General montgomerys eighth army the desert rats part 2 by john myers. If there is anyone who recalls them i would love to hear from you. Equipment used by the desert rats 7th armoured division. See more ideas about north africa, north african campaign and world war two. Ospreys examination of the desert rats, a popular nickname used to describe first 7th armoured division and then all the mixed body of british commonwealth troops british. Us army infantry division patches, military gifts and more. Our 8th army patch is a regulation, full color, embroidered military patch. The 7th armoured division was an armoured division of the british army that saw distinguished active service during world war ii, where its exploits in the western desert campaign gained it the desert rats nickname. Africa and north west europe theatres of operations. Unfollow ww2 british 8th army to stop getting updates on your ebay feed.
With regard to your photograph i cannot make out the faces, but the person in the middle of the. I have tried to include as many as possible with as much information as possible, but i apologise is i have omitted any. Army soldier throws a grenade during the certified training lane 3 to qualify for the expert field medical badge, sept. The rat patrol s1e1 full episode, ww2 action series classic.
Units came from australia, british india, canada, free french forces, greece, new zealand, poland, rhodesia, south africa and the united kingdom. Soldiers of the 8th army never actually wore a desert rat insignia in north africa. I was told, by him, that he was in the 8th army in north africa with monty and his job was to rebuild the bridges for the tanks. Military cloth badges and insignia we stock an amazing selection of military cloth badges, military insignia, shoulder titles and div signs. At this time, lrdg patrols were being tasked by montgomery to reconnoitre the going in southern tunisia, in case the 8th army had to bypass the strongly held mareth line. My father george henry scoging was a dispatch rider with the 8th army, desert rats.
The official home page of the eighth army eighth army the. Ive seen some ww2 miniatures done this way first hand, and rubbish they certainly were not. General montgomery took command of the 8th army in august 1942 and, with the increasing number of troops and modern equipment supporting the allies, defeated rommel at alam haifa at the beginning of september. During its history the 7th armoured division used many different types of weapons and vehicles within the brigades and regiments that served with the division. I am an 8th army enthusiast, paying homage to my father and his fellow desert rats, who fought the axis forces in north africa in 19411943. Jun 12, 2018 the eighth army, formed in september 1941, was a diverse formation made up of units from all corners of the british empire, with infantry divisions coming from australia, new zealand, south africa and india. The moulded cork helmet is covered in fine woven khaki cotton canvas, the underside is lined with green felt baize, the still soft leather sweatband is stamped c. It was embroidered on a beige square of coarse cloth. Not a technique i use in my painting, but i have to say ive seen some remarkably good results using army painter from those with the talent who know how to make the best use of it. Discover the difficulties of desert warfare and how these were overcome by the 8th army to defeat rommel and become masters of the desert. Letters to the 8th army from general montgomery, during the north african. The eighth army was a field army formation of the british army during the second world war, fighting in the north african and italian campaigns. The british 8th army tankies in the desert of north africa were facing rommels africa korp panzers, the british were using a mixed bag of armoured vehicles from, stuarts, cromwells and grants lees to the newly introduced m4 sherman tanks. As you can see there are also 18 heads with arab headdresses and cap comforters that you can use to convert the figures into sas or long range desert group.
And as he vividly recalls he also fought alongside troops from the british commonwealth and empire. General montgomerys eighth army the desert rats part 2 bbc. The eighth army advances across the desert with rommel and afrika korps in retreat. George has lived in south africa for the past 35 years and is 89 years old. The desert rats were the 7th armoured division of the british army, not to be confused with the 8th army or any regiments. A brief history of the eighth army and the desert war.
Perry plastic ww2 desert rats 8th army a complete platoon can be put together from the box with hq section not pictured. Classic lapel pin badge design butterfly pincoloured enamelgiltchrome depending on design as picturedcomes in presentation boxour store also stocks tie clips and cufflinks of this regimentsecond image of lapel pin on 10 pence piece for size reference. General montgomerys eighth army the desert rats part 2. Majorgeneral morshead, gave them the ironic nickname the rats of tobruk. Surprisingly, the canvas glows under blacklight, so post 1945. Jun 24, 20 8th army desert rats hi all, im trying to trace my grandfathers military history. A typical two types cartoon typifying the desert army in general. A brief history of the eighth army and the desert war imperial.
Ww2 british army 7th armoured division desert rats shoulder patch. The term rats of tobruk, a moniker applied by the nazi propagandist broadcaster lord hawhaw, referred more generally to any of the allied troops who defended tobruk, libya. Mtp blanking plates patches with brigade badge, army military panel union jack. Jul 31, 2018 explore daveorchestonfis board 8th army the desert rats on. British 8th army in north africa 194143 battle orders by moreman, tim isbn. Great savings free delivery collection on many items. Buy desert rat badge and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ebay. Surplus overrun stock purchased from a british factory in the late 1980s.
Army, army national guard, army reserve units, and sold in the army post exchanges. World war ii army air corps sort by featured best selling alphabetically, az alphabetically, za price, low to high price, high to low date, new to old date, old to new filters. The eight army then pushed up the difficult road to messina, and as the americans were entering the town from the west, eighth army troops entered from the south. Desert rats, byname of the 7th armoured division, group of british soldiers who helped defeat the germans in north africa during world war ii. The term desert rat was given to the british 8th army under the command of general montgomery and derives from the jerboa, a largely nocturnal rodent native to north africa that hops like a kangaroo. The wartime memories project is the original ww1 and ww2 commemoration website. Ive got nothing better to do, so i thought id do a few quick guides on british uniforms of wwii, as a general guide to those who wish to portray those sadists who have gotten bored of women saying you look handsome when they see you in an american uniform and instead want to hear you smell funny. I display at shows with a representation of a western desert camp with period tents, fake sand and rocks and an interactive minefield for childrens entertainment and education. Desert rats i was born on mayth 1911 in 34 beech road. A 100percent genuine 1942 british army solar pith helmet, as used in desert regions etc. Equipped with obsolete rollsroyce and morris armoured cars, the regiment were engaged in raids against italian positions in the western desert campaign.
The original core of the army was based on the western desert force, fighting in the north african campaign. Ww2 peoples war homepage archive list timeline about this site. Sam bradshaw was one of the famous desert rats british soldiers who served in north africa during the war, with the seventh armoured division, part of the eighth army. Vintage british army ww2 7th armoured division cloth sleeve patches desert rats matched pair. He hailed from greenwich london and his good pal was fred lewis from pontyberem wales. Show your military pride with the finest quality military patches, pins and gifts from all branches of the military.
Army patches and insignias strives to offer the most complete collection of authentic u. Military cloth badges and insignia from surplus and. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Ww2 8th british army formation sign cloth badge antique original. Chaffee and honey tanks of 8th hussars hq recce squadron, outside hamburg, 1945. Vintage british army ww2 7th armoured division cloth sleeve. The formation sign was painted on vehicles and worn as a cloth patch at the top of the sleeve of all personnel. The film begins in the days when field marchal rommels afrika korps had driven to within 60 miles of alexandria and follows the eighth army through battle to victory. Message 1 a3709244 desert rats 8th army photo posted on. This patch would be a great gift idea and a wonderful addition to your patch collection.
The flash from his uniform was a black jeroboam, or desert rat. After the munich agreement, the division was formed in egypt during 1938 as the mobile division egypt and its first divisional. There are more pictures of 8th hussars during the victory parade in july 1945 on the italian and northern europe page. Find us army infantry division patches, military gifts and more at. England, 7th armored division, the desert rats patches. Vintage british army ww2 7th armoured division cloth sleeve patches desert rats. Set of 10 new military cloth badges desert rats last set. Allen francis harding, were especially noted for a hardfought threemonth campaign against the moreexperienced german afrika korps, led by gen. Tanks of 8th hussars waiting to cross the rhine at brunen. The eighth army, formed in september 1941, was a diverse formation made up.
Recovering a challenger tank destroyer from a river. On 16 february 1940, the mobile division, which had changed names during the middle of 1939 to be called the armoured division, became the 7th armoured division. British and commonwealth troops in north africa warrior tim moreman, steve noon on. The brigade is also known as the desert rats, a nickname formerly held by the 7th armoured division, of which the brigade formed a part of during the second world war until late 1941.
A group of long range desert group men pose for a photograph in front of their vehicles, having become the first 8th army unit to cross the tunisian border. Military cloth badges and insignia genuine army surplus store. We stock an amazing selection of military cloth badges, military insignia, shoulder titles and div signs. Early silkscreened style on canvas, depicting a red rat, picked out in white on a black background. World war ii sort by featured best selling alphabetically, az alphabetically, za price, low to high price, high to low date, new to old date, old to new filters. The hottest sales for soldier british 8th army on ebay. The standard identifying symbol of a british division in ww2 was a. Review and build of warlord games new plastic british 8th army miniatures. Men of the desert rats history of the 7th armoued division. Most regiments in the british army were originally singlebattalion units, with the battalion being the tactical unit and the. Desert rats, members of the british 7th armoured division who participated in the north african campaigns during world war ii. A quick look at my desert rats army for bolt action.
World war ii army air corps military patches and pins. List of units that served in the desert rats 7th armoured division. The grueling weeklong efmb test measures each individual soldiers physical fitness, mental toughness and ability to perform a broad range of critical medical. During its twoyear period of service in north africa, 8th army underwent major changes in organization, equipment, and training to adapt it to the terrain. We offer a patch for every army division which service in world war ii and additional patches for other army wwii units and branches of service. Army patches with great military selection priorservice takes great pride in offer the largest selection of world war ii army unit patches, on the internet.
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