Heavy Armoured Brigade (Egypt) 4th Armoured Brigade 4th Armoured Brigade Group 4th Mechanized Brigade 4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East | |
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![]() Current insignia of the 4th Infantry Brigade & HQ North East. | |
Active |
1939–1945 1976–Present |
Country |
|
Branch |
|
Type | Infantry |
Size | Brigade |
Part of | 1st (United Kingdom) Division |
Garrison/HQ | Catterick, North Yorkshire |
Nickname(s) | The Black Rats |
Engagements |
Gulf War Bosnian War Kosovo Campaign Iraq War Afghanistan |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Brigadier Oliver Brown |
Notable commanders | Michael Carver |
4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East (The Black Rats), previously known as 4th Mechanized Brigade (The Black Rats) is a brigade formation of the British Army, currently based in Catterick, North Yorkshire as part of 1st (United Kingdom) Division.[1] The brigade, now known as the 'Black Rats', was formed in 1939 and fought in the Second World War in the Western Desert Campaign in North Africa. The Black Rats were subsequently involved in the invasion of Sicily and fighting in Italy before taking part in the Battle of Normandy and the advance through Belgium, Holland and into Germany.[2]
More recently, the Brigade took part in the First Gulf War and completed a number of tours to the Balkans during the 1990s. The Black Rats have since deployed twice to Iraq and once before to Afghanistan for Operation Herrick 12 in 2010. The Brigade returned to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in October 2012 for Operation Herrick 17 to take over as the lead formation of British troops. The roulement tour saw the brigade working in support of the Afghan Army's 3/215 Brigade and elements of the Afghan National Police.
History[]
Second World War[]
In September 1939, at the start of the Second World War this brigade changed its title from Heavy Armoured Brigade (Egypt) to 4th Armoured Brigade.[3]
On 27 July 1941, it handed over its units to the 1st Army Tank Brigade and received new units based in Egypt. It was reformed again when the HQ arrived in Sicily and it took control of new units there. The 4th Armoured Brigade saw service in the North African Campaign, the Allied invasion of Sicily, the Italian Campaign and in North-western Europe. Although it served under many different formations it was most famous as part of the 7th Armoured Division, the Desert Rats.[3]

Sherman DD tank of the 44th Royal Tank Regiment, 4th Armoured Brigade, passing Universal Carriers of the 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers east of the River Rhine, 25 March 1945.
The 4th Armoured Brigade left the 7th Armoured Division in North Africa in 1943 for the Allied Invasion Force for Normandy. In June 1944, the brigade landed in Normandy and served with distinction during the Battle of Normandy during the Battle for Caen. From Normandy until the end of the war, the 4th Armoured Brigade was composed as follows:
- Royal Scots Greys (left 29 April 1945)
- 44th Royal Tank Regiment
- 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) (became 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) on 29 July 1944)
- 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (left 14 May 1945)
- 1st East Riding Yeomanry (from 14 June 1945)
The 4th Armoured Brigade was the first to cross the Rhine into Germany.[4]
Order of battle, Second World War[]
Cold War Era[]
The Brigade spent many years in Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine. The brigade was one of two "square" brigades assigned to 2nd Armoured Division when it was formed in 1976.[5] By 1950 the brigade was titled 4th (Guards) Infantry Brigade. After being briefly converted to "Task Force Charlie" in the late 1970s, the brigade was reinstated in 1981, assigned to 3rd Armoured Division[6] and was based at York Barracks in Münster.[7] The Brigade deployed to the First Gulf War on Operation Granby in 1990/91 and was involved in the liberation of Kuwait. It moved to Quebec Barracks at Osnabrück in 1993 to replace 12th Armoured Brigade as part of 1st (UK) Armoured Division.[8]
Troops Cold-War Era[]
Troops commanded by the brigade during the Cold War included:[9]
Command
- Headquarters
- 4th Infantry Brigade Headquarters (1947–1970)
- 4th Armoured Brigade Headquarters (1970–1981)
- 4th Armoured Brigade Headquarters and 204 Signal Squadron (1981–1993)
- 4th Infantry Brigade Headquarters (1947–1970)
- Signals
- 4 (Guards) Signal Brigade Group Signal Squadron (1947–1959)
- 204 Signal Squadron (Guards Brigade Group) (1959–1964)
- 204 Signal Squadron (Guards Brigade) (1964–1970)
- 204 Signal Squadron (Brigade) (1970–1977)
- 4 Squadron, 2nd Armoured Division Signal Regiment (1977–1981)
- 4th Armoured Brigade Headquarters and 204 Signal Squadron (1981–1993)
- 4 (Guards) Signal Brigade Group Signal Squadron (1947–1959)
Armoured
- 17th/21st Lancers (1957–1960, 1972–1974, 1981–1990)
- The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars (1982–1988)
- The Prince of Wales's Own Royal Hussars (1990–1992)
- 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards (1960–1962, 1970–1974, 1976–1983)
- 13th/18th (Queen Mary's Own) Royal Hussars (1962–1966, 1968–1972)
- 14th/20th King's Hussars (1967–1970, 1988–1992)
- 2nd Royal Tank Regiment (1972–1976)
- 4th Royal Tank Regiment (1974–1982)
Infantry
- 1st Btn, The Royal Welch Fusiliers (1947–1949)
- 1st Btn, The Royal Norfolk Regiment (1949–1951)
- 1st Btn, Irish Guards (1951–1953, 1961–1964, 1975–1977, 1981–1986)
- 1st Btn, The East Lancashire Regiment (1954–1955)
- 1st Btn, Grenadier Guards (1955–1958, 1963–1966, 1972–1975, 1986–1991)
- 1st Btn, The East Lancashire Regiment (1947–48)
- 1st Btn, The York and Lancaster Regiment (1948)
- 1st Btn, The Manchester Regiment (1948–1950)
- 2nd Btn, Coldstream Guards (1952–1955, 1969–1972)
- 1st Btn, Coldstream Guards (1955–1957, 1964–1967, 1991–1998)
- 3rd Btn, Coldstream Guards (1957–1958)
- 2nd Btn, Grenadier Guards (1947–49, 1950–1952, 1958–1964, 1966–1969, 1979–1981)
- 1st Btn, Duke of Edinburgh's Wiltshire Regiment (1949–1950)
- 1st Btn, Welsh Guards (1950–1952, 1960–1963, 1970–1972)
- 2nd Btn, The Royal Highland Regiment (Black Watch) (1952–1953)
- 2nd Btn, Scots Guards (1953–1958, 1967–1970, 1976–1978)
- 1st Btn, Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment (Royal Highland Fusiliers) (1964–1967)
- 2nd Btn, The Royal Green Jackets (1967–1969)
- 1st Btn, Scots Guards (1972–1976)
- 1st Btn, The King's Own (South) Yorkshire Light Infantry (1958–1961)
Artillery
- 41st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (1958–1961)
- 49th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (1961–1964)
Engineers
- 29 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers (1957–1961)
Post-Cold War[]
4th Armoured Brigade deployed to Bosnia in October 1995 as UNPROFOR HQ Sector South-West and subsequently as the leading UK element of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR).[10] On its return to the United Kingdom in 2007 it was transferred from 1st (UK) Armoured Division to 3rd (UK) Mechanised Division.[10] The Black Rats have since deployed twice to Iraq and once before to Afghanistan for Operation Herrick 12 in 2010. The Brigade returned to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in October 2012 for Operation Herrick 17 to take over as the lead formation of British troops. The roulement tour saw the brigade working in support of the Afghan Army's 3/215 Brigade and elements of the Afghan National Police.[11] As part of the latter changes of Army 2020 both the 2nd and 4th Battalions of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment will move out of the brigade. The 2nd battalion moving to the Specialised Infantry Group and the 4th battalion moving to the renamed Headquarters, North West.[12][13]
Current formation[]

4 Inf Bgd Structure
Under Army 2020, the brigade lost its armour and converted to an infantry brigade. The units to be under its control include:[12][14][15]
- 4th Infantry Brigade, in Catterick
- The Light Dragoons, at Gaza Barracks, Catterick Garrison (Light Cavalry Regiment armed with Jackal reconnaissance vehicles)
- The Queen's Own Yeomanry, headquarters in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Army Reserve Light Cavalry Regiment armed with Jackal reconnaissance vehicles), paired with the LD
- The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Glencorse Barracks, Penicuick (Light Infantry)
- 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, at Dale Barracks, Chester (Light Infantry)
- 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, at Weeton Barracks, Preston (Light Infantry)
- 52nd Lowland Volunteers, 6th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, headquarters in Glasgow (Army Reserve Light Infantry), paired with 2 SCOTS
- 4th Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, headquarters in Preston (Army Reserve Light Infantry) paired with 1 LANCS
- 4th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, headquarters in York (Army Reserve Light Infantry) paired with 2 MERCIAN
The Brigade also exercises command over all British Army Units based in the North East for the purposes of UK Operations. 4th Infantry Brigade is also regionally aligned with the northern African region as part of defence engagement.[16]
Second World War Commanders[]
During the Second World War:[17]
- 3 September 1939 - 1 November 1939 Lieutenant-Colonel HRB Watkins
- 1 November 1939 - 16 November 1939 Brigadier JAL Caunter
- 16 November 1939 - 5 December 1939 Lieutenant-Colonel HRB Watkins
- 5 December 1939 - 8 May 1941 Brigadier JAL Caunter
- 8 May 1941 - 26 June 1942 Brigadier AH Gatehouse
- 26 June 1942 - 7 July 1942 Brigadier AF Fisher
- 7 July 1942 - 4 October 1942 Brigadier WG Carr
- 4 October 1942 - 18 November 1942 Brigadier MG Roddick
- 18 November 1942 - 10 December 1942 Colonel RCG Joy
- 10 December 1942 - 24 January 1943 Brigadier CBC Harvey
- 24 January 1943 - 27 February 1943 Brigadier DS Newton-King
- 27 February 1943 - 30 December 1943 Brigadier JC Currie
- 30 December 1943 - 16 March 1944 Brigadier HJB Cracroft
- 16 March 1944 - 26 June 1944 Brigadier JC Currie
- 26 June 1944 - 27 June 1944 Colonel JL Young
- 27 June 1944 - 25 January 1945 Brigadier RMP Carver
- 25 January 1945 - 22 February 1945 Lieutenant-Colonel GC Hopkinson
- 22 February 1945 - 31 August 1945 Brigadier RMP Carver
Brigade Commanders[]
Recent commanders have included:[18]
- 1976–1978 Brigadier Desmond Langley
- 1981–1984 Brigadier Charles Guthrie
- 1994–1996 Brigadier Richard Dannatt
- 1996–1998 Brigadier David Richards
- 1998–2000 Brigadier Bill Rollo
- 2000-2002 Brigadier Nicholas Smith
- 2002–2004 Brigadier Paul Gibson
- 2005–2007 Brigadier Chris Deverell
- 2007–2009 Brigadier Julian Free[19]
- 2009–2011 Brigadier Richard Felton[20]
- 2011–2013 Brigadier Bob Bruce[21]
- 2013–2015 Brigadier Charlie Herbert [22]
- 2015–2016 Brigadier Gerald Strickland
- 2016–2019 Brigadier Oliver Stokes MBE
- 2019–present Brigadier Oliver Brown
Notable former soldiers[]
Former BBC Motor sports commentator Murray Walker served with 4th Armoured Brigade during the Second World War as a member of The Royal Scots Greys. After the war he started a motorcycle club, organising trials and scrambles for the soldiers within the Brigade.[23]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "4th Mechanized Brigade". British Army. http://www.army.mod.uk/4brigade. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- ↑ Brigadier RMP Carter (1945). The History of the 4th Armoured Brigade. ISBN 978-1470119645.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Brief History Of The British 4th Armoured Brigade Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Desert Rats Association website Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Watson, Graham (2005). "The British Army in Germany: An Organisational History 1947-2004". Tiger Lily. p. 95. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=FPAMQ3oIT_4C&pg=PA95&lpg=PA95&dq=2nd+Armoured+Division+Lubbecke&source=bl&ots=6APjlWaFqL&sig=mHLhN_QTqAgvfMt-on-2SH_PIKw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDgQ6AEwBGoVChMImYi_xofjyAIVQTQ-Ch1lMgS6#v=onepage&q=2nd%20Armoured%20Division%20Lubbecke&f=false.
- ↑ Black, Harvey. "The Cold War Years. A Hot War in reality. Part 6.". http://harveyblackauthor.org/2014/04/29/the-cold-war-years-a-hot-war-in-reality-part-6-2/.
- ↑ "York Barracks". BAOR Locations. http://baor-locations.org/yorkbks.aspx.html. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ↑ 4th Mechanized Brigade Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Global Security
- ↑ Watson & Rinaldi, many pages
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Blue Beret (December 2000/January 2001) Archived August 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "4th Mechanized Brigade to replace 12 Mechanized Brigade in Helmand". MoD. 11 July 2012. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/4thMechanizedBrigadeToReplace12thMechanizedBrigadeInHelmand.htm.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "4th Infantry Brigade and HQ North East" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/1st-united-kingdom-division/4th-infantry-brigade-and-hq-north-east/.
- ↑ "Duke of Lancaster's Regiment" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/duke-of-lancasters-regiment/.
- ↑ "Famed Desert Rats to lose their tanks under Army cuts". Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9911295/Famed-Desert-Rats-to-lose-their-tanks-under-Army-cuts.html. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
- ↑ page 9 Archived June 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Information regarding British Army brigades being regionally aligned". Ministry of Defence UK. 2 August 2019. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/878634/20190730-FOI08372_Li_Regionally_Aligned_Bdes_Response_Letter-ArmySec.pdf. "Responsible Organisation 4th Infantry Brigade Region Northern Africa"
- ↑ Orders of Battle Archived March 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Army Commands Archived July 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ 5,000 'Rats' spotted in Basra Archived October 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Defence News, 11 December 2007
- ↑ Brigadier salutes move to Garrison Archived August 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Northern Echo, 17 February 2009
- ↑ 4th Mechanized Brigade Archived October 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. 11 April 2011
- ↑ New man takes over the Black Rats Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Northern Echo, 12 June 2013
- ↑ Murray Walker (2003). Unless I'm Very Much Mistaken. ISBN 0-00-712697-2.
Further reading[]
- Brigadier RMP Carter (1945). The History of the 4th Armoured Brigade. ISBN 978-1470119645.
External links[]
The original article can be found at 4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East and the edit history here.