Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 47 i History of War

“The whole horizon was lit up by these guns behind us, which put down a creeping barrage. It was 200 yards in front of us, so as we advanced the barrage advanced” – Piper James Simpson, D Company, Fifth Btn, The Black Watch In the North African desert, 75 years ago, a pivotal battle raged between Montgomery’s Eighth Army and Axis coalition forces led by Erwin Rommel. As part of this special issue of History of War, we’re pleased to present 50 pages dedicated to the Western Desert Campaign, including the late James Simpson’s first-hand experiences leading his comrades into the Second Battle of El Alamein. Elsewhere historian Rob Schäfer explores what it was like for the men of the Afrika Korps fighting in the harsh desert environment. Also in…

“OPERATION CRUSADER MARKS ROMMEL’S FIRST DEFEAT IN NORTH AFRICA, BUT THE ALLIED VICTORY IS HARD WON” September-December 1940 ITALIAN INVASION OF EGYPT Italian divisions invade Egypt, with the ultimate aim of seizing the Suez Canal from the British. Although the British are heavily outnumbered, the Italians mistakenly leave many troops in camps at Sidi Barrani and fail to capitalise on their enemy’s weakness during the Battle of Britain. 9 December 1940-9 February 1941 OPERATION COMPASS The British, now reinforced with Commonwealth and Free French troops, launch their first large-scale campaign in North Africa. The Italian Tenth Army is pushed out of Egypt, Cyrenaica is seized and 130,000 prisoners are captured after the Battle of Beda Fomm. 6 February-25 May 1941 OPERATION SONNENBLUME Adolf Hitler reinforces the reeling Italians with…

“THE ARTILLERY BARRAGE STARTED WITH 1,000 GUNS, THE BIGGEST ARTILLERY BARRAGE SINCE WORLD WAR I” The 51st Highland Division suffered disastrous losses during the fall of France in 1940, when more than 10,000 men were forced to surrender to the Germans on 12 June, after being surrounded at Valéry-en-Caux (between Dieppe and Le Havre). Consequently, a new 51st Highland Division was raised. The new Division included the 153rd Infantry Brigade, compromised of the First Battalion The Gordon Highlanders, 5/7th Battalion The Gordon Highlanders and Fifth Battalion The Black Watch. The 51st Highland Division sailed from the UK for the Middle East, via the Cape of Good Hope, in June 1942, and arrived in Egypt two months later. The 51st Highland Division was first deployed in defensive duties on the western…

“A DARING PLAN OF HIS LED TO THE SURRENDER OF THE ENTIRE ITALIAN TENTH ARMY” PERCY HOBART Hobart was the architect and initial trainer of the ‘Mobile Division’ that would subsequently become the Seventh Armoured Division. He subsequently commanded the 11th and 79th Armoured Divisions and was chiefly responsible for the innovative modified tank designs for D-Day that were famously nicknamed ‘Hobart’s Funnies’. MICHAEL O’MOORE CREAGH O’Moore Creagh led the division for the longest duration during WWII and nicknamed them ‘The Desert Rats’ on Burritt’s suggestion. He commanded the division’s first major victory at Sidi Barrani in 1940, and a daring plan of his led to the surrender of the entire Italian Tenth Army in February 1941. WILLIAM GOTT Gott acted as the division’s first wartime GSO (General Staff Officer)…

In September 1961, 156 members of A Company, 35th Irish Infantry Battalion were serving in the Congo as part of a UN mission to keep the peace in a country that was descending into civil war. But instead of just keeping the peace, the Irish soldiers found themselves fighting for their lives in secessionist Katanga. Between 13-17 September 1961 these inexperienced and underequipped troops put up a heroic defence in the mining town of Jadotville against 2,000-4,000 Katangese-armed gendarmeries and battle-hardened mercenaries. Thanks to the brilliant leadership of Commandant Patrick ‘Pat’ Quinlan, A Company’s attackers suffered 300-400 killed and around 1,000 wounded. In contrast the Irish remarkably suffered no fatalities and only five wounded. Despite this, they were inadequately supported by the UN high command and were forced to surrender.…

The unarmed Mosquito was first fielded by the No 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit at RAF Benson in July 1941, but night fighters (NF.II) and bombers (B. Mk IV) quickly followed. No 105 Squadron and other units in Bomber Command developed pinpoint accuracy in daring, low-level strikes against German targets, including the Gestapo HQ in Oslo, and this was carried on by the FB.VI fighter-bombers of No 2 Group with attacks like the famous Amiens Prison raid on 18 February 1944. Mosquitos of 100 Group savaged the German night fighter force, while Coastal Command Mosquitoes were sinking Axis shipping off the Norwegian coast. The Mosquito would go on to serve in many other countries after the war. Perhaps more Mosquitos were lost to accidents than enemy action during World War II.…

This is a book that is full of clues and cues to enable the reader to better understand armour. Published by the Met – the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York – it is the latest in a series of impressive ‘How to Read’ books. Previous volumes include How to read Chinese Paintings and How to read Greek Vases. This is very much a book for the cultured connoisseur of European armour. Indeed, the author, Donald J. La Rocca, is the curator of the Met’s collection of armour. With its exquisitely reproduced photographs of notable pieces of armour, it’s a book that will reside very well on the most tasteful of coffee tables. But it’s more than just a book with beautiful pictures. The text reveals La Rocca’s deep…

“THE PIECES ARE MADE OF IVORY AND INCLUDE FIGURES THAT REFLECT THE MILITARY FORCES OF EARLY COLONIAL INDIA” Although it is a bloodless pastime, chess bears many resemblances to military theory. It is the ultimate strategy game whose warlike elements include numerical superiority, swift advances, the use of stealth and the need to protect. Chess sets are usually relatively simple in appearance, but high-quality sets are often sought after by collectors: this ornate set from the early 19th century is a worthy example. Craftsmen of the East India Company manufactured this particular set in around 1820. Between 1600-1874 the joint-stock company was largely responsible for advancing British power in India and became so powerful that it enlisted its own private armies. The set itself represents the company’s Bengal Army and…

TOM GARNER This issue Tom had the privilege of speaking with two veterans of Britain’s WWII desert campaign, one of whom, Len Burritt, recently celebrated his 99th birthday! Read how he became the original ‘Desert Rat’ over on page 56. WILLIAM WELSH Alexander Farnese was one of the Renaissance era’s most gifted commanders and gave rise to new innovative military tactics and doctrines. William explores how he changed the face of European warfare over on page 68. GAVIN MORTIMER Piper James Simpson fought on the frontline of the desert war, leading D Company, Fifth Battalion, The Black Watch. Over on page 26 Gavin shares James’s story, and his incredible first-hand experience of the Second Battle of El Alamein.…

“[I] FELT A LARGE LUMP IN MY THROAT. I LOOKED ROUND AT WINSTON AND SAW SEVERAL TEARS ON HIS FACE” A victory parade was held in Tripoli, 950 miles west of El Alamein, on 3 February 1943, to celebrate the success in North Africa. Churchill arrived fresh from his historic conference with Franklin Roosevelt at Casablanca, in which they demanded the “unconditional surrender” of Germany. When the prime minister arrived in the city the streets were packed with Allied service personnel, along with curious civilians and numerous war correspondents. Standing in a roofless car, Churchill proceeded along the main street lined with tanks and troops. Among the crowd was a reporter from The Times, who later said: “The party thus reached the sea front, where men of the 51st (Highland)…

“HIS EYES WERE OPEN, BUT HE WAS DEAD, WHICH WAS A SHOCK BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS ALIVE. IF THEY WERE CAPTURED THEY ALL HAD MEANS TO TAKE POISONED TABLETS. I THINK THAT HE COULDN’T GET AWAY SO HE JUST SAT THERE AND TOOK THE POISON” In the aftermath of the Second Battle of El Alamein, the Afrika Korps was in full retreat, and in the chaos of withdrawal the Germans had to abandon countless pieces of equipment and personal items. Following closely behind were the advancing Allied forces, including Driver Alf Jackson of the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC). Jackson had the vital task of transporting water to frontline troops, but after El Alamein he was part of an RASC convoy passing through the Halfaya Pass near the Egypt-Libya…

The Spanish lancers bore down on their Dutch counterparts outside Gembloux on 31 January 1578, in the Walloon province of Namur, and scattered them like ashes in the wind. Soon the fabled Spanish tercios, led by Don John of Austria, arrived on the field of battle and charged into the main body of rebels. They killed the majority and sent the survivors fleeing for the safety of the walled town. 32-year-old Alessandro Farnese, the Prince of Parma, had led the impetuous charge of the Spanish cavalry. Don John had warned his dashing cousin not to engage the enemy until the infantry had arrived, but Parma thought the opportunity too great to let slip by. Without his quick thinking the rebels might have escaped that day. Together, the cousins had annihilated…

ARMOURED CARS A Company had two Ford Mark VI armoured cars that were homemade in Ireland during WWII and were individually equipped with a Vickers.303 machine gun. This pictured vehicle was photographed at Jadotville with Commandant Pat Quinlan standing beside it. BREN GUN Each Irish platoon at Jadotville had three Bren light machine guns. Although the Bren is most famous for its use in British and Commonwealth forces during WWII it was one of the most effective weapons during the siege. CARL GUSTAV M/45 Officers and some NCOs carried this Swedish sub-machine gun. First developed in 1945, the m/45 fired 600 rounds per minute and had an effective range of 200 metres. Although it is no longer in production the m/45 is still in service with the Swedish Army. CARL…

“THE WOMEN IN THIS BOOK FOUGHT, SLEPT, GRUMBLED AND CAROUSED ALONGSIDE THEIR FELLOW SOLDIERS, WITHOUT DISCOVERY” TRACEY-ANN KNIGHT FILLS THE STARK VOID OF FEMALE MILITARY HISTORY There are plenty of War heroes throughout history, but until now comparatively little has been said about women who have fought alongside male combat troops. Tracey-Ann Knight rectifies this by bringing to light the experiences of ten women who, throughout the history of warfare, rejected the limits that military society placed on them. The women in this book fought, slept, grumbled and caroused alongside their fellow soldiers, without discovery, over various periods of time, for weeks or even decades. The author, who happens to be a soldier’s wife, travelled across Europe to research the stories of these extraordinary women and explore the concept of…

It is February 1940, and a young British signalman is assisting his general in the Western Desert. The general is the second man to command a newly formed armoured division, and at that moment his men are relatively untested in battle. At one point a local boy passes by with a pet jerboa. The unusual-looking rodent is quick and nimble, and it catches the eye of the general, who finds inspiration in its flexible mobility. The commander decides to call his new force ‘The Jerboa Division’, but the signalman, who has also witnessed the scene, suggests a catchier name. In that moment a legendary formation is created: ‘The Desert Rats’. First assembled in 1938 as the Mobile Division in Egypt, what later became the Seventh Armoured Division fought in most…

“HE NEEDED TO WIN MORE THAN BATTLES – HE NEEDED THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE CATHOLIC NETHERLANDERS, WHO HAD BEEN ALIENATED BY THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY THE SPANISH TROOPS” Alexander Farnese, Prince of Parma (and future Duke of Parma) and Governor-General of the Netherlands, is depicted in 1585 at the time of his reconquest of the Netherlands. The 40-year-old seasoned commander wears the goatee that he favoured throughout his life. He holds in his hand a baton that represents his position as King Philip II’s viceroy in the Spanish Netherlands. The red sash is the traditional colour for both Spain and the Habsburg Dynasty. The large starched ruff around his neck reflects his wealth and high status. The red and gold colours used in his clothing reflect that he…