8th Armoured Brigade ( United Kingdom ) The 8 Armoured Brigade was a British Army brigade , formed in August 1941 , during the Second World War , and active until 1956 . The brigade was formed by the re - designation of 6th Cavalry Brigade when the 1st Cavalry Division based in Palestine ( of which it was part ) converted from a motorised formation ( they had been horse - mounted up to January 1940 ) to an armoured one . North Africa and Tunisia . In February 1942 , the 8 Armoured Brigade moved to the Khatatba region of the Western Desert . After a period of training , the Brigade first went into action at the end of August 1942 at Bir Ridge at the Battle of Alam el Halfa . The next major engagement the Brigade was involved in was Operation Supercharge . Operation Supercharge . The Second Battle of El Alamein lasted from 23 October to 5 November 1942 and marked a significant turning point in the Western Desert Campaign . Success in the battle turned the tide in the North African Campaign . Allied victory at El Alamein ended Axis hopes of occupying Egypt , controlling access to the Suez Canal , and gaining access to the Middle Eastern oil fields . The defeat at El Alamein marked the end of Axis expansion in Africa . Following the First Battle of El Alamein , which had stalled the Axis advance , Lieutenant - General Bernard Montgomery took command of the British Eighth Army from General Claude Auchinleck in August 1942 . For the first night of the offensive , Montgomery planned that four infantry divisions from Oliver Leese ' s XXX Corps would advance on a 16 miles ( 26 km ) front to an objective codenamed the Oxalic Line , overrunning the forward Axis defences . Engineers would meanwhile clear and mark two lanes through the minefields , through which the armoured divisions from Herbert Lumsden ' s X Corps would pass to gain the Skinflint Report Line , where they would check and report their progress , and the Pierson Bound where they would rally and temporarily consolidate their position in the depths of the Axis defences until the infantry battle had been won . Now under command of Brigadier Edward C . N . Custance , the Brigade was equipped with a number of different tanks ( 24 Crusaders , 57 Grants , 31 Shermans ) when it took part in Operation Supercharge , better known as the Battle of El Alamein . The Brigade ' s Order Of Battle at this time was : Part of the Brigade , The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry ( Sherwood Rangers ) , found a gap in the enemy defences and an attack was made that completely broke through and started the rout of the Afrika Korps . The Brigade was next ordered to find the southern flank of the enemy . Driving across country it moved into the desert reaching the Coast Road at Galal and the German retreat was cut in two . Here the Brigade destroyed 54 tanks and a large number of enemy guns and transport without loss to themselves and in addition took 1 , 000 prisoners . Early in November , the Brigade had reached the defences at Mersa Matruh and was ordered to halt ; the rest of 8th Army moved past . 10th Armoured Division was now ordered back to Egypt taking 1st Royal Horse Artillery ( R . H . A ) with them , leaving 8 Armoured Brigade to become an independent brigade . At the end of November , the Brigade came under the command of the 7th Armoured Division , the famous Desert Rats , and was involved in the battles around El Agheila . This battle opened the road past Marble Arch to Nofaliya , which was entered without opposition . On 15 January , the attack on the Buerat – Bungem line was launched . Then followed battles against a series of rear - guard positions at Wadi Zem Zem , where anti - tank guns and tanks were dug in on the reverse slope , Sedada and Tarhuna , where the hilly nature of the country assisted the delaying tactics of the enemy . Tarhuna was the first civilian - occupied town to be captured by the Brigade and it was surrendered by the Burgomaster to the Staffordshire Yeomanry . On 23 January , the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment entered Tripoli in the wake of the 11th Hussars . On 24 January , a composite force consisting of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry , 1st Buffs , 5th Royal Horse Artillery and 7th Medium Regiment R . A . advanced to the Zavia area , southwest of Tripoli . The Brigade was then rested before starting the campaign in Tunisia . Tunisia and the Mareth Line . The Brigade was now able to take advantage of the new equipment coming into the theatre . It became normal for the brigade to allocate Infantry Companies to Armoured Regiments , forming Armoured Regimental Groups . At the start of operations at the Mareth Line , the Brigade was formed as follows : On 14 March 1943 , the Brigade passed from the command of XXX Corps to the New Zealand Corps , joining the 2nd New Zealand Division , the Free French , General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque ' s forces from Chad ( L Force ) and the 1st Free French Brigade . Following the failure of XXX Corps frontal attack on the Mareth Line , an attempt was made by the New Zealand Corps to outflank the enemy positions . Initially unsuccessful , the 1st Armoured Division was despatched to reinforce this " Left - Hook " . On 26 March , the Brigade was launched towards El Hamma and , in the ensuing battle , they penetrated deep into the Switch Line . Having gained all their objectives , the Brigade drove through the gap that had been made . The enemy , pressed by a fresh frontal attack and in danger of being encircled , withdrew some 60 miles north - westwards to defensive positions around Akarit . At the Battle of Wadi Akarit , which occurred on 6 & 7 April , the brigade first came up against the Tiger I ( Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger I ) . The Brigade , still supporting 2nd New Zealand Division , was next involved in the battles at Enfidaville and Takrouna . Following the capitulation of the Axis forces in North Africa on 13 May , the Brigade slowly made its way back to the nile delta and then was transferred to Britain , arriving on 9 December . After an extended leave , the Brigade reassembled in the New Year and was informed of its role in the forthcoming invasion of Europe . The high level of experience gained by the brigade ' s components in north Africa contrasted strongly with many of the other armoured units earmarked for the invasion ; some of whom hadn ' t seen action since the fall of France in 1940 . In an attempt to equalise the level of experience across the brigades , an exchange of units took place in February : Shortly thereafter , Brigadier Bernard Cracroft assumed command of the Brigade , which now comprised : Order of Battle D - Day . While the staffs were involved in the planning of the invasion , the men took part in intensive training exercises . Operation Overlord D - Day . Gold Beach . Gold Beach was the Allied codename for the centre invasion beach during the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 . It lay between Omaha Beach and Juno Beach , was 8 km wide and divided into four sectors . From west to east they were How , Item , Jig , and King . The landing area was defended by elements of Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter ' s German 716th Static Infantry Division and the 1st Battalion of the 916th Infantry Regiment , which had been detached from Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiss ' s German 352nd Infantry Division . Gold Beach was allocated to the British 2nd Army ' s XXX Corps . The actual assault was to be made by 50th ( Northumbrian ) Infantry Division , which had been reinforced with 56th ( Independent ) Infantry Brigade and supported by the 8 Armoured Brigade . The Division ' s primary objective was to seize the town of Bayeux , the Caen - Bayeux road , and the port of Arromanches ; the secondary objectives being to make contact with the Americans landing at Omaha Beach to the West and the Canadians landing at Juno Beach to the East . The 231st Infantry Brigade , followed by the 56th Infantry Brigade , landed in the west , with DD tanks from The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry ( Sherwood Rangers ) in support . The assault battalions were the 1st Bn , The Hampshire Regiment on Jig Green ( west side ) and the 1st Bn , The Dorset Regiment on Jig Green ( east side ) . The 69th Infantry Brigade , followed by 151st Infantry Brigade , landed in the east with DD tanks from the 4th / 7th Royal Dragoon Guards in support . The assault battalions were the 5th Bn , East Yorkshire Regiment on King Red and the 6th Bn , The Green Howards on King Green . The Landings . H - Hour for the Gold beach landing was set for 0725 hours . For the first time in history , tanks were to lead an assault from the sea on all sectors of the beaches . The secret of the " Duplex Drive " had been well kept , for the German appreciation was that they would have no tanks thrown against them during the first five hours . Unfortunately , the sea conditions in the 50th Division sector were adjudged too rough and the tanks were not launched 2 miles out as planned , but a couple of hundred yards from the shore . In spite of this , the 4 / 7 DG lost 5 and the SRY 8 in the breakers . Throughout the day both Regiments had all three squadrons continually committed , supporting in turn 231st Infantry Brigade , 151st Infantry Brigade and 69th Infantry Brigade s . Night fell with all objectives obtained , all tanks committed and no reserves on shore . Operation Perch . Following the failure of 3rd Infantry Division to capture Caen on 6 – 7 June , the new plan envisioned I Corps and XXX Corps striking south to encircle the city and for the landing of the 1st Airborne Division , codenamed Operation Wild Oats . I Corps would form the eastern pincer , XXX Corps the western and the paratroopers would land between the two to complete the encirclement of the city and to prevent any German withdrawal from Caen . The 51st ( Highland ) Division from I Corps was to push south out of the Orne bridgehead to capture the town of Cagny six miles southeast of Caen . 50th ( Northumbrian ) Infantry Division and 8 Armoured Brigade were ordered to strike south from their lodgement created on 6 June to capture the town of Bayeux ( another D - Day objective which had not been captured ) and then capture the town of Tilly - sur - Seulles . Once Tilly - sur - Seulles had been captured , the 7th Armoured Division would pass through the 50th ( Northumbrian ) and push south to capture the town of Villers - Bocage before turning east to capture the town of Évrecy . During the remainder of the month , the Brigade was deployed in support of 49th and 50th Divisions . Fighting was almost continuous in the area Rauray – Vendes - Tessel Wood and Fontenay , Lingèvres , Christot and Le Parc du Bois Londes . Casualties were heavy and 124 tanks were put out of action in 25 days . The Brigade claimed 86 tanks and Self Propelled Guns destroyed , knocked out or captured during the same period . Race for the Seine and beyond . Order of Battle 1944 – 1945 . The 13th / 18th Hussars had now joined the Brigade from the disbanded 27th Armoured Brigade , replacing the disbanded 24th Lancers . Brigadier Erroll Prior - Palmer , the former commander of the disbanded 27th Armoured Brigade , assumed command of 8 Armoured Brigade . The orders for the next battle were being given out . The Brigade , less 13th / 18th Hussars , was to support the 43rd ( Wessex ) Division . The 13th / 18th Hussars were to support the 50th ( Northumbrian ) Division , whose objective was the ridge known as Butte du Mont a Vent , ground which dominated that over which the rest of the Brigade were to fight . The 13 / 18 H and 50th Division captured Amaye sur Seulles , while the SRY , with the 7th Btn , The Hampshire Regiment mounted on their tanks , captured Jurques . La Bigne and Loisonniers were also both secured and , in fighting around Le Plessis Grimault , the Brigade captured a Tiger II . Under the command of 50th Northumbrian , the 4 / 7 DG were involved in very heavy fighting in the capture of St Pierre La Vieille . The drive south to Conde sur Noireau or Operation Black - water followed . The continuous fighting in support , alternately , of two divisions had its effect ; casualties had been heavy . The 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and the 86th ( Hertfordshire Yeomanry ) Field Regiment Royal Artillery who , like the Essex Yeomanry , had Sexton self - propelled 25 pounders , were placed under command . On 17 August , again under 43rd Division , the Sherwood Rangers were involved in the crossing of the River Noireau . By the evening of the 17th , the infantry had joined them in the St Honorine area , well beyond the river , and a great battle which had lasted for nineteen days and had caused many casualties , came to an end . Crossing the Seine . The 4th / 7th Royal Dragoon Guards carried out an operation to clear the forest of Laigle and then pressed on to the Seine at Vernon . For three whole days the remainder of the Brigade remained static . The river - crossing operation that followed was mounted from a point 120 miles west of the river . The 43rd Division completed the approach march in 36 hours , crossing the 200 - yard wide river from the centre of Vernon within 2 hours of their arrival . The assault , led by the tanks of the 4 / 7 DG on rafts , was launched at 1900hrs on 25 August under an intense artillery barrage and smoke screen . Other tanks drove down all streets leading to the West bank at zero hour , opening fire at point blank range across the river . Casualties in men and equipment were considerable , but within 72 hours the bridgehead was over 4 miles deep and the Royal Engineers had constructed a 680 - foot folding bridge over which the remaining tanks of the 4 / 7 DG were able to cross . Now the Brigade was again to be given an independent role . Instructions from General Horrocks were to cross the river immediately , to fork right and open up the route to the Somme for the Guards Armoured Division . The SRY , 12th K . R . R . C and 13 / 18 H were moved across on the afternoon of 28 August , at the same time the 4 / 7 DG reverted to Brigade command . At dawn on the 29th , the Brigade advanced . The axis lay along the valley of the tributary river Epte towards Dangu and Gisors , the road dominated by high ground on both sides . The SRY made a left flanking attack through the Bois de Baquet to come in behind the enemy at St Remy , the 13 / 18 H reached Dangu by nightfall . The next morning the 4 / 7 DG took the lead and entered Gisors unopposed . On 31 August , the Brigade joined up with 11th Armoured Division on the Somme at Amiens and next morning the Brigade crossed on a narrow bridge to the west of Amiens and continued the advance on the left of the 11th Armoured Division . By evening , the 13 / 18 H were through Doullens , where a rearguard action had been fought at the crossing of the river Authie . The 4 / 7 DG had experienced some fighting at Vignacourt and Canapples on the left but , by evening , they too were up to the Authie . XXX Corps continued its advance , with Guards Armoured Division to the right and 11th Armoured Division to the left . A column composed of 8 Armoured Brigade , with 50th Reconnaissance Regiment and the 9th Durham Light Infantry under command , provided left flank protection . Two squadrons of the 4 / 7 DG and two companies of the 12th K . R . R . C reached the centre of Lille , the fourth biggest town in France , without further enemy opposition . Beyond Brussel and Antwerp . While Brussels and Antwerp had been liberated by the Guards Armoured Division and 11th Armoured Division , German troops were reported moving east in northern Belgium . The 8 Armoured Brigade , with elements of 50th Northumbrian Division , were deployed to form a flank guard screen between Lille and Ghent . On 7 September , orders were received for the Brigade to march with all speed to the Albert Canal at Beringen , where they were to support the Guards Armoured Division in an attempt to turn the left flank of German 719th Division , who were holding the north bank . The Sherwood Rangers were placed under the command of 50th Northumbrian Division to assault across the Canal further west at Gheel . By midday on 8 September , the leading elements of the 4 / 7 DG and 12th K . R . R . C were over the canal . The Brigade was now stood down for the first period of rest since D - Day . Market Garden . Operation Market Garden ( 17 – 25 September 1944 ) was intended to secure a series of bridges over the main rivers of the German - occupied Netherlands to allow rapid advance by armoured units through large - scale use of airborne forces . The operation was initially successful , with the capture of the Waal bridge at Nijmegen on 20 September . But it was a failure overall , since the planned Allied advance across the Rhine at Arnhem had to be abandoned . The British 1st Airborne Division did not secure the bridge at Arnhem and , although they managed to hold out near the bridge far longer than planned , the British XXX Corps failed to relieve them . After four days of rest , the Brigade moved off after the Guards Armoured Division , who were to link up with the Airborne forces that had dropped at Eindhoven , Grave , Nijmegen and Arnhem in operation " Market Garden " . A night march brought the 4 / 7 DG to Nijmegen , where the bridges over the Waal had been captured the previous day by the 82nd Airborne Division supported by the Guards Armoured Division . On the evening of 23 September B Sqn of the 4 / 7 DG , carrying troops from the 5th Duke of Cornwall ' s Light Infantry on their tanks , formed a column and having broken the ring round the Nijmegen bridge moved at speed round the west of Elst for the north edge of " The Island " opposite Arnhem . The plan succeeded and , shortly after dark , the leading Troop made contact with the Polish paratroops , who were on the south bank of the Neder Rijn , and the much needed stores and ammunition were handed over in DUKW s . The 13 / 18 H were involved in operations against the village of Elst with the 4th Wiltshire Regiment , and also in the clearing of ground to the West with 130th Infantry Brigade . To the southeast of Nijmegen , the SRY made history , in company with the US 82nd Airborne Division , by capturing the village of Beek and established themselves as the first British troops to enter Germany . The Brigade now became responsible for the " Western Approaches " ; the 12th K . R . R . C . and 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment were deployed in defence along an extended front , which was subject to frequent raids . October was spent on the defensive . On 18 October , the formation handed over the responsibilities for the " Western Approaches " to the US 101st Airborne Division and took over a similar responsibility on the " Western Approaches " to Nijmegen . Throughout the period , one regiment supported the 43rd Division to the southeast of Nijmegen overlooking the Reichswald Forest , one regiment remained with the US 101st Airborne Division and the third rested west of the town . The line held by 8 Armoured Brigade stretched approximately 15 miles along the Maas and the Waal . The troops consisted of the 12th K . R . R . C . , 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment , a Sqn of the RAF Regiment and members of the Dutch Resistance . At the conclusion of the battle , the Brigade now became Corps mobile reserve . Into Germany . Operation Blackcock . Operation Blackcock was the code name for the clearing of the Roer Triangle formed by the towns of Roermond , Sittard and Heinsberg . It was conducted by the 2nd British Army between 14 and 26 January 1945 . The objective was to drive the German 15th Army back across the Rivers Rur and Wurm and move the frontline further into Germany . The operation was carried out under command of the XII Corps , by three divisions , the 7th Armoured Division , the 52nd Lowland Division and the 43rd Wessex Division ( " Wessex Wyverns " ) . The operation , named after the Scottish black male grouse , is relatively unknown despite the sometimes fierce battles that were fought for each and every village and hamlet within the " Roer Triangle " . The Brigade was now under the command of XII Corps . The next operation known as “ Blackcock ” was to begin as soon as the ground , by now completely snow covered , would carry tanks . Its object was to destroy all German troops east of the Koer between Roermond , Geilenkirchen and Sittard . The SRY were to support 52nd ( Lowland ) Division in a frontal attack , while the rest of the Brigade , with 155th Infantry Brigade under command , were to operate independently under 7th Armoured Division . The plan was to follow close on the heels of the 7th Armoured Division , break - out at the northern end of the line and then to turn sharp right , coming down behind all the German positions confronting 52nd ( Lowland ) Division . The 4 / 7 DG fought their way forward throughout the night of the 18 And crossed the brook with success , by morning they were on the outskirts of Konigsbosch . Further efforts were made to cross throughout the day but they had to be abandoned due to enemy resistance . The operations of the 4 / 7 DG with the 4th The King ' s Own Scottish Borderers in the rear of the German line had great effect and the frontal attack by 52nd ( Lowland ) Division met with little resistance . On the evening of 19 January the SRY made contact with the 4 / 7 DG . The remainder of the Brigade was withdrawn and came under command 52nd ( Lowland ) Division , and the 13 / 18 H were pushed through to exploit the success of the other two regiments . Reichwald Forest . The Reichswald Forest lies in Germany , to the east of Nijmegen and between the Rivers Rhine and Maas . The area is wooded and liable to flooding . In 1945 , the winter had been wet and the German defenders had allowed the rivers to flood , thus negating the Allied advantages in armour and manpower . They had also had some weeks to prepare their defences and towns had been turned into fortresses . The Brigade reverted to the command of XXX Corps and moved north via Turnhout . Within a week the concentration of troops was complete and at 0530 hours on the morning of 8 February the greatest bombardment in history was opened up . Every type and size of weapon took part in a bombardment which lasted five hours . All tanks of the brigade fired an average of 300 rounds per gun . Progress was made on all fronts for the first six miles but 53rd ( Welsh ) Division failed to capture Cleves and the important Marterborn feature . 43rd Division with the 8 Armoured Brigade in support were brought up and after a fight , Cleve was in British hands . The 4 / 7 DG and the 214th Infantry Brigade fought through Marterborn to the ground overlooking the Cleve — Goch Railway . The German reaction was to blow the dykes along the Rhine and masses of water swept across the flat valley , subsidiary dykes burst and the link with Nijmegen , the road through Kranenburg , was flooded to a depth of 3 feet . To the east of the Cleve , during four days and four nights , the Brigade supported each Infantry Brigade of the 43rd Division in turn in a continuous assault on the position . On the fifth day , the German resistance broke and the 4 / 7 DG with 214th Infantry Brigade took over 1 , 000 prisoners . The Brigade , together with the 53rd ( Welsh ) division , began operations on 24 February to drive southeast astride the river Niers and to capture Weeze . Under difficult going , a halt was called until the 51st ( Highland ) Division and 3rd British Division came up level . Two days later a further assault upon the Weeze defences was launched , supported by flame - throwing tanks . By dark the town was surrounded on three sides and during the night patrols entered the outskirts . The Brigade less 13 / 18 H and with 1st Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry under command advanced through Weeze by early afternoon and entered Kevelaer early next morning and the 4 / 7 DG with 1st Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry pushed on to Geldern . On the outskirts of Geldern the 4 / 7 DG and B Coy , 12th K . R . R . C . encountered tank fire on the outskirts of Geldern and then discovered that their opponents were the leading elements of the United States Army . This constituted the first link - up between the British and American forces . The following day the Brigade was informed they were required for Operation “ Plunder ” , the crossing of the Rhine . Operation Plunder . Commencing on the night of 23 March 1945 , Operation Plunder was the crossing of the Rhine river at Rees , Wesel , and south of the Lippe Canal by the British Second Army , under Lieutenant - General Sir Miles Dempsey ( Operation Turnscrew , Operation Widgeon , and Operation Torchlight ) , and the U . S . Ninth Army , ( Operation Flashlight ) , under Lieutenant General William Simpson . XVIII U . S . Airborne Corps , consisting of British 6th Airborne Division and US 17th Airborne Division , conducted Operation Varsity . All of these formations were part of the 21st Army Group under Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery . This was part of a coordinated set of Rhine crossings . The 8 Armoured Brigade now had four Armoured Regiments , as the Staffordshire Yeomanry returned under Brigade command after they had converted to Duplex Drive tanks under the 79th Armoured Division . The Brigade was to support 51st ( Highland ) Division in the Rhine crossing . On 23 March , at 2100 hours , the leading elements of 51st ( Highland ) Division crossed the Rhine in assault craft just north of Rees . They were followed by the DD tanks of C Sqn , Staffordshire Yeomanry . The remainder of the Regiment crossed at first light and were up with the infantry before any enemy counter - attack could be launched . On the evening of 24 March the 4 / 7 DG began to cross , followed in the next two days by the 13 / 18 H and the SRY . On 27 March , Brigade HQ , 12th K . R . R . C . and the Essex Yeomanry made the crossing . For seven days the Brigade then supported 51st ( Highland ) Division , 43rd Division and the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade , who were involved in fighting within the bridgehead . On 28 March , Ijsselburg was captured and the road from Anhoh to Gendringen was in allied hands . On 30 March , the Brigade moved forward with 4th Somerset Light Infantry in Kangaroos ( Armoured Pesonnel Carriers ) under command . By evening , the outskirts of Varsseveld were reached and 12th K . R . R . C . were in Silvolde . The next objective was to seize a crossing of the Twente Canal at Lochem . At dawn 31 March , a battle took place at Ruurlo , but the advance continued to Lochem and the Brigade covered twenty - five miles during the day . The next objective was to capture crossings south of Delden . The 12th K . R . R . C . advanced towards Delden , and the next day linked up with the forward troops of 4th Canadian Armoured Division advancing from their bridge - head over the Twente Canal . The advance continued with the oblective being Bremen , still over 100 miles distant . The Brigade was next deployed to support 214th Infantry Brigade with 13 / 18 H and 129th Infantry Brigade with 4 / 7 DG . The SRY were placed in reserve with 130th Infantry Brigade . On 11 April 130 Infantry Brigade and the SRY took the lead and two days later were on the outskirts of Kloppenburg , where fighting continued into the night before the town fell . The last main road from Bremen to the Netherlands had been severed . On the same day the 8 Armoured Brigade , with 4 / 7 DG , 12th K . R . R . C . and Essex Yeomanry , was placed under command of British 3rd Infantry Division , which was some 75 miles away to the east . The SRY and 13 / 18 H were left with 43rd ( Wessex ) Division . 3rd Division were engaged with the enemy in the numerous villages south of Bremen and on 15 April a series of attacks began . After several days of fighting , 3rd Division had captured all the ground south of the flooded area . It was now decided to cross the Weser upstream at Verden , where a bridge had been secured , and to attack Bremen from the east . The 52nd ( Lowland ) Division were to attack with their left on the river , while 43rd Division were to be on their right supported by 8 Armoured Brigade , less 4 / 7 DG who were to remain with 3rd Division . On 4 May , Brigade HQ was at the village of Rhadereistedt , when the following message was received from the Commander XXX Corps : ‘ ’ Germans surrendered unconditionally at 1820 hours . Hostilities on all Second Army front will cease at 0800 hours tomorrow 5 May 45 . NO repeat NO advance beyond present front line without orders from me . ’ ’ Occupation of Hannover . The 8 Armoured Brigade was to proceed south and take over Hannover from the United States Army . Brigade HQ moved to the city on 17 May , the Regiments on 19 May , and the Brigade took over the responsibility for Hannover Stadtkreis and Landkreis on 22 May , from the US 84th Infantry Division . Hannover which had housed 475 , 000 inhabitants was now 75 % destroyed and still held 300 , 000 Germans . All rail lines were severed and canals were filled with bridge wreckage , all important roads were cratered . A critical food situation was not simplified by the lack of officials , all prominent Nazis having decamped . When some order had been restored , it was found that the Brigade was responsible for 45 , 000 displaced persons of 22 nationalities in 361 camps . All were in rags and hungry , sanitation was a thing of the past and most of their huts were suffering from bomb damage . In addition there were 2 , 000 Polish former Prisoners of War , whose condition was hardly better than the Displaced Persons and 22 , 000 German Prisoners of War . To replace losses and changes , the 107 Heavy Anti - Aircraft Regiment R . A . , 113 Light Anti - Aircraft Regiment R . A , 5th Reconnaissance Regiment and 4th ( Durham ) Survey Regiment R . A . came under command of the Brigade . The Staffordshire Yeomanry returned to the Brigade and the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry also rejoined the formation at Hannover . The 13th / 18th Hussars had left to join 5th Infantry Division in a permanent post - war role of Divisional Cavalry . Soon the news was received that the Brigade was to disband and that the Yeomanry Regiments were to pass into a state of " suspended animation " . At the end of January , the 12th Battalion , The King ' s Royal Rifle Corps disbanded and during February all ranks of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry and the Staffordshire Yeomanry were posted away or discharged . The Headquarters disbanded on 20 March 1946 . After the reformation of the Territorial Army in 1947 , it joined the 49th Armoured Division as 8 ( Yorkshire ) Armoured Brigade . The Brigade left the 49th Division in 1956 , and later disbanded .