24th Lancers

The 24th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1940 to 1944.

Origins
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, and was assigned to 29th Armoured Brigade of 11th Armoured Division. It was later reassigned to 8th Armoured Brigade. 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. Shortly after landing, it 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 and personnel transferred to other Regiments. Most went to the 23rd Hussars or other units in the 8th Armoured Brigade or the 29th Armoured Brigade in the 11th Armoured Division.

Battle honours of the British and Imperial Armies
The Second World War: Putot en Bessin, Villers Bocage, Tilly sur Seulles, Odon, Fontenay-le-Pesnel, Defence of Rauray, North-West Europe 1944.