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.

• 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
  • WINDSOR AND KNIGHTSBRIDGE
  • BULFORD AND TROWBRIDGE
  • NORFOLK AND YORKSHIRE
  • BRIGHTON
• PART TWO: NORMANDY
  • THE CROSSING
  • OPERATION “GOODWOOD”
  • WAITING FOR THE NEXT MOVE
  • CAVALRY BRIDGE
  • BEYOND THE SOULEUVRE
  • HIDE-AND-SEEK IN THE BOCAGE
  • FURTHER CLOSE PATROLLING
  • THE REGIMENT AS INFANTRY
  • CHANU AND THE HEADWATERS OF THE NOIREAU
  • REST AND A HURRIED MOVE
• PART THREE: THE PURSUIT
  • TRANSFER TO 30 CORPS
  • The Pheasant Drive
  • “FAITH,” “HOPE” AND “CHARITY”
  • ALBERT, ARRAS AND DOUAI
  • LIBERATION OF BRUSSELS
  • FROM BRUSSELS TO “THE BLASTED HEATH”
• PART FOUR: FROM THE ESCAUT TO THE ARDENNES
  • “THE WIDTH OF ONE ROAD”
  • THE BATTLE TO REACH ARNHEM
  • OSS INCIDENT
  • CONTINUED PATROLS TO THE WEST
  • “SHAEF”
  • WATERSCHEI
  • ON THE MEUSE AND BEYOND
  • FAREWELL TO BELGIUM
• PART FIVE: “VERITABLE” AND ACROSS THE RHINE
  • RETURN TO NIJMEGEN
  • FROM THE REICHSWALD TO THE DORTMUND–EMS CANAL
  • FROM LINGEN TO VESTRUP
  • MOVE TO 12 CORPS
  • “WARDFORCE”, SANDBOSTEL AND “CEASE FIRE”
  • LAST DAYS BEFORE DISBANDMENT
• EPILOGUE: THE PRESENTATION OF THE BRUSSELS STANDARDS
• APPENDICES
  • APPENDIX A: PRISONERS-OF-WAR EXPERIENCES
  • APPENDIX B: DECORATIONS, AWARDS, ETC
  • APPENDIX C: ORDERS OF BATTLE
  • APPENDIX D: LIST OF FATAL CASUALTIES
  • APPENDIX E: LIST OF WOUNDED
  • APPENDIX F: PRISONERS OF WAR