The 1st Army Tank Brigade was formed on 3 September 1939 and was an integral component of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The core fighting power of the brigade resided in two battalions of the Royal Tank Regiment (RTR): the 4th RTR and the 7th RTR. While an 8th Battalion RTR was associated with the brigade’s broader organizational structure, this unit did not deploy to France.
1st Army Tank Brigade participated in the counter-offensive during the Battle of Arras and provided cover for the Allied withdrawal to Dunkirk.
