History of 4th Armoured Brigade post 1945

The 4th Armoured Brigade commanded by Brigadier RMP Carver CBE DSO MC was the last WW2 armoured brigade to be disbanded in Mar 48 at Rotenburg…to be confirmed 100%…but 22nd Armoured Brigade of 7th the Armoured Division did became 7th Armoured Brigade in Jan 47 and has continued…but the military in their wisdom created 4th Infantry Brigade from 160th Infantry Brigade in Feb 47…this unit became 4th Guards Brigade until 1970 becoming 4th Armoured Brigade until 1977 becoming Task Farce Charlie and reverting back to 4th Armoured Brigade 1981…but the history of the brigade now goes back to the WW2 armoured brigade when really the roots are back to the 160th Infantry Brigade of 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division…as this is an open forum hope that somebody out there can throw so light on this…looks like the 7th Armoured Brigade will be a multi-role brigade when 1st Armoured Division relocates to Scotland by 2020 as just plain 1st Division
All the best
Steve

Hi Steve,

My late Uncle was with 22nd Armoured Brigade Signals as a member of Middlesex Yeomanry. He was with them from the time they they landed at Normandy ( after D Day), crossing the Rhine and finishing up at Itzehoe near Hamburg in 1945. I have a copy of edition number 1 of their unit newspaper called 'Coggage'.

On another note I see you make mention of Brigadier RMP Carver. I served in 6th Inf Bde (206 Signal Sqn) in 1962/3 when he was the Bde Commander in my early time there. As you know, he went on to become Fd Marshal The Lord Carver and sadly passed away not all that long ago.

Jimsigs1

Moin Jim
If 'Coppage' is post May 45 would be very interested will send you my email address via a PM...JPW and myself have an unsolved problem the locations of 22 Armd Bde and 131 Inf Bde of 7 Armd Div have been found up to 1947 when changing to 7 Armd Bde and 31 Inf Bde but the HQ of 7 Armd Div is still a mystery between leaving Borgard Barracks Itzehoe Nov 45 to arriving Shiel Barracks Verden Aug 46...through service records of a Royal Signals lad we know it to be the Hamburg area...HQ 22 Armd Bde did not go to Berlin with 7 Armd Div looks like were in Kellinghausen west of Itzehoe then to Peterborough Barracks Gluckstadt then to Warendorf Mar 46...detail to be published shortly...do you know how long after May 45 did your late uncle serve with 22 Armd Bde Signals?
All the best
Steve

Hi Steve,

OK, send me your email address via PM and I will send you the front page. The other info is only domestic.

Jimsigs1

Many thanks Jim received OK...interesting they were calling themselves a squadron in Jun 45...have a similar 1945 newspaper from 1 Corps District Signals still companies and not until 1946 did the term regiment and squadron appear...made contact with the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division Association and purchased copies of their newspaper "The Polar Bear News" 1945 to 1946 this and with JPW’s research at Kew has proved invaluable to putting together the British Army in Germany May 45 to Feb 49…watch this space
All the best
Steve

Jim

I too will look forward to reading details of the Middlesex Yeomanry Signal Squadron.

As Steve said he and I are involved in a project to try and produce a framework of the units and their locations forming BAOR in the period 1945-1947.

It is a fascinating challenge not least in that one of the so called major references is full of inaccuracies which we only find out when some produces a contemporary document such as yours.

Steve & JPW,

I Look forward to all info relating to 22nd Armoured Bde Sigs to try and know a bit more of where my late uncle finished up. He used to tell me a lot about his unit and what they were up to - more the funny side of things. Although he was only a war time soldier I reckon that he packed in more in his short time than I did in my 23 years with R Sigs.

His unit - The Middlesex Yeomanry were all old friend of pre war days and my Uncle really managed to fit into their circle of friends.
When they finally got to Hamburg and presumably Itzehoe, they had to sort out accomodation. One day, he managed to save an old professor & his wife from being kicked out of their home by just pipping a Sgt who was doing the same thing. That Sgt was Douglas Kain who ran a company after the war making Loctite. They often used to laugh at those antics as my Uncle went to work for him in the 1950's.
Also, they had a chap in the unit who seemed to know where all the goodies were when they arrived at a German town. This chap was once seen rushing back to his tank with a tray full of Zeiss Lenses etc. A real scrounger.
Anyway, I think I will dig out his photo album and put some photos on the forum.

Jimsigs1