A View from the Turret: A History of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment in the Second World War

This is the story of the exploits of the 3rd Battalion Royal Tank Regiment during World War II as seen through the eyes of one of its most experienced tank commanders. Its baptism of fire came in 1940 during the heroic defence of Calais where all its tanks and vehicles were lost. In November 1940, the battalion was sent to North Africa and figured in most of the desert battles. In early 1941 the battalion was withdrawn from the line and sent to Greece where its tanks were finally neither strong enough or numerous enough to stop the onslaught on the German divisions. All its tanks and vehicles were again lost, and only some 200 officers and men of the battalion eventually landed back in Egypt, after various adventures. The battalion played a considerable part in the bloody fighting at Sidi Resegh. It took part in the famous Left Hook battle with the New Zealanders, making a considerable contribution to the success of the battle and subsequent forcing of the Gabes Gap in the Mareth line, and the entry into Tripoli. The battalion played its part in the El Alamein battle, once again receiving heavy casualties, but went on with success at Alam Halfa and Gazala and the final advance to