The 34th Armoured Brigade was an armoured brigade of the British Army that fought in the Second World War. It was formed in 1941 as the 34th Army Tank Brigade and renamed as the 34th Tank Brigade in February 1945, becoming part of the 79th Armoured Division. It was equipped with Churchill tanks and provided close support for assaults by the infantry. During the fighting in North-west Europe from July 1944 to May 1945 the brigade served with the First Canadian Army and the British Second Army. The brigade was disbanded in early 1946.
History
The brigade was formed on 1 December 1941 as one of ten independent Army Tank brigades to be equipped with Churchill tanks. In June 1942, the word "Army" was dropped from the brigade's title and it became part of the 1st Mixed Division. The 34th Tank Brigade was transferred to the 43rd Mixed Infantry Division in September 1942 and in September 1943 it returned to independent status (attached to XII Corps), when the concept of mixed divisions was abandoned.
Normandy
The first two and half years of the brigade's existence were spent in training in the south of England and it saw its first active service in the Normandy bridgehead. Advance parties departed to Normandy on D + 10 (16 June) but the brigade was not gathered in France until early July 1944. Its first combat was in support of the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division in Operation Greenline from 15 to 18 July, to enlarge the Odon bridgehead and advance beyond Hill 112; the German opposition held a strong position and 153rd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps suffered particularly severe casualties, including its commanding officer. The brigade lost 30 officers and 156 other ranks in this action. The brigade continued operations in Normandy until late August.
Operation Astonia
After 14 days of rest and reorganisation and now under the First Canadian Army, the brigade crossed the River Seine on 4 September to prepare to Operation Astonia the assault Le Havre. On arrival outside Le Havre on 6 September, the brigade came under command of 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, who were to assault Le Havre from the north east and east. The defenders' morale was low despite impressive defence works and victory was completed on 12 September with minimal casualties. A troop of 7th Royal Tank Regiment, without infantry, had entered the fort at 11:30 a.m. and had captured Oberst Hermann-Eberhard Wildermuth, the garrison commander, his staff and 400 prisoners.
The Allied armies' supply lines were under great stress due to the lack of usable ports and the brigade transport was added to the supply chain to the front line in Belgium and the brigade was immobilised. By 18 September, the brigade was concentrated about midway between Dieppe and Rouen. On 29 September, still lacking its transport, the 300 Churchills (including a delivery squadron), loaded with munitions, drove northwards for three days to Desvres, near Boulogne. On 2 October, the 7th Royal Tank Regiment was detached to assist the containment of Dunkirk by 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, where it took part in the siege. By 6 October, the brigade had reached the Eindhoven area and all regiments were immediately deployed into the front line.
Clarkeforce
The strategic requirement now was to clear the Scheldt Estuary and get the port of Antwerp into use as an Allied supply base. The 49th (West Riding) Division was to attack towards Loenhout and then unleash a mobile force to exploit the breakthrough and move up the main road to Wuustwezel in Operation Rebound. This mobile force was commanded by Brigadier W. S. Clarke of 34th Tank Brigade and named 'Clarkeforce'. Controlled by 3the 4th Tank Bde HQ, Clarkeforce consisted of Churchill tanks of 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps, with C Squadron carrying infantry of D Company, 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, accompanied by a troop of Achilles self-propelled 17-pounders from 248 Bty, 62nd (6th London) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, a troop of Churchill Crocodile flame-throwing tanks of the 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry and two sections of Royal Engineers. The field artillery support was provided by the 25-pounder field guns of 191st (Hertfordshire and Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.