82 Anti-Tank Regiment RA was formed at RHQ 57 Anti-Tank Regiment in Canterbury in September 1941. It took over batteries from four different anti-tank regiments. In November 1942, it was re-designated 82 Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment and reverted to 82 Anti-Tank Regiment RA in September 1944. RHQ ceased to function in June 1945 and the Regiment, less one battery, disbanded in April 1946.
Illustrations of the formation badges under which a unit served or supported are given. This is no guarantee that the unit used this formations badge.
| Sep 41 | Formed from 52, 57, 69 & 71 Anti-Tank Regiments | Canterbury, Kent, UK | |
| Sep 41 | Home Forces | Clacton, Essex, UK | |
| 12 Nov 41 | Sailed on “Empress of Asia” for the Middle East | Liverpool, Merseyside, UK | |
| 18 Dec 41 | Docked at Durban | Durban, South Africa | |
| 24 Dec 41 | Sailed on “Empress of Japan” for India | ||
| 9 Jan 42 |  |
Disembarked at Bombay. Entrained for Jhansi. Attached 14 Indian Division | Jhansi, India |
| Mar 42 |  |
23 Indian Division | Ranchi, India |
| Jun 42 | |
23 Indian Division | Nichuguard, Assam, India |
| Jun 42 | |
23 Indian Division | Imphal, India |
| Nov 42 |  |
17 Indian Division | Imphal, India |
| Nov 42 | Became 82 Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment 2 batteries to 24 Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment |
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| Sep 44 | Became 82 Anti-Tank Regiment | ||
| Oct 44 | |
17 Indian Division | Ranchi, India |
| Jan 45 | |
17 Indian Division | Wanjing, Burma (Myanmar) |
| Feb 45 | |
17 Indian Division | Meiktila, Burma (Myanmar) |
| Apr 45 | Re-organised |
The re-organisation consisted of reducing each Battery to a reduced tactical HQ and one Troop as follows:
87 Bty BHQ & C Troop Mortar role
228 Bty BHQ & G Troop Mortar & Anti-Tank role
276 Bty BHQ & J Troop Mortar role
RA Defence Unit A, E & I Troops Infantry role (protecting Divisional Field Regiments positions).
In April, while at Pyawbwe, the Regiment was issued 6 x 4.2 inch mortars. This caused a second re-organisation with C Troop taking on the dual role of Mortars and Anti-Tank. G and J Troops had 3 x 4.2 inch Mortars and 3 x 3 inch Mortars each.
J Troop took on the dual Mortar/Anti-Tank role on the 24 May.
Continued
| Apr 45 | |
17 Indian Division | Pyawbwe, Burma (Myanmar) |
| Apr 45 | |
17 Indian Division | Payagyi, Burma (Myanmar) |
| Apr 45 | |
17 Indian Division | Pegu, Burma (Myanmar) |
| May 45 | |
17 Indian Division | Pyu, Burma (Myanmar) |
| 28 Jun 45 | Regiment disbanded | Penwegon, Burma (Myanmar) |
Most of the personnel returned home. Those remaining (9 Officers & 71 men) were formed into a composite battery to take over the operational responsibilities of the Regiment.
Composite Battery
| Jun 45 | |
17 Indian Division BHQ & B Troop (2 x 4.2 inch & 2 x 3 inch Mortars) |
Penwegon, Burma (Myanmar) |
| Jun 45 | |
17 Indian Division A Troop 4 x 4.2 inch Mortars |
Nyaungbintha, Burma (Myanmar) |
| Jul 45 | |
17 Indian Division A Troop rejoined Battery |
Penwegon, Burma (Myanmar) |
| Aug 45 | Remaining personnel posted to 33 Anti-Tank Regiment | Toungoo, Burma (Myanmar) |
Batteries
| Sep 41 | 205, 228, 276, 284 |
| May 42 | 228, 276 (205 & 284 under command 15 Corps) |
| Nov 42 | 228, 276 to 82 LAA/ATk Regt |
| Sep 44 | 82, 87, 228, 276 |
| Jun 45 | 87, 228, 276 |
Equipment
| Feb 42 | 48 x 2 pdr Guns, 15 cwt Trucks |
| Apr 44 | 1 troop 3 inch Mortars 6 pdr Guns 2 troops 3 x 3 inch and 3 x 4.2 inch Mortars |
| Dec 44 | 36 x 6 pdr/57mm Guns, 36 x 3 inch Mortars |
| Apr 45 | Each battery – 1 troop 3 inch Mortars, 1 troop Mortars/Anti-Tank, remainder as infantry protecting the Field Regiments |
| Jul 45 | Composite Battery A Troop 4 x 4.2 inch Mortars, B Troop 2 x 4.2 inch & 2 x 3 inch Mortars |
Commanding Officers
The dates shown below are the month for when the applicable officer took charge of the regiment. Note that the ranks shown are the rank of the officer when they took charge, and do not include wartime/temporary ranks.
| Sep 41 | Lieutenant Colonel GP Chapman DSO MC |
| Jan 43 | Lieutenant Colonel JRS Thompson DSO |
Casualties
The numbers below are the total casualties suffered in the regiment during the course of the war. Note that these figures account for deaths as a result of ill health, accidents and enemy action.
| ORs | 31 |
| NCOs | 14 |
| Officers | 1 |
Commendations
The numbers below are the total commendations received by all members of the regiment during the war.
| Distinguished Service Order (DSO) | 1 |
| Military Cross (MC) | 2 |
| Military Medal and Bar (MM+Bar) | 1 |
| Military Medal (MM) | 5 |
| Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) | 2 |
| British Empire Medal (BEM) | 1 |
Page last updated on 24/10/25.