Military Model Scene

Title: A History of the Guards Armoured Formations 1941-1945
Author: Charles Richard Trumpess
Publisher: Pen & Sword
ISBN: 978-1-03610-788-8

A new book considering the history of the Guards Armoured Division along with the 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade and their combat record in WW2. A 204-page hard-cover book.
After an introduction which gives some basic background to the story, section 1 begins by exploring the story of the decisions to form the famous British Foot Guards into an armoured division, after the disaster that was the defeat of the BEF and the evacuation of Dunkirk. Then once the decision had been made, the training that the new division went through, at home in the UK. They weren't sent to North Africa, Italy or the Far East, but trained for use in the planned assault back into North West Europe. There is the training they undertook, plus the changes in equipment they were issued with, as the Sherman was issued just prior to their deployment in NW Europe. Then in section 2, it goes on to explore the successes and failures of both the Guards Armoured Division itself, as well as the separate 6th Guards (tank) Brigade. Major operations include Overlord itself, Operation Goodwood, and the lessons learnt from that, and goes on to deal with Operation Bluecoat. There were many tank casualties, and the Sherman proved to have pros and cons. before the Churchill coming into use also had some challenges. It goes on to cover Market Garden, then Operations Blockbuster and Veritable. The use of rockets fitted to the Sherman are included and the various lessons learned. The end of the war brought a swift end to these armoured units, and the Guards reverted to their previous infantry and ceremonial role.
The author has plainly made an extensive study of other works on the subject, and weighs up the evidence well in his critical view of the initial decision to turn the Guards into an armoured division, and about the work of the commander, Major General Allan Adair. There is a lot of interesting material throughout the book, and it is one I happily recommend reading, though I remain unconvinced by some of the conclusions, but that is a purely personal view. I think it is difficult to judge some wartime decisions with our benefit of hindsight, without the pressure on having to make these choices purely on the information available at the time, in the middle of a war when Britain was under multiple threats, including the potential threat of invasion when so much material and experience had been lost at Dunkirk. That however is just my view, and I enjoy reading other historians opinions on our history in WW2.
Thanks to Pen & Sword for the review copy.

Robin