The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II

The Reconnaissance Corps was charged with gathering 'vital tactical information in battle for infantry divisions'. The Training Centre was established at Winchester on 1 February 1941; with the expansion of the Corps other centres were established at Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire (No. 1), and Scarborough, Yorkshire (No. 2), with a Tactical Training School at Annan close to No.1 Training Centre. Eventually, the home of the Corps moved to Catterick in Yorkshire. Through this training structure, plus recommendations from units in action, the Corps developed its operational practices. As early as April 1941 one unit was suggesting changes in the war establishment of a battalion, as well as the replacement of No.18 radio sets, used for communication between company and platoon, with the No. 11 set. Changes to the numbers and types of vehicles used were also suggested.

In its formative months the Corps was well down the War Office priority list for weapons and equipment; units often had to improvise, but this was no deterrent to men expected to display initiative and quick thinking in action. The results were seen in some of the early vehicles used by battalions. Reconnoitring on the battlefield required a high degree of mobility which, in turn, called for many more drivers and mechanics than in a standard infantry unit. Relaying information demanded skilled wireless operators, and men to maintain their sets. Sir Arthur Bryant summarized the role of the Corps as being that of 'the cat's whiskers — armoured, mechanized, transmitting whiskers. Those who served had to be intelligent, enterprising, brave, enduring and highly skilled'.

Indeed, the public were given an impression of super–soldiers. The Daily Mail described Recce men as 'tough with cold, scientific brains behind their brawn'. Some press reports even suggested that the Corps might make the Commandos redundant, since its soldiers could march scores of miles in a day, without food, and still fight like furies. Even within the Corps there was some uncertainty over how it should function. One divisional commander declared that a Recce battalion had two roles: reconnaissance and protection, which required different tactics and could not be performed simultaneously. Fortunately the training programme began to remove such uncertainties as sound tactics and procedures were developed. The TTS at Annan was particularly important; it was there that officers and NCOs studied the tactical deployment of squadrons, troops and sections. Junior officers had more responsibility than their infantry counterparts, and were supported by a higher proportion of NCOs than in an ordinary infantry battalion.

Students at Annan also learned of the three conditions — coded green, amber and red — under which a Recce unit might advance. Where enemy forces were unlikely to be encountered the unit would 'move in green', travelling quickly along its axis of advance without searching the surrounding countryside. If contact with hostile troops was possible then the unit 'moved in amber', at reduced speed so that scout cars could do some searching by detouring along sideroads and tracks off the main axis. Where the enemy was known to be present the unit would 'move in red': close reconnaissance was necessary, speed was reduced considerably, and everyone was prepared for immediate action.

Both the vehicles and the weapons that the Corps needed to perform its duties were in short supply in 1941, and improvisation led to the development of vehicles suitable for training but not for action. These included the Beaverette, a four–wheeled car fitted with light armour plating and armed with a Bren gun. Bedford 30cwt lorries armoured with boilerplate and known as 'Ironsides' were pressed into service; the name Ironside was also applied to the Humber Mk I Light Reconnaissance Car (LRC), built on the chassis of a Humber Snipe saloon. These interim vehicles gave way to the Humber Mk II LRC, a two–wheel–drive vehicle that was subsequently modified to have four–wheel drive. The first 4x4 LRCs, designated as Humber Mk III LRCs, were issued to 4 Recce on 6 January 1942.