From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured
Division.
The 11th Armoured Division, famous for its Black Bull insignia, was
widely recognised as being among the best armoured divisions in north-west
Europe during the Second World War. This book
tells the story of the Division in the words of the soldiers who fought with it:
of its part in the three ferocious battles in Normandy – Operations Epsom,
Goodwood and Bluecoat, the great ‘Swan’ to Amiens, the taking of Antwerp; right
flanking for Market-Garden, back-up in the Ardennes and the final slog into
Germany across well-defended river barriers, to the liberation of Belsen, Lübeck
and the Danish frontier. The Division suffered 10,000 casualties, with almost
2,000 lost in action, and so this is also a story of courage and the hardships
of a winter campaign, of being wounded, comradeship and fighting
fear.
Contributions are included from twelve of the regiments who proudly wore
the sign of the Black Bull. Memories from troop commanders and riflemen,
bombardiers and signalmen, tank crews, troop leaders and from the dashing GOC
are brought together to reveal what life was like at the sharp
end.
The Black Bull is liberally illustrated with contemporary photographs
showing the Division in action. It will appeal not only to those who still have
memories of the battles and to those who fought in the Second World War, but
also to readers interested in the day-to-day actions and thoughts of soldiers in
the front line for almost a year.
