Crete
The Battle was a gallant defence of the island in the first big airborne assault of the war.
The Honour is borne on the Guidon of the 3rd Hussars.
Detail
A detachment from ‘C’ Squadron of the 3rd Hussars, with six Vickers Armstrong MkVIB light tanks, fought in Heraklion Sector in the defence of Crete against the massive German air and sea invasion of the 20th of May 1941.
Although fairly equal in numbers on land and sea the Germans had total air superiority and used it with devastating success.
British operations on Crete were hampered by the poor shape many units found themselves in after the campaign in Greece, indecision, misunderstanding, a lack of information (at least when the fighting started) and poor communications in the chain of command, both on Crete itself from Crete to Egypt.
Despite a spirited resistance by pockets of troops all over the island, after ten days the situation was hopeless and the order to evacuate was given on the 30th of May.
