Here are some details of the command and equipment for the 8th Hussars during the period. WARNING, it is quite complex, during this hectic period. By 28 May 1942 the regiment was destroyed in action and RHQ retired to Bardia. ‘C’ Squadron served under 3rd Royal Tank Regiment until 6 June and went to join the RHQ at Bardia on 7 June, where it arrived on 15 June. It remained there until 23 June when it joined 7th Motor Brigade. Meanwhile a composite ‘A’/’B’ Squadron was formed which served under the Queen’s Bays between 6 and 8 June and under 4th County of London Yeomanry between 11 and 14 June. On 14 June the composite squadron joined the regiment at Bardia. The regiment left Bir Abu Misherfa for Bir Entra on 22 June. ‘C’ Squadron left and came under command of 7th Motor Brigade from 23 June to l July. The RHQ and composite squadron, meanwhile, arrived at Fuka, where the Tank Delivery Squadron was located. ‘C’ Squadron served with 1st Armoured Division from 1 to 12 July. Meanwhile the 3 troop composite squadron served with lst Armoured Division from 27 June to 30 June. The regiment including the composite squadron went to Khatatba, where the Reinforcement Squadron of the Tank Delivery Regiment was located, on 8 July. By 13 July ‘A’ Squadron and RHQ were at Khatatba and by 25 August ‘A’ Squadron formed the HQ Protection Squadron of Main HQ 8th Army. RHQ and HQ Squadron were located at Mayut on anti-parachute duties. On 12 July a composite regiment, the 4th/8th Hussars was formed. ‘C’ Squadron served with this regiment from 12 July to 11 September 1942 and ‘A’ Squadron was with it from 11 September until 24 November. Meanwhile RHQ was located at Sidi Bishr between September and December 1942. On 2 December the regiment was ordered to Cyprus and it received one squadron of the 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars to enable them to reform ‘B’ Squadron on 11 December. It was decided, on 18 February, to equip ‘A’ and ‘B’ Squadrons as heavy squadrons and ‘C’ Squadron as a light squadron. So that, on 28 February, 4 Grants and 4 Stuarts were drawn. By 28 March it was completely equipped with 20 Stuarts and 24 Grants, ‘A’ Squadron with Grants, ‘B’ Squadron with Grants, and ‘C’ Squadron with Stuarts. After the 28 May losses, ‘C’ Squadron was brought up to strength in Stuarts, but these were handed over to 3rd Royal Tank Regiment (1 tank) and 5th Royal Tank Regiment (2 troops). The ‘A’/’B’ Composite Squadron was equipped with Grants, receiving a troop from 3rd County of London Yeomanry, bringing its strength up to 11 Grants. On 12 June it lost 6 of these and by the 13th it was down to 3 Grants. ‘C’ Squadron drew a full squadron of Stuarts on 23 June. On 25 June RHQ and ‘A’/’B’ Composite Squadron drew 20 Crusaders but exchanged these for 20 Stuarts meant for 4th County of London Yeomanry. The Composite Squadron had 6 Stuarts and 1 Crusader left on 29 June and by 30 June it was down to 1 Crusader and 1 Stuart. On 25 August ‘A’ Squadron went with Stuarts to guard 8th Army HQ and ‘C’ Squadron with 16 Stuart, came under 4th/8th Hussars in July. Both ‘A’ and ‘C’ Squadrons had Stuarts while under command of 4th/8th Hussars. By 20 November ‘A’ Squadron received 3 Grants and 1 Stuart from the Royal Scots Greys and on 24 November it handed over its 2 Grants and 1 Stuart.
I also have the war diary for that period, but it runs about 27 pages and is unscanned. Let me know if you need it, but it will take awhile to fit in my schedule.
David. Once again I find myself in your debt. Thank you very much, especially for the kind offer re the War diary, which as it happens I won't be needing. Best wishes, David.
