The Preparation Of Infantry For Battle by Maj-Gen Francis Tuker [1944]

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by Charley Fortnum, Dec 30, 2017.

  1. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I recently acquired a copy of this essay by (then) Major-General Francis Tuker CB DSO OBE [Later Lieutenant-General Sir Francis Tuker], until recently the commander of 4th Indian Division. It seems to be an embryonic pass at the issues he addresses more fully in his later books, The Pattern of War (1948) and Approach To Battle (1963). The physical copy is actually with my family in the UK, but I intend to ask for photos of both the Freyberg and Martel articles listed in the contents; let me know if any of the other pieces are of interest.

    Hope you find this worthwhile:

    Scan 1.jpg 01.JPG 02.JPG 03.JPG 04.JPG 05.JPG

    I attach also another essay by him that I have posted elsewhere. It covers 4th Indian Division's time at Mareth and is generally a good read.

    4th Indian at Mareth 01.jpg 4th Indian at Mareth 02.jpg

    As a side-note, can anybody explain why Tuker was nicknamed 'Gertie'?

    Edit: preview is showing these images a little to small--click the top right corner for full-size.
     
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  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Re Gertie
    Would it be a play on his name

    Tuker simlair to Turkey
    Nickname for Turkey. Is Gertie

    Just the way my mind works

    Also possibly a play on Gurkha


    Taxi
     
  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    o_O:wacko: now I know

    TD
     
  4. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Article 5 ‘Epic Fights IV’ about Primosole Bridge is of great interest to me, CF. I’d be obliged if you could post that?!
     
  5. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Will do so.

    May take a day or two depending on whether anybody is at home when I call.
     
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  6. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Many thanks, CF!
     
  7. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I have no idea how well covered this action is elsewhere, but my first impression is that this is excellent:

    01.JPG 02.JPG 03.JPG 04.JPG 05.JPG 06.JPG 07.JPG 08.JPG
     
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  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    On page 62 - is that a case of where the Germans where using a captured Sherman against Allied troops

    "As dusk fell a Sherman tank was seen approaching from the North. ............... When within 200yds it opened up of the forward companies, was engaged and withdrew."

    TD
     
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  9. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    It sounds like it--and sneakily as the turret was open and the commander waving his arms. That reads to me as if he was trying to dupe the defenders into believing he was friendly, not merely utilising salvaged materiel.
     
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  10. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Many, many thanks for posting the Primosole article, CF. I have never seen/read that article or extracts of it (that I recall) before and it is excellent reading. That said, I do have a lot of material/information about this battle.

    The article was published in October 1944 and the Durham Light Infantry units involved were still fighting in NW Europe - north of Nijmegen, on The Island. The writers (or is it the censor) are, understandably, very circumspect about naming the said units.

    The brigade is the 151st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division.

    Battalion A = 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry
    Battalion B = 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry
    Battalion C = 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry

    I did not previously know anything at all about the rogue Sherman tank.

    Many thanks again!

    Best,

    Steve.
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2018
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  11. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I'm pleased to have been able to help. I think I'm going to start hunting around for more wartime copies of this publication as the content is excellent--just look at the list of authors.

    This copy was bought pretty cheaply seven quid, I think, but the other copies available were three times the price.
     
  12. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Another good article from that collection:

    SAM_6180.JPG SAM_6181.JPG SAM_6182.JPG SAM_6183.JPG SAM_6184.JPG SAM_6185.JPG

    The Second NZ Expeditionary Force in the Middle East, by Freyberg.
     
  13. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

  14. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    A 'blue sky' speculation on the future of battle by Sir Francis Tuker.

    From India Quarterly Vol. 2, No. 4 (October-December 1946), pp. 346-352

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  15. Fatboy Coxy

    Fatboy Coxy Junior Member

    Just found this, oooh, gonna take a bit of reading, yummy!
     

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