Salmon, Roger Everything Worked like Clockwork. The Mechanization of British Regular and Household Cavalry 1918-1942

The mechanization of British and Household Cavalry regiments took place between the two World Wars and on into 1942. This book describes the process by which many horsed cavalrymen were re-trained to operate and fight in Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) and the experiences of some of the men and regiments involved. Extensive use has been made of regimental and War Office archives, and particularly from the Imperial War Museums sound archives - the oral testimonies of soldiers who had experienced this huge change. A small number of veterans are, or were, still living and were interviewed by the author for this work. The reason given for the delay in cavalry mechanization - cited in some military histories and much influenced by the writings of Sir Basil Liddell Hart - was the reluctance by the cavalrymen to part with their horses and their technophobic attitude. This book tests the accuracy of this assertion, together with what was the availability of suitable and sufficient armoured fighting vehicles to replace the cavalrys horses. Of special interest is the examination of the historical papers of the tank manufacturers Vickers, held at the Cambridge University Library, regarding tank development and production. This story of mechanising the cavalry has been set against the backdrop of the social, economic and political climate of the 1920s and 1930s, and the pressure on politicians of the wider franchise and public opinion. In researching this aspect, the Britain by Mass Observation archives - held at the University of Sussex - have been most illuminating. The interwar impact on cavalry mechanization; the role of the British Army in general; disarmament; and rearmament are described - again with illustrations from oral testimonies.

A small number of veterans are alive or still living and were interviewed by the author for this work. The reason given for the delay in the mechanisation of cavalry - cited in some military histories and heavily influenced by the writings of Sir Basil Liddell Hart - is the reluctance of cavalrymen to part with their horses and their anti-technology attitude. This book examines the validity of this claim and the availability of suitable and sufficient armoured fighting vehicles to replace cavalry horses. Of particular interest is the examination of the historical records of the tank manufacturer Vickers, held at Cambridge University Library, relating to the development and production of tanks. The history of cavalry mechanisation was set against the backdrop of the social, economic and political climate of the 1920s and 1930s and the pressures on politicians and public opinion. In examining this aspect, the archives of Britain by Mass Observation, held at the University of Sussex, were very illuminating. The impact of the inter-war period on cavalry mechanisation, the role of the British Army in general, disarmament and rearmament are described - again using oral testimony.