In February 1940, the formation was renamed as the 7th Armoured Division. During its early years, the jerboa was adopted as the mascot and divisional insignia giving rise to the nickname Desert Rats.

Desert Rats, group of British soldiers who helped defeat the Germans in North Africa during World War II. The Desert Rats, led by Gen. John Harding, were especially noted for a hard-fought three-month campaign against the more-experienced German Afrika Korps, led by Gen. Erwin Rommel (“The Desert Fox”).

The 7th Armoured Division had a red jerboa (a nocturnal rodent indigenous to North Africa) as its emblem and became known as "The Desert Rats". The 7th Armoured Brigade, meanwhile, had a green jerboa as its emblem.

2024年8月30日 · British and British Empire soldiers of the 7th Armoured Division of WWII were called the Desert Rats because of their abilities in the desert and their shoulder badge showing a jerboa, the desert rodent.

"The Desert Rats" The British 7th Armoured Division is one of the most famous formations that ever served in the British Army. It was formed in the desert of North Africa just before the Second World War and fought in most of the major campaigns of the war, ending up in the heart of the Third Reich itself - Berlin.

During 1944 the 7th Armoured Division was involved in the following battles and campaigns. These include the Preparations in England for the Normandy landings, The Normandy Campaign (including Villers-Bocage, The Battle of the Brigade Box, Operation Goodwood, Operation Spring, Operation Bluecoat (Mont Picon) and the Breakout for the Seine.

This website is dedicated to all those who served in these units and proudly wore the Desert Rat shoulder flashes and to those who then wore the Black Rat and Green Jerboa shoulder flashes, after leaving the 7th Armoured Division.

2021年1月6日 · The Desert Rats : 7th Armoured Division, 1940-1945 by Neillands, Robin, 1935-2006. Publication date 1991 Topics Great Britain. Army. Armoured Division, 7th, World War, 1939-1945 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain, World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Africa, North, World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Western Front

The Desert Rats of the British Army’s 7th Armoured Division fought in the North Africa campaigns of WW2, helping to bring about the momentous defeat of Nazi Germany’s Afrika Korps.

2003年1月20日 · The Desert Rats pushed the Afrika Korps and their Italian allies west across Libya and Tunisia, winning back the strategic port of Tobruk in the process. The brigade also saw action in India...