Monty's Highlanders: 51st Highland Division in the Second World War

by Patrick Delaforce

The 51st Highland Division was the most famous infantry division that fought with the British Army in WW2. It was the only infantry division in the armies of the British Empire that accompanied Monty from during Alamein to BerlinAfter the 1940 disaster at St Valry when many were killed or captured, the re-formed 51st were a superlative division, brilliantly inspired and led. The Highway Decorators (after their famous HD cypher) fought with consummate success through North Africa and Tunisia and from Normandy into the heart of Germany. Blooded at Alamein where they suffered over 2000 casualties they pursued the Afrika Korps via Tripoli and Tunis fighting fierce battles along the way. They lost 1,500 men helping to liberate Sicily. Back to the UK for the second front, the Highlanders battled their way through Normandy bocage, the break-out to the Seine, triumphal re-occupation of St Valry, and were the first troops to cross the Rhine, fighting on to Bremen and Bremerhaven. In the eleven months fighting in NW Europe in 1944 and 1945 the Highlanders suffered more than 9000 casualties.

Genres: World War II, Nonfiction, Military History, History

415 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1997

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book follows the campaigns and battles of the 51st Highland Division during World War 2 from the beginning to end where it took part in the most crucial battles in North Africa and Europe. It is not a typical unit history of tactics and movements, but is written through the words of the Scotsmen who fought with the division during the war years.

[Aubrey Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Left rejoicing, For some.

Found this book informative, written in a way as to NOT glorify any amount of killing, just a journey through the eyes of several men. Some made it back, some didn't.

[Robbie Bond · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to commend the author for his excellent research and knowledge as he follows the 51st Highland Division from St Valéry in 1940 to the end of world war 2 in 1945.
It is a truly outstanding history for a truly outstanding Division in the British Army, that fought on the frontline of every major battle. The author does incredibly well not to glorify the death of the brave servicemen, simply through the details of diaries or records kept. The whole book refers back to the diary entries of individuals, that gives you some insight as how they saw it.
Unfortunately, for me though, this book was written more of a history book and wasn't as enthralling or easy to follow as other books that I have preferred.

[Arthur Scorer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent