The 24th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army that existed from late 1940 to mid-1944. Assigned to the 8th Armoured Brigade, the regiment fought during the Invasion of Normandy before being disbanded in July 1944. After disbandment, the regiment's personnel were sent to other cavalry regiments as reinforcements.
Sherman VC Firefly of 24th Lancers near Saint-Léger, 11 June 1944.
With the 8th Armoured Brigade, the regiment landed on Gold Beach, in the second wave of the Operation Overlord landings, supporting the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. Around half of the regiment landed on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) and the rest on 7 June 1944 (D+1). [6] Equipped with Sherman tanks, shortly after landing the regiment was involved in the fighting around Putot-en-Bessin and Villers Bocage. After intensive action in the Tilly-sur-Seulles, Fontenay-le-Pesnel, Tessel Wood and Rauray areas, the regiment was disbanded towards the end of July 1944 due to heavy casualties and limited reinforcements, and its personnel were transferred to other regiments. Most of these men went to the 23rd Hussars or other units of the 8th Armoured Brigade, or the 29th Armoured Brigade in the 11th Armoured Division.[2] Since D-Day, the regiment had lost 41 officers and men killed in action, along with 98 wounded or missing.
^Brigadier G.E. Prior-Palmer. "A Short History of the 8th Armoured Brigade Chapter IV". Warlinks. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
Bibliographyedit
Bellis, Malcolm A. (1994). Regiments of the British Army 1939–1945 (Armour & Infantry). London: Military Press International. ISBN0-85420-999-9.
Joslen, Lt-Col H.F. (1990) [1st. Pub. HMSO:1960]. Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939–1945. London: London Stamp Exchange. ISBN0-948130-03-2.
Willis, Leonard (1985). None Had Lances: The Story of the 24th Lancers. 24th Lancers Old Comrades Association. ISBN978-095107180-9.
External linksedit
. regiments.org. Archived from the original on 18 January 2008.
Brigadier G.E. Prior-Palmer. "A Short History of the 8th Armoured Brigade Chapter IV". Warlinks. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
January 01, 1970
24th, lancers, cavalry, regiment, british, army, that, existed, from, late, 1940, 1944, assigned, armoured, brigade, regiment, fought, during, invasion, normandy, before, being, disbanded, july, 1944, after, disbandment, regiment, personnel, were, sent, other,. The 24th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army that existed from late 1940 to mid 1944 Assigned to the 8th Armoured Brigade the regiment fought during the Invasion of Normandy before being disbanded in July 1944 After disbandment the regiment s personnel were sent to other cavalry regiments as reinforcements 24th Lancers24th Lancers cap badge ca 1941 1 Active30 December 1940 24 July 1944Country United KingdomBranch British ArmyTypeCavalryRoleArmouredSizeRegimentPart of29th Armoured Brigade8th Armoured Brigade EngagementsSecond World War North West Europe 1944Operation Perch Battle of Villers Bocage Operation Epsom Operation Martlet dd Contents 1 History 2 Battle honours 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editThe regiment was raised in December 1940 from a cadre of personnel taken from the 9th Queen s Royal Lancers and the 17th 21st Lancers despite its numerical designation the regiment shared no lineage with the earlier 24th Light Dragoons 2 It was initially assigned to the 29th Armoured Brigade which formed part of the 11th Armoured Division 3 but it was reassigned to the 8th Armoured Brigade on 8 February 1944 4 5 nbsp Sherman VC Firefly of 24th Lancers near Saint Leger 11 June 1944 With the 8th Armoured Brigade the regiment landed on Gold Beach in the second wave of the Operation Overlord landings supporting the 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division Around half of the regiment landed on 6 June 1944 D Day and the rest on 7 June 1944 D 1 6 Equipped with Sherman tanks shortly after landing the regiment was involved in the fighting around Putot en Bessin and Villers Bocage After intensive action in the Tilly sur Seulles Fontenay le Pesnel Tessel Wood and Rauray areas the regiment was disbanded towards the end of July 1944 due to heavy casualties and limited reinforcements and its personnel were transferred to other regiments Most of these men went to the 23rd Hussars or other units of the 8th Armoured Brigade or the 29th Armoured Brigade in the 11th Armoured Division 2 Since D Day the regiment had lost 41 officers and men killed in action along with 98 wounded or missing Battle honours editThe 24th Lancers was awarded the following battle honours for service in the Second World War 2 Putot en Bessin Villers Bocage Tilly sur Seulles The Odon Fontenay le Pesnil Defence of Rauray North West Europe 1944References edit Anon Regimental Badges and Service Caps London George Philip amp Sons 1941 a b c 24th Light Dragoons amp 24th Lancers at regiments org by T F Mills Archived from the original on 18 January 2008 Retrieved 2006 02 16 Joslen 1990 p 180 Joslen 1990 p 160 Bellis 1994 p 15 Brigadier G E Prior Palmer A Short History of the 8th Armoured Brigade Chapter IV Warlinks Retrieved 28 November 2015 Bibliography editBellis Malcolm A 1994 Regiments of the British Army 1939 1945 Armour amp Infantry London Military Press International ISBN 0 85420 999 9 Joslen Lt Col H F 1990 1st Pub HMSO 1960 Orders of Battle Second World War 1939 1945 London London Stamp Exchange ISBN 0 948130 03 2 Willis Leonard 1985 None Had Lances The Story of the 24th Lancers 24th Lancers Old Comrades Association ISBN 978 095107180 9 External links edit 24th Lancers regiments org Archived from the original on 18 January 2008 Brigadier G E Prior Palmer A Short History of the 8th Armoured Brigade Chapter IV Warlinks Retrieved 28 November 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 24th Lancers amp oldid 1158156265, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
