Military Model Scene

Title: Everything Worked Like Clockwork
Author: Roger Salmon
Publisher: Helion & Company
ISBN: 978-1-915070-96-8

First published back in 2016, this is a new paperback edition from Helion & Co, a 321-page sift-cover book. It tackles a long held myth about the attitudes to mechanisation by the members of the traditional British cavalry regiments when they were transitioned from horses to mechanised equipment.
The story is spread across 7 chapters, starting from the end of WW1 and changing military policy decisions which were then taken. It splits the story across 3 phases of change, from 1918 - 1929, from 1930 - 1936 and the third phase from 1936 - 1939 and the outbreak of WW2, which also saw a final stage in the full mechanisation of the British cavalry regiments. It details what happened with all the various regiments, many of which were also merged in the effort to reduce spending while maintaining the morale and tradition of some of these famous regiments. Most had their horses taken away and redeployed, just the 16th/5th Queen's Royal Lancers, who only lost their horses while deployed to the North West Frontier of India when war broke out in Europe. All but one of their 430 horses were shot. A sad end to them. The final transition was completed only in 1942. That is a fairly simple way of describing things bit of course there is so much more to the story. After WW1 there was a natural desire by politicians to reduce defence spending, coupled with modern developments in motorisation and a reducing commitment to the need to police parts of the British Empire around the world, a requirement which was declining. When you see the time to took for the transition, any opposition to the change from traditionalist cavalrymen must be viewed by natural turnover in their troops as old soldiers left the army and new recruits came in. At that time, the ability to drive was not common as it is today, and many young troopers welcomed the chance to learn new skills, which could also translate to civilian life once they finish their service. Throughout the book there are lots of extracts from veterans who recall their experiences of the period and just how the process worked out. Add to all of this there is plenty more information contained in the 10 appendices.
I found this a fascinating book to read and it throws a lot of light onto what was an important change for the British Army, a change to mechanisation which was important for their roles in WW2. It also challenges some of those long held myths about the changes which have been widely shared over the years. There is so much more to the story and this does a great job I think, in examining the complexities of what really happened.
Thanks to Helion & Co for the review copy.

Robin