From Horses to Chieftains

This book provides a riveting glimpse into the final 25 years of one of the British Army’s most illustrious cavalry regiments, the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, better known to the initiated simply as the 8th Hussars. Through the eyes of Richard Napier, who enlisted as a mere boy soldier in 1935, we traverse the tumultuous periods of World War II, the Korean War, and the regiment's eventual disbandment in the late 1950s.

When young Napier first joined this storied regiment, famed for its role in the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’, it was stationed at Abassia Barracks near Cairo. Back then, it was an old-school cavalry unit, complete with horses. Napier, in his youthful exuberance, was both a regimental bandsman, gracing the many social functions of expatriate life, and a sportsman, defending the regiment’s honour in boxing, football, and swimming. Yet, this idyllic colonial existence was soon to be upended by the relentless march of war.

The regiment traded its noble steeds for the rumbling might of tanks, joining the 7th Armoured Division—the legendary Desert Rats—to face off against Rommel’s Afrika Corps. Their valour at El Alamein marked the first Allied victory of the war, with the 8th Hussars distinguishing themselves repeatedly. Bandsman Napier was now a gunner in a tank, returning to the UK post-North Africa to prepare for D-Day. Now with the the 14th/18th Hussars, equipped with DD Sherman tanks, Napier prepared for the Normandy beach assault. After fierce battles in Caen and Falaise, they blazed through France, triumphantly liberating Brussels, and pushed on to Holland. There, they participated in the ill-fated Operation Market-Garden at Arnhem and the successful Operation Varsity, crossing the Rhine at Wesel. Their journey continued into Germany, culminating in Bremen as the Third Reich crumbled.

But the cessation of World War II hostilities did not spell peace for the 8th Hussars. In 1948, they found themselves deployed in Korea, once again embroiled in fierce combat. Gunner Napier, now a seasoned 'tankie', played his part with the grit and resolve that had become his hallmark.

If you are looking for a genuine first hand account of some of the major tank battles of World War 2 you need look no further than tis remarkable memoir.

Publisher - Woodfield Publishing Ltd

Language - English

Perfect Bound

Contributors

By author

Richard Napier

Published Date - 1992-12-01

ISBN - 9781873203170

Dimensions - 23.4 x 15.6 x 1.1 cm

Page Count - 186