Take these men - Cyril Joly. Desert Rats.

Hard cover book in very good condition, with dust jacket good.

1955.   357 Bl'e.

 Take These Men, is a "lightly fictionalized" account of Joly's own experiences serving with the 7th Armored Division in North Africa.

Joly does a terrific job of describing both the routines of daily life of the tankers in the desert and their harrowing experiences of battle.  There are vivid descriptions of varied types of engagements, and the author also touches upon the roles played in the campaign by armored cars, anti-tank guns, infantry, supply units, artillery, etc.  We learn all about the physical conditions and psychological stresses endured by the fighting men, and about their relationships with each other; those between officers, and between officers and enlisted men.  Deep friendships can quickly grow among personnel who spend their time crammed together, travelling in, maintaining and fighting in the same tank.