Following the break-out battle encounters of General 'Pip' Roberts, whose Armoured Division took part in Operations EPSOM, GOODWOOD and BLUECOAT, this is the story of the those men who were thrown into the thick of the action during the final crusade into Germany with the overhanging loss of thousands of lives and tens of thousands of casualties. Noted for their symbol of the Black Bull, their engagements are aptly described and recounted from the first hand accounts of troop commanders, riflemen, tank crews and the like, and are compiled in this story of courage and determination by an esteemed historian who himself fought in the division from June 1944 to VE Day. Horrors, fear, apprehension, and hardship are all apparent in this story - an inspiring and captivating read for all those who take an interest in history and military action.

Brian R

The 11th Armoured Division is famous for its operations in Northern Europe between June 1944 and Victory in Europe (VE) Day in May 1945. Its insignia of a black bull inspired fear in its adversaries as the 11th Armoured were known as splendid fighters. The 11th Armoured were in the thick of the action from their landing in Normandy to the close of hostilities in Europe.

Often divisional histories are factual affairs and lack the personal touch of the men who served with the formation. Others are biographies of the war time experiences of the men who served with a particular unit. However this book combines the two. The factual data on the Division is presented but it is interspersed with personal anecdotes from the letters and diaries of the brave men of the 11th Armoured. There are first hand descriptions of the life at the front line from various men and these comments cover the range of the division's constituent regiments.

The author uses the recollections and personal papers of the men of the Division to great effect. These anecdotes bring life to the division's history and present the raw emotions of combat. He does not concentrate on his own personal exploits as some biographies do but rather on the story of the division with some personal notes. He presents a few pictures of himself and limited notes from his own diaries. There are plenty of recollections from other members of the division.

This book is a splendid read and very engrossing. If you are interested in the Northern European campaign of 1944/45 then this book deserves serious space on your bookshelf.

Military Archive Research