Black Rats 4th Battallion

[Gelbomes]

I am looking for more information on the Black Rats specifically the 4th Battallion.  My grandfather was part of them. I have a postcard with a bunch of names and the words black rats. I know the Black Rats were a subdivision of the Desert Rats and my grandfather was in Africa, Israel, and Italy.

[ShaunJ]

http://www.desertrats.org.uk/bde/4thABhistory.htm

[MaxD]

You will have seen from the site that ShaunJ linked to that the Black Rats was the nickname give to 4th Armoured Brigade which was made up of a number of units, none of which was a 4th Battalion.

I take it you don't know which element of 4th Armoured Brigade he belonged to?  Have you considered applying for his service record?

MaxD

[Regorian]

4 RTR was in 4 Armd. Bde. 7 Armd Div. May to July 1941.

[MaxD]

Although not with the word battalion in the title, that went in April 1939.  There was also 4th RHA in the support group in 1940.

While it is useful to know the story of 4th Armoured Brigade, its composition changed significantly over the war years as the example of 4 RTR shows which was only in the brigade for a few months and in September 1941 moved to 32 Armoured Brigade.   Gelbome's relative's unit may or may not have been in the brigade throughout.
I queried whether Gelbomes had an idea beyond "4th battalion" that would enable us to get closer, perhaps even to a war diary (at unit level).

MaxD