HISTORY OF 15/19th THE KINGS ROYAL HUSSARS 1939- 1945

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the regiment was based in York as the divisional reconnaissance unit for the 3rd Infantry Division. Deployed with the British Expeditionary Force to France, it faced the German advance in the Battle of France, suffering heavy losses and abandoning all its armour and vehicles before taking part in the Dunkirk evacuation. After returning to the UK, the regiment joined the 3rd Motor Machine Gun Brigade, later redesignated the 28th Armoured Brigade of the 9th Armoured Division. In December 1940, a cadre was detached to form the 23rd Hussars. The regiment remained in Britain until August 1944, when it landed in France to serve as the armoured reconnaissance regiment for the 11th Armoured Division. With the 11th Armoured, the regiment was engaged in key operations following the D-Day landings. It fought on the River Odon during Operation EPSOM (25-29 June) west of Caen, then helped spearhead Operation GOODWOOD (18-21 July), a major armoured thrust east of Caen that cost the division 126 tanks on the first day. The regiment later participated in the push from Caen toward Falaise (25 July-2 August) and the decisive Battle of the Falaise Gap (16-20 August), where encircled German forces were destroyed, cementing the Allies' breakout from Normandy.