TANK COMMANDER
From the Fall of France to the Defeat of Germany
The Memoirs of Bill Close
By Bill Close
These memoirs cover the military career of Bill Close from the pre-war years through the close of World War II. The story begins in 1933 when Bill joined the Royal Tank Corps because of the shortage of decent jobs in England because of the world-wide Depression. He trained at Bovington Camp in Dorset.
As the war loomed, his unit was prepped for possible overseas service. On the 21st of May 1940, Bill and his fellows were told they would be moving out at 10p.m. Bill, now a Sergeant< and the rest of the troop boarded a blacked out train for the move. They found themselves at Southhampton boarding a ship for Calais, their equipment to follow.
After being re-united with their tanks the moved forward to contact with the invading Germans. He was evacuated from Dunkirk after the German juggernaut overran France.
His next assignment was the North African Desert, where his unit as required to swap their new tanks with another unit. Bill and his unit were then shipped to Greece to oppose the Germans. After the defeat of the Greek and British forces, he was evacuated to Crete, again without his equipment. From Crete he managed to get back to North Africa, where he participated in the battles that defeated Rommel and the Africa Korps.
Back in England, he was part of the invasion build-up for Overlord. After landing in France, he fought his way across France and into Germany. During the course of his World War II career, Bill rose in rank from Private to Troop Commander. He had some six tanks shot out from under him.
This book is very captivating and you will find it very difficult to put down. Bill and his story will appeal to all flavors of history buffs. To the enthusiast who wants an in depth recitation of actual combat and its aftermath, this is your book. For the history buff who wants to get a feeling for the individual story of military history, this book is for you.
I can highly recommend this book to the general reader as well, the tale herein will hold you mesmerized throughout.
