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Gerry Chester · 25-08-2006, 09:40 PM

Hi Corporal,

Your answer, although the aerial was unlikely to suffer damage by hitting something, is near enough to pass the next question over to you.

As can be seen in the photograph, the 9 Set's aerial not only was quite thick but also it was set in an non-flexible base. The result, especially when pennants were flying, the Vickers Light Tanks were easy to spot when advancing - dust and the mirage effect could obscure the tanks body but not usually the aerial.

More importantly, when a tank is in a defensive mode (while in laager for example) the aim was to put her hull or turret down - even in the desert this was possible. With the easily visible aerial she was soon spotted by the enemy.

Oddly enough, when the heavier tanks came along with 19 Sets aboard the practice of flying pennants persisted for quite some time - the unhorsed cavalry wallahs were slow to give up a traditional practice. As will be seen, RTR chaps also were slow to give up a tradition - thankfully, not one relating to doing battle in AFVs.

With no disrespect to the many fine one-time cavalry regiments who fought in tanks, I must share with Forum members the never forgotten words of Lt. Col. (Bushy) Broom, commander 51st (Training) RTR. Ten of us, who had qualified as driver/operators, were paraded in front of the the COs office where he bade us farewell. First, it must be explained Bushy (so nicknamed because of the luxuriant growth above his lips) as most of the senior officers had served in the Tank Corps during WW I. During the many lectures we had at Warminster it was most obvious that the wearing of the black beret by crews of non RTR units was deeply resented. Anyway, after congratulating us he said: "I have some bad news for you men - you are being posted to the North Irish Horse, damned donkey-wallopers!"

"Through mud and blood to the green fields beyond. It wasn't the tanks that won the war, it was my boy Willie."

25-08-2006, 09:40 PM	#12 (permalink)
Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Originally Wallasey, Cheshire - Now a world-wide wanderer Posts: 834	Re: Identifying Army matériel Hi Corporal, Your answer, although the aerial was unlikely to suffer damage by hitting something, is near enough to pass the next question over to you. As can be seen in the photograph, the 9 Set's aerial not only was quite thick but also it was set in an non-flexible base. The result, especially when pennants were flying, the Vickers Light Tanks were easy to spot when advancing - dust and the mirage effect could obscure the tanks body but not usually the aerial. More importantly, when a tank is in a defensive mode (while in laager for example) the aim was to put her hull or turret down - even in the desert this was possible. With the easily visible aerial she was soon spotted by the enemy. Oddly enough, when the heavier tanks came along with 19 Sets aboard the practice of flying pennants persisted for quite some time - the unhorsed cavalry wallahs were slow to give up a traditional practice. As will be seen, RTR chaps also were slow to give up a tradition - thankfully, not one relating to doing battle in AFVs. With no disrespect to the many fine one-time cavalry regiments who fought in tanks, I must share with Forum members the never forgotten words of Lt. Col. (Bushy) Broom, commander 51st (Training) RTR. Ten of us, who had qualified as driver/operators, were paraded in front of the the COs office where he bade us farewell. First, it must be explained Bushy (so nicknamed because of the luxuriant growth above his lips) as most of the senior officers had served in the Tank Corps during WW I. During the many lectures we had at Warminster it was most obvious that the wearing of the black beret by crews of non RTR units was deeply resented. Anyway, after congratulating us he said: "I have some bad news for you men - you are being posted to the North Irish Horse, damned donkey-wallopers!" "Through mud and blood to the green fields beyond. It wasn't the tanks that won the war, it was my boy Willie."