None Bolder: The History of the 51st Highland Division

by Richard Doherty

This is a history of one of the most famous British infantry divisions of World War II, formed from battalions of the Scottish Highland regiments, which fought in France, in the major battle of El Alamein in North Africa, Sicily, the Normandy Landings, and the subsequent campaign through France, into the Low Countries, and finally, into Germany. The 51st Division was part of the pre-war Territorial Army and included nine battalions of TA soldiers as well as artillery, engineers, medics, and other support units.

Genres: Military Fiction, Military History, World War II

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2006

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book, The 51st were mobilised to France with the BEF at the Gort Line, but not sent with the most of the British troops, but instead as part of Saar Force to manning the Maginot Line at Lorraine with the French Troops. The book tells from eyewitness accounts and Regimental diaries the very brave actions of the men and recounts the retreat and the the cooperation with General De Gaulle and his troops. This was not forgotten by De Gaulle and his admiration and respect for the soldiers of the 51st was one of De Gaulle's few positive points about Britain. Indeed when after D Day General Montgomery sent Officers of the 51st to welcome De Gaulles arrival in France as he steoed ashore from a LCT. There was no retreat to Dunkirk and with the exceptions of some 17th Artillery and men sent home from Le Harve the 51st had to surrender at St Valery to Rommel,s 7th Panzer. Rommel later recorded his pleasure of taking the surrender of this Division. He would meet them again and the result would be evened. This book does not however note the shameful behaviour of the Germans towards the troops and the forcing of them to march to imprisonment in Germany.
The book then deals with the reformation of the 51st and its transport to Egypt arriving in August 1942 where the were initially part of Delta Force then to joint the Eighth Army at El Alamein we
here they were affiliated withthe 9th Australian Division. A bond was achieved between the two Divisions and General Wimberley noted We get get on well together and they can teach us a lot. And learn they did. At the parade in Tripoli for Winston Churchill the General Alan Brooke noted. It was one of the most impressive sights I have ever seen. The whole Division was was most beautifully turned out and might have been in barracks for the last three months instead of having marched 1200 miles and fought many battles. They continued on to the Mareth Line then Roumana and the fall of the German and Itallian Army in North Africa.
The next job was the Invasion of Sicily. The 51st landed at Portopalo and advanced in a very different war along the west coast of Sicily to Messina and across to Reggio. The 51st then along with the 50th Northumbian Division and the 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats) were taken by Montgomery back to Britain to prepare for D Day.
will continue later

[Duncan Maccoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent summary of the exploits of a division of the British Army during the Second World War (1939-45).