THE GUIDES CAVALRY 10th QUEEN VICTORIA'S OWN FRONTIER FORCE This unit was also present during the battle of Gazala and the retreat to El Alamein. But is not mentioned in most f the books I have about this battle. From their battle honnours they were at Bir Hakeim, Minqar Qaim, and Deir el Shein. I just knew they were around reading "The tiger Kills" when they appear being the last ones who tell 18th Indian Brigade they were about to be attacked by DAK on 1st July 1942. Does anybody have any information about the deeds of this regiment and about their equippement? Many thanks Eduard
No info about this unit? Just found in Axis History Forum • View topic - Gazala OoB ORBAT of "British" army before Gazala. ----DENCOL – Jarabub Oasis ------B+C / 1st Special Service Regiment – SAS and LRDG units? ------B / Guide’s Cavalry – 18 x Humber III ------B / 6th SA A/C Regiment – 18 x Marmon-Harrington III ------Detachement Senegalais ------Detachement Marocains ------Batterie Mixte – 4 x 75mm Gun, 2 x 25mm ATG An Squadron of the Guides cavalry at Jarabub Oasis, equipped with Humbers ?? It surprises me such equippement meanwhile other more experienced units had to do with the Marmon-Herrington. Eduard
Here is a summary of the Guide's Cavalry's service in Egypt and the Western Desert: 10th Indian Motor Brigade – 24 May 1942 to 24 June 1942 On May 22nd, the Guide’s left for Egypt arriving between El Daba and Sidi Barrani. It joined the 10th Indian Motor Brigade at Wadi Natrun on May 24th, 1942 and moved with the brigade to Dabaa on May 26th. On May 27th, ‘B’ Squadron went to Matruh and the rest of the regiment moved to Baggush leaving ‘A’ Squadron at Daba. “C3” Troop was posted to Abu Haggay near the coast and came under command of Skinner’s Horse. While the unit was located at Baggush it served under the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade. On May 28th, ‘B’ Squadron moved to Sollum and ‘A’Squadron went to Charing Cross, but ‘B’ Squadron was ordered to Jarabub Oasis on the 29th. In early June HQ and ‘C’ Squadrons patrolled south of Baggush to the Quattara Depression. The regiment, less ‘B’ Squadron, moved to positions halfway between Matruh and Sidi Barrani, coming under command of the 1st Armoured Division on June 19th. The regiment, less ‘B’ Squadron, moved to Fuka on June 23rd. 22nd Armoured Brigade – Attached - 24 June 1942 to 29 June 1942 On June 24th it was ordered to join the 22nd Armoured Brigade at Bir Qaim as its recce regiment, where it stayed for three days. It joined the 12th Lancers in Mersa Matruh box on the night of June 25th and retreated over the next two days to Ruweisat Ridge, where it arrived on the 28th. 18th Indian Infantry Brigade – Attached – 29 June 1942 to 2 July 1942 It then came under the command of the 18th Indian Brigade at Deir El Shein. 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division – 2 July 1942 to 9 July 1942 On July 2nd it withdrew two miles east and came under command of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. 1st British Armoured Division – 9 July 1942 to 11 July 1942 ‘B’ Squadron had been detached to the Royal Yugoslav Guards at Matruh on May 27th, but left Sollum on the May 28th and proceeded to Capuzzo. It relieved a South African Reconnaissance Squadron at Jarabub Oasis on May 29th and joined Dencol. After June 20th, Dencol moved to Siwa and then Alamein and the squadron rejoined the rest of the regiment.‘B’ Squadron then rejoined the regiment on July 9th and the Guide’s rejoined the 1st Armoured Division. The Guide’s moved to the rear at Amiraya on 10 July leaving ‘C’ Squadron at the front. It handed over 16 carriers to the 9th Australian Division on 11 July. 10th Indian Infantry Division – 11 July 1942 to 5 August 1942 RHQ and ‘C’ Squadron joined the regiment at Amirya under the command of the 10th Indian Division. Here it formed a battle group with RHQ and ‘B’ Squadron for a few days on the Cairo-Alexandria road, but the group was broken up on 20 July. From 1-5 August, the RHQ was at K106 on the Cairo-Alexandria road while ‘C’ Squadron refitted at Abbassia. HQ British Troops in Egypt – 5 August 1942 to 29 November 1942 ‘B’ Squadron came under the command of Barforce at Bahariya oasis from August 8th-10th, at which time the regiment was given orders to reequip as an Armoured Car Regiment. On August 24th, ‘A’ Squadron was detailed for Delta Force and came under the command of the 10th Indian Motor Brigade, ‘B’ Squadron was to return from Bahairiya , and the RHQ and ‘C’ Squadron were at Mena. On September 1st, the RHQ was at Mena, ‘A’ Squadron under Delta Force at Jebel Ruzza, ‘B’ Squadron returning from Bahairiya oasis, and ‘C’ Squadron at Abbassia reequipping. ‘C’ Squadron joined the RHQ on September 5th and ‘A’ Squadron remained under the 10th Indian Motor Brigade as part of British Troops Egypt (BTE). On September 8th, the regiment left command of the 12th Division and also came under command of BTE. It served under Walforce to protect Wadi Natrun and the south from September 11th until November 3rd. It then went to Amiriya on November 11th, staying at Mareopolis until November 20th. On November 21st it went to Ismaila and the canal. 5th Indian Infantry Division – 29 November 1942 to 2 June 1943 It then joined the 5th Indian Division in the Baghdad area by November 29th, 1942. In May 1943, it returned with this division to India. The Naval and Military Press has reprinted their 1922-47 Regimental History if you want more details.
Dryan67. That's great information. Does your source say with what Armoured cars each squadron was equipped?
Apparently they had only Indian Pattern Carriers and soft vehicles and received armoured cars after their return to India. This should be them (title of the reel is wrong, they are not Indian L.R.D.G. and officer wear badge of the Guides) INDIAN L.R.D.G. UNIT 1943 - British Pathe British Officer http://www.britishpathe.com/ImgRetrieve.php?img=56&media_urn=60683 Indian Pattern Carriers http://www.britishpathe.com/ImgRetrieve.php?img=12&media_urn=60683 http://www.britishpathe.com/ImgRetrieve.php?img=101&media_urn=60683 Reel also show Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars and 2 pounder portee which probably also belong to the regiment. http://www.britishpathe.com/ImgRetrieve.php?img=158&media_urn=60683 All credits for the finding of the reel goes to Diane http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/special-forces/19464-indian-long-range-scouts-major-samuel-vallis-mccoy-m-b.html
Thanks for that. So, are we thinking that the last photo above is in India? No, they are all from the same reel. I guess that they have some Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars but they weren't they primary equipment. Once when they back in India I guess that they received Humber or Daimler armoured cars but I couldn't find any confirmation for this. Reel (if I have right) show members of the Sikh Squadron of the Regiment. http://www.britishpathe.com/ImgRetrieve.php?img=73&media_urn=60683 Looks like that on shoulder title ne written "Guides" but it's really hard to be 100%, and I could be wrong.
And from wiki On 26 September 1940, the Guides Cavalry was mechanized as a Light Reconnaissance Regiment equipped with wheeled armoured carriers and 15 cwt trucks. In May 1941, it was dispatched to Iraq. The regiment took part in the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, when one of its squadrons, supported by an infantry battalion, stormed and captured the city of Khorramshahr on 25 August. In June 1942, the regiment arrived in North Africa and covered the British Eighth Army's open desert flank as it withdrew towards Egypt after the debacle at Gazala. The Guides Cavalry returned to Iraq in September 1942. In November 1943, it proceeded to Kohat in India, where it was converted into an Armoured Car Regiment for operations on the North West Frontier. Guides Cavalry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I am currently writing the History of the Pakistan Armoured Corps and found this thread very interesting and informative. There is no doubt that this is a sqn of Guides Cavalry, to be more precise 'B' Sqn and the officer with his hand bandaged and a large moustache is the sqn comd Randall Plunkett. I gleaned this info from a pic taken in exactly the same setting that appears on page 126 of the History of the Guides Part II. Regarding the Armoured Cars, when the Guides was withdrawn from Alamein they were reequipped with Armoured Cars while still in the Delta.
Hello and welcome to the forum-there are some 'Guides Cavalry' War Diaries at the National Archives in London: WO 169/3404 Guides Cavalry 1941 Oct.- Dec. WO 169/7721 10 Guides Cavalry 1942 Feb.- May, July- Dec. WO 169/7722 10 Guides Cavalry 'B' Sqn. 1942 May- July WO 169/14937 10 Guides Cavalry 1943 Jan-Apr Cheers Andy
So it would be bery nice if someone had a copy or could post the interesting parts of this: WO 169/7722 10 Guides Cavalry 'B' Sqn. 1942 May- July
