For those of you who follow my somewhat brief updates here, you will probably have gathered by reading ‘between the lines’ that my next Suffolk Regiment book will be a record of the 7th Battalion, that was converted to armour in 1941 to become 142nd Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.
This unit was unique amongst the history of the Suffolk Regiment - the only time men of its ranks fought not on foot as infantry, but as tank crews. Whilst you could argue that in its past, men of the Regiment served as Marines onboard ship (in the times of Marlborough) and on horse back as Mounted Infantry (in the Boer War), it was only for this brief three-year period that they broke the mould and became ‘Tankies’ (although that specific terms looks to have never been applied to them, and only to men serving in the Royal Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Regiment’s - and not men of the Royal Armoured Corps - but that’s another whole different kettle of fish!).
Starting with their creation in mid-1940, through their initial training as infantry, the book will follow their war through action in Tunisia in early 1943. After a period as a training regiment, their story continues to Italy the following year where they would support the Canadian infantry break through the great defensive bulwark, the ‘Adolf Hitler Line, and push through beyond it and up to Florence. After breaking through the ‘Gothic Line’ in late 1944, their fighting war ended at Forli where shortly afterwards, they were disbanded and their ranks redistributed.
It is a story of support, supporting the various elements of infantry in their advances and attacks upon enemy positions, helping to overcome these, allowing the infantry to push onwards.
All this was done with the redoubtable Churchill tank (and later a few Sherman’s too). A great monster that won the hearts of those who had to fight with it. Men were not so complimentary about the Sherman that came to replace them when their beloved Churchills were put out of action or in for their continual maintenance.
Their story is one of gallantry and heroism, and of a fair bit of humour as well (just like Sergeant Peck here smiling through it all before he goes into action in Tunisia). It will be the first time since 1946 that their story has been put into print (and on a greatly expanded level - as it was only covered by a single chapter in the Regimental History and nothing since has been written about them).
Whilst the manuscript is almost complete, there is still time to add in any accounts or photographs that any of you may have. I’m keen, as with all my works, to let the men tell as much of their story themselves, through their own words, but if any of you have anything suitable for inclusion, even if it’s just a few lines, please do get in contact with me. A full credit and a copy of the book can be yours in return when we finally get it into print!
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