Based upon information gleaned from my records and additional sources, these pages relate to the various Churchill Marks that saw service with the Regiment, when they were received and details of tactics employed in seven of the nineteen actions for which the Regiment was awarded a Battle Honour. The seven actions are, in North Africa, Hunt's Gap, Djebel Rmel, Longstop Hill and in Italy, Hitler Line, Advance to Florence, Gothic Line and Valli di Comacchio. These Battle Honours, except for the last mentioned, are on the Regimental Guidon. Five of the actions serve to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Dawnay Doctrine (my terminology) as later described in the section headed Deployment and Tactics

While every endeavour has been made to ensure the accuracy of what has been written, the responsibility for any errors that may be found is mine alone.

December 1941 saw major changes in the affairs of the North Irish Horse. Lieutenant Colonel (Later Major General) David Dawnay assumed command and, having left their Valentines behind in Northern Ireland, the Regiment moved to Westbury, Wiltshire, England to become the senior of 34th Army Tank Brigade's regiments. The stay in Westbury was a short one as, just a few weeks later, the Regiment moved to nearby Ogbourne St.George there to take delivery of Reworked Churchill Mark Is.

A North Irish Horse Churchill Mk I - Reworked
in Action Longstop Hill, Tunisia

As mentioned in the narrative, I arrived shortly afterwards to join the crew of HQF Troop's Bangor to see her name on the louvres with Brigade and Regimental insignia proudly displayed fore and aft. A few days later, she and several other Churchills were loaded aboard War Flats heading for the AFV Firing Ranges located near Castle Martin, on the coast of South Wales.

At the conclusion of the firing practices, each Troop Leader was asked the reaction of their turret crews to the weaponry. Two major criticisms were voiced. One, although the crews which had come from Northern Ireland were familiar with the 2-pdr gun, the responsibility to also load the BESA machine-gun, in addition to their other duties, was felt to be excessive. Two, the value of the 3-inch bow mounted howitzer, with its limited field of view, appeared to be minimal, particularly as it required a commander to manouevre his tank into a precise firing position, not the easiest of tasks when battened down. Additionally, when in a hull-down defensive position registering a hit, even on the range's stationary targets, proved to be impossible. These comments, together with some of less importance, were passed on to the CO of 34th Army Tank Brigade.

Effective 6th June 1942, when the Brigade became part of the newly fomed 1st Infantry (Mixed) Division, the North Irish Horse changed insignia to that shown.