Description
Object description
Ts memoirs (98pp) written by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gray Boardman MC MP, Baron Boardman of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry, describing his experiences of D-Day, the Normandy Campaign and the war in North-West Europe.
Boardman describes his childhood at Staverton Hall in Northamptonshire, as well as his schooling at Daventry Grammar School and Bromsgrove School. Upon completing his schooling, he describes his training as a solicitor in Northampton and attending Law School in London. Of note during this period was a walking holiday in Bavaria in 1938, where he describes 'the arrogance of the Hitler Youth and the accumulating power'. Then in 1939 he joined the Northamptonshire Yeomanry as a Trooper. He signed on at Daventry into "B" Squadron of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry. He was promoted to Sergeant-Major before attending Sandhurst to train as an officer in 1940. He recalls the awesome training and discipline from Sergeant Major Brand. The Sandhurst course included a period at the Driving and Maintenance and the Wireless and Telegraphy Schools at Bovington and at the Gunnery School at Lulworth. This was the first training Boardman had in driving and shooting tanks. He comments how in six months he managed to complete his training in what would normally take two years. After commissioning he re-joined 'B' Squadron of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry at Chiddingfold. His first squadron leader was Douglas "Mud" Forster - later to command the regiment. On one occasion in 1943 the unit moved up to Scotland and under the command of Lord Louis Mountbatten, trained and rehearsed making a seaborne landing on Scottish Islands. This was in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. Later under General Montgomery a massive exercise (Operation Bumper) was held across the Midlands in preparation for the invasion of Europe. Boardman describes how they exercised across the Duke of Bedfordshire's estate and zoo (today Woburn Safari Park) which resulted in the escape of some animals. They were introduced to the Sherman Firefly tank armed with 17 pounder gun.
Boardman was part of the advance party from his unit landing in Normandy on D-Day to prepare for the arrival of the unit under the command of Brigadier 'Black Harry' Scott on D-Day plus one or two. The landings were a success. He recalls the hazards of the Normandy 'bocage' country and how 'A' Squadron was damaged by German artillery during their first night. Due to casualties Boardman became second in command of 'A' Squadron. He describes the unit's action in the attack on Caen. He then describes heavy fighting in June-July 1944 during the battle of attrition against German armoured units. They finally advanced six miles south of Caen in early August, along with infantry from the 1st Battalion, Black Watch. The objective was the ridge beyond the village of St Aigan de Caemesnil. Behind was the Canadian Corps, led on the left by the Northamptonshire Yeomanry with the 51st Highland Division. The other column, which was on the right, following the same formation, was led by Major Tom Lovibond, the second in command of the 144th Tank Regiment. He describes in detail the heavy fighting on the ridge at St Aigan de Caemesnil. One of the events of the day was the destruction of three Tiger tanks and killing the German tank ace, Michael Wittman.
Boardman took over command of 'B' Squadron. On 9 August 1944, the Squadron advanced to help close the Falaise Gap as part of Operation Totalise. He describes being wounded in the leg during this action. He describes the horrors of the field hospital, being evacuated to Wolverhampton hospital before recovering at home in Daventry. He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery during the action at St Aigan de Caemesnil. He returned to his battalion and re-joined 'A' Squadron then stationed in the Netherlands. He describes the boredom of inaction combined with enjoyable leave in Paris. On Christmas Day 1944, he describes reinforcing Namur to protect from the German advance through the Ardennes into Belgium. They advanced to Marche where by then the German advance had been checked.
They trained on the Meuse for the Rhine crossing before moving to Calcar west of the Rhine. On 23 March 1945 the assault took place and troops from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Black Watch were landed on the east bank. He describes in detail driving the Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT-2) 'Buffaloes'. The unit was stationed in Zwolle, Netherlands to clear German resistance where it was on VE Day. He joined in with Dutch celebrations. He describes in detail being stationed at Wolfenbuttol in Germany up until demobilisation in autumn 1945. By then he was promoted to Second in Command of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry.
He describes his successful career as a solicitor before becoming a Conservative MP for Leicester South-West in 1964. He was re-elected to parliament in 1966. He became Minister of Industry as well as being a member of the Conservative Party's '1922 Committee'. He describes in detail the Oil Crises of the 1970s, as well as relations between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Miners. In 1974 he became Chief Secretary to the Treasury, although he lost his seat during the General Election of that year.
Also folder of original ms transcript and notes.
Content description
Ts memoirs (98pp) written by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gray Boardman MC MP, Baron Boardman of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry, describing his experiences of D-Day, the Normandy Campaign and the war in North-West Europe.
Boardman describes his childhood at Staverton Hall in Northamptonshire, as well as his schooling at Daventry Grammar School and Bromsgrove School. Upon completing his schooling, he describes his training as a solicitor in Northampton and attending Law School in London. Of note during this period was a walking holiday in Bavaria in 1938, where he describes 'the arrogance of the Hitler Youth and the accumulating power'. Then in 1939 he joined the Northamptonshire Yeomanry as a Trooper. He signed on at Daventry into "B" Squadron of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry. He was promoted to Sergeant-Major before attending Sandhurst to train as an officer in 1940. He recalls the awesome training and discipline from Sergeant Major Brand. The Sandhurst course included a period at the Driving and Maintenance and the Wireless and Telegraphy Schools at Bovington and at the Gunnery School at Lulworth. This was the first training Boardman had in driving and shooting tanks. He comments how in six months he managed to complete his training in what would normally take two years. After commissioning he re-joined 'B' Squadron of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry at Chiddingfold. His first squadron leader was Douglas "Mud" Forster - later to command the regiment. On one occasion in 1943 the unit moved up to Scotland and under the command of Lord Louis Mountbatten, trained and rehearsed making a seaborne landing on Scottish Islands. This was in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. Later under General Montgomery a massive exercise (Operation Bumper) was held across the Midlands in preparation for the invasion of Europe. Boardman describes how they exercised across the Duke of Bedfordshire's estate and zoo (today Woburn Safari Park) which resulted in the escape of some animals. They were introduced to the Sherman Firefly tank armed with 17 pounder gun.
Boardman was part of the advance party from his unit landing in Normandy on D-Day to prepare for the arrival of the unit under the command of Brigadier 'Black Harry' Scott on D-Day plus one or two. The landings were a success. He recalls the hazards of the Normandy 'bocage' country and how 'A' Squadron was damaged by German artillery during their first night. Due to casualties Boardman became second in command of 'A' Squadron. He describes the unit's action in the attack on Caen. He then describes heavy fighting in June-July 1944 during the battle of attrition against German armoured units. They finally advanced six miles south of Caen in early August, along with infantry from the 1st Battalion, Black Watch. The objective was the ridge beyond the village of St Aigan de Caemesnil. Behind was the Canadian Corps, led on the left by the Northamptonshire Yeomanry with the 51st Highland Division. The other column, which was on the right, following the same formation, was led by Major Tom Lovibond, the second in command of the 144th Tank Regiment. He describes in detail the heavy fighting on the ridge at St Aigan de Caemesnil. One of the events of the day was the destruction of three Tiger tanks and killing the German tank ace, Michael Wittman.
Boardman took over command of 'B' Squadron. On 9 August 1944, the Squadron advanced to help close the Falaise Gap as part of Operation Totalise. He describes being wounded in the leg during this action. He describes the horrors of the field hospital, being evacuated to Wolverhampton hospital before recovering at home in Daventry. He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery during the action at St Aigan de Caemesnil. He returned to his battalion and re-joined 'A' Squadron then stationed in the Netherlands. He describes the boredom of inaction combined with enjoyable leave in Paris. On Christmas Day 1944, he describes reinforcing Namur to protect from the German advance through the Ardennes into Belgium. They advanced to Marche where by then the German advance had been checked.
They trained on the Meuse for the Rhine crossing before moving to Calcar west of the Rhine. On 23 March 1945 the assault took place and troops from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Black Watch were landed on the east bank. He describes in detail driving the Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT-2) 'Buffaloes'. The unit was stationed in Zwolle, Netherlands to clear German resistance where it was on VE Day. He joined in with Dutch celebrations. He describes in detail being stationed at Wolfenbuttol in Germany up until demobilisation in autumn 1945. By then he was promoted to Second in Command of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry.
He describes his successful career as a solicitor before becoming a Conservative MP for Leicester South-West in 1964. He was re-elected to parliament in 1966. He became Minister of Industry as well as being a member of the Conservative Party's '1922 Committee'. He describes in detail the Oil Crises of the 1970s, as well as relations between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Miners. In 1974 he became Chief Secretary to the Treasury, although he lost his seat during the General Election of that year.
Also folder of original ms transcript and notes.
