The 1st Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army and formed in 1937. The division was commanded by a general officer commanding (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. From its founding to being disbanded in 1945, the division had eight permanent GOCs. An additional GOC commanded a new 1st Armoured Division that was formed during the 1946–1947 period.