The South Notts Hussars The Western Desert, 1940–1942: The Western Desert, 1940 - 1942 (Voices from the Front)

The Second World War is vanishing into the pages of history. The veterans were once all around us, but their numbers are fast diminishing. While still in their prime many recorded their memories with Peter Hart for the Imperial War Museum. As these old soldiers now fade away their voices from the front are still strong with a rare power to bring the horrors of war back to vivid life. The South Notts Hussars were the pride of Nottingham. A territorial artillery unit made up of a strange mixture of miners from Hucknall, the clerical classes working in Nottingham and some of the richest families in Nottinghamshire. They went to war as a widely disparate group. Their service in North Africa was dramatic in the extreme. Trapped in Tobruk for six months their 25-pounder guns helped keep Rommel's panzers at bay. By the time they moved forward to take up their positions at Knightsbridge in the Gazala Lines in the Spring of 1942 they had been welded into a real band of brothers proud of their proven fighting ability. Caught without infantry or tank support in the Cauldron they were ordered to fight to the last round. This is their story "In the 1980s and early 1990s, Peter Hart, then a young oral historian at the Imperial War Museum in London, conducted 183 interviews with British World War I veterans. After the death of the last veteran in 2009, these interviews have become a rare and valuable record of the Great War as remembered by the men who experienced it themselves. Hart uses these interviews as a framework on which to build a more detailed, varied and individualistic depiction of Britain's experience of the First World War. By including quotes from men such as William Holbrook, who was just 15 when he enlisted, Hart is able to examine the experience of adolescent and young adult soldiers during the War; moreover, through his inclusion of testimony from men such as Harold Bing, who attended the Trafalgar Square anti-war demonstration, Hart provides readers with a vision of an attitude towards the War that was completely alternate from young enlisters like Holbrook. The result of the book's testimonial focus is history as both narrative and recollection; war experienced first-hand but looked at now from a great distance, ultimately giving the reader a feel for what the trenches were like, rather than a strict retelling of battles. It is this blend of narrative and recollection, experience and distance that will allow the reader to both empathize with, and learn from, the unique and unforgettable perspectives of the men that survived the First World War."--From publisher description. World History: Second World War. The Second World War Is Vanishing Into The Pages Of History. The Veterans Were Once All Around Us, But Their Numbers Are Fast Diminishing. While Still In Their Prime Many Recorded Their Memories With Peter Hart For The Imperial War Museum. As These Old Soldiers Now Fade Away Their Voices From The Front Are Still Strong With A Rare Power To Bring The Horrors Of War Back To Vivid Life. The South Notts Hussars Were The Pride Of Nottingham. A Territorial Artillery Unit Made Up Of A Strange Mixture Of Miners From Hucknall, The Clerical Classes Working In Nottingham And Some Of The Richest Families In Nottinghamshire. They Went To War As A Widely Disparate Group. Their Service In North Africa Was Dramatic In The Extreme. Trapped In Tobruk For Six Months Their 25-pounder Guns Helped Keep Rommel's Panzers At Bay. ""Cover""; ""Half Title""; ""Full Title""; ""Copyright Page""; ""Contents""; ""Preface""; ""Chapter One Early Days""; ""Chapter Two The Phoney War""; ""Chapter Three Palestine Days""; ""Chapter Four Mersa Matruh""; ""Chapter Five Watching The Canal""; ""Chapter Six Rats of Tobruk""; ""Chapter Seven Calm Before the Storm""; ""Chapter Eight Knightsbridge""; ""Casualties South Notts Hussars 1939/42""; ""Notes And References""