1st Royal Tank Regiment Historical & Interest Notes
Of A More Topical Nature Than The Official History

Started: 28th September 2005 - Page 3 Update: 5 December 2007

http://www.firstroyaltankregiment.com/index2.html

Caption reads: In their familiar black berets, the RAC contingent, in foreground, have passed the Horse guards Parade (right) and are nearing the end of flag bedecked Whitehall on either side of which spectators cluster fourteen deep. White and stately in the distance is the Cenotaph, joint symbol of rememberance for the dead of two wars, and one of the two points along the processional route at which compliments were paid; the other being the saluting base in the Mall.

2. Captured German Gun

Members of 1 RTR with a captured German 7.5cm Anti Tank gun in Echt during Op Blackcock. There is no truth in the rumour that it was seen at a car boot sale in Toxteth several weeks later!!

3. Deborah - Cambrai

From Paul Robinson. Nov 18th 2006. Mike, this picture is just to remind us of Cambrai, ironically it was fully uncovered on the 20th Nov 1998 in a field just outside Flesquieres, on Nov 23rd the lifting of the tank was overseen by members of RTR and to its final resting place in a barn nearby. Phillipe Gorcynski personally showed me his find in 2000, I was amazed that its exhaust system was still intact after all those buried years, it has been more or less left as found apart from general cleaning (still has barbed wire around its tracks). The tank is named Deborah 51 (D51),this is well worth a visit for those going to Cambrai. The tank commander was 2LT Frank Gustave Heap. (From Mike - the exhaust obviously wasn't fitted by Kwik Fit!!)

  4. Passing Out Parade at Junior Leaders Regiment Bovington in Dec 1971

These were sent to me by Mike "Dinger" Bell - Feb 07