Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. The UK currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside of the EMU for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. Regional assemblies with varying degrees of power opened in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 1999. - US CIA World Factbook.

WW2 Royal Tank Corps Badge - Contribution by Gerry Chester
THE GOSPEL OF THE ROYAL ARMORED CORPS


1.In the beginning there was the mud, the trenches and the barbed wire, and the greatest scourge of all—the machine gun. This made the cavalry sore afraid and they prayed for redemption, but redemption was not at hand.

2. The dashing people retired from the field of battle and prayed to their strange gods – saber, lance and carbine and made obeisance to their great god of victory HORSE, praying for deliverance.

3. Their cries not fall on deaf ears, for from the west came a chosen people worshippers of new and potent gods, Firepower, Armor and Mobility, the minor deities of the truly great god TANK.

4. The chosen people a kindly and Christian people, heeded the cries of the cavalry and smote their enemies and drove them from the battlefield.

5. Many were the prayers given onto the chosen people and their god of gods TANK who had brought deliverance onto the cavalry, the dashing people.

6. But the dashing people turned from the god TANK and their gratitude was soon forgot and they turned to their former gods, saber, lance, carbine and HORSE.

7. But the chosen people sent out missionaries to spread the word of the god TANK, and eventually some of the dashing people heeded the word and followed the path of righteousness, and prayed to TANK and were converted.

8. First among the dashing people were the tribe of the Cherry Trousers and they were greatly honored for seeing the light and joining the chosen people.

9. But there were amongst the dashing people the unbelievers who refused to be converted.

10. But in the East there arose a great pestilence, Adolf, son of shitelgrober, and this made the Pharisees tremble and some of the unbelievers were converted.

11. The pestilence spread throughout many lands and great was the cry unto the mighty god TANK and the chosen people and some of the dashing people, smote him and drove him from the battlefield.

12. And the remainder of the dashing people were converted and made homage to firepower armor, mobility and TANK.

13. And the chosen people rejoiced and welcomed the dashing people into the fold and they all became as one and there is only one god and his name is TANK.

14. The chosen people now number many but the greatest amongst them are the ones who spread the word and converted the unbelievers and they are called TANKIES.

anonymous

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Last Update: Thursday, February 13, 2003