It saw service as part of the 2nd New Zealand Division during the Greek, North African, Tunisian and Italian campaigns, before being disbanded in December 1945.

It was therefore decided in late 1939 to initially form and train an anti-tank battery in the United Kingdom from New Zealanders already present there.

The German invasion began on 6 April and quickly broke through the Greek defenders near Florina, threatening the left flank of W force.

[7] 31, 32 and 33 Batteries were distributed among the 4th, 5th and 6th New Zealand Infantry Brigades respectively and were subsequently engaged in a series of battles at Servia and Olympus passes.

[9] 34 Battery, operating with the divisional cavalry, helped to cover the withdrawal and knocked out the regiment's first enemy tank on 18 April.

The New Zealand Division was assigned to XIII Corps, tasked with cutting off the axis formations along the northern part of the Libyan frontier.

[23] Late on the 21st orders were sent for 6th Brigade to advance west to Sidi Rezegh, where the support group of 7th Armoured Division had been surrounded.

[25] The New Zealanders linked up with the 5th South African Brigade and were in position in time for a major attack by the 21st Panzer Division.

During the battle, L troop, in what the official history describes as “an anti-tank action that must rank among the finest in the war”, and broadly verified by German reports, knocked out 24 enemy tanks.

[26][27] During the night of the 26th/27th two guns from N troop (detached from the divisional cavalry), along with 19th Battalion and a squadron of 44th Royal Tank Regiment finally linked up with units from the Tobruk garrison at El Duda.

[28] Meanwhile, the German 21st and 15th Panzer Divisions had launched a daring attack hooking around the XXX Corps units at the frontier.

On the morning of the 27th the divisional cavalry spotted some 40 enemy tanks heading towards 5th Brigade headquarters at Sidi Aziz.

[32] Having taken heavy casualties, the New Zealand Division withdrew from the battle on the night of the 1/2 December, returning to Baggush without incident.

The New Zealand Division was rapidly redeployed back to Egypt and help hold the Mersa Matruh line.

The breakout was successful and required all motorised transport, including the portées of 7th Anti-Tank Regiment, to help carry the infantry east.

[48] The German counter-attack also extended to the left of 5th Brigade, where K troop had all of its guns knocked out and the surviving men were forced to surrender, along with most of 22nd Battalion.

[50] In a repeat of Ruweisat Ridge, the infantry captured the objective but 2nd Armoured Brigade failed to arrive and consolidate the position.

During the lull the only notable action by the New Zealanders was a counter-attack against a last ditch offensive by the Axis forces at Alam el Halfa on 3 September.

[53] Although 7th Anti-Tank Regiment took a number of casualties during the battle from artillery and minefields, it did not fire a single shot and was not seriously engaged.

[54] After months of preparation, rearmament and reinforcement, Eighth Army launched Operation Lightfoot against the Axis forces on the evening of 23 October 1942.

[56] In the meantime, 34 Battery, which had previously been held in reserve, was loaned to the Australian 20th Brigade to assist in their attack against a position known as Thompson's post.

The 9th Armoured Brigade, with the rest of 31 Battery, then passed though the infantry and engaged a large number of Axis anti-tank guns.

Although engaged by 5th Brigade, only the guns of E troop were appropriately located to provide support and the German tanks escaped.

[62] The regiment rested at Nofaliya from late-December and received a batch of new 17-pounder anti-tank guns, rearming one troop of each battery.

[63] In January 1943, the regiment moved to Tripoli and was later deployed to defend the south and south-west of Medenine from a spoilingattack by the 10th Panzer Division on 6 March.

In February 1945, the 17-pounders received high explosive ammunition, which made them much more effective against unarmoured targets and able to be used in the indirect fire role.

[74] The spring offensive began on 9 April and meant that 7th Anti-Tank Regiment would finally be engaged in a set piece battle in Italy.