The Household Cavalry at War

The Story of the 2nd Household Cavalry Regiment

Roden Orde, Eric Meade-King, Eric Meade-King

• Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
• Year: 2024
• eBook ISBN:
  9781399073363
• Subtopic: European History

The Second Household Cavalry Regiment's war was a short and exciting one, from Normandy in July 1944 to Germany in May 1945. In the vanguard of the Guards armored Division, 2 HCR, an armored reconnaissance regiment, was continuously on the advance and rarely out of contact with the enemy. Sometimes progress was slow and grinding, while at other times it was with exhilarating speed. Written shortly after the War, this book draws on the recollections of those who were in the thick of the action; the young troop leaders, their corporals-of-horse, and troopers. Roden Orde has taken great care to weave an accurate, balanced and readable account, the story of an entire regiment, from the commanding officer to the youngest trooper. This inclusive style was ahead of its time, with a narrative that has a contemporary feel to it. The story cracks on and Sir Winston Churchill later described it as 'the best regimental history I have ever read'. The book is well illustrated with many contemporary photographs, hand-drawn maps, and wonderful paintings and drawings, some of which have not been seen for many years.

Table of contents

• COVER
• TITLE
• COPYRIGHT
• CONTENTS
• LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
• LIST OF MAPS
• FOREWORD TO THE THE FIRST EDITION (1953) BY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR BRIAN HORROCKS, KCB, KBE, DSO, MC
• FOREWORD TO THE SECOND EDITION (2023) BY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR BARNEY WHITE-SPUNNER, KCB, CBE
• INTRODUCTION
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• EDITORS’ NOTES
• PART ONE: TRAINING IN ENGLAND
• PART TWO: NORMANDY
• PART THREE: THE PURSUIT
• PART FOUR: FROM THE ESCAUT TO THE ARDENNES
• PART FIVE: “VERITABLE” AND ACROSS THE RHINE
• EPILOGUE: THE PRESENTATION OF THE BRUSSELS STANDARDS
• APPENDICES