The 1st Armoured Division deployed to France without its assigned Royal Horse Artillery regiment, which had been allocated to the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in October 1939. Additionally, the division’s Support Group, consisting of the 30th Infantry Brigade, was detached and sent to Calais along with one of its armoured regiments. These deployments significantly weakened the division by depriving it of vital infantry, artillery, and armoured support. As a result, the division operated at a severe disadvantage, reducing its overall combat effectiveness and limiting its ability to function as a cohesive and fully equipped armoured formation.
Commonwealth 1st Armoured Division
