHQ and 5 sections. RHQ has 4 armoured cars. HQ section has 12 scout cars. Each SHQ has 3 armoured cars. Each section has 3 armoured cars. An alternative arrangement, for use in close country, uses 4 squadrons: Each squadron has 5 troops. Each troop has 3 armoured cars, and a dismountable portion with 2 scout cars, 2 motorcycles, and 2 motorcycle combinations. Infantry battalion, 1939 [F-Hockley 76] The battalion 's HQ company has mortar, MMG and carrier platoons. The carrier platoon has 6 (later 12) carriers. Each rifle section numbers 8 men and has 1 Bren gun.

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Comments and corrections This is the only source to credit HQ company with MMGs. The source points out that many battalions did not see 2-in mortars or ATRs until the war was under way. Infantry battalion, 1939 [Ellis 93] Total strength is 813 all ranks. Weapons include: 50 LMGs 4 2-in mortars 2 3-in mortars 4 ATRs Comments and corrections This would seem to indicate an allocation of only 1 2-in mor and 1 ATR per company. Infantry battalion, 1940 [Mollo 81] Total strength is 33 officers and 780 men. The battalion has an HQ company and 4 rifle companies. HQ company has a signals pl, an AA pl, a mortar pl, a carrier pl, a pioneer pl and an admin pl. Each rifle company has a company HQ and 3 rifle platoons. Infantry battalion, 1941 [Kamps 91] Total strength is 780 men. Weapons include: 734 rifles 50 LMGs 22 ATRs 12 2-in mortars 2 3-in mortars Comments and corrections A note on the divisional organisation chart from which this is extracted says that "No division in Malaya ever achieved this scale of personnel or equipment". Infantry battalion, Tunisia, 19423 [Messenger 82] Total strength is 800 all ranks. The battalion has an HQ company and 4 rifle companies. HQ company has a signals platoon, a pioneer platoon, an admin platoon, a carrier platoon, a mortar platoon and an ATk platoon. The carrier platoon has 13 carriers. The mortar platoon has 6 3-in mortars. The ATk platoon has 4 ATk guns.

Comments and corrections The above shows the organisation used in 8th Army. The source says that in 1st Army, there are 8 ATk guns in the ATk platoon. Infantry battalion, 1943 [C&E 75] Total strength is 33 officers and 753 other ranks. The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company, and 4 rifle companies. HQ company has a company HQ and signals, AA, pioneer, mortar, admin and carrier platoons.

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Each rifle company has a company HQ and 3 rifle platoons. Each rifle platoon has a platoon HQ and 3 rifle sections. Offr Bn HQ Coy HQ Sigs pl AA pl Pnr pl Mor pl Adm pl
Carrie r pl

OR 50 8 35 20

pistol 11 1 4 1 1 4 3 2

rifle 42 5 32 19 21 42 62 58

SMG 2

Bren 1

AA twin Bren

ATR

2" mor

3" mor

5 1 1

1 4 4

1 1 2 2 2 1

21 45 57 62 11 6 10

3 1 4 13 1 4

4 coy HQs 12 pl HQs 36 secs

6 7 1 1

Vehicles 1 4-seater motor car 6 2-seater motor cars 1 30 cwt lorry 2 15-cwt personnel trucks 32 15-cwt cargo trucks 1 15-cwt water truck 13 3-ton lorries 27 motorcycles 31 bicycles 14 Bren gun carriers (in carrier platoon) 7 Bren carriers fitted for 3" mortar (in mortar platoon) Comments and corrections It is not clear why the admin platoon has apparently been issued more personal weapons that it has people. Company HQ should presumably be issued 2 pistols and 11 rifles. Assistant Bren gunners carry personal weapons, so the rifle sections should show 8 rifles instead of 7. The AAMG is a twin Bren. The source states that a motorised battalion (3 of which form the infantry brigade of an armoured division) has exactly the same organisation, but is carried in motor transport.

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Infantry battalion, June 1944 [Reynolds 97] Total strength is 845 all ranks, 821 if lorried. The battalion has a support company and 3 rifle companies. The support coy has a pioneer platoon, a carrier platoon, 6 medium mortars and 6 6-pdr ATk guns. The carrier platoon has 12 carriers. Each rifle company is 127 all ranks. Infantry battalion, 1944 [Forty 98] Total strength is 36 officers and 809 other ranks, including all RAMC, RAOC, REME and ACC attachments. The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company, a support company, and three rifle companies. HQ company has a company HQ and signals and admin platoons. Support company has a company HQ and mortar, carrier, ATk and pioneer platoons. The mortar platoon has 3 trucks, a lorry, 3 M/Cs, a carrier, and 6 detachments each with 1 mortar and 1 carrier. The carrier platoon has a pl HQ with 1 carrier, 2 trucks and 2 M/C, and 4 sections each with 3 carriers. The ATk platoon has 2 trucks, 3 M/C, a carrier, and 2 sections each with 2 ATk guns and 2 carriers. The pioneer platoon has 2 assault sections and 1 pioneer section. Each rifle company has a company HQ and 3 rifle platoons. Each rifle platoon has a platoon HQ and 3 rifle sections. Offr
Bn HQ
Coy HQ

OR 45 5 35 51 8 45 10 12

pistol

rifle

SMG

Bren

ATR

PIAT

2" mor

3" mor

6-pdr

5 1 1 2 1 1 2

Sigs pl
Adm pl Sp Coy HQ

Mor pl
Carri er pl HQ

4 2

42 4 9 6 3

4 carri er sec
ATk pl

2 1 2 1

53 28 14 6 10

26

Pnr pl 3 Coy HQ 9 pl HQ
27 secs

3 1 1

10

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Vehicles 33 bicycles 27 motorcycles 1 4-seater motor car 3 2-seater motor car 8 5-cwt car 1 15-cwt office truck 1 15-cwt personnel truck 26 15-cwt GS truck 13 3-ton GS lorry 12 Loyd carriers 27 Universal carriers 7 Carriers fitted for 3-in mor 1 15-cwt 2-wheel water trailer Comments and corrections Battalion totals of weapons are given as 63 LMGs and 23 PIATs, so some are obviously missing here. Forty gives his source as "Inf Trg Pt 1, The Infantry Battalion, 1944". Infantry battalion, 1944 [Ellis 93] Total strength is 821 all ranks. Weapons include: 49 LMGs 12 2-in mortars 6 3-in mortars 12 PIATs 6 6-pdr ATk guns Infantry battalion, 21 Army Group, 1944-1945 [Lincoln 94] Total strength is 36 officers and around 800 other ranks. The battalion has a Bn HQ, HQ company, support company and 4 rifle companies. Bn HQ, HQ coy and support coy together number 16 officers and over 300 other ranks. HQ company has an admin platoon and a signals platoon. Support company has a carrier platoon, a mortar platoon, an ATk platoon and a pioneer platoon. The carrier platoon has 4 sections each of 3 carriers. The mortar platoon has 6 3-in mortars in carriers. The ATk platoon has 3 sections each of 2 6-pdr ATk guns towed by carriers. The pioneer platoon has 4 sections. Each rifle company has an HQ and 3 platoons. Rifle company strength is 5 officers and about 120 men. Vehicles Company transport is 1 jeep, 1 carrier, and 2 or 3 15-cwt trucks. Infantry battalion, 21 Army Group, 1944-1945 [Jary 94] The battalion has a Bn HQ, HQ company, support company and 4 rifle companies. Support company has a carrier platoon, a mortar platoon, an ATk platoon and a pioneer platoon. Each rifle company has an HQ and 3 platoons.

11

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Company, Fusiliers de Mont Royal, 15th August 1944 [Blackburn 98] The company has 40 other ranks. Comments and corrections The company under Captain Noel Meilleur, with the strength shown above, was at this date the strongest in the battalion. Lorried infantry battalion, May 1942 [Ellis 93] Weapons include: 96 LMGs 4 2-in mortars 6 3-in mortars 6 2-pdr or 6-pdr ATk guns Comments and corrections I have no explanation for the large number of LMGs. Lorried infantry battalion, 1944 [Ellis 93] Weapons include: 64 LMGs 12 2-in mortars 6 3-in mortars 12 PIATs 6 2-pdr or 6-pdr ATk guns Lorried infantry battalion (1/7 Queen's), 6th June 1944 [WO171/1386] Bren Bn HQ HQ Coy HQ Signals pl Battle patrol Mortar pl Carrier pl Admin pl 4 R Coy HQs 12 Rifle pls ATk pl Sten 31 4 7 7 39 5 4 16 2" mortar 3" mortar PIAT 1 + 2 (RSM)

3 13 1 1 3 6

6 4 1 1 6

3 4 1 3*

Comments and corrections * = in company carrier. This table is taken from the loading instructions prior to D-Day. The source also states that platoons were issued with No. 38 wireless sets.

12

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Elements of lorried infantry battalion (1/7 Queen's), 16th October 1944 [WO171/1386] Bren 6 3 3 3 2" mortar 3 3 3 2 PIAT 3 3 Carriers 1 sec 1 sec

"B" Coy "D" Coy ATk pl Carrier pl

Comments and corrections This table shows the 4 main fire groups for operations on the night of 16th Oct 1944. Obviously, the entire battalion has not been committed. Infantry battalion, King's African Rifles [Mollo 81] Total strength is 36 officers, 44 British NCOs and other ranks, and 1050 African other ranks. The Somaliland Camel Corps, September 1939 [Mollo 81] Total strength is 14 British officers, 1 British NCO, and 554 non-European other ranks. Infantry battalion, Arab Legion [Mollo 81] Total strength is approximately 350 all ranks. Infantry battalion, King's Own Malta Regiment [Mollo 81] Total strength is 22 British and Maltese officers and 610 other ranks. The battalion has 4 companies. Each company has 4 platoons. Each platoon has a strength of 30 all ranks.

Machine-gun battalion, 1941 [Kamps 91] Total strength is 740 men. Weapons include: 559 rifles 18 LMGs 48 MMGs Comments and corrections A note on the divisional organisation chart from which this is extracted says that "No division in Malaya ever achieved this scale of personnel or equipment". I suspect that 18 LMGs is a misprint for 13.

13

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Machine-gun battalion, 1943 [C&E 75] Total strength is 29 officers and 711 other ranks. The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company and 4 MG companies. HQ company has a company HQ and signals, AA and admin platoons. Each MG company has a company HQ and 3 MG platoons. Officers 5 1 1 2 2 1 ORs 38 4 31 20 54 24 39 pistol 10 1 19 1 3 5 10 rifle 33 4 13 19 53 21 30 Bren ATR 1 1 1 1 4 MMG

Bn HQ Coy HQ Sigs pl AA pl Adm pl 4 Coy HQ 12 MG pl

4 1 2

Vehicles 1 4-seater motor car 8 2-seater motor cars 1 30 cwt lorry 86 15-cwt personnel trucks 8 15-cwt GS trucks 5 15-cwt water truck 13 3-ton lorries 49 motorcycles Comments and corrections Platoons are presumably subdivided into 4 sections of 10, each with 1 Vickers MMG. The source says that MG battalions are Corps troops. Machine-gun battalion, 1944 [Forty 98] Total strength is 35 officers and 662 other ranks. The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company, a Heavy Mortar company and 3 MG companies. The Heavy mortar company has four mortar platoons. Each mortar platoon has 4 4.2" mortars. Each MG company has 3 MG platoons. Each MG platoon has 4 Vickers MMGs. Comments and corrections 1 such MG battalion is assigned to an infantry division. Machine-gun battalion, 1944 [Ellis 93] Weapons include: 42 Heavy MGs 16 4.2" mortars Comments and corrections By "Heavy MGs", Ellis certainly means Vickers MMGs. A total of 42 MGs between three MG companies suggests 14 per company, which seems a strange number. The same source states that the MG company of a 1944 armoured division has 12 MMGs, 4 4.2" mortars and 6 flamethrowers.

14

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Machine-gun battalion, June 1944 [Reynolds 97] The battalion has 40 MMGs. Comments and corrections The source shows 1 such MG battalion assigned to an infantry division. 40 seems a strange number. Elsewhere, the same source shows the MMG company of an armoured division as having 22 MMGs, which seems equally odd. Motor battalion, 1940 [Ellis 93] Weapons include: 48 LMGs Vehicles include: 12 carriers 36 trucks Comments and corrections 2 such motor battalions appear in the support group of the 1940 armoured division. The Feb 1942 Middle East armoured division has 1 motor bn in the armoured brigade, and 3 in the infantry brigade. Motor battalion, May 1942 [Ellis 93] Weapons include: 70 LMGs 12 MMGs 6 3-in mortars 12 2-pdr or 6-pdr ATk guns Motor battalion, Tunisia, 19423 [Messenger 82] Total strength is 600 all ranks. The battalion has an HQ company and 3 rifle companies. HQ company has a signals platoon, a pioneer platoon, an admin platoon, a carrier platoon, a mortar platoon and an ATk platoon. The carrier platoon has 13 carriers. The mortar platoon has 6 3-in mortars. The ATk platoon has 4 ATk guns. Comments and corrections The source states that the battalion is mounted in Bren carriers. The only battalions of this type were in 201 Guards Brigade, part of 8th Army's XXX Corps. Motor battalion, 1943 [C&E 75] Total strength is 26 officers and 774 other ranks. The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company and 4 motor companies. The battalion has 6 2-pdr ATk guns. Each motor company has 3 motor platoons and 1 scout platoon. Each motor platoon has 3 sections, each with its own vehicle. Each scout platoon has 11 Bren gun carriers. Comments and corrections Although not specifically mentioned, I imagine that companies and platoons have HQs, and that a mortar platoon features somewhere. The motor battalion is the infantry element of the armoured brigade of an armoured division.

15

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Motor battalion, 1944 [Ellis 93] Weapons include: 48 LMGs 8 MMGs 15 2-in mortars 6 3-in mortars 3 PIATs 4 6-pdr ATk guns Motor battalion, June 1944 [Reynolds 97] The battalion has a support company and 3 motor companies. Support company has 8 MMGs and 12 6-pdr ATk guns. Each motor company has 175 all ranks. Reconnaissance regiment [Forty 98] The regiment has an RHQ, an HQ squadron, and 3 recce squadrons. HQ sqn has an SHQ, a signals troop, a mortar troop, an ATk battery and an admin troop. The mortar troop has 6 3-in mortars. The ATk battery has a BHQ and 2 ATk troops. Each ATk troop has 4 6-pdr guns. Each recce squadron has an SHQ, 3 recce troops and an assault troop. Each assault troop has a troop HQ and 4 sections. Each section has a Cpl. LCpl, 5 soldiers and a driver in a 15-cwt truck. Each recce troop has a recce section and two carrier sections. Each recce section has 4 Light Recce Cars. Each carrier section has 3 carriers. Comments and corrections Forty gives his source as Richard Doherty's "Only the Enemy in Front", Book Club Associates, 1994, which shows the same organisation, but using infantry instead of cavalry designations (battalion instead of regiment, company instead of squadron and platoon instead of troop). It is noted that the change of terminology came in June 1942. It is also noted that "Towards the end of the Tunisian campaign armoured cars were issued to the reconnaissance troops which then deployed two armoured cars and three light reconnaissance cars each".

Reconnaissance regiment, 1943 [C&E 75] Total strength is 40 officers and 753 other ranks. The regiment has an RHQ, an HQ squadron, and 3 squadrons. HQ sqn has an SHQ, an AA troop, a scout troop, a mortar troop, an ATk troop and an admin troop. Each squadron has an SHQ, 3 scout troops and an assault troop.

16

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Each scout troop has a troop HQ, an armoured car section, and 2 carrier sections. Offr RH Q SH Q
AA tp

OR 26 3 18

pistol 14 2 2 23 4

rifle 17 3 16 17 41

SMG 1

Bren

AAMG

ATR 2

2" mor

3" mor

2-pdr

5 2

Sct tp
Mor tp

1 1 2 2 2 1 1

39 44 46 55 26 8 4

3 7 1 1 1 5 1 4 1 1 1

6 6

AT tp
Adm tp

5 3 3 3

72 25 33 2

3 SHQ 3 asslt tp
9 scout tp HQ

9 a/c sec
18 carri er sec

14 9

1 9

14

5 3

4 1 1

Vehicles 73 motorcycles 5 4-seater motor cars 42 15-cwt trucks 5 15-cwt wireless trucks 64 15-cwt personnel trucks 2 15-cwt water trucks 52 armoured cars (5 per a/c section) 6 3-ton lorries 6 30-cwt portees (AT platoon) 63 Bren carriers (3 per carrier section) 7 carriers fitted for 3-in mortar (mortar platoon) Comments and corrections It is stated that reconnaisance regiments has "recently adopted cavalry nomenclature" in 1943. 1 such recce battalion would be assigned to an infantry division. Reconnaissance regiment, June 1944 [Reynolds 97] The regiment has an HQ squadron and 3 recce squadrons. HQ squadron has 6 medium mortars and 8 6-pdr ATk guns. Each recce squadron has an assault troop and 3 scout troops.

17

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Patrol, 49 Recconnaissance Regiment, 3rd October 1944 [WO232/36] The patrol consists of 1 Armd C troop, 1 Carrier troop, 1 Assault troop and a 3-in mortar detachment. The Armd C troop has 2 heacy armoured cars and 1 light recce car. The Carrier troop has 2 sections, 1 of 3 carriers, 1 of 2 carrier plus 1 tp leader's carrier. Comments and corrections This source contains an account of an action fought by this patrol in the area AerleMaerle. It mentions the use of mounted fire from the carriers, "sousing" areas with fire, a charge by the carrier troop, and the knocking out of a 20mm flak gun by a PIAT shot from 200 yards. The report concludes "Carrier Tp, with assiatnce of Armd C Tp, had by then accounted for two 88m and three 20mm flak guns, taken 6 PW and killed 7 Germans, They then went on with their next job." Patrol, Long Range Desert Group, 1941 [Swinson 68] Total strength is 2 officers and 30 other ranks. Weapons include: 11 MGs 4 ATRs 1 37mm Bofors ATk gun 11 30-cwt trucks Comments and corrections This is the original establishment laid down by Major Ralph Bagnold (the original name of the formation was Long Range Patrols). Later the patrol was halved in size, with a typical strength of 1 officer and 1518 men in 5 trucks. This source mentions a patrol using 2-in mortars in action. Patrol, Long Range Desert Group, 1942 [Popski 50] The patrol has 5 30-cwt trucks trucks, each with 5 men. Jeep patrol, SAS, July 1942 [Hunter 85] The patrol has 18 jeeps and 68 Vickers 'K' MGs. Comments and corrections This force made the "great jeep raid" on Fuka airfield. No. 1 Demolition Squadron, 15th November 1942 [Popski 50] The rank structure of the squadron is: 1 Major 1 Captain 3 Subalterns 1 Sergeant 2 Corporals 15 privates The squadron has 4 armed jeeps and 2 3-ton trucks. Comments and corrections No.1 Demolition Squadron was the original and short-lived name of Popski's Private Army. The above scale is as authorised by War Establishment ME WE 866/1. In fact, the strength of the unit at this date was one man, Popski himself.

18

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Patrol, Popski's Private Army, 1943 [Popski 50] The patrol has 5 armed jeeps, 1 Bren gun, 1 3-in mortar, 2 radio sets, mines and explosives. Each jeep mounts 1 .30cal MMG and 1 .50cal HMG, with a crew of 2 or 3 men. Each man carries a .45 pistol and a carbine or tommy-gun. Comments and corrections Later in the war the number of jeeps per patrol was raised to 6, but otherwise this organisation was kept until the end of the war. Jeep squadron, 2 SAS, August 1944 [Hunter 85] The squadron has 20 jeeps armed with Vickers 'K' guns. At one time the squadron was organised into 3 groups of 5, 8 and 7 jeeps. Comments and corrections This squadron under Roy Farran conducted extremely successful operations in conjunction with the Maquis in the Loire valley. The source mentions dismounted use of a Bren and a 3-in mortar. 11th Independent Company, 1940 [Carman 88] The company has a total strength of 115 men. Comments and corrections This was the last of the Independent Companies to be formed; in late 1940 they were formed into the Special Service Brigade, and from March 1941 became Army Commandos. Army commando, 1940 [Saunders 49] The commando has 10 troops. Each troop has 2 sections. Rank structure of the Commando is: 1 Lieutenant-Colonel 1 Major 10 Captains 24 Subalterns 2 WO IIs 42 Sergeants 81 Corporals 122 Lance-Corporals 250 Privates Army commando, 1943 [Chappell 96] The commando has a Cdo HQ, a heavy weapons troop, and 5 numbered rifle troops. The heavy weapons troop numbers 39 all ranks, and has a 3-in mortar section and an MMG section. Each rifle troop has a troop HQ and 2 sections. Troop HQ has an officer and 3 other ranks. Each section has a section HQ and 2 sub-sections. Section HQ has an officer and 2 other ranks. Each sub-section has 14 other ranks.

Elements of No. 6 Troop, No. 3 Commando, 19th August 1942 [Saunders 49] Total strength is 3 officers and 17 other ranks.

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WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

The troop's weapons are: 1 3-in mortar with 4 bombs 1 2-in mortar with 6 bombs 1 Bren 6 Thompson SMGs 9 rifles 1 M-1 Garand 3 pistols Comments and corrections This force under Maj Peter Young attacked the Goebbels battery at Berneval during the Dieppe landings. It was landed from LCP 16 (Lt H. T. Buckee, RNVR), the only craft of No. 3 Commando to reach the beach. All were successfully extracted, one wounded by a mine. Royal Marine commando, Mediterranean, 1943 [vdB & H 94] Total strength is 400 all ranks, "but this was rarely achieved". The commando has a Cdo HQ, a heavy weapons troop, a signals platoon and 5 numbered rifle troops. The heavy weapons troop has a 3-in mortar section and an MMG section. Each rifle troop has a strength of 65 all ranks in 3 sections. Each section has a strength of 30 all ranks in 3 sub-sections of 10. Royal Marine commando, NW Europe, 1944 [vdB & H 94] Total strength is 450 all ranks. The commando has a Cdo HQ, a heavy weapons troop, a signals section and 5 lettered rifle troops. Each rifle troop has a strength of 60 all ranks, with a troop HQ of 5 all ranks and 2 sections. Each section has an HQ of 5 all ranks, 2 rifle sub-sections and a support sub-section. Each assault sub-section is 11 all ranks. Each support sub-section is 5 all ranks. Comments and corrections Astute readers will note that these numbers do not quite add up; 2 sections of 27 men and a troop HQ of 5 give a total strength of 59, not 60. No. 46 (Royal Marine) Commando, Normandy, 1944 [Saunders 49] The commando has a strength of 350 all ranks. Comments and corrections The source says that during the course of the campaign this was reduced to 200 all ranks. Army and Royal Marine Commandos, 1st November 1944 [WO291/873] The following are the total strengths of Commandos participating in the Westkapelle assault on Walcheren: 41 RM Commando 47 RM Commando 48 RM Commando Elements of 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando 4 Commando Army or Royal Marine Commando, 1944 [Herman 77] The commando has an HQ troop and 6 troops. HQ troop has 90 men, and weapons include: 420 all ranks 387 all ranks 432 all ranks 189 all ranks About 512 all ranks, incl. French troops of 10 Cdo

20

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

8 Brens 3 PIATs 2 2-in mortars Each troop has 63 men, and weapons include: 9 Brens 3 PIATs 1 2-in mortar Comments and corrections The source states that a half to a third of the men in each troop are equipped with Sten guns. The "wiring diagram", showing an HQ immediately subordinate to HQ, suggests that Herman has misunderstood the traditional British distinction between a company HQ and an HQ company. Special Force (Chindit) column, 1944 [Mollo 81] Total strength is 369 all ranks for a Gurkha column, 306 all ranks for a British one. Each column has an RAF section, a medical section, a signals section, a sabotage group, a support group, a Burma Rifles platoon and an infantry company. Air Landing battalion, June 1944 [Crook 76] Total strength is 1000 all ranks. Weapons include: 12 MMGs 12 3-in mortars 6 6-pdr ATk guns Air Landing battalion, August 1944 [Forty 98] The battalion has a support company, a an AA/ATk company, and 4 rifle companies. The AA/ATk company has 2 AA platoons and 2 ATk platoons. Each AA platoon has 6 20mm guns. Each ATk platoon has 4 6-pdr guns. Each rifle company has 4 rifle platoons. D Company, 2nd Battalion Ox & Bucks LI, 5th June 1944 [Ambrose 85] The force has a total strength of 160 all ranks carried in 6 Horsa gliders. The company has a Coy HQ and 4 rifle platoons. Attached are 2 rifle platoons from B Coy, 20 sappers from 249 Field Coy (Airborne), and one Medical Officer. Comments and corrections This force, under Major John Howard, seized Pegasus Bridge during the early morning of D-Day. It is hard to reconcile the numbers given at different places in this source. Poett's operation order, quoted in an appendix, specifies 20 sappers, 5 in each of gliders 1 to 4, with gliders 5 and 6 each carrying 5 men from Coy HQ; but the text specifies 30 sappers. The text also states that there were 30 to 31 men per glider, suggesting that the 160 total figure does not include 20 sappers; and that each rifle platoon had to leave 3 men behind, due to weight considerations. Weapons are not specifies, but Brens, mortars (which must be 2-in) and PIATs are mentioned. Air landing battalions, 1st Airborne Division, September 1944 [Middle94] This source gives the number of men flown in for each of the following battalions: Brigade 1st Airlanding Brigade Battalion 7th KOSB Strength (all ranks) 765

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WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

1st Border 2nd South Staffordshires 788 767

X Troop, 11th Special Air Service Battalion, 10th February 1941 [Saunders 50] Total strength is 7 officers and 31 other ranks. Comments and corrections This force, under Major T.A.G. Pritchard, destroyed Tragino aqueduct in the very first British parachute operation. The force attempted to evade in three groups, but were all captured. Fortunato Picchi, an interpreter, was tortured and killed by Fascist militia after capture. X Troop, 11th Special Air Service Battalion, 10th February 1941 [HMSO 45] Total strength is 7 officers and 31 other ranks. Comments and corrections This source also states that a total of 800lbs of explosives were used, despite 2 containers failing to drop. L Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade, 1941 [Hunter 85] Total strength is 7 officers and 60 other ranks. Comments and corrections This is the original authorised strength of the SAS as formed by David Stirling. On 17 November a drop was conducted in thoroughly unsuitable weather with 7 officers and 45 men. No enemy contact was made, but only 4 officers and 18 men remained after a disastrous drop and a three-day march back to their LRDG rendezvous. C Company, 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, 27th February 1942 [Saunders 50] Total strength is 119 all ranks. The force is divided into three parties: 'Drake', with 50 men, including a sapper section. 'Nelson', with 40 men. 'Rodney', with 30 men. Comments and corrections This force, under Major John Frost, raided Bruneval to capture German radar equipment. The parties dropped in the order listed. 'Drake' was divided into two parties, one under Frost to attack the villa, one under Lt Peter Young to attack the radar.

C Company, 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, 27th February 1942 [HMSO 45] Total strength is 6 officers and 113 other ranks, including 9 sappers, 4 signallers, and the radio engineer specialist Flight Sergeant . E W F Cox. Elements of 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, 12th February 1943 [Saunders 50] Total strength is 360 all ranks. The force has an HQ element, a mortar platoon, and 2 rifle companies (B and C).

22

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Comments and corrections This force, under Lt-Col Pine-Coffin, seized Bne airfield in Tunisia, narrowly winning the race against German paratroopers, who saw their drop while themselves in the air and turned back. Elements of 1 and 3 Para, Primosole Bridge, July 14th 1943 [HMSO 45] Total strength is 120 men from 1 Para and 2 platoons from 3 Para. Weapons include: 2 3-in mortars 1 Vickers MMG 3 PIATs Comments and corrections The Primosole bridge was seized on the night of 13th July by Captain Rann and 50 men from 1 Para. Above is shown the force that had gathered there by dawn on the following day. Parachute battalion, June 1944 [Crook 76] Total strength is 600 all ranks. The battalion has an MMG platoon, a 3-in mortar platoon and a 6-pdr ATk gun platoon. Comments and corrections This source says that after a few days in combat, most rifle sections had acquired a German LMG to supplement the Bren, and mention is made of a platoon HQ party having both these weapons. 9 Battalion the Parachute Regiment, 6th June 1944 [HMSO 45] Total strength is 150 all ranks, with companies numbering about 30. The battalion has 1 MG, 20 lengths of Bangalore torpedo, and 6 medical orderlies. Comments and corrections This force, under Col Terence Otway, successfully attacked the Merville battery in the early morning of D-Day. Its strength should have been 600 men, with 3-in mortars, 6-pounder ATk guns, jeeps and mine detectors, none of which arrived successfully. The account cited states that the guns of the battery were "destroyed with gammon bombs", but this was not in fact so, and the battery went back into action after the Paras left.

9 Battalion the Parachute Regiment, 6th June 1944 [Crook 76] Total strength is 150 all ranks. The battalion has 1 MMG, 20 lengths of Bangalore torpedo, and 6 medical orderlies. Initially the battalion is organised as: An advance party, 30 men of A Coy A diversionary party from ATk pl, and "half a fire group" under the CSM 30 men from B Coy with bangalores 20 men from C Coy Bn HQ, MO and 6 medical orderlies. Later, B Coy is organised into 2 breaching parties each of 15 men and 10 bangalores; A and C Coys are organised into 4 assault groups of 12 men, one per gun.

23

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Comments and corrections The strength of the battalion was 110 at 02.35, an hour and a half after the drop, reaching 150 at 02.50. This account says that the success signal was given by 2-in mortar flare, so at least 1 of these must have been present. Parachute battalion, August 1944 [Forty 98] The battalion has a Bn HQ, an HQ company and 3 rifle companies. HQ Company has an admin platoon, two mortar platoons and an ATk platoon. Each mortar platoon has 4 3-in mortars. The ATk platoon has 10 PIATs. Each rifle company has 3 rifle platoons. Parachute battalions, 1st Airborne Division, September 1944 [Middle94] This source gives the number of men flown in for each of the following battalions: Brigade 1st Parachute Brigade 4th Parachute Brigade Battalion 1st Parachute Battalion 2nd Parachute Battalion 3rd Parachute Battalion 156 Parachute Battalion 10th Parachute Battalion 11th Parachute Battalion Strength (all ranks) 548 525 588 479 (possibly more) 582 571

21st Independent Parachute Coy, 1st Airborne Division, September 1944 [Middle94] Total strength flown in was 186 all ranks. 156 Battalion the Parachute Regiment, September 1944 [Powell 76] The battalion has an HQ company, a support company, and 3 rifle companies. The support company has a mortar platoon, a machine-gun platoon and a carrier platoon. Each rifle company has 3 platoons. Each platoon has 3 sections. Comments and corrections The source shows the battalion still fighting in Oosterbeek reduced to an HQ and 2 rifle platoons.

Airborne armoured recce regiment, August 1944 [Forty 98] The regiment has an RHQ, an HQ squadron, a support squadron and 2 recce squadrons. RHQ has 2 scout cars and 3 jeeps. HQ squadron has an intercom troop, an admin troop and a seaborne party. The seaborne party includes 8 cruiser tanks. The support squadron has a mortar troop, an infantry support troop, and two carrier troops. The mortar troop has 4 4.2-in mortars carried in jeeps. The infantry support troop has 18 motorcycles and a jeep. Each carrier troop has 3 carriers. Each recce squadron has a heavy troop and three recce troops. Each heavy troop has 4 light tanks. Each recce troop has 2 universal carriers and 2 jeeps.

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WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Comments and corrections 1 airborne recce battalion would be assigned to an airborne division.

Royal Engineer field company, 1943 [C&E 75] Total strength is 5 officers and 238 other ranks. The company has a Coy HQ and 3 sections. Coy HQ has 2 officers and 46 other ranks. Each section has 1 officer and 64 other ranks. Vehicles 1 bicycle 12 motorcycles 5 8-cwt 4-wheel trucks (5-seater) 8 15-cwt trucks 4WD GS 3 15-cwt 4-wheel compressor trucks 1 15-cwt 4-wheel water truck 6 30-cwt 4-wheel lorries 12 30-cwt 6-wheel lorries

25

WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Royal Engineer field park company, 1943 [C&E 75] Total strength is 4 officers and 153 other ranks. The company has a Coy HQ, a workshop section, a bridging section and a field stores section. Coy HQ has 2 officers and 31 other ranks. The workshop section has 1 officer and 43 other ranks. The bridging section has 51 other ranks. The field stores section has 1 officer and 28 other ranks. An RAOC light Aid Detachment is attached, with 13 other ranks. Vehicles 1 bicycle 8 motorcycles 1 4-wheel 4-seater motor car 2 8-cwt 4-wheel trucks 2 15-cwt 4-wheel compressor trucks 7 30-cwt 4-wheel GS lorries 5 30-cwt 6-wheel GS lorries 11 3-ton 6-wheel GS lorries 15 3-ton 6-wheel lorries 1 15-cwt 4-wheel water trailer ROAC LAD: 1 Motorcycle 1 2-seater 4-wheel car 2 3-ton 6-wheel lorries Comments and corrections For both this and the Field Coy, the Coy commander is shown separately in the original, but I have included him under Coy HQ. Divisional engineers for an infantry division would consist of 3 field companies and 1 field park company. It is stated that the "normal working strength" of the field company is 48 men in 4 subsections. Royal Engineer field squadron, 1943 [C&E 75] Total strength is 5 officers and 168 other ranks. The squadron has an SHQ and 3 troops. SHQ has 3 officers and 32 other ranks. Each troop has 1 officer and 82 other ranks, with a troop HQ, 2 armoured sections, and 2 unarmoured sections. Vehicles 17 motorcycles 8 scout cars 5 utility motor cars 27 15-cwt 4-wheel GS trucks 3 15-cwt 4-wheel compressor trucks 1 15-cwt 4-wheel water truck 3 30-cwt 6-wheel GS trucks 6 armoured demolition vehicles 6 armoured personnel vehicles

Royal Engineer field park squadron, 1943 [C&E 75] Total strength is 5 officers and 168 other ranks.

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WW2 battalion organisations : Britain and Commonwealth.

Comments and corrections Vehicle details for the field park squadron are not given in the original. 1 field park squadron and 2 field squadrons furnish the RE component of an armoured division. 9th (Airborne) Field Company RE, September 1944 [Middle94] This source gives the number of men flown in as 194 all ranks. 144 Company Pioneers, 1 November 1944 [WO291/873] Total strength is 139 all ranks. Comments and corrections This pioneer company landed in the Westkappelle assault on Walcheren, and suffered casualties when a landing craft was mined.

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References
[Ambrose 85] Stephen Ambrose, "Pegasus Bridge", Unwin, 1985. [Blackburn 98] George Blackburn, "The Guns of Normandy", Constable, 1998. [Carman 88] William Carman, "The Distinctions of Army Commandos, 19401945", part I, Military Illustrated magazine no. 10, Dec/Jan 1988. [C&E 75] Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis,"Handbook on the British Army, 1943", Military Book Society, 1975. This is an edited reprint of the US Army manual TM30-410, originally issued in 1943. [Chappell 96] Mike Chappell, "Army Commandos 194045", Osprey Elite series no. 64, Reed Books, 1996. [Crook 76] Napier Crookenden, "Dropzone Normandy", Ian Allan Ltd., 1976. [Ellis 93] John Ellis, "The World War II Databook", Aurum Press, 1993. [F-Hockley 76] Anthony Farrar-Hockley, "Infantry Tactics 19391945", Almark, 1976. [Forty 98] George Forty, "British Army Handbook 1939-45", Alan Sutton, 1998. [Herman 77] Mark Herman, "Raid! Commando Operations in the 20th Century", Strategy & Tactics magazine No. 64, 1977. [HMSO 45] "By Air to Battle", HMSO, 1945. [Hunter 85] Robin Hunter, "True Stories of the SAS", Virgin, 1985. [Jary 94] Sydney Jary, "18 Platoon" (3rd edn), Syndey Jary, 1994. [Kamps 91] Charles Kamps, "Singapore: The Campaign for Malaysia 8 Dec 194115 Feb 1942", Strategy & Tactics magazine No. 85, 1981. [Lincoln 94] John Lincoln, "Thank God and the Infantry", Alan Sutton, 1994. [Messenger 82] Charles Messenger, "The Tunisian Campaign", Ian Allan, 1982. [Middle 94] Martin Middlebrook, "Arnhem 1944: The Airborne Battle", Viking, 1994. [Mollo 81] Andrew Mollo, "The Armed Forces of World War II", Orbis, 1981. [Popski 50] Vladimir Peniakoff, "Popski's Private Army", The reprint society 1953, originally published by Jonathan Cap 1950. [Powell 76] Geoffrrey Powell, "Men at Arnhem", Leo Cooper, 1976 and 1998, originally published under the pseudonym "Tom Angus". [Reynolds 97] Michael Reynolds, "Steel Inferno", Spellmount, 1997. [Saunders 49] Hilary St. George Saunders, "The Green Beret" (new edition), NEL 1971, originally published 1949 by Michael Joseph. [Saunders 50] Hilary St. George Saunders, "The Red Beret" (new edition), NEL 1971, originally published 1950 by Michael Joseph. [Swinson 68] Arthur Swinson, "The Raiders: Desert Strike Force", Pan/Ballantine, 1968. [vdB & H 94] Nick van der Bijl and Paul Hannon, "The Royal Marines 193993", Osprey Elite series no. 57, Reed Books, 1994. [White 78] B. T. White, "British Tank Markings and Names", Arms & Armour, 1978. [WO171/1386] PRO document WO171/1368, War Diary of 1/7 Queen's for 1944. [WO232/36] AFV Policy. [WO232/95] 79th Armoured Divison Final Report. [WO291/873] PRO document WO291/873, Battle study on the Westkappelle assault at Walcheren. [WO291/986] PRO document WO291/986, The operational effectiveness of the flamethrower tank (Crocodile). [Zaloga 80] Steven Zaloga, "Blitzkrieg: Armour Camouflage and Markings, 19391940", Arms & Armour, 1980.

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