Only the Enemy in Front The Recce Corps At War 1940-1946

 

Detailed history of the Reconnaissance ("Recce") Corps 1940-1946, including the campaigns in Singapore, Egypt and the Western Desert, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Burma and North-West Europe.

 

The Reconnaissance Corps was a short-lived corps of the British Army. It was formed from Infantry Brigade Reconnaissance Groups on 1 August 1941. All the Brigade reconnaissance groups of each infantry Corps were formed into reconnaissance battalions, each usually bearing the number of its relevant Division. For example, the 43rd Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps (based on the 5th Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment) was the divisional reconnaissance battalion of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. Initially, coming from infantry units, reconnaissance units used the infantry designations of battalions, companies and platoons. However from June 1942 the Corps changed to the cavalry descriptions of regiments, squadrons and troops.

It became part of the Royal Armoured Corps in 1944, still maintaining its own cap badge with two lightning strikes supporting an upright spear. With the end of the war, this number of reconnaissance units was not needed and the Corps was disbanded in August 1946. Reconnaissance duties reverted to Regular armoured units of the Royal Armoured Corps.

Richard Doherty
Hardcover with d/w BCA Edition 286 pages 1994

Fine/Fine

Book Code:  SE0761