#DesertRats

[whencyclopedia]

Desert Rats

The Desert Rats was the nickname of the 7th Armoured Division of the British Eighth Army, which first fought in North Africa during the Second World War (1939-45). Fighting in the Western Desert Campaigns and the North Africa Campaign, the Desert Rats, so called because of their jerboa shoulder flash, participated in such famous victories as the battles of El Alamein.

Origins & Name

The 7th Armoured Division sprang from the Mobile Division (Egypt), formed in 1938. The division was given excellent training by its commander Major-General Percy Hobart (1885-1957). Hobart had fought in Mesopotamia in the First World War (1914-18), gaining an impressive row of medals for bravery. In the inter-war years, he gained long experience as a tank commander. Hobart also served as a Director of Military Training. A quirky individual who struggled to get on with his peers, Hobart certainly knew what was required for the desert, and it is thanks to his vision that Britain had at least one fighting force that could match the elite of the Axis powers. Hobart's eccentricity and reputation as a flawed genius is revealed by his demise after falling out with the powers that be when the war started, his time spent in the military wilderness as a mere lance corporal in the Home Guard, and then his dramatic rise back to the forefront of generalship when he was given command of whole divisions again, including one of specialised vehicles he himself had developed, used with great success to clear the beaches in the D-Day Normandy landings of 1944.

In a still relatively new concept of mixed arms, Hobart ensured the Mobile Division combined infantry, artillery, and tanks, and it did what its name suggested, emphasising the necessity of movement in modern mechanised warfare. One of Britain's best commanders, Major-General Richard O'Connor (1889-1981), noted in 1939 that the Mobile Division was "the best-trained division I have ever seen" (Liddell Hart, 93).

The Mobile Division earned its 'Desert Rats' nickname from the badge (shoulder flash) its members wore, which showed a jerboa, a small rodent with a long tail, native to the North African desert. Due to the fact that all British and British Empire troops were fighting the same enemy in the same way in the same environment, the name 'Desert Rats' is often applied to any British/British Empire soldier involved in the Desert War in WWII. The extension of the term 'rats' is also evidenced in the nickname 'the Rats of Tobruk' for those Allied soldiers who held out during the siege of Tobruk from April to December 1941.

Desert Rats Shoulder Flash

Unknown Artist (Public Domain)

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[mangor]

... various desert rats looking for Nicholas Cage ...

[jenniferrails]

💙🤍 Happy Labor Day Weekend! 💙🤍

Hey, it's Friday, and Labor Day Weekend! Well, what and end to a summer, loved it but dang, it was crazy hot, and for the first time I can say I did see 115 to 120+ temps for a while (seemed like it would never end). For a while I just kept phone off, would over heat anyway. 🔥

Monsoon season ran a little late, (had a sprinkle here and there) but today had some heavy rains and looks like the same for tomorrow. Overall, I have to say, for the first time in my life, I'm looking forward to fall 🍂

Anyway, I hope you all are having a wonderful evening and three day weekend. Love you all and take care! 😘

[stahy24]

BMS — Bif Motherf**ker SUV #PostApocalypticArt #SurvivalVehicle #MadMaxStyle #ApocalypseArt #EndOfTheWorldRide #OffRoadWarrior #ZombieKiller #ArmoredVehicle #ApocalypticCar #WastelandWarrior #DystopianArt #MilitarySUV #EndTimesMachine #DesertRat #RuggedRide #ApocalypticDesign #TacticalVehicle #SHTFSurvival #PostApocalypticDesign #TacticalSUV #ai #mj https://www.instagram.com/p/CpqdrdwI85F/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wootusart]

Private Gnawson of the United Nestdom 11th Royal Tank Regiment. . Art from 2020 but updated with the lineart included this time for this week’s Flashback Friday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #desertrat #rat #ratart #rattus #ratartist #ratartwork #rodent #characterdesign #characterart #ww2 #worldwar2 #secondworldwar #boltaction #digitalart #digitalillustration #illustration #alternatehistory #paralleluniverse https://www.instagram.com/p/ClrpLXNKTTc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[spookcataloger]

"An Encounter in the Nevada Desert" by DesertRat (2013)

[visualreverence]

NASA DesertRATS (Desert Research and Technology Studies) program in Black Point Lava Flow, Arizona, testing technology for potential future use on the Moon and Mars

[art-by-ejsu]

Sketch of the day. My daughter requested a desert kangaroo rat. 2021.0719 Time: 22 mins Tool: Galaxy Note9 App: #artrage #art #artshare #practice #digitalpainting #artwork #speedpaint #desertrats https://www.instagram.com/p/CRiOLj4sh7M/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sennexd]

There was a party. #strangerinastrangeland #rockandroll #dancing #desertlife #snowbirds #desertrats (at Caliente Casa de Sol Resort) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5NtHAuAngI/?igshid=1xp75jojtikvy

[altruisticaffinity]

Ashley N Johnson/ altruisticaffinity (Instagram)

Left🌙

Darby Herrera /stellarnova95 (Instagram)

Right☀️

📸 🧚‍♀️ Danika Jacqueline / grandmuhh (Instagram)

[aussiejed]

A15 Crusader “Bulldog” of 2 Troop, B Squadron, Cavalry Regiment, 9th Australian Division. #desertrats #chainofcommand #boltaction #worldwar2 #wargamer #miniatures #paintingminiatures #tabletop #9thaustraliandivision https://www.instagram.com/that_aussie_gamer/p/BuAeElmncCb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qc2ix3qgw3mm

[mangor]

... the Joshua warp rift ...

[dharmaexpeditions]

Some times you have to let life turn you upside down, so you can learn to live , right side up!!🤙🏽#overhanging with the #wildchildcommunity at this new cabo crag. Follow up🔝 to stay tuned #bajaclimberssociety #desertrats #reservadelabiosferasierradelalaguna #boltingroutes #descubrebajasur #dharmaexpeditions (at Santiago, Baja California Sur) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt9IjRsgoC0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1c1glzbrnjwj1

[micheltaanman-blog]

Desert Rats . Motortochten door Marokko

Desert Rats . Motortochten door Marokko

5 Daagse tour in het Hoge Atlas gebergte van Marokko Ontdek Marokko op twee wielen. Dompel jezelf onder in de Marokkaanse cultuur, geschiedenis en haar prachtige landschappen en ervaar de Berberse gastvrijheid in het hoge Atlas gebergte. Geniet van de vrijheid van het rijden op een Docker Apollo, net zoals de ‘locals’. Adem de frisse berglucht in en laat alle zorgen thuis. Stop voor een…

[energywithshayrizzo]

Having a great time reconnecting while the kids enjoy the pool. We are the only ones with a sweatsuit on, lol. #desertrats #coachellavalley #rizzoed (at Town and Country San Diego) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQkNyGkjPkD/?utm_medium=tumblr

[kidcongopowers]

Lunch in Little Tokyo with Chris Campion and Misumi . A delight. #desertrats (at Little Tokyo - 小東京)