Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Maps
- Illustrations
- Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- PART 1 THE MAKING OF A GENERAL 1894–1939
- PART 2 FORGING A REPUTATION
- 4 Friends, colleagues and conflict
- 5 Planning for victory
- 6 Operation Exporter
- PART 3 THE ARCHITECT OF VICTORY
- PART 4 THE POST-WAR WORLD 1945–81
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Select bibliography
- Index
6 - Operation Exporter
January 1941 – August 1941
from PART 2 - FORGING A REPUTATION
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Maps
- Illustrations
- Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- PART 1 THE MAKING OF A GENERAL 1894–1939
- PART 2 FORGING A REPUTATION
- 4 Friends, colleagues and conflict
- 5 Planning for victory
- 6 Operation Exporter
- PART 3 THE ARCHITECT OF VICTORY
- PART 4 THE POST-WAR WORLD 1945–81
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Select bibliography
- Index
Summary
Berryman's transfer to the 7th Division heralded both a coveted promotion and a sea change in climate and atmosphere. Not only was he departing the Western Desert for the familiar training grounds of Palestine but also he was moving to a formation that was socially and politically very different. For Berryman, headquarters 7th Division was a more harmonious and cooperative environment than the 6th had been. The higher proportion of Staff Corps officers in the 7th meant that Berryman was able to socialise with junior and senior officers with whom he had already established agreeable long-term relationships. The most important of these was with the 7th Division's commander, Major-General Lavarack.
In the 7th Division Berryman did not feel compelled to play the role of the ‘hard man’ or take the ‘new broom’ approach as he had in the 6th Division. As Commander Royal Artillery (CRA) he was a brigadier, he had his own headquarters staff, and his rank and significance placed him in a position equal, if not senior, to the infantry brigadiers. Berryman's status was immeasurably enhanced by the fact that when he arrived at the division he was the only senior officer who had seen active service in the 2nd AIF. He was also responsible for the 2/4th, 2/5th and 2/6th Field Regiments along with the 2/2nd Anti-Tank Regiment and a small headquarters staff; the Brigade Major Royal Artillery (BMRA) was his principal staff officer.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Architect of VictoryThe Military Career of Lieutenant General Sir Frank Horton Berryman, pp. 117 - 152Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011