This first volume of Iron Resolve offers a compelling and meticulously researched account of the 4th Armoured Brigade's preparation for, and initial contact in, the Battle of Gazala-one of the most significant armoured confrontations of the Second World War. Drawing from a wide range of war diaries, operational reports, personal accounts and previously unpublished material, the book traces the reorganisation and re-equipping of the brigade in early 1942 following its return from the Greek campaign. As British and Commonwealth forces in North Africa prepared for renewed Axis assaults, 4th Armoured Brigade took on the critical task of forming a mobile armoured reserve in the increasingly contested desert terrain between the Gazala Line and the frontier. The narrative follows the brigade as it trained in the deep desert, adjusted to evolving doctrine, and integrated reinforcements drawn from across the Empire. It details the strategic tensions within Eighth Army command, the shifting deployment plans, and the challenges of preparing for battle amid limited supplies, unreliable equipment, and ever-present uncertainty. Volume 1 culminates in the days leading up to and including 27 May 1942, when Rommel launched Operation Venezia and the Axis armoured divisions began their thrust around the southern end of the Gazala Line. The book provides detailed descriptions of 4th Armoured Brigade's initial engagements-highlighting the tactical decisions, battlefield confusion, and individual bravery that marked the opening of what would become a grinding and costly battle. Rather than focusing solely on tanks and tactics, this volume also pays close attention to the human experience of desert warfare: the endurance, ingenuity, and camaraderie of the men who fought in brutal conditions far from home. Lavishly illustrated with maps, period photographs, and diagrams, Iron Resolve Volume 1 is both a rich narrative and an authoritative reference work. It sets the stage for Volume 2, which will carry the story through the heart of the Gazala battles, the fall of Tobruk, and the aftermath of Eighth Army's most severe defeat to date. Essential reading for historians, military professionals, and all those interested in the evolution of British armoured doctrine in the Western Desert. 75 b/w photos, 16 colour profiles, 4 colour maps
