This country is at war with Germany.

We shall go on to the end.

I remember the sheets of flame which came up and almost blinded us from our guns.

In this episode of the World War II podcast, we're going to be looking at the Essex Yeomanry and their role in the Second World War.

With a history stretching back to the late 18th century, the regiment had seen action in the First World War, but in World War II they found themselves in the thick of the fighting once again.

From the Western Desert and the Italian campaign to the beaches of Normandy and the advance into Germany,

the Essex Yeomanry played a part in some of the war's most crucial battle.

I'm Angus Wallace and today my guest is Stephen Keohane, author of Shield and Protect,

an illustrated history of the Essex Yeomanry.

Drawing on extensive archival research and first-hand accounts, his book explores the regiment's experiences and the challenges they face as they transitioned from their cavalry routes

to modern mechanised warfare.

Stephen joined the Royal Wessex Yeomanry in 1994

and served as the regimental medical officer for 22 years

in the Royal Gloucestershire Hazar and Royal Wilkshire Yeomanry Squadrons.

Welcome, Stephen.

So in the wide sweep of the war, individual county

regiments in Britain, I tend to think get overlooked in the discussion of army groups and divisions.

But the British army is made up of regiments and these were traditionally drawn from specific

localities, which can make them distinctively regional.

So when were the Essex Yeomanry first formed?

They were formed in the late 1700s as a response to the threat of invasion from France.

They were formed along county lines.

...