The 142nd Regiment RAC was formed on 22 November 1941[1] by the conversion to the armoured role of the 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, a war-raised infantry battalion that was formed in June 1940 and serving with the 210th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home).

In common with other infantry units transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps, all personnel would have continued to wear their Suffolk Regiment cap badge on the black beret of the Royal Armoured Corps.

[1][3] 142 RAC was assigned to the 25th Army Tank Brigade, alongside the North Irish Horse and 51st RTR.

[3] The regiment landed at Algiers on 1 February 1943 taking part in Operation Ochsenkopf during early March and in April fought at the Battle of Mejdez-el Bab in the Tunisia.

[4] On 20 April 1944 142 RAC landed at Naples to join the Italian campaign, and on 22 May it took part in breaching the Adolf Hitler Line.