"22nd Armoured Brigade markings, 1941-1942" Topic

Am working on getting correct markings for the British 22nd Armoured Brigade in North Africa. Am especially desiring those from Operation Crusader 1941 and the Gazala battles of 42.

I have been finding information but it is hard to tell what is correct or not. For examples, the brigade was part of 1st Armoured Division when it arrived in theatre but then was switched to 7th division for Crusader. So would it have 22nd elk, 1st AD rhino or 7th AD rat on its fender?

After Crusader would the markings have changed?

And of course what were the numbers on the fenders, also?

I know it may not be possible to be certain but appreciate you assisting. Thanks!

At the time of Crusader, the Crusaders of 22nd Armoured were painted plain sand (no caunter pattern). They had a square block of crusader stripes painted on them (red and white stripes – W-R-W) for recognition – which the Germans loved to use as target practice.

They had, to the best of my knowledge, no 'animal' insignia at the time of Crusader. From memory, they had been delivered to Africa in factory green and were hastily painted (hence no caunter) before being put into the field.

The three regiments for the 22nd did have fender numbers. 40, 67 and 86 and I'm pretty sure that 40 were the 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars and the other two the 3rd and 4th County of London Yeomanry (I'm not sure now which was which).

I did 22nd Armoured Brigade Group for Crusader as my first unit for the desert (15mm at about 1:5), and here are a few pics and links to organisation, etc.

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P.S. The 'Desert Rat' insignia, by deduction, must have come after Operation Crusader because it came about because of the siege of Tobruk – It was said that the British army there had burrowed into the sand around Tobruk like, you've guessed it, like desert rats; that's how the name came about.

Great work!

Beautiful collection James!

Cheers
Matt