Tony becomes a 'Black Rat'

Anthony Rampling ends his time with 61^st Recce:

 “After the Ardennes we went eventually back to Izegem where we were disbanded and my brother was in a tank regiment and he thought it would be safer for me to join a tank regiment, which I did.”

 Tony joined 4^th Armoured Division, known as the Black Rats from their time in the Western Desert. He is pictured with his brother and sister-in-law on the 61st Reconnaissance Living History website . 

 

Tony, back right, in the Black Rats later in the war. Copyright Anthony Rampling.

 

“Most of the 61^st were sent as replacements to the 52^nd recce.  But I kept in touch with them after the war because we had a 61^st Reconnaissance Comrades Association.” 

David Cameron's grandfather, Colonel Mount played a major role in the activities of the association, which held meetings for many years after the war.

 From Anthony Rampling’s account of 61^st Recce (pers comm).

 

 

The Old Comrades Newsletter tells many stories of the future that lay ahead for some of 61^st Recce.  Like Tony, not all joined the 52^nd Lowland – Reg Harper of RHQ moved to 3^rd Recce and Captain Gordon Chapman, second in Command of ‘A’ Squadron, joined the Public Relations Service Unit and was in the leading vehicle of the British convoy entering Berlin for V.E Day.