Page Three
First was the history of the Regiment. How it was formed in 1917 by renaming the "Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps" to that of the "Tank Corps". How, in 1922, it became the "Royal Tank Corps" and then, seventeen years later, to the present "Royal Tank Regiment."

Next, we were told how it came about that we were wearing berets not forage caps. It was explained that authorisation to wear them was given, subsequent to the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, when the Black Beret was awarded by the French Army as a Battle Honour. (Note: Some RTR sources dispute this claim.) One sensed, during this and subsequent lectures, that the wearing of the Beret, by mechanised Cavalry and RAC (Royal Armoured Corps) Regiments, was strongly resented and a bitter pill to swallow. The OC went on to tell us to never forget that wearing the Black Beret was a singular honour never to be taken lightly!

Following an explanation why are called "tanks" we heard, for the first of many times, the Regimental March "It wasn't the tanks that won the war, it was My Boy Willie." A slide show followed showing us a whole range of World War One AFVs including "Little Willie" - the first Tank ever made.

The show over, the officer went on to explain the basic functions of a tank. He had everyone's rapt attention, until he started to tell us that the final drive's task was to lay the track forward in order that a tank could "sit on it." The explanation that the upper section of the track travelled up to twice the tank's ground speed, while the section over which the tank moved was stationary, seemed reasonable enough. However, when he told us that a tank could run over one's foot without doing any damage, there were gasps of disbelief and a voice was heard uttering something about "legs with bells on." The officer was a real sport, he laughed, saying all was forgiven, but only because we had been in the Army for a couple of days!

When listening to lectures given by RTR officers, one became well aware how much resentment was felt against Field Marshall Haig for continuing his anti-tank campaign in the years following the end of World War One. When he articulated the common belief of traditional infantry officers, by stating that "I am all for using airplanes and tanks, but they are only auxiliaries to the man and the horse," unfortunately, his words were heeded by the decision makers - not so by the Germans!

Before handing the floor over to the Squadron Sergeant Major, we were told that we could now wear the RTR Cap Badge being admonished, once again, never to disgrace it.

"Pay attention you lot!" quoth the SSM. (For those first few weeks, when addressed as a group, we were either "You lot" or "You miserable shower.") He told us to expect six weeks of strenuous training, during which it would be determined if we were tank crew material, then it was home for a week's leave.

"Pay attention you lot!" quoth the SSM. (For those first few weeks, when addressed as a group, we were either "You lot" or "You miserable shower.") He told us to expect six weeks of strenuous training, during which it would be determined if we were tank crew material, then it was home for a week's leave. The SSM proceeded to describe the badge of the Royal Tank Regiment and, before we could wear our berets, the Troop Sergeant would check to ascertain if the badges were in the proper place. He concluded his remarks telling us the RTR Motto "Fear Naught", which is below "My Boy Willie" on the badge, does not apply to us while we were "being licked into shape" by both himself and his cadre of instructors! Thus later, after being inspected by Sergeant "Dixie" Dean, I was given the OK to wear the second of my five Cap Badges.

Open next page
or
Return to Narrative Index