The History of the British 7th Armoured Division
"The Desert Rats"
This website is dedicated to all those who served in this unit and proudly wore the Jerboa shoulder flash. Its aim is to provide a point of reference for those who might be interested in the history of this division, the various regiments that served in it and the many actions it fought.
As far as I know the information is as accurate as possible, but I welcome any corrections or amendments, along with any information that may be useful to the site. The site does not seek to glorify war, but rather to record the history and events of what is one of the most famous organisations that served in the British Army.
The site is divided into the following areas, which may contain other several pages.
| Use of Arms |
| Divisional Commanders |
| Winners of Victoria Cross from the Division |
| Commemoration Pages (60th Anniversaries of the Normandy Landings, Villers-Bocage, VE Day and the Berlin Victory Parade, plus 70th Anniversary of the creation of the Mobile Division) |
| War Diaries References |
| 4th and 7th Armoured Brigade Website |
Please
click here to bookmark this page for future reference
This site is a member of and affiliated to the Desert Rat Association.
If you wish to visit the official
Desert Rat Memorial Web SiteFinally these words appear on the Division Memorial;
"May your glory ever shine, May your laurels never fade, May the memory of this glorious pilgrimage of war you have made from Alamein, via the Baltic to Berlin never die. It is a march unsurpassed through all the story of war.
May the fathers long tell the children about this tale
."Winston Churchill
If you wish to read the more of text of
Churchill's SpeechPlease click here to contact me
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This web site supports the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and the "Two Minute Silence" on Armistice Day. Click the logo to either of the two web site links |
| Please remember that modern day service personnel including 'Desert Rats' and 'Black Rats' are still being wounded so please also support Help for Heroes |
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REMEMBERING
Why do you still march Old Man, with medals on your chest?
Why do you grieve Old Man, for those friends you laid to rest?
Why do your eyes still gleam Old Man, when you hear the bugles blow?
Tell me, why do you cry old man for those days so long ago?
I'll tell you why I march with medals on my chest.
I'll tell you why I grieve young man for those I laid to rest.
Through misty fields of gossamer silk come visions of distant times,
When boys of tender age lost lives, and mothers pined.
We buried them in a blanket shroud, their young flesh scorched and blackened,
A communal grave, newly gouged in bloodstained gorse and bracken.
And you ask me why I march young man - I march to remind you all
That for those apple-blossomed youths, you would never have known freedom at all.
Anon.
LEST WE FORGET.
"At the going down of the Sun and in the Morning, we will remember them!"
NB. There is NO Remembrance Day service at the memorial this year,
Visitors since 24th October 2001
