9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2005 - Page 0089
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2005 |
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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 87 Books To Read Dunkirk: Flight To The Last Man This recently published book contains a new angle on how the 1940 British Expeditionary Force came to be evacuated from Dunkirk: it was not just because of the courage of the men on the beaches being rescued by the Navy and those celebrated lit- tle ships. According to author Hugh Sebag-Montefiore, the evacuation would never have taken place had it not been for the bravery of the British soldiers who were left behind to hold back the Germans while the evacuation went ahead. The units who were involved included the 12th Royal Lancers. They are featured in the book at both the beginning and end of the campaign. The diary written by 2nd Lt Tim Bishop records how on 10 May 1940, after it was learned that the Germans had invaded Belgium, the 12th Royal Lancers, the spearhead of the British Expeditionary Force, were only permitted to cross the Franco-Belgian border at 1 pm. While they were kicking their heels on the French side of the border, the boisterous officers celebrated their call to arms by knocking back a bottle of cham- pagne for lunch. Suitably fortified, they motored over the bor- der, inspired by one of their men blasting out the “Charge!” sig- nal on his trumpet as each troop of three armoured cars sped past. There were many Royal Lancer casualties during the subse- quent fighting, but perhaps their greatest contribution occurred north of the line of infantry that was holding back the Germans from the corridor to Dunkirk as the evacuation commenced. During 28 May, three groups of Lancers in their armoured cars were ordered to hold three of the bridges over Belgium’s Yser Canal that separated the evacuees from the Germans. The rear- guard action at one of these bridges was fought under the com- mand of 2nd Lt Bruce Shand, the officer who was later to achieve a different sort of notoriety because he was the father of Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Charles’ wife. However it was the action at the bridge at Dixmude which was to be even more significant. 2nd Lt Ned Mann, the Royal Lancer officer in charge at the Dixmude bridge was just taking steps to have the bridge blown up when a black Mercedes swept across. Mann’s message to Royal Lancers standing guard by the Dunkirk perimeter has been recorded in the unit’s war diary: “Calling all cars. Black car containing German staff officers last seen mov- ing west from Dixmude. Expected to move north. Stop it, or shoot!” Shortly afterwards a “French” major appeared and claimed he had been ordered to take over the defence of the bridge. However, Mann’s enquiries told him that there were no French soldiers in the vicinity, and after satisfying himself that the major was in fact a 5th columnist, he gave orders that the bridge should be blown up which it duly was. It was lucky Mann acted so decisively. Minutes later the first of a 150 vehicle German column came to an abrupt halt at the destroyed bridge. Their occupants were unable to build a new bridge spanning the canal because of the gunfire that Mann and his men rained down on them. Thanks to Mann’s Royal Lancers, and the engineer who had done the exploding, the west bank of the Yser remained a German-free zone, and the Dunkirk evacuation carried on unimpeded. Dunkirk:Fight To The Last Man is published by Viking/Penguin and is available at most bookshops. Price £25. Watching Monty This is a good book written by the late Johnny Henderson with Jamie Douglas-Home. Published by Sutton Publishing (www.suttonpublishing.co.uk) @ £19.99. Previous Engagements by Major Bruce Shami We have recently purchased extra copies of Bruce’s excellent book which is available from HHQ at £17.50 (inclusive of postage and packaging). One Young Soldier by Tim Bishop This book is taken from the diaries kept in the Second World War by a 12th Lancer officer. It connects with Bruce Shand’s book and Dunkirk. This book is also available from HHQ at £15.95 plus postage and packaging. info,warmemoria1s.org or visit www.warmemoria1s.org Preserving Our War Memorials %y War Memorials Trust .3» ~& War Memorials Trust, the charity that works for the protection and conservation of war memorials in the UK, is approaching its 10th Anniversary in 2007. Since it was established the charity has helped over 500 projects nationwide; allocating A 350,000 through its grant schemes. But it cannot undertake this work alone as it relies entirely on voluntary funding. If you would like to support its work send a donation, or join (£20 annual, £100 life), to Winston S Churchill President War Memorials Trust at 4 Lower Belgrave Street London SWlW OLA, or to discuss a war memorial concern phone 020 7259 0403, email |
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