BRITAIN'S ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 50, 28 August 1939, Page 10

BRITAIN'S ARMY

THE FASTEST BRANCH

WORK OF THE SHARP-

SHOOTERS

This is a spot familiar to many soldiers who have taken part in manoeuvres during past years, wrote the military correspondent of "The Times" on July 30. For it has usually been one of the staging camps, where troops could rest for a night on the road to Salisbury Plain whenever the forces of the Aldershot Command have set forth to battle against those of the Southern Command. By contrast, the. troops now camped at Popham would be amused at the idea that a day's march should extend no more than fifteen miles or so. For they belong j to the longest-range and fastest-moving branch of the modern Army—the armoured cars. To them the advantage of this camp on the ridge near Popham Beacons, apart from its relative dryness as a camping site, lies in its convenient central position for carrying out mobile reconnaissances and raids which cover more ground in. an ordinary day's exercise than old style force would have been likely to cover in a week. The unit used to be known as the 23rd (London) Armoured Car Company (Sharpshooters), and as such j formed part of the Royal Tank Corps. The title embedded in the second bracket recalled its former life as a yeomanry regiment, before the post-war conversion from horses to amorured cars. Now it has just gone back to its former designation as the 3rd County of London Yeomanry, although officers and men are still wearing the Tank Corps beret. BLAZED THE TRAIL. The reversion is really an accompaniment of the progression of the cavalry in general into a modern mechanised form, and their fusion with the Royal Tank Corps into the new Royal Arm-' oured Corps. Throughout all these changes they have remained "The Sharpshooters," a regimental title which has become functionally more apt today than ever in their distinguished past. And at a time when the bulk of the cavalry hav^ obtained through mechanisation a fresh lease of life, these former yeomanry may pride themselves on having been pioneers in blazing the trail. Long before the armies of Europe recognised the accession of the new state of warfare, they could proclaim—"The cavalry is dead. Long live the cavalry!" j

Other changes, affecting the Territorial Army as a whole, and the nation's forces, are illustrated by the state, of strength and equipment found this year at Popham Camp. If the sharpshooters, because of their mechanical interest and Yeomanry tradition, were never reduced to such emaciation as were many Territorial units during the years of public apathy and official neglect, they have none the less filled out remarkably. The strength in camp under Lieutenant-Colonel R. K. Jago's command is some 30 officers and 350 men, which means that only a small handful have not come to camp this year.

Beyond that figure must be recokned their new duplicate unit, also filled up almost to war establishment. It is to be entitled the 4th County of London Yeomanry, and is to follow them at Popham Camp, taking over their armoured cars. And beyond that there is a waiting list of some 80 would-be recruits waiting for vacancies. As for the quality of the personnel, that is manifest to any observer. Significant indirect evidence is provided by the fact that the one difficulty in maintaining the unit right up to establishment is the drain of men who are receiving commissions in other units. The state of equipment likewise offers, in quantity at least, a striking contras to the past. There is a full scale of approximately 40 armoured cars, although their variety of types is so great that the vehicle park looks like a mechanical Whipsnade. I noted four separate specie, ?nd ten different sub-species. Such motorogenuity should at least help the development of versatility. Lorries and trucks, for the transport, have also been made up to scale, although some of the hired lorries look rather out of place in a martial setting. Further, there is a good provision of wireless sets, and these are all of an up-to-date pattern. NIGHT EXERCISE. Under such conditions much better work can be done than in former years. Recently a scheme was carri ;d out which involved the use of all three squadrons in a reconnaissance of the crossings of the River Test from Overton down to Romsey. Two days later the regiment went out eastwards under orders to locate and discover the route of a hostile tank force reported as on the move from the Fetersfield area to an uncertain destination, which might be Wimborne, Salisbury, or Tidworth. This tank force was actually represented by B squadron, moving at a tankrate speed. One of the lessons learnt was the difficulty of locating a medium tank unit when covered by a welldisposed screen of light tanks. Then the regiment was visited by MajorGeneral C. F. Liardet, commander of the London Division —the regiment itself is now one of the units which will make up the Ist Territorial Armoured Division, to be formed on mobilisation. Next, the regiment will go out on a raid to intercept a convoy from Gloucester; ! the exercise will continue through the night, and involves problems of petrol and food supply. Later the training culminates with a move to the New Forest to co-operate with troops of the London Division in an important exer- j cisc there*