This month, Tim Strickland, author and son of Strick: Tank Hero of Arras, sings four forgotten stories and actions from WWII.
From the success of the British Churchill tank to the infantry-tank tactics in Italy, 1944, Tim sheds light not on the one individual, but the collective actions that led to an Allied victory…and have been subsequently forgotten about.
THE ACTION OF 4 AND 7RTR IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM, 1940.
Whilst the story of the British armoured counter-attack at Arras in May 1940 has been covered in a number of publications, and has featured in popular history to some degree, the extraordinary story of what had happened to 4 and 7RTR before Arras, and the equally remarkable story of what happened to the 4/7RTR Composite Force of the few tanks which survived the Arras affair, have never been described before. Their impact –in particular near La Bassée in 27 May 1940 – on slowing the German advance towards Dunkirk – remains unknown. The fact that British Armour remained in rear-guard action to the close of 27 May 1940 must have influenced German thinking, and played a part in making the Dunkirk Evacuation possible. What would have happened to Britain if that evacuation had failed? Strick: Tank Hero of Arras describes and explains these actions for the first time in detail.
THE EMERGING SUCCESS STORY OF THE BRITISH CHURCHILL TANK
Although the sorry and unimpressive saga of inadequate design, armour and armament of British tanks in WWII is well known and has been much publicised. The saga of the development of the British Churchill tank –ultimately considered by many to have been developed into the best British (and conceivably Allied) tank by the end of WWII – remains less well known or understood outside the fraternity of Churchill tank historians and tank-specialists. Yes, indeed, this story has its unimpressive origins in the admittedly well known story of the inadequacies of British tank design and belated development between the wars and early in WWII. But, when finally committed to action in strength for the first time in Tunisia early in 1943, the Churchill tank proved to be very effective and a decisive factor in the closing stages of the North African campaign. Its rough-terrain capability appears to have been unequalled on either side in WWII. At the time, there were many who considered it a better tank than the American Sherman, although the Sherman –backed by the industrial might of the US- was ultimately to be decisively available in greater numbers than the British Churchill. The ultimately very successful later Marks of the Churchill continued in front line service for several years after WWII. Despite excellent recent publications, this remains an under-appreciated British tank in popular history. Strick goes some way to address these misconceptions and developments.
THE BRITISH ARMY TANK BRIGADES AND INFANTRY-TANK TACTICS. ITALY, 1944.
The British concept of infantry-tank warfare, as it came of age in Italy 1943-44, has been all but completely ignored by military historians or, at best, its tactical significance inadequately recorded by them. First developed between the wars, in response to the lessons of the beginnings of armoured warfare in WWI, the close support of infantry by the Churchill tank specifically designed for this role, was first used with outstanding success by First Army’s ‘Army Tank Brigades’ in Tunisia 1943, and developed into a fine art by them in Italy (Hitler Line) (Gothic Line) during 1944. Indeed, from the recollections of those who fought in tanks in Normandy and Northern Europe, it now seems clear that infantry-tank / battle group all-arms warfare was developed to a much greater finesse in Italy than elsewhere. Yet, despite their outstanding successes in this field, the ‘Army Tank Brigades’ have never since been glamorised as the Armoured Divisions have been. Furthermore, British success in developing tactics in the use of Churchills and Shermans in combination provided a greater degree of multi-role capabilities in infantry-tank warfare, developed and practised with greater success in Italy than anywhere else in WWII. In my book, I hope to play its part in correcting false impressions.
WORLD WAR 2 VETERANS
Let us never forget the many who served away from home for years on end, in many cases for over three years, an awful experience which is beyond the experience of any of the generations since WWII. These veterans are unsung heroes. To them, must be added those who spent years as POWs (and of course, in the Far East also). They should never be forgotten. For over 30 years post-war, these war-forged generations worked in and influenced all professions, politics and communities; and in so doing provided the glue which held their communities and nations together. With their passing, and the fading of their influence in all contexts, national and community divisiveness is increasing.
Strick: Tank Hero of Arras
By Tim Strickland
Major-General Eugene Vincent Michael Strickland CMG, DSO, OBE, MM, CStJ, Star of Jordan – Strick – rose from penniless hardship to great military distinction. He was a tank man, a war hero who fought in France, North Africa and Italy during World War II, and whose name is revered even today among regiments that he commanded.
His is the extraordinary tale of a man who gained a Regular Commission in the Indian Army from Sandhurst, but resigned soon afterwards.
This book focuses on his experience during World War II, drawing out the unique qualities required of leaders in close-combat battle; the particular demands of armoured infantry cooperation, and how an individual can make a success of such a rapid rise through the ranks during wartime.
This fine story of adventure and achievement is brought alive by Strick’s remarkable correspondence – he wrote home to his family every second or third day throughout the war, except when action was too fierce to write – supplemented by the recollections of his comrades and years of archival research. More than a portrait of a gifted and morally courageous man, this biography also offers an insight into the arts of command and tactical control, and the difficulties of a family life fragmented by war.
9781612009858 | Hardback | Casemate | £30.00 | May 2021
SPECIAL OFFER: £24.00
Available to order through Casemate UK
Author
Tim Strickland studied at University College, Oxford and became a professional archaeologist and historian. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, has published a series of research papers and books and in 2003 was made MBE for services to archaeology. In retirement he has turned his mind to researching and writing about his father’s life, in the course of which he has walked over and studied all the sites of his father’s actions in World War II.
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