page_title: Reconnaissance Corps
section_title: Units
hierarchical_section_title: Reconnaissance Corps / Units
caption_attribution_description: English: QDG Technical Recognition Flash
context_page_description: The Reconnaissance Corps, or simply Recce Corps, was a corps of the British Army, formed during the Second World War whose units provided the mobile spearhead of infantry divisions. It was formed from infantry brigade reconnaissance groups on 14 January 1941.
  All the brigade reconnaissance groups of each infantry corps were formed into reconnaissance battalions, each usually bearing the number of its relevant division. For example, the 43rd Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps was the divisional reconnaissance battalion of the 43rd Division.
  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.
  The Corps became part of the Royal Armoured Corps 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.
context_section_description: The following units served in the Recce Corps:
  1st Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 in the 1st Division from the Hampshire Regiment.
  2nd Reconnaissance Regiment formed April 1941 in the 2nd Division, mainly from the 6th Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), the division's motorcycle battalion.
  3rd (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Reconnaissance Regiment formed April 1941 in the 3rd Division, from the 8th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
  4th Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 mainly from the anti-tank companies of the 10th, 11th and 12th Brigades of the 4th Division.
  5th Reconnaissance Regiment formed February 1941 in the 5th Division from the 3rd Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifles.
  11th (East African) Reconnaissance Regiment formed May 1943 in the 11th (East Africa) Division by conversion of the Kenya Armoured Car Regiment
  15th Reconnaissance Regiment formed February 1943 in the 15th (Scottish) Division from the 15th, 45th and 54th Independent Reconnaissance Squadrons.
  18th Reconnaissance Battalion formed in the 18th (East Anglian) Division from the 5th Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire); surrendered at Singapore 1942.
  38th Reconnaissance Regiment formed October 1943 in the 38th (Welsh) Division from the 47th, 38th and 55th Independent Reconnaissance Squadrons; disbanded October 1944, number taken by 80th (Holding) Reconnaissance Regiment.
  43rd Reconnaissance Regiment formed from 5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment transferred to the 43rd (Wessex) Division from the 48th (South Midland) Division November 1941; lost 'A' and 'C' Sqns through the sinking of the Motor Transport Ship T72 off Sword Beach on 24 June 1944; one replacement squadron received from the 161st Reconnaissance Regiment.
  44th Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 in the 44th (Home Counties) Division from the 7th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment; transferred to 56th (London) Division in 1943, but retained number.
  45th Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 mainly from the 134th, 135th and 136th Brigade Anti-Tank Companies of the 45th Infantry Division; transferred to 70th Division in August 1942; formed 45 and 54 Columns of the Chindits; converted to infantry and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment in October 1944.
  46th Reconnaissance Regiment formed July 1941 in the 46th (West Riding) Division from the 23rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and the 137th, 138th and 139th Brigade Anti-Tank Companies.
  49th Reconnaissance Regiment formed September 1942 in the 49th (West Riding) 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.
  50th Reconnaissance Regiment formed April 1941 in the 50th (Northumbrian) Division from the 4th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, previously the division's motorcycle battalion; disbanded and remnants returned to the 4th RNF after action at the Battle of Gazala June 1942.
  51st Reconnaissance Regiment formed February 1941 from the brigade anti-tank companies of the 51st (Highland) Division: 152 (Camerons and Seaforths) as 'A' Sqn, 153 (Gordons and Black Watch) as 'B' Sqn and 154 (Black Watch and Argylls) as 'C' Sqn; converted to infantry and redesignated as the 14th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry in January 1943.
  52nd Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 from the three Brigade Reconnaissance Groups of the 52nd (Lowland) Division: 'A' Sqn (Royal Scots and King's Own Scottish Borderers); 'B' Sqn (Royal Scots Fusiliers and Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)); 'C' Sqn (Highland Light Infantry and Gordon Highlanders).
  53rd Reconnaissance Regiment formed January 1941 from the 158th, 159th and 160th Brigade Anti-Tank Companies of the 53rd (Welsh) Division.
  54th Reconnaissance Regiment formed July 1941 in the 54th (East Anglian) Division from the 21st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers; split into the 45th, 54th and 76th Independent Reconnaissance Squadrons in November 1941.
  56th Reconnaissance Regiment formed January
caption: The tactical recognition flash of the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards is identical to the badge of the Reconnaissance Corps, except for the absence of the ribbon bearing the Corps' name
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