UNITS THAT USED THE VICKERS

THE GRENADIER GUARDS:

The Grenadier Guards were an Infantry Battalion that would have had an MG Section as part of its Battalion Headquarters. These weapons would have been brigaded when the Machine Gun Corps was formed in 1915. The guns, and crews, would have been formed into a Machine Gun Company.

During the Great War, the dispositions of Battalions were as follows:

1st

The 1st Battalion was transferred from 20th Brigade, 7th Division, to the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division on 04 August, 1915 (arriving on 05 August, 1915). It's MG Section was transferred between 01 September and 19 September, 1915, to form the 3rd Guards Bde. MG Coy..

2nd

The 2nd Battalion was part of the 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division. It's MG Section was transferred between 01 September and 19 September, 1915, to form the 1st Guards Bde. MG Coy..

3rd

The 3rd Battalion joined, from England on 19 August, 1915, the 2nd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. It's MG Section was transferred between 01 September and 19 September, 1915, to form the 2nd Guards Bde. MG Coy.

4th

The 4th Battalion joined, from England on 18 August, 1915, the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. It's MG Section was transferred between 01 September and 19 September, 1915, to form the 3rd Guards Bde. MG Coy.

In 1922, the Machine Gun Corps and Guards MG Regiment were disbanded and the guns returned to the Infantry Battalion as a Machine Gun Platoon and then formed as a Machine Gun Company in the early 1930s.

This remained until the formation of Divisional Machine Gun Battalions in 1936 where guns were brigaded once again.

However during the Second World War, the 1st (Motor) Bn Grenadier Guards became the Motor Battalion to the 5th (Guards) Armoured Brigade of the Guards Armoured Division and therefore retained a Machine Gun Platoon within its support elements. These guns were transported using Universal Carriers.

The Guards Armoured Division was created on 17th June 1941 in Great Britain. It took part in the following battles: