A Brief History of the Desert Rats and
the Memorial by Les Dinning
The story of the 7th Armoured Division is a long one, for it covers the whole period of
the war. The Division started to come together in 1938 when Headquarters, British
Troops Egypt, assembled a "Mobile Force" at Mersa Matruh as the war clouds
gathered over Europe. The purpose of the force was to counter the threat from the Italian
Army, who as close allies of Germany, were, expected to attack the Suez Canal. This
"Mobile Force" was the nucleus of the future 7th Armoured Division (and indeed
the 8th Army) little could it be imagined at that time what a long hard road the men of
the division were to tread on their way to Berlin some seven years later. Birth
of the Desert Rats (ITV Anglia News).
Following, a hard, but successfully North African campaign, and the invasion of Italy,
the Division was withdrawn to England in January 1944 to prepare for the invasion of
Europe and was stationed in Thetford Forest and the surrounding area. On the 8 May 1944
the armoured regiments moved to Orwell Park School,
Ipswich, where in the extensive school grounds the men
camped in tents, and the waterproofing of the vehicles completed before sailing from
Felixstowe to Normandy landing on Gold Beach on the 6 June 1944. (The date of the landing
is confirmed in the war diaries of the 4th County of London Yeomanry). The five months
spent in the East Anglia area was the only time the Desert Rats were in the United Kingdom
in the entire existence of the Division,
My service with the Desert Rats commenced when I joined the 4th County of London
Yeomanry on the 16th February 1944 in High Ash Wood, Thetford Forest as a 17 year old, and
I served with that Regiment until, with much sadness, it was disbanded on the 28th July
1944 following a major battle in Villers-Bocage on the 13th June 1944 while the regiment
was leading the Division in a break through of the German lines. I was then transferred to
the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and fought with that unit as a Cromwell Tank Gunner until the
end of the war and was demobilised in 1947. The 4th CLY were
replaced by the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards who remained with the Division
until the Division was disbanded in 1948.
The Memorial is located about two miles north of Mundford, Norfolk, England on the west
side of the A1065, at the entrance to the original camp sites occupied by the 4th County
of London Yeomanry, and the 1st and 5th Royal Tank Regiments in 1944.
The quest to set up the Memorial to the Desert Rats began when following retirement in
1991 and a visit to Normandy in 1993, I commenced researching the history of the two
regiments with which I had served as it affected me. During the research I found the
original camp sites used by the 4th County of London Yeomanry and the two Royal Tank
Regiments still existed in Thetford Forest, and is now part of Thetford Forest Park, an
area of great natural beauty, used by many thousands of visitors for recreation purposes
throughout the year under the control of The Forestry Commission
As I walking in High Ash Wood and reflected on the past, it occurred to me it was a
pity that the majority of the visitors to the area probably knew nothing of its history
and of its connection with what is arguably the most famous Armoured Division in the
British Army. It was then I resolved to attempt to set up a permanent Memorial at the
entrance to the original camp area showing the layout as it was in January 1944 with a
summary of the history of the 7th Armoured Division.
On the 3 January 1996 I wrote to Her Majesty the Queen seeking her approval and
support, and in a reply dated 8 February 1996, as Colonel in Chief of the Royal Tank
Regiment, she graciously agreed to approve and support the project.
Following a meeting on the 17 July 1996, with Mr. Sandy Grieg, Forest District Manager,
Forest Enterprise, the Forestry Commission kindly agreed to permit the construction of the
Memorial in Thetford Forest, constructing a car park adjacent to the Memorial and a
footpath connecting the camp sites used by the three Armoured Regiments to enable visitors
to walk from the Memorial to the camp sites using directions shown on an area plan beside
the Memorial following Desert Rat signs.
A successful funding campaign, aided by The British Legion, The Post Office, The
Dulverton Trust, The Eastern Daily Press, and many generous donations from the general
public enabled construction of the memorial to commence in July 1998.
The Memorial is a Cromwell Mark IV Tank set on a brick faced concrete plinth surrounded
by a brick patio. The plinth and patio were constructed by the 39 Royal Engineer Regiment
with the kind permission of the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel A D Macklin, RE.
The significance of the Cromwell Tank is that the armoured regiments of the 7th
Armoured Division were equipped mainly with Cromwell Tanks while stationed in Thetford
Forest, and I believe the Division was the first formation to take the then brand new
British tank into action.
The final development of the Cromwell Tank was carried out by Rolls-Royce who fitted
the tank with a Meteor engine (a modified Merlin Spitfire engine) which gave the tank
phenomenal acceleration and a top speed of well over 50 mph. I am sure the acceleration
and extraordinary speed of the Cromwell saved me and my fellow crew members on several
occasions when the German gunners failed to appreciate the speed we were
travelling, be it
on the road or cross country. As for reliability, I can not recall a single mechanical
breakdown of my tank due to engine failure.
All the tanks in the Division were named and my tank (5 Able "B" Squadron, 1
RTR) bore the inscription "Little Audrey Laughed and Laughed", although the tank
was hit several times by anti tank weapons, it survived the war. In a Bazooka attack on
the 26 September 1944 the Tank Commander, Sgt. A Davies, and Wireless Operator, Cpl. A
(Taffy) Glenton were mortally wounded and are buried in Holland.
A short history of The Desert Rats since
1945
By the end of World War Two, the 7th Armoured Division was in
and around Hamburg being occupation duties and soon moved to Berlin in July
1945, when it took part in the Allied Victory Parade. The 4th Armoured Brigade
was in Northern German between Geesthacht and Hamburg and
moved to other parts of Northern Germany while the 7th Armoured Brigade was in
Northern Italy and parts of Austria.
Post war saw vast changes in the organisation of the three
units as the British Army reduced in numbers of men and units, which included
the disbanding of the 7th Armoured Brigade in 1946, with its name transferring
to rename the 22nd Armoured Brigade within Division. In January 1948 the
Division was disbanded, being perpetuated by 7th Armoured Brigade, but the Division was
was reformed in March 1949 and served with the British Army On the Rhine (BAOR)
until it was finally disbanded in January 1957 being formally removed from the
British Army List in 1959. In its entire history it had only been in the United
Kingdom for about six months. Following this date the name of the Desert Rats
and the tradition of the original Division have been carried on by the 7th
Armoured Brigade. Since then the 7th Armoured Brigade and served as part of
British 1st Armoured Division as part of the BAOR and in other theatres and
operations worldwide, such as Kuwait, Iraq, The Balkans and Afghanistan.
In March 1948 the 4th Armoured Brigade was also
disbanded, but it was reformed in 1981 in Munster, West Germany, serving
as part of British 1st Armoured Division as part of the BAOR, plus Kuwait and
Iraq. In 2007 it was redesignated as the 4th Mechanized Brigade, with its
men still wearing the Black Rat and is now part of British 3rd Mechanized
Division based in the UK. Before this date like the 7th Armoured Division it had only
been in the United Kingdom for about six months.
Some of the regiments that served in the Division and Brigades have been
disbanded or merged over the years and the organisation of each has changed many
times over the years, but its is still good to know that the honours and
traditions of the original Division and its two original Brigades are carried on
by the men and women of today who still proudly wear the Desert Rat and the
Black Rat emblems on their arms.
If you buy the book on-line via the link to the
left, the Memorial Association will receive 12% commission from your
purchase.
Pen and Sword Books
BRITISH ARMOURED DIVISIONS
AND
THEIR COMMANDERS 1939-1945
RICHARD DOH
ERTY
PEN & SWORD BOOKS
A total of eleven British armoured
divisions were formed during WWII but, as this highly informative book
reveals, just eight saw action. It was in the North African desert that
armoured divisions really came into their own. The terrain was ideal and
six such divisions of 8th Army fought Rommel’s Panzers into submission.
The campaign from D-Day onwards saw the Guards Armoured, 7th Armoured (the
Desert Rats), 11th and Percy Hobart’s 79th Armoured Division in the
thick of the action.
Written by leading military historian, Richard Doherty, this book
describes the many fascinating aspects of armoured warfare; from its
uncertain beginnings, through to the development of tactics and the
evolution of tank design. The combination of gripping historical narrative
and well researched fact, make this an invaluable and highly readable work
on the contribution of British Armoured Divisions to victory in the Second
World War.
"British Armoured Divisions and
their Commanders 1939-1945" is a very different look, equally compelling,
brilliantly researched with every detail that the most ardent
student could wish, but still a great read for someone new to the Desert
Rats story. - Rod Scott, Chair of the Desert Rats Association
TANK COMMANDER: FROM THE FALL OF
FRANCE TO THE DEFEAT OF GERMANY
BILL CLOSE
PEN & SWORD BOOKS
Bill Close had a remarkable war.
Throughout the conflict, in campaign after campaign, from the defence of
Calais in 1940 to the defeat of Germany in 1945, he served as a tank
commander in the Royal Tank Regiment – and survived. After being
evacuated when France fell, he took part in the Greek campaign and in all
the major battles in the Western Desert, including those fought at Sidi
Rezegh, Bir Hacheim, Knightsbridge, Agedabia and El Alamein. Then, as a
squadron commander, he was involved in the break-out battles in Normandy
– Operation Epsom, the struggle for Hill 112, Operation Goodwood –
before his tanks drove across France and the Low Countries in pursuit of
the retreating enemy. By the end of the war, he was one of the most
experienced and resourceful of British tank commanders.
This book is not only an extraordinary memoir, but a compelling account of
the exploits of the Royal Tank Regiment throughout the conflict. As a
record of the day to day experience of the tank crew of seventy years ago
– of the conditions they faced and the battles they fought – it has
rarely been equaled
"Tank Commander" is the auto
biography of Bill CLOSE and I recommend, in fact urge you to read this
book, I read the book in two sessions going well into the night. It is
compelling and will tell you why we believe that the Desert Rats are
regarded by military historians as highly as they are. You do not need to
have too much prior knowledge, it is all you will need to know. - Rod
Scott, Chair of the Desert Rats Association
STRAFER DESERT GENERAL"
N S Nash
Have just read
this book and I consider this to be the best biography I have ever read, it
shows how the ever changing war in the western desert gave the
commanding officers huge challengers and explains the complexity of the chain
of command. It is researched to the finest detail and gives definite answers
where none existed before, the death of this truly remarkable man brought
a lump to my throat, remembering how Sqd Sgt Major Lenard Burritt (Gotts
signal officer) laid a wreath at the Alamein memorial, I had to steady Len as
he remembered with great affection not just his commanding officer but a
true friend.
I recommend this book without reservation and have
sent my personal thanks and congratulations to the author.
Rod Scott - Chairman of the Desert Rats Association
From Gazala to Tunis: 442 days in the life of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle
Brigade
Phillip Harding
Fonthill Media
I have
known the author for a number of years and have consulted him on a number
of questions related to the Rifle Brigade, especially the 2nd Battalion on
many occasions. His knowledge of the Battalion and its history
particularly in the North African Campaign is excellent.
The book draws on many sources of information, importantly including the
men like his late father who were actually there and as such is a very
compelling read. The description of 'Snipe' is second to none and places
then reader in the thick of the action.
While reading it I was reminded of the film
about the US Air Cavalry in Vietnam, called "Were We Soldiers"
and how the story of the 422 days in 1942 would make a similar film, if
someone was ready to make it happen.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in the North African Campaign
of 1942. It is a great read. Ian Paterson - Historical Consultant
THE ARMOURED CAMPAIGN IN NORMANDY: JUNE-AUGUST
1944
Stephen Napier
The
History Press
Beginning with the D-Day
landings, this is a brutally frank appraisal of the planned use and actual
results of the deployment of armour by both German and Allied commanders
in the major tank battles of the Normandy campaign. These include
operations Epsom, Goodwood, Cobra and Totalize.
The
Normandy Campaign of 1944 has many and varied areas of interest to
different people. This study of the Armoured Campaign investigates and
reports on this part of it very well.
The book consists of a number of well written
studies in to the different stages of the Allied and German Operations
which can be read as a self contained study or as part of the whole book,
which improves its readability. Each study contains evidence from personal
accounts and official records from both sides of the front and includes a
well written assessment of the Operation and its impact on both sides as
the Campaign progressed. Reading it one realises that being in a tank on
either side in Normandy was an extremely dangerous thing, as the Allied
tanks were outgunned by the Germans and the latter outnumbered and always
in danger of air attack. Both sides were heavily restricted in the use of
their armour by the terrain which always favoured the defender, but from
reading it one is left with the question of what might have been the
outcome of the Normandy Campaign if the Germans has a) been able to deploy
their armour sooner and b) the battle field had been more open and allowed
better movement.
I do personally recommend this book to anyone interested in Normandy
and/or Armour of WW2. I found it a engrossing read and the use of stand
alone chapters made it much easier to put down and pick up again later on. Ian Paterson - Historical Consultant
A SMALL FRAGMENT OF THE GREAT WAR
DAVID OSBOURNE
If you
have an interest in Thetford's connection to WW1 or a Norfolk interest or
how any local small town was affected, then "A small fragment of the
Great War" by David Osbourne is a must. It shows the human side and
how some families were virtually destroyed. I also shows how major
business were forced to reconfigure due to loss of man power. It is
unusually very readable and to my mind the best book of its kind and I
have read many, as part from my position as chairman of the Desert Rats
Association. I run my own museum which covers WW1 the book, the book is
available through Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life White Hart St,
Thetford.
Rod Scott - Chairman of the Desert Rats Association
DESERT WAR The Battle of Sidi
Rezegh
Peter Cox
Exisle Publishing
I
have researched the Desert War for many years and have studied the Battle
of Sidi Rezegh myself. This book tells the story of this key battle in the
North African campaign from a different viewpoint, that of the New Zealand
Infantryman, who many consider to be some of the best to serve in North
Africa. Previous recounts have focused on the battle from the viewpoint of
the tank and the bloody battles that they took part in, but this book
shows the campaign from the infantryman’s experience who had to fight
under the burning hot sun, against frequent German attacks, hoping that
his supplies would arrive for the next day. It uses both official records
and what makes it very unique some personal accounts of the events of
later 1941.
I
recommend that anyone interested in this period of the war read this book
as it will enhance their understanding of the campaign.
Ian Paterson
Historian
- Desert Rats Association
Useful Websites related to 7th Armoured
Division or the units that served in it
