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<p>The story of The Royal Tank Regiment is one of struggle, triumph and achievement.
Its origins are a mere three-quarters of a century old, but those years have
seen the stalemate of trench warfare overcome, the restoration of mobility and
the establishment of the tank and mechanised forces, as a dominant factor in
battle. The tank reaffirmed its position as the decisive weapon on the battlefield
during the Gulf War. </p>
<p>The present Royal Tank Regiment, composed of two regular regiments, is the
direct heir to the original armoured car pioneers of 1914, the Naval Brigade
and the RNAS squadron which augmented the British Expeditionary Forces for the
defence of Antwerp in August of that year. </p>
<p>The 1st Royal Tank Regiment is based at RAF Honington in Suffolk with A Squadron
being posted to Warminster. The Honington based soldiers form an integral element
of the Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Regiment. Equipped
with Fuchs Reconnaissance Vehicles and specialist vehicles mounted NBC detection
equipment, they are trained and prepared to move at short notice to any potential
trouble spot. Currently they have soldiers permanently located in Kuwait. Soldiers
from A Squadron are equipped with Challenger 2 and form part of the Combined
Arms Training Centre. </p>
<p>1 RTR recruits from Scotland and the North West of England, giving the regiment
a very distinct character, unlike any other in the Royal Armoured Corps. With
the majority of their soldiers coming from Liverpool and Glasgow, football is
a passion! </p>
<p>To reflect their Scottish links they have a Pipes and Drums. The Pipes and
Drums are primarily tank soldiers who decide that they would like to try their
hand at something different. This summer they were seen performing at the Edinburgh
Festival and Military Tattoo. </p>
<p>A Company, Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps, the forerunner of the First, was
formed under Major C M Tippetts, South Wales Borderers, at Elvesdon, Norfolk
and moved under his command to France in October 1916. At the end of the year
the expanded Company became 'A' Battalion. For his gallantry at Ypres in October
1917 Captain C Robertson was posthumously awarded the first Victoria Cross for
the Tank Corps. In the following month the Battalion took part in the Battle
of Cambrai with the other eight original Battalions of the Corps, and Captain
R Wain won the Battalion's second Victoria Cross. On 24 April 1918 the victor
of the first tank versus tank engagement at Cachy was Lieutenant F Mitchell's
tank No 1 of A Company. Later in the year on 8 August the Battalion took part
in the Battle of Amiens in which over 600 tanks were involved and during which
an advance of up to 20 miles was achieved. Unfortunately, the cost to the Battalion
was high; nine out of ten tanks in 'A' Company of the Battalion were destroyed.
</p>
<p>After the Armistice the Battalion moved to Bovington to become the 1st (Depot)
Battalion which was renamed the Royal Tank Corps Depot in 1925. It was not until
April 1934 that the 1st (Light) Battalion re-appeared at Perham Down as part
of the 1st Tank Brigade. It was equipped with Vickers Light Tanks and had the
role of reconnaissance. 18 months later it was rushed out to Egypt to reinforce
the garrison at the time of the Italian invasion of Abyssinia. It returned to
Perham Down after a year but in March 1938 moved again to Egypt to be part of
the Mobile Division, the forerunners of the 7th Armoured Brigade. </p>
<p>At the end of the war, the Regiment concentrated in Gluckstadt and after a
refit with Comet Tanks in Belgium returned to Schleswig before moving to Berlin
to rejoin the 7th Armoured Division. In March 1946, the Regiment returned to
Schleswig Holstein, and shortly afterwards moved to Hobart Barracks, Detmold
where it remained for eight years. During this period it was the first regiment
to be equipped with the Mark 3 Centurion and was the first to receive National
Servicemen. In September 1952, the Regiment moved to Tidworth where it prepared
for embarkation to Korea and sailed from Liverpool on 27 October aboard the
'Empire Halladale'. The First landed in Korea on 6 December 1952, and within
24 hours of arrival at the front had taken over in the line from the 5th Royal
Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. Because of the static nature of the war, all the
tanks were dug into pits to protect their suspension and lower parts from enemy
fire. Their main task was to dominate 'No Mans Land' by engaging every movement,
observation post and occupied trench. The tanks also supported raids carried
out by the infantry. During the six months that the Regiment was in the line,
the crews fired nearly 26,000 rounds of HE. Supply was no mean feat either in
the snow and sub-zero of winter or the mud of the Summer wet season. The Commonwealth
division, of which the First was a part, did not yield any ground in spite of
the most determined efforts by the enemy. The Regiment handed over to the 5th
Royal Tank Regiment and embarked for the Canal Zone on 15 December 1953.</p>
<p>The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment is currently based in NW Germany just north of
Hannover in the sleepy village of Fallingbostel which was once home for an SS
barracks. It is the second regiment in the British Army to be equipped with
Challenger 2. The regiment is currently part of the famous 'Desert Rats' - 7
Armoured Brigade. 2 RTR is also now the lead Battle Group of the Allied Joint
Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF), with a mandate to be the first armoured formation
ready to deploy to any troubleshot in the world on six days notice.</p>
<p>THE 1914 - 1918 WAR </p>
<p>The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment is descended from 'B' Company Heavy Section Machine
Gun Corps and was originally formed at Bisley Camp, Surrey, in May 1916. The
company, which comprised 250 all ranks, moved to Thetford in September and began
extensive tank training under the command of Major T R M McLellan, Cameronians.
On 18th November 1916, the Company was renamed 'B' Battalion, Heavy Branch machine
gun corps and moved to France. The Battalion was located at Pierremont whilst
its headquarters was at Wavrans. Throughout the winter, crew training was carried
out within companies and officers instructed their own sections in map reading
and sketching, visual training, revolver and pigeon handling. Following this
intensive training, the Battalion received its first Mark IV tanks on 18th May
1917 and at 3.30 am on 7 June 1917, went into action for the first time, attacking
ground east of the Nessines-Wytschaete Ridge. Shortly after this engagement,
the HBMGC was renamed the Tank Corps. On 20 November 1917, 'B' Battalion, Tank
corps, took part in the battle at Cambrai; it had a frontage of approximately
2000 yards in the centre of the attack with its right flank based on Gauzecourt.
The battle continued for 3 days and the fighting was centred on the towns of
Cantaing, Noyelles and Fontaine. During the remainder of the war, the Battalion
was involved in seventeen separate actions of which eleven were operations on
a large scale. </p>
<p>BETWEEN THE WARS </p>
<p>Early in 1919, the Battalion returned home to Bovington Camp and was reduced
to Cadre strength but in October it was reformed under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel A Courage DSO MC. In April 1921, it moved to Pinehurst Barracks, Farnborough,
where it remained until just before the outbreak of the 2nd World War. During
the 1930's the 2nd Battalion, Royal Tank Corps, as it was now named, spent much
of its time on exercises on Salisbury Plain or on the training areas near Aldershot
and Farnborough. The Battalion was part of the 1st Tank Brigade which was reformed
on 1 April 1934 and commanded by Brigadier P C S Hobart a former commanding
officer of the Battalion. The Regiment's distinctive Squadron names of "Nero",
"Ajax", "Badger", and "Cyclops" are derived from their radio call signs whilst
in the Brigade. After 18 years based at Farnborough, the Second moved to Lulworth
and shortly afterwards was stationed in Warminster until May 1940. </p>
<p>THE 1939 - 1945 WAR </p>
<p>On 23 May 1940, the Regiment landed at Cherbourg and moved up to the line of
the Somme, which was at that time the limit of the German advance. The first
task given to the Regiment, which was equipped with Mark VIBs, A9s and A13s,
was that of co-operating with the French Army in a counter-attack on Abbeville.
In the ensuing engagement, 'A' Squadron lost all but two of its tanks. Following
this, the Regiment took part in a number of small defensive actions but, although
one or two local successes were gained, the German weight of armour was such
that the Anglo-French force was quickly pushed back. A composite squadron was
formed by the 2nd and 5th Royal Tank Regiments and covered the 400 mile withdrawal
to Cherbourg, while the main body of the Second left Brest by ship for England
on 16 June 1940. The Regiment was re-equipped with A13s and sailed for the Middle
East in August when, on arrival in Egypt, it formed part of the 4th Armoured
Brigade. The Regiment's first action in the Western Desert was at Hileigat and
this was followed by the Battle of Sidi Barani and the capture of Bardia and
Tobruk. The Regiment then took part in the attempt to cut off the Italian Forces
withdrawing from Benghazi and after the battle of Beda Fomm 20,000 Italians
were marched off to POW Camps. Shortly after the entry of Japan into the war,
the 7th Armoured Brigade was sent to assist the defence of Singapore, and in
January 1942 the Regiment having been re-equipped with Stuart tanks embarked
from Suez. The Second arrived in Rangoon on 21 February and, within 28 hours
of arrival, one of the squadrons was in action 70 miles away from the city.
The whole Burma campaign, in which the Regiment bore a large proportion of the
fighting, was a successful rear guard action and withdrawal. On 19 April 1942
the Second came under the command of the Chinese Army for a few days and during
the defence of Magwee Oilfields had several engagements. After 3 months continuous
fighting the Regiment reached Kalewa on the river Chindwin with about 35 of
its 50 tanks. As the tanks could not be ferried across, they had to be destroyed
and the crews had then to march on foot over the mountains to Tamu. The Regiment
then moved to Dhond where it was reinforced and re-equipped with Grant tanks.
In September 1942, the Second moved to Iraq and in May 1943 to Syria where it
was re-equipped with Sherman tanks. Six months later the Regiment was again
moved to Egypt and eventually embarked for Italy in April 1944 to come under
command of the 5th Corps on the Adriatic Coast. With one brief interval, the
Second remained in the forward area throughout the remainder of the summer and
throughout the winter. In the last battle of the Italian Campaign in April 1945,
the Second formed part of an exploiting force with 43 Ghurka Brigade and led
the advance to Medicina and the River Reno. At the end of the war the Regiment
was deployed north of the River Po and 'A' Squadron entered Austria on the night
of VE Day.</p>
<p>POST 1945 </p>
<p>On 20 December 1945, the Regiment moved to Palmanova where it was re-equipped
with Churchill 'Crocodile' tanks. Nine months later, the Second moved yet again
to Luneburg, North Germany to rejoin the 4th Armoured Brigade. Occupation duties
for the Regiment lasted until the spring of 1948 when the Second returned to
England after an absence of eight years during which it had seen active service
in three continents. The Regiment remained in England for the next four years
and was stationed in Aldershot and Tidworth. On 15 February 1952, the Second
moved to Munster, West Germany, and was re-equipped with Centurion tanks. The
Regiment remained in Munster until August 1959 when it sailed to Homs in Libya
to become an Armoured Car Regiment equipped with Saladin, Saracen and Ferret
armoured cars. In October 1961, the Second moved to Benghazi and converted to
the airportable role and moved to Tidworth as part of the Strategic Reserve
to become the forerunner of the Parachute Squadron, Royal Armoured Corps. In
1964, the Regiment moved to Perham Down and here spent its first Christmas in
England for 14 years. Ajax was detached in Cyprus on a six months tour with
the United Nations Force and was the first detachment of the Regiment as a whole
to wear the light blue beret. In November 1965, the Regiment moved to Hohne,
West Germany, to join the 7th Armoured Brigade and where, in 1967, it re-equipped
with Chieftains. Three years later, in August 1970, the Second left BAOR for
a 2 year tour of duty as the RAC Centre Regiment before returning to Germany
and being stationed again in Munster in 1972. During this tour the Regiment
provided Armoured Car Squadrons on 4 month emergency tours in Northern Ireland
- Badger in 1973 and Ajax in 1974. In 1975 the Regiment, less Badger, spent
4 months in Armagh operating in the infantry role. In 1977 the Regiment converted
to the Armoured Reconnaissance role as a type B Regiment. Ajax and Badger becoming
Medium Reconnaissance Squadrons equipped with Scorpions and Scimitars; Cyclops
becoming a Close Reconnaissance Squadron equipped for Fox. Hunstman was disbanded
on change of role. In late 1977 the Regiment, less Cyclops, returned to Northern
Ireland on a 4 month emergency tour. Ajax was deployed to the city of Londonderry
in the infantry role; Badger and a Tac HQ were deployed to Magherafelt in South
Londonderry in a rural role. In 1978 the Regiment returned to Munster and resumed
its role as an Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. In May 1979, the Regiment returned
to Northern Ireland in an Infantry role. It was based in Omagh for 18 months.
As one of the resident Regiments in the Province they were primarily involved
in patrolling the border area South West of Dungannon. However, at various stages
of their tour, elements of the Regiment could be found throughout the six counties.
The Second returned to Germany in late 1980 and was based in Wolfenbuttel, close
to the Inner German Border. They were equipped with CVR(T) in the role of Corps
Reconnaissance and were constantly involved throughout the training season on
exercises. In early 1984 the Regiment moved to Fallingbostel and converted to
Challenger I, the first Challengers arriving in early 1985. They were based
in Wessex Barracks. The move to Fallingbostel saw the Second exercising in Canada
and major FTXs in Germany. Having spent six years in Germany the Regiment moved
to Catterick in 1990 in the role of the RAC Training Regiment. The task of training
RAC recruits was both demanding and formidable and one which tested the Regiment
to the full, particularly the JNCOs. In 1992 the Regiment returned to Germany
and moved into Lumsden Barracks in Fallingbostel. They were amalgamated with
3 RTR in 1992. The new Regiment has been on emergency/operational tours in Northern
Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and conducted exercises in Canada, Poland, Southern
Germany, in addition to maintaining a permanent presence in Northern Germany.</p>
<p>ROYAL TANK REGIMENT CAMBRAI BAND </p>
<p>The first official Band was formed in 1922 under Mr W J Gibson who came from
the 9th Lancers. However prior to this formation, an unofficial Band has been
kept in existence by the use of private Tank Corps Funds. The new Staff Band
consisted of some 60 musicians and, although it was officially established,
the annual grants were insufficient to finance it and thus all officers paid
a subscription. This subscription was discontinued on the outbreak of the Second
World War. On 1 October 1947 the Staff Band was split to form the nuclei of
2 regimental bands - 'A' and 'B'. This was intended to be the first step in
the formation of 8 bands - one for each regiment. Owing partly to the expense
involved in supporting 8 bands, and partly to the Desirability of bands having
the higher status of Staff Bands, negotiations were entered into during 1948
whereby the Regiment would have 4 Staff Bands, each to serve 2 regiments in
the UK, Germany and in the Middle East. As a first step, 'A' and 'B' Bands re-organised
on 2 Sep 49 as Minor Staff Bands, under the authority of War Officer letter
103/Misc/6157/AG17A dated 19 Oct 49. At the same time the formation of 'C' Minor
Staff Band at Bovington was authorised. The formation of the fourth Minor Staff
Band was deferred until the other three became proficient. By authority of War
Office letter 103/Misc/6157/AG17A dated 14 Apr 50 'A', 'B', and 'C' Minor Staff
Bands were redesignated Cambrai, Alamein and Rhine respectively. These three
Minor Staff Bands remained in existence until 1 Aug 1994. Currently the Royal
Tank Regiment Cambrai Band which was established on 1 Aug 1994 is located with
2 RTR in Fallingbostel. With the exception of certain grants from Regimental
funds which may be provided to help towards expenses associated with Regimental
functions, it supports itself financially through public engagements. </p>
<p>THE INVENTION OF THE TANK </p>
<p>On the 13th June 1900 Major General Sir Ernest Swinton was serving with the
British Forces in the Boer War. On that precise date, he visualised the requirement
for an armoured fighting vehicle to defeat the destructive power of the machine
gun. The tank, a revolutionary new weapon system, born of General Swinton's
vision, was to break the stalemate of trench warfare and the dominance of the
machine gun of the battlefields of Flanders sixteen years later. </p>
<p>THE FIRST WORLD WAR </p>
<p>When the first tanks were produced in 1916, they were manned by members of
the Machine Gun Corps, formed into six companies which were collectively known
as the Heavy Branch. The very first battle involving tanks took place on the
Somme. About thirty British Mark 1 tanks attacked German positions between the
villages of Flers and Courcelette, on Friday 15 September 1916. The arrival
of the tanks on the battlefield signalled the end of trench warfare, which had
suffocated both sides in the 1914-18 conflict. Austin Armoured Car During this
action the Press seized on a report from an aircraft crew, which said that "a
tank is walking down the main street of Flers with the British Army cheering
behind it." This was "D" Company, later the 4th Royal Tank Regiment. These companies
were expanded to form battalions and were renamed the Tank Corps in 1917. The
first battle between two opposing tanks took place near the village of Cachy
on 24 April 1918. The German A7V tank Nixe (Lt Biltz), engaged three British
Mark IV tanks, and damaged two, but was knocked out by the third, commanded
by 2/Lt Frank Mitchell. By December 1918 there were 26 battalions, and as well
as serving in France, a detachment from the Corps had served under Allenby at
Gaza, Palestine in 1917. The Corps saw almost continuous action, winning four
VC's. </p>
<p>CAMBRAI </p>
<p>In France at dawn on November 20th, 1917, some 300 British Mark IV tanks of
the Tank Corps, led by Brigadier Hugh Elles, created a major break in the German
Hindenburg Line and nearly reached Cambrai itself. This was the Battle of Cambrai,
and so successful was this action, that the church bells were rung throughout
Great Britain. Each year this great battle is commemorated as "Cambrai Day".
</p>
<p>BETWEEN THE WARS </p>
<p>At the end of World War 1 with the status of the Tank Corps in the greatest
doubt, three small tank detachments were despatched to Russia, to support the
White Russians against the Bolsheviks. One British manned tank achieved the
capture of Tsaritsin, later called Stalingrad, now known as Volgograd. By 1920
the Tank Corps was reduced to a Depot and four battalions, becoming established
in its own right in 1923 when it was granted the prefix "Royal" by King George
V, its Colonel-in-Chief since 1918. At this time it also officially adopted
the black beret as its distinctive headgear, with the silver badge and 'Fear
Naught' motto. King George V next to a Carden-Loyd MK V (1927) Medium MK II
(1920's) </p>
<p>THE SECOND WORLD WAR </p>
<p>The Corps changed to its present title in 1939, with the formation of the Royal
Tank Regiment. The RTC had, up until 1928, been entirely responsible for all
"armour" in the British Army. Its schools began the mechanisation and training
of the cavalry, and the RTR itself expanded between 1935 and 1938 into eight
regular battalions. From the outset of World War II, both Sir Winston Churchill
and Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, made it clear that they
wished to be associated with the Royal Tank Regiment - the value of the tank
as a decisive battlefield weapon was being recognised. By the end of the Second
World War, the tank had once again proved itself a major battle winner, and
having fought in most of the major engagements in Europe, North Africa, the
Middle and Far East, the Regiment had battalions spread all over the globe.
Two more VC's had been awarded, together with countless other decorations, to
men who, "...cheerfully went to war in tin cans, closely surrounded by a lethal
mixture of petrol and ammunition." </p>
<p>THE REGIMENTAL CHURCH AND COLLECT</p>
<p> St Peter-upon-Cornhill, in the City of London, was adopted as the Regimental
church in 1954 on the suggestion of the Rector at that time, the Prebendary
Douglas Owen who had served as the Regimental Padre of 4 RTR from 1938 to 1941.
He later became the first Regimental Padre of the Royal Tank Regiment as a whole
and was succeeded by the Reverend Alan Cook MA in 1965. He remained in office
until 1986 when the Archdeacon Peter Mallet took over the appointment. He handed
over to The Venerable Graham Roblin in 1996. The Church contains the Regimental
Memorial consisting of two stained class windows designed by Hugh Easton. Carved
oak Badges of all the Regiments, including those connected with the Regiment,
are displayed beneath the windows. A Regimental Service of Remembrance and thanksgiving
used to be held each year on the nearest convenient Sunday to the anniversary
of the action in Flers in the Somme on 15 September 1916. However, in 1999 the
date of the Service was changed to coincide with the Regimental Cenotaph Parade.
The Regimental Cenotaph Parade is always held on the Sunday after the National
Remembrance Sunday in November. The Regimental Collect is read at this service,
the words of which are: 'Almighty God, whose perfect love casteth out fear,
mercifully grant that thy servants of the Royal Tank Regiment may Fear Naught
but to fall from thy favour; for His Sake in whom Thou art well pleased Thy
Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.' Members of the Regiment are welcome to
hold baptismal, wedding and funeral services at the Church. Approaches should
be made direct to the Rector. </p>
<p>ALLIED AND AFFILIATED REGIMENTS </p>
<p>Allied Regiments 1st Armoured Regiment, Royal Australian Corps. Address: Puckapunyal,
Victoria 3662, Australia. 12e Regiment Blinde du Canada, Royal Canadian Armoured
Corps. Address: Base des Forces Canadiennes, Valcartier, Courcelette, Province
of Quebec GOA 1RO, Canada. 12 eme Regiment Blinde du Canada. Address: Malice,
PO Box 543, Trois Rivieres, Quebec, G9A 5H5, Canada. 2nd Lancers (Gardner's
Horse), Indian Armoured Corps. Address: c/o 56 APO, India. The Royal New Zealand
Armoured Corps. Address: Director, Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps, Army Headquarters,
Wellington CI, New Zealand. Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles, Royal New Zealand
Armoured Corps. Address: Army Training Group, Private Bag 1702, Waiouru, New
Zealand. 13th Lancers, Pakistan Armoured Corps. Address: c/o Armoured Corps
Centre, Nowshua Cantourment, Pakistan. 501/503 Regiment de Chars de Combat,
French Armoured Corps. Address: Quartier Delestraint, 51401 Mourmclon le Grand,
France (Bond of Friendship). HMS Kent, BFPO 318. HMS Vigilant (Bond of Friendship).
Address: Faslane, Scotland. </p>
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