Churchill’S Desert Rats in North Africa and Italy

by Patrick Delaforce

This well researched and well written book covers the early campaigns and battles that earned The Desert Rats their fame and name.

This volume covers the difficult early years when ultimate victory was less than certain. The Nazis were victorious on many fronts and Britain stood alone. Indeed it was at El Alamein that 7 Armoured Division and the rest of Montgomery’s Eighth Army turned the tide. The church bells rang out in Britain and a new spirit was born. But much fighting lay ahead and many were to die. The successful completion of the North African campaign led to the invasion of Sicily and the long slog up Italy.

The Desert Rats were at the forefront of these campaigns. Three Victoria Crosses were won in the desert and many famous names were associated with the Division, such as Field Marshal Lord Carver and Major General Pip Roberts.

The Division’s story is told by many first hand contributions and is the result of painstaking research by the author who was also a ‘Desert Rat’.

Genres: History

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg]

The British Army's 7th Armoured Division was a legendary formation in WWII, with their symbol of the Jerboa, the "Desert Rat". Patrick Delaforce, a veteran and member of the Division in NW Europe late in the war, writes his area of expertise , British Army formations as he follows every battalion/regiment that passed through the Division in the early part of the War. Picking up the story with the collection of brigades that were the "Western Desert Force" in 1940 when the Italians came calling- by 1942 he's following a parallel battle in Burma as 7th armoured Brigade, one of the three brigades that began the war as part of 7th Armoured Division is "lent' to the Indian Army to try and defend Burma. Without their savvy veteran nerve- the Burma debacle might have been more disastrous. All through the book- the author gives you the action- the results and then how it played with Winston back in London as he DID take a special interest in the formation and its officers and men. I really enjoyed the close focus on a few regiments at a time and the book filled in bits of knowledge in a number of campaigns . Tons of pictures and maps/diagrams to follow the action.

The Division fought in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy (with that side trip to Asia)- up to 1943- when the British General Montgomery requested they spearhead the British Armour in the Normandy Campaign, bringing them with a few other units to give some Veteran punch to the largely well-trained, but as yet unblooded British Army in the UK. this book is all about how they learned those lessons- at first besting the Italians- then having trouble with Rommel's DAK. Then how Monty prepared the whole 8th Army for Alam Halfa and El Alamein and the pursuit of the Italo-Germans to Tunisia. Once any unit joins the Division, they join the narrative thread. I found the book very compelling, enjoying it all the way to the indexes...

There are a few adult themes and some graphic descriptions, so this is best for the Junior Reader over about 13/14 years with a historical interest. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, a very useful resource. The gamer gets almost every skirmish/battle described in some detail, most with a diagram or map as well, good for scenario/campaign development. The Modeler will need to read the narrative to get most of the build/diorama ideas from this book- but some of the photos may spawn ideas too. The Military Enthusiast gets a close look at a key Allied Division, one that took part in a lot of important battles, with some units going all the way to the Pacific War for a time. The Churchill content makes it more of a mainstream book, as I think Churchill readers (both pro and con) will enjoy going more granular on a formation that appears so much in his speeches and writing. A quick and enjoyable read as well.