{{Use British English|date=November 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name=24th Lancers |image=24th Lancers.jpg |caption=24th Lancers' cap badge ''ca'' 1941<ref>Anon, ''Regimental Badges and Service Caps'', London: George Philip & Sons, 1941.</ref> |dates=30 December 1940{{snd}}24 July 1944 |country={{flag|United Kingdom}} |allegiance= |branch={{army|United Kingdom}} |type=Cavalry |role=Armoured |size=Regiment |command_structure=29th Armoured Brigade<br>8th Armoured Brigade. |garrison= |garrison_label= |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles=Second World War :North-West Europe 1944 ::Operation Perch ::Battle of Villers-Bocage ::Operation Epsom ::Operation Martlet |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= |battle_honours_label= |disbanded= |flying_hours= |website= <!-- Commanders --> |commander1= |commander1_label= |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |commander4= |commander4_label= |notable_commanders= <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= |identification_symbol_3= |identification_symbol_3_label= |identification_symbol_4= |identification_symbol_4_label= }} The '''24th Lancers''' was a cavalry regiment of the British Army that existed from late 1940 to mid-1944. Assigned to the 8th Armoured Brigade, the regiment fought during the Invasion of Normandy before being disbanded in July 1944. After disbandment, the regiment's personnel were sent to other cavalry regiments as reinforcements.
== History == The regiment was raised in December 1940 from a cadre of personnel taken from the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 17th/21st Lancers; despite its numerical designation, the regiment shared no lineage with the earlier 24th Light Dragoons.<ref name=Mills24L>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/D24.htm |title=24th Light Dragoons & 24th Lancers at regiments.org by T.F.Mills |access-date=2006-02-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118043310/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/D24.htm |archive-date=18 January 2008 |df=dmy }}</ref> It was initially assigned to the 29th Armoured Brigade, which formed part of the 11th Armoured Division,<ref name=Joslen180>{{harvnb|Joslen|1990|p=180}}</ref> but it was reassigned to the 8th Armoured Brigade on 8 February 1944.<ref name=Joslen160>{{harvnb|Joslen|1990|p=160}}</ref><ref name=Bellis15>{{harvnb|Bellis|1994|p=15}}</ref> [[File:Sherman tank of 24th Lancers.jpg|thumb|280px|left|Sherman VC Firefly of 24th Lancers near Saint-Léger, 11 June 1944.]] With the 8th Armoured Brigade, the regiment landed on Gold Beach, in the second wave of the Operation Overlord landings, supporting the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. Around half of the regiment landed on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) and the rest on 7 June 1944 (D+1). <ref name=8Amd>{{cite web | url=http://www.warlinks.com/armour/8th_armoured/chapter_4.php | title=A Short History of the 8th Armoured Brigade Chapter IV | publisher=Warlinks | author=Brigadier G.E. Prior-Palmer | authorlink=George Erroll Prior-Palmer| access-date=28 November 2015}}</ref> Equipped with Sherman tanks, shortly after landing the regiment was involved in the fighting around Putot-en-Bessin and Villers Bocage. After intensive action in the Tilly-sur-Seulles, Fontenay-le-Pesnel, Tessel Wood and Rauray areas, the regiment was disbanded towards the end of July 1944 due to heavy casualties and limited reinforcements, and its personnel were transferred to other regiments. Most of these men went to the 23rd Hussars or other units of the 8th Armoured Brigade, or the 29th Armoured Brigade in the 11th Armoured Division.<ref name=Mills24L/> Since D-Day, the regiment had lost 41 officers and men killed in action, along with 98 wounded or missing.
== Battle honours == The 24th Lancers was awarded the following battle honours for service in the Second World War:<ref name=Mills24L/> :Putot en Bessin, Villers Bocage, Tilly sur Seulles, The Odon, Fontenay le Pesnil, Defence of Rauray, North-West Europe 1944
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==Bibliography== * {{cite book | last = Bellis | first = Malcolm A. | year = 1994 | title = Regiments of the British Army 1939–1945 (Armour & Infantry) | publisher = Military Press International | location = London | isbn = 0-85420-999-9 }} * {{cite book | last = Joslen | first = Lt-Col H.F. | year = 1990 | orig-year = 1st. Pub. HMSO:1960 | title = Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939–1945 | publisher = London Stamp Exchange | location = London | isbn = 0-948130-03-2 }} * {{cite book | last = Willis | first = Leonard | year = 1985 | title = None Had Lances: The Story of the 24th Lancers | publisher = 24th Lancers Old Comrades Association | location = | isbn = 978-095107180-9 }}
== External links== *{{cite web |url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/D24.htm |title=24th Lancers |publisher=regiments.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118043310/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/D24.htm |archive-date=18 January 2008}} *{{cite web | url=http://www.warlinks.com/armour/8th_armoured/chapter_4.php | title=A Short History of the 8th Armoured Brigade Chapter IV | publisher=Warlinks | author=Brigadier G.E. Prior-Palmer | authorlink=George Erroll Prior-Palmer | access-date=28 November 2015}}
{{RAC armoured regiments of the Second World War}}
Category:Cavalry regiments of the British Army Lancers 024 Category:1940 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Military units and formations established in 1940 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944