The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, 1920-1950. By Lieut.-Colonel
H. D. Chaplin. . (Michael Joseph, 25s.)
ONE of the regular battalions of The Queen's Own played an important part in the Palestine disturbances of 1938-39—an instance of that peace-preserving function of the British Army which has too often been overlooked or be- littled. Six battalions saw active service in the Second World War, with Lord Gort in Prance (five battalions), in Malta, the Middle East, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, the /Egean, Burma and Greece (peace-preterving again here); but not, oddly enough, in the invasion of northern Europe.
The style of this history is easy and pleasant and the arrangement is as simple as the diver- sity of units and campaigns would permit. The background is usually adequate, although shortage of space must sometimes lead to over-simplification; this may account for cer- tain errors and omissions in the assessment of the political situation in• Greece. As in most regimental histories, comment is sparing and criticism absent. All those associated with the regiment—and of course it was for them that it was written—should be well pleased with Colonel Chaplin's record of its achievements.
Previous page
