![Alan Brooke, the first commanding officer of the Mobile Division](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/1st_Viscount_Alanbrooke_1943.jpg/120px-1st_Viscount_Alanbrooke_1943.jpg)
The British 1st Armoured Division had eight permanent commanders, or general officer commanding (GOC). The 1st Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army. It was formed in 1937 and disbanded in 1945. The division was commanded by a GOC, who received orders from a level above him in the chain of command, and then used the forces within the division to undertake the mission assigned. In addition to directing the tactical battle in which the division was involved, the GOC oversaw a staff and the administrative, logistical, medical, training, and discipline concerns of the division. On 24 November 1937, after several years of debate on such a formation, the division was founded as the Mobile Division. It was then renamed, in April 1939, as the 1st Armoured Division. Following the start of the Second World War, subordinate units and formations were withdrawn from the division to reinforce others. It was eventually deployed for combat, in May 1940. (Full list...)