Desert Rats: British 8th Army in North Africa 1941-43: No. 28 (Battle Orders)

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A German prisoner of war once said to me: “Luftwaffe come, you run; RAF come, we run; Yankee come, we all run!”

There could not have been a greater contrast to the desert. We struggled forward, blown bridges and muddy vineyards causing more delay than opposition from the enemy. [54] Playfair, I.S.O.; Flynn, F.C.; Molony, C. J. C.; Toomer, S. E. (2004) [1956]. Butler, J. R. M. (ed.). The Mediterranean and Middle East Volume 2: The Germans Come to the Help of Their Ally, 1941. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series (reprinted.). East Sussex: Naval & Military Press. ISBN 1-84574-066-1. Hughes, Matthew (2013) [1999]. Allenby and British Strategy in the Middle East, 1917–1919. Hoboken, New Jersey: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 978-1-13632-388-1. They have no trust in their commanders. They’ve been defeated repeatedly. The whole thing is wobbling.”

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By the 3rd of November Rommel had only 30 serviceable tanks in action and on the following day began organising his withdrawal. During the Second World War (1939-1945) it fought at Dunkirk 1940, Caen, Rhineland, Sidi Barrani, Defence of Tobruk, Tobruk 1941, Cauldron, El Alamein, Salerno, Monte Cassino. It went onto to serve in the Korean War (1950-3) at Imjin. This quantity had to be used for drinking, washing, shaving and as water for the vehicle. In desperate times, Hunn had to drain old water from the vehicle’s radiator, until supplies were replenished. to the Secretary of State. The real history of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps began in 1875, when the Control Department was disbanded and its members (all commissioned officers) were divided between two new departments: the Commissariat and Transport Department (which later became the Royal Army Service Corps) and the Ordnance Store Department. In 1877 the Ordnance Store Branch, consisting only of other ranks, was formed to support the Ordnance Store Department (previously other ranks in ordnance trades had belonged to the Army Service Corps and its predecessors). In 1881, this latter branch was replaced by the Ordnance Store Corps, still officered by the Ordnance Store Department. In 1896 these two were superseded by the Army Ordnance Department

Slevin, Jennie (5 December 2014). "Binfield man who was world's first Desert Rat honoured on trip to Germany". Berkshire Live. Reading . Retrieved 5 December 2014. To the soldiers they became know as 'The Padres' and 'The Sky Pilots', but wherever the British and Commonwealth Army fought the Royal Army Chaplains' Department were also there to provide First Aid and pastoral care for friend and foe alike with many undergoing Parachute training so that they could serve in the Airborne units.Having pasted the burnt out tanks of the 8th Armoured Brigade, the Division ran into belts of soft sand, but soon afterwards it emerged into the open desert. Everywhere there were signs of a rapid evacuation by the enemy, but no opposition. The Division continued west with each formation maintaining its battle formation. Early in the afternoon of 4th November, the 22nd Armoured Brigade engaged the remnants of the Ariete Armoured Division Brayley, Martin (2002). The British Army 1939–45 (2): Middle East & Mediterranean. Osprey. ISBN 978-1841762371. Williams, E. R. (2007). 50 Div in Normandy: A Critical Analysis of the British 50th (Northumbrian) Division on D-Day and in the Battle of Normandy (MMAS). Fort Leavenworth KS: Army Command and General Staff College. OCLC 832005669 . Retrieved 21 May 2014.

Playfair, I. S. O.; etal. (2004a) [1954]. Butler, J. R. M. (ed.). The Mediterranean and Middle East Volume 1: The Early Successes Against Italy (to May 1941). History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series. London: Naval & Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84574-065-8. Mobile Division was the initial terminology used, by the British Army, to describe a tank-based force. They would later be known as an armoured division. [10] the Military Mounted Police and Military Foot Police were amalgamated to form the Corps of Military Police. Between 1918-39, Military Police saw worldwide service from Ireland during the struggle leading to partition, to the insurrections in Palestine.Reaching North Africa, the regiment then met up with the Desert Rats of the 7th Armoured Division. The 12th Royal Lancers’ first task was to escort Lieutenant-General William “Strafer” Gott around the front line. Throughout the mission, Axis anti-tank guns opened fire on Hunn’s regiment, while Stuka bombs screamed down from the heavens. Cruiser tanks were intended to be faster moving and more heavily armoured than a light tank. They were equipped with a machine gun and a gun that was effective against other tanks. Their primary role was to engage and destroy opposing armoured forces. The main weapon was a 2-pounder anti-tank gun, which was only supplied with armour-piercing rounds. This meant cruiser tanks were ineffective against entrenched infantry or for suppressing hostile artillery. [13] [19] Burritt used Morse Code to send vital communications from North Africa to Hong Kong, Palestine and India, keeping commanders posted on troop positions from the middle of the Sahara. to the German armour. The 15th Panzer Division was on the northern flank to the Ariete Armoured Division