by the outbreak of the second world war, 3rd regiment, rha was still in egypt and on 16 october 1939 was assigned to headquarters ra group (middle east reserve). m battery, however, was permanently attached to the armoured division (egypt) (later the 7th armoured division, the "desert rats") in the anti-tank role armed with 2 pounder guns. the battery was to remain with the 7th armoured division for the rest of the war.