The Reconnaissance Corps, or simply Recce Corps, was a service branch of the British Army, formed during the Second World War, whose units provided reconnaissance for infantrydivisions. It was formed from infantry brigade reconnaissance groups on 14 January 1941.
Initially, coming from infantry units, reconnaissance units used the infantry designations of battalions, companies and platoons. However, from 6 June 1942, the Corps changed to the cavalry descriptions of regiments, squadrons and troops.[2]
The Corps became part of the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) in 1944, still maintaining its own cap badge with two lightning strikes supporting an upright spear. With the end of the war, this number of reconnaissance units was not needed and the Reconnaissance Corps was disbanded in August 1946. Reconnaissance duties reverted to regular armoured units of the RAC.
Organisation and equipmentedit
The Reconnaissance Corps was charged with gathering vital tactical information in battle for infantry divisions, probing ahead and screening the flanks of main advances. The training centre was established at Winchester in February 1941, until the home of the Corps moved to Catterick in Yorkshire. Although the Corps was raised from various regular army units, it did not follow that all men would be retained, as potential reconnoiterers were required to take an IQ test and other tests before being accepted. Many failed and were sent to normal infantry battalions, but those who succeeded enjoyed the kudos of belonging to an elite unit and were determined to prove their own worth. Before beginning training with his unit, each man undertook a five-week course with technical units, which determined his role as a driver, wireless operator or mechanic. Most recce men became efficient in two of these roles e.g. driver and operator. During training with a reconnaissance unit, emphasis was placed on both aggressiveness and initiative, as these were the characteristics expected of the men selected for such units, and, as a result, a proud offensive spirit was created, similar to other newly founded units such as The Parachute Regiment. Reconnaissance regiments were organised into a headquarters squadron (including anti-tank, signals and mortar troops) and three reconnaissance (or "recce") squadrons. Each recce squadron comprised three scout troops and an assault troop. Scout troops were equipped with Bren Gun Carriers and light reconnaissance cars, such as the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car. The assault troops were composed of lorried infantry and were called up when enemy resistance needed to be overcome. Later in the war, more efficient and well-armed armoured cars such as the Humber Armoured Car, Daimler Armoured Car, Staghound and Greyhound augmented the light reconnaissance cars in scout troops.[3]
38th Reconnaissance Regiment formed October 1943 in the 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division from the 47th, 38th and 55th Independent Reconnaissance Squadrons; disbanded October 1944, number taken by 80th (Holding) Reconnaissance Regiment.[17]
49th Reconnaissance Regiment formed September 1942 in the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division from the 29th and 148th Independent Reconnaissance Sqns, with the 1st Belgian Fusiliers as 'C' Sqn, later replaced by 24th (Guards) Independent Reconnaissance Squadron.[13][26]
63rd Reconnaissance Training Centre formed January 1942, absorbed Reconnaissance Training Centre (formed January 1941) in August 1943.[37]
80th (Holding and Training) Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1943 from the 48th, 76th and 77th Independent Reconnaissance Squadrons, attached to the 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division;[38] renumbered 38th Reconnaissance Regiment October 1944.[39]
81st (West African) Reconnaissance Regiment formed in the 81st (West Africa) Infantry Division.[40]
Independent reconnaissance squadrons
Those infantry divisions placed on a lower establishment in December 1941 only required an independent reconnaissance company/squadron; some independent brigades had a similar reconnaissance unit.[4][50]
24th (Guards) Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred to the 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment.[26]
29th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred in September 1942 from the 78th Infantry Division to the 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment.[26]
38th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred to the 38th (Welsh) Reconnaissance Regiment in October 1943[17]
45th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron formed November 1941 from the 54th Reconnaissance Regiment; transferred in February 1943 to the 15th (Scottish) Reconnaissance Regiment.[32]
47th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred to the 38th (Welsh) Reconnaissance Regiment in October 1943[17]
54th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron formed November 1941 from the 54th Reconnaissance Regiment; transferred in February 1943 to the 15th (Scottish) Reconnaissance Regiment.[32]
55th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron transferred to the 38th (Welsh) Reconnaissance Regiment in October 1943[17]
76th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron formed November 1941 from the 54th Reconnaissance Regiment; transferred to the 80th (Holding and Training) Reconnaissance Regiment in January 1943.[32][39]
148th Independent Reconnaissance Squadron formed January 1941 in the 148th Independent Brigade Group; transferred in September 1942 to the 49th (West Riding) Reconnaissance Regiment.[26][54]
^Mills, T.F. Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth 5th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment page. Retrieved 26 November 2007. Archived November 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^"Reconnaissance Corps (UK)". Regiments.org. 2013. Archived from the original on December 26, 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
^A British Soldier Remembers Archived 2007-06-07 at the Wayback Machine The Logistics of a Recce Regiment (organisation and vehicles pages).
^"15th (Scottish) Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
^Doherty, British Reconnaissance Corps, pp. 9, 51.
^ abcd"38th (Welsh) Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2013.[dead link]
^"43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
^ ab"161st (Green Howards) Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
^"5th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment". 2013. Archived from the original on January 17, 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
^"45th Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
^"46th Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2013.[dead link]
^ abcd"49th (WR) Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
^"50th Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2013.[dead link]
^"51st (H) Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2013.[dead link]
^"52nd (Lowland) Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
^"53rd (Welsh) Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
^ abcde"54th Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2013.[dead link]
^"56th Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2013.[dead link]
^"59th Reconnaissance Regiment". The Reconnaissance Corps website. 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2013.[dead link]
Bellis, Malcolm A. (1994). Regiments of the British Army 1939–1945 (Armour & Infantry). London: Military Press International. ISBN 978-0-85420-999-6.
Doherty, Richard (1994). Only The Enemy in Front (Every other beggar behind...): The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946. London: Tom Donovan. ISBN 978-1-871085-18-1.
Doherty, Richard & Chapman, Rob (2007). The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-122-9.
J.B.M. Frederick, Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978, Vol I, Wakefield: Microform Academic, 1984, ISBN 1-85117-007-3.
Howard, Roy (2004). Beaten Paths are Safest: From D-Day to the Ardennes. Memories of the 61st Reconnaissance Regiment. Studley: Brewin Books. ISBN 978-1-85858-256-6.
Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1960]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.
Parlour, Andy; Parlour, Sue (2004). Phantom at War. Bristol: Cerberus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84145-118-3.
Taylor, Jeremy L. (1947). This Band of Brothers: A History of the Reconnaissance Corps of the British Army. Bristol: White Swan Press. OCLC 14952752.
Tee, Ronald Arthur (2001). A British Soldier Remembers: The World War II Reminiscences of Ronald Arthur Tee. Belleville, Ontario: Epic Press. ISBN 978-1-55306-277-6.
External linksedit
Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth