The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II (Elite) - Softcover

Doherty, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1846031222 ISBN 13: 9781846031229

Publisher: Osprey Publishing, 2007

Synopsis

Osprey's study of Britain's Reconnaisance Corps of World War II (1939-1945). Either creeping through the landscape or mounted in armored cars and Bren carriers, Reconnaissance Regiments became a vital addition to all British infantry divisions. After the disastrous defeat in France in 1940, at the hands of German forces with strong recce units mounted in light armored vehicles, the Bartholomew Committee called for the formation of a British equivalent. This was achieved by forming the new elite Reconnaissance Corps.Their spearhead role meant that they were consistently at the forefront of all dramatic action, and most famously served with the 1st and 6th Airborne at Arnhem and with the Chindits in Burma.Within every theater of war, ranging from the jungles to the deserts, the Reconnaissance Corps made a critical contribution to the Allied war effort. However, with the disbandment of the Corps at the end of the war, their record has been unjustly forgotten.With a selection of rare and unpublished frontline photographs taken from private collections, this fascinating new insight into a forgotten elite unit of the British Army recounts the experiences of those soldiers who operated ahead of the army throughout the course of the war.

About this title

About the Author:

J. R. Doherty, FIRSO, MRHistS. has published a good history of the Recce Corps - Only the Enemy in Front (1994), which sold some 8,000 copies, now o/p, and a copy has sold on a website for _100. This was the only such study since 1947. His synopsis is highly professional, and material (including photos) comes from veterans he has interviewed. The author lives in Londonderry, Ireland.

Review:

“Thanks to a superb choice of images, most of which are shown here for the first time, and the excellent illustrations of Rob Chapman, we get a look at these men and how they appeared during their long years of war. It is another fascinating Osprey title about a little-known portion of WWII and one that you will enjoy reading as much as I did.” ―Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com

“It isn't a book about British Armored cars but it is a very interesting book. It has got considerable value for the modeller but that isn't its primary aim. Personally, I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the area as an excellent introduction to a disgracefully documented subject.” ―Jim Rae, Aeroscale (March 2007)

“...aside from having a basic 'one-stop' history of these British units in an economical form, those modelers of British wheeled AFVs should find much of interest between these covers. This is especially so, considering the imminent release of two new Staghound armored cars and two new Humber scout cars as injection-molded styrene kits. Recommended.” ―Frank De Sisto, missing-lynx.com

About this edition

• Publisher: Osprey Publishing
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1846031222
• ISBN 13: 9781846031229
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64
• Illustrator: Chapman Rob