MEN OF 7 TH ARMOURED
The reputation of The Desert rats was shaped by The officers and men of The Division who passed Through its ranks
PERCY HOBART MAJOR-GENERAL
Hobart is famous for creating three armoured divisions. at the start of the war he was sent to egypt to turn the ‘mobile Force’ into what became 7th armoured in February 1940. on returning to england he raised 11th armoured followed by the 79th armoured, equipped with the ‘Funnies’. He was not destined to command any of these divisions in combat.
SIR GEORGE ERSKINE GENERAL
“Bobbie” erskine led the desert rats during their drive from tripoli to tunis and their short campaign in italy. He also commanded them in the wake of operation overlord. Following the division’s mauling at Villers-bocage he was sacked. However, erskine’s career did not come to an end as he became Cinc east africa during the Kenyan mau mau rising.
GERALD VERNEY MAJOR GENERAL
monty appointed Verney as erskine’s replacement and he took command on 4 august 1944 just as the German defence was collapsing. Verney was warned about the desert rats’ rather slack discipline but he soon had the division “firing on all cylinders” again. He led the desert rats until november 1944 when he took over the 6th armoured division.
BOBBY BRAMALL SERGEANT
Bramall was another north african veteran. in tunisia he and his crew after they had a track shot off were trapped in their tank. He bravely led them to safety during the night. He commanded a sherman Firefly in 3 troop, 4CLY in normandy. For his gallant actions at Villersbocage he was awarded the military medal.
BILL COTTON LIEUTENANT
Cotton famously set fire to tank ace michael Wittmann’s abandoned tiger at Villers-bocage. Using a petrol can and some blankets he and sergeant Bramall calmly set out to destroy three panzers left in the town centre. as it was raining he used an umbrella as they went from tank to tank dousing them and setting each alight.
STAN LOCKWOOD SERGEANT
Lockwood with the 4CLY was also a Firefly commander who served with the desert rats in normandy and tangled with Wittmann. He and Bramall were not impressed by the British built Cromwell tanks issued to the rats, which they felt was no improvement on the american shermans they left in italy.