| The Reconnaissance Corps | |
|---|---|
 Cap badge of the Reconnaissance Corps, 1941 | |
| Active | 1941–1946 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Role | Military reconnaissance |
| Nickname(s) | The Reccies The Recce Corps |
| Motto(s) | "Only The Enemy In Front" |
The Reconnaissance Corps, or simply Recce Corps, was a service branch of the British Army, formed during the Second World War, whose units provided reconnaissance for infantry divisions. It was formed from infantry brigade reconnaissance groups on 14 January 1941.
All the brigade reconnaissance groups of each infantry corps were formed into reconnaissance battalions, each usually bearing the number of its relevant division. For example, the 43rd Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps (based on the 5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment) was the divisional reconnaissance battalion of the 43rd (Wessex) Division.[1]
Initially, coming from infantry units, reconnaissance units used the infantry designations of battalions, companies and platoons. However, from 6 June 1942, the Corps changed to the cavalry descriptions of regiments, squadrons and troops.[2]
The Corps became part of the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) in 1944, still maintaining its own cap badge with two lightning strikes supporting an upright spear. With the end of the war, this number of reconnaissance units was not needed and the Reconnaissance Corps was disbanded in August 1946. Reconnaissance duties reverted to regular armoured units of the RAC.
- ^ Mills, T.F. Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth 5th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment page. Retrieved 26 November 2007. Archived November 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Reconnaissance Corps (UK)". Regiments.org. 2013. Archived from the original on December 26, 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2013.