Washington, Jonathan
Fighting Vichy from Horseback: British Mounted Cavalry in Action, Syria 1941 (Wolverhampton Military Studies)
- ISBN 13:
- 9781915113764
- author:
- Washington, Jonathan
- format:
- Paperback
- publisher:
- Helion & Company
- language:
- English
- Publication Year:
- 2020
- Pages:
- 188
- Dimensions:
- 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.9 centimetres (0
- Genre:
- History, Military History, World War II,
- Condition:
- New
- Availability:
- Item usually sent within 4 working days
Description
The British I Cavalry Division in World War Two was an unlikely force. Composed almost exclusively of yeomanry horsemen from Britain's Territorial Army, they were seen as a relic of the past by Whitehall's military reforms since 1920. Their only upgrades had been minor changes to their equipment, such as replacing leather saber grips with rubber. When war came in 1939, the division was mobilized with horses compulsorily purchased from the civilian population. This combination of territorials and civilian horses impressed no-one at first. However, in May 1941, they embarked on Operation "Exporter", advancing into Syria with each patrol's point man nervously clutching his rubber-gripped saber. Despite initial skepticism, the horsemen proved themselves to be highly effective, adapting and overcoming in challenging circumstances. By the end of the campaign, their contribution had completely rewritten British doctrine for mounted cavalry. This remarkable story is a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of these often-overlooked soldiers.
Related Products
Related Products
Syria and Lebanon 1941: The Allied Fight against the Vichy French (Campaign)
Sutton, Dr David
Syria: Recipes from Home
Itab Azzam, Dina Mousawi
Iron Age Wetland Deposition: Case studies from Wales and Scotland (British Archaeological Reports British Series)
Treadway, Tiffany
Private Equity in Action: Case Studies from Developed and Emerging Markets
Zeisberger, Claudia
Syria: A Recent History
McHugo, John