107th Regiment RAC was formed on 1 November 1941 by the conversion to the armoured role of the 5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), a 1st Line Territorial Army infantry battalion. In common with other infantry units transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps, all personnel would have continued to wear their King's Own cap badge on the black beret of the RAC. In this instance, however, the brass cap badges of the King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) were plated white metal, chrome or silver by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
The 5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment had been serving in 126th Infantry Brigade of 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division, which had fought in France and been evacuated at Dunkirk in May 1940. Later, these formations were redesignated 11th Armoured Brigade (later 11th Tank Brigade) and 42nd Armoured Division respectively. Serving alongside the regiment in the brigade were 110 RAC (previously 5th Borders) and 111 RAC (5th Manchesters). Based in Yorkshire (mainly at Keighley and later Leyburn), the regiment trained on Valentine tanks throughout 1942 and early 1943.
In January 1943, 11th Tank Brigade was attached to 77th Infantry (Reserve) Division and given the role of holding and training replacements. Consequently, 107 RAC became an advanced training regiment, taking in men who had completed individual training at the training regiments, forming them into crews with responsibility for their own tanks, and instructing them in troop and finally squadron tactics. The regiment moved to Otley, re-equipped with Churchill tanks and trained its crews (about 24 at a time) on the nearby moors.
In Autumn 1943, the decision was made to disband 11th Tank Brigade, without it ever having seen active service, and, on 8 September, 107 RAC was ordered to disperse. Most of the regiment's personnel were transferred to other RAC regiments, and disbandment was completed on 31 December. A 'token party' of three officers and 47 other ranks from 107 RAC was sent to 151st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps – which had been converted from the 10th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment, a hostilities-only unit created in 1940.
The 151st Regiment RAC formed part of 34th Tank Brigade, which also included 147 RAC (formerly 9th Hampshire Regiment) and 153 RAC (formerly 8th Essex Regiment). The brigade was based at Folkestone in Kent, and also equipped with Churchills. On 30 December 1943, 151 RAC formally disbanded in order to adopt the number of 107 RAC – thus perpetuating the link with the 5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment, a permanent '1st Line' Territorial Army battalion as opposed to the 'hostilities-only' 10th Battalion that had been converted to 151 RAC.
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