Order of the Day

ORDER OF THE DAY

BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL P.H.A.BROWNRIGG, DSO

COMMANDING 61^st RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT, ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS.

MONDAY 5^th FEBRUARY 1945

 'Today after three and a half years existence and nearly eight months continuous service, the regiment is breaking up.

            The break up is due to one cause only, to the conversion of our Division, the 50^th (Northumbrian) – resulting from the heavy casualties sustained – into a training Division in England.  This conversion left us like orphans: for a time we continued to work as an independent recce Regiment, but though two formations were anxious to have our services, it was decided that with the Army so short of men, it could not afford a spare Regiment, however good.  This decision was made by the Commander-in-Chief himself, with great regret, after two appeals by Lieutenant-General Horrocks, Commander 30 Corps, and two appeals by Major-General Graham, Commander 50 (Northumbrian) Division.

            Though for ourselves it is a very hard blow, we have the comfort of knowing that we served the finest Division of the British Army, for the most critical months of the war and made the Division almost as proud of us as we were of the Division; and we know too that when Rundstedt threatened to break right through the American and British Armies, our regiment was called on, first to help hold the line, and then at the end of the operation the Corps Commander motored 40 miles through snow and ice to congratulate and thank you.  Our losses during this last episode in our history have been: - Killed 48 – Wounded 144 – Missing 23.

            So we finish our history with our name and reputation higher than they have ever been.  In achieving this record many of our friends have lost their lives and many more have been wounded.  It is a heavy price but to set against it, the Regiment have accounted for at least 5,000 of the enemy, of whom 4,000 have been made prisoner.  Without doubt many of the others that we have not seen have been killed and wounded by our mortars.  The balance is well on our side.  This result is due in great measure to the founder of the regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Mount, Bart. TD.  To him we owe our training and our fine Regimental spirit.  Many of us have found in this Regiment a greater comradeship than we knew either before the war or in other Regiments.  When we break up, let our contingents take with them that spirit to their new regiments.  In doing so, though our history is finished, I believe that you will continue to add honour to our name.

            Good luck to all of you, and thank you for your magnificent work.  May we meet again.'

P H A Brownrigg (Lt-Col)

 

 

Major-General D.A.H.Graham, commander of 50^th division, wrote to Colonel Brownrigg:

‘They have been simply magnificent, and although their battle history is not long as time goes it has been a glorious one, and every one of you can feel justifiably proud of all you have achieved. When much that has happened in this war is forgotten, the memory of your deeds will remain.  My heartfelt thanks to you one and all.’

 

(From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004 and ‘Only the Enemy in Front Every other beggar behind…’ The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946’ by Richard Doherty, Tom Donovan Publishing Ltd 1994.)