When Montgomery took command prior to D-Day he gathered around him commanders and formations he knew and trusted. Not surprisingly 7th Armoured Division was one of these and they were deployed from Italy to England.

In this fine account the author who fought alongside the Desert Rats describes the Division's battles from the beaches, the breakout battles (Goodwood and Bluecoat), the liberation of Northern France and Belgium. After taking Ghent there were the long months fighting in the Peel country of the Netherlands before Operation BLACKCOCK, the Rhine Crossing and the final advance into Germany, the capture of Hamburg and the Allies' triumphant entry into Berlin.

No reader of this magnificent history, with its many personal accounts will question why the Desert Rats wore – and still wear – their Jerboa insignia with such pride.

Patrick Delaforce fought with the Gunners in North West Europe. After a career in the wine trade he became an author and has published numerous works on the Second World War, a number in print with Pen and Sword. He lives at Brighton.