I have just finished this newly published book. If you read only one history of the NW European Campaign this year, make it this one.
David Render joined the Sherwood Rangers Armoured Regiment which formed part of 8th Armoured Brigade just after D Day and served throughout the rest of the war in Europe as 2nd Lieutenant commander of 5 Troop in A Squadron. At that time 90% of troop leaders became casualties within two weeks. After the war, General Horrocks, commander of XXX Corps said that the Sherwood Rangers saw more fighting than any other unit in the British Army. And yet, thanks to generous helpings of good fortune, Render survived - becoming known as 'the inevitable Mr Render' The Sherwood Rangers operated with most of the infantry divisions of the British Army during the campaign and also supported 82 and 101 Airborne during Market Garden and 84 US Infantry Division during the battles around Geilenkirchen so there is much to interest both British and US readers.
As well as fascinating insights into sub-unit tactics, such as how to advance through the bocage, what to do with your Fireflies and how to deal with Tigers and Panthers Render is frank in his assessments of some senior commanders. He recounts a briefing by Montgomery to a crowd of 21st Army Group officers in Brussels being greeted with catcalls and jeers when he waffled about what 'we' were going to do next and he describes GOC of 43rd Infantry division Gen Ivor Thomas (and known to Render's regiment as 'Von Thoma' because his officers were more scared of him than the Germans) as a 'Sh1t'. He is frank about the effects of battle fatigue on officers and men as the war dragged to its conclusion and the last bloody battles were fought in March and April of '45.
The book is ably co-written by Stuart Tootal so that unlike some other veterans' stories the book reads well and follows a clear narrative.