The Desert Rats Association was involved initially with border raids push on Tripoli that it too became an New sletter 2015-16 against the Italian Army, then mobile Independent Armoured Brigade and battles against the Deutsches Afrika adopted the 'Black Rat' emblem. After Korps and the Italians. In Nov 1941, it the completion of the North African took part in Operation CRUSADER, campaign, the Brigade landed in Scilly, culminating in the bloody battles then mainland Italy before returning to around Sidi Rezegh where the Division England in Jan 1944 to prepare for was virtually destroyed defending the Operation OVERLORD. From Where have we come from? airfield. Normandy, 4 Brigade, as part of 21st In 1938, Maj Gen Percy Hobart flew Army Group, fought its way in to to Egypt to “Create an Armoured In Jan 1942, 7th Armoured Brigade Germany, over the Rhine and up into Division” from the Cairo Cavalry deployed to the Far East to fight the Hamburg. In Mar 1948 it was Brigade. The Brigade deployed to Japanese Imperial Army in Burma. disbanded, but was reformed in 1981 Western Egypt to conduct training and With great skill the Brigade covered the in Munster, West Germany. became known as the “Mobile general retreat from Rangoon, the Division.” Its order of battle was a Light defence of the oil fields Armoured Brigade, a Heavy Armoured at Mandalay and then conducted Brigade and a Pivot Group (Artillery operations on the Indian border. In and Motorised Infantry). 1943 it returned to the Middle East, serving in Iraq, Syria and In Feb 1940 the Mobile Division was then Egypt before deploying to Italy in officially re-designated the May 1944, as an Independent Armoured Brigade. There it took part in 7th Armoured Division with the Heavy The 7th Armoured Division's long and Armoured Brigade re-designated as helping break the GOTHIC and the HITLER Lines, before pushing up the illustrious history finally came to an end 4th Armoured and the Light as in April 1958, when it was converted 7th Armoured Brigades. Its emblem Adriatic coast, crossing the Senio River nd and advancing on towards Venice and into 5th Division. 22 Armoured was the famous ‘Red Rat,’ designed by Brigade was re-designated 7th the then GOC, Maj Gen Creigh, and Trieste. At the end of the Second World War the brigade remained based Armoured Brigade in 1948 where it sewn by his wife who was a nurse in remained stationed in Soltau, Cairo. The first ‘Rat’ was worn by the in Northern Italy until early 1946 when it was disbanded. throughout the Cold War, and then General’s Command Vehicle moved to Bergen-Hohne on 1st April Commander, Len Burrit, who remains a 1993. member of the Association to this day. Meanwhile 4th Armoured Brigade remained with the Division and fought Since the end of the Cold War both When war came to the desert theatre in all the major desert battles, including Brigades deployed on Operation of operations in Jun 1940, the Division El Alamein. It was during the final GRANBY in 1991 to liberate Kuwait. 7 Brigade returned to Iraq in 2003 to help in 2013 during Brigadier Bob Bruce’s destroy Saddam Hussein’s regime. command tenure on Operation Both Brigades have deployed on a HERRICK 17. During both tours the number of peace-keeping operations in Brigade was the lead formation of the Balkans, and operational tours in British troops in Helmand, which saw it Iraq and Afghanistan. working in support of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National The Desert Rat Association was Police. In 2014 the Black Rats were th founded in 1998 to provide a fitting re-designated 4 Infantry Brigade and 7 Armoured Brigade’s recent history memorial to the Desert Rats. The Headquarters North-East under the has been dominated by operations in association is now run by Rod and Tina command of Brigadier Charlie Herbert. Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2011 the Scott who have organised annual The Brigade now has responsibility for Brigade deployed on Op HERRICK 14 reunions since 2000. The current the North East region of the England in support of 3 Commando Brigade. It membership stands at about 100, of and comprises a mixture of regular and then deployed on Op HERRICK 19 for whom 30 are original Desert Rats. Reserve elements as part of the an extended tour resulting in the Adaptable Force structure of the Army merger of Task Force Helmand with Where are w e now? under the Army 2020 programme. Regional Command (South West) Operations remain at the forefront of under command of Brigadier James what they do. Recently elements have Woodham. This was the final UK deployed once more to Bosnia under Brigade deployment to Afghanistan Operation ELGIN and to Mali to train and saw the end of combat operations the Malian Armed Forces under in September 2014. The Brigade then Operation NEWCOMBE. The Brigade returned to Germany for the final time has a mixture of light infantry units and hosting a celebrations parade in Hohne light cavalry, the latter equipped with and Bergen commemorating their unsurpassed history and long standing The past few years have been the JACKAL vehicle that proved so th effective in Afghanistan. In an relationship between with the German extremely busy for the 4 Mechanized communities that that supported them Brigade, “The Black Rats.” The intriguing link to our past the Brigade also has responsibility for the Army’s for 76 years. The Red Rats moved to Brigade moved to its new home in Chilwell in January 2015 and were re- Catterick in 2009. Since then the overseas engagement activity in North Africa. This means that once again designated 7 Infantry Brigade and Brigade has deployed to Iraq and Headquarters East under Brigadier Afghanistan on a number of occasions. members of the Black Rats can be found in the deserts of the Maghreb Jonny Bourne. Like the Black Rats, 7 Most recently the Black Rats deployed Brigade is a mix of Regular and to Afghanistan in 2010 under upholding the very finest traditions of a historic formation. Reserve units and forms part of the command of Brigadier Richard Felton Adaptable Force with a combination of on Operation HERRICK 12, returning Light Infantry, Protected Mobility and Light Cavalry units. Continuing their operational pedigree 7 Brigade was the first formation to deploy troops on Op TORAL, the latest UK contribution to operations in Afghanistan. The Brigade is also supporting operations throughout the world including Op NEWCOMBE in Mali and FIRIC in the Falkland Islands. As part of the Army’s commitment to overseas engagement the Red Rats are aligned to West Africa and have already deployed multiple Short Term Training Teams to Nigeria in support of the Nigerian Army’s fight against Boko Haram. Where are we going? The aim of this first Newsletter is to raise awareness of the Association and to encourage the current generation of Desert Rats to join. Membership is £10 and you can join by signing up on the website: desertrats.org.uk The Association’s Annual Reunion takes place on Sunday 21 June on the original D-Day training site. The day includes a service, parade and a host of displays and stands – including WWII military equipment. Timings and location can be obtained from the website. Please come and show your support. .