Hobart’s Funnies
THEME: - Second World War
Hobart’s Funnies
The Story behind how Major General Percy Hobart came to be the commander of 79th Armoured Division - the largest British Division in World War Two and its important role in the D day landings
TALK SYNOPSIS
The Allied landings in Normandy presented an immense challenge. Troops would have to cross exposed beaches while overcoming mines, barbed wire, sea walls, concrete defences and other obstacles—all under enemy fire. This talk explores the remarkable collection of specialised armoured vehicles developed to help solve these problems. Commanded by Major-General Percy Hobart and operated principally by the 79th Armoured Division, they became collectively known as “Hobart’s Funnies”.
From amphibious tanks and mine-clearing flails to armoured flamethrowers, mobile bridges and bunker-busting engineering vehicles, each machine was designed to overcome a particular battlefield obstacle. The talk examines how lessons from earlier operations inspired their development, how crews prepared in secrecy and how the vehicles performed on the Normandy beaches. Combining engineering ingenuity with the experiences of the men who operated these extraordinary machines, this is the story of one of the most innovative contributions to the success of D-Day.
.WHAT THE AUDIENCE WILL DISCOVER
The audience will discover:
Who Percy Hobart was and how he became to be commander of the 79th Division
How the 79th Armoured Division developed its distinctive role.
How the costly lessons of the Dieppe Raid influenced preparations for D-Day.
The formidable obstacles confronting Allied planners before the Normandy landings.
How specialised vehicles cleared mines, crossed obstacles and attacked fortified positions.
The experiences and dangers faced by the crews who operated these unusual machines.
How technical innovation, specialist training and cooperation helped Allied troops establish themselves ashore
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Typical duration: 45–60 minutes
Questions: I normally allow 10–15 minutes for questions
Format: In person presentation
Suitable for: Adult audiences, History societies and groups
Speaker Fee: £100.00
Geographic availability: West Sussex and surrounding area. An additional charge will be applied at 55p per mile for journeys over 20 miles (each way)
Equipment Required: Projector, screen and suitable audio. (
Adaptability: The presentation can be can be adjusted to suit programme timings and if required contain a short interval if you prefer - just let us know what works for you.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Graeme MacPherson is an accredited Member of the Institute of Battlefield Guides, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission volunteer speaker and an Army officer with more than 40 years’ military experience. He combines careful research with accessible, engaging stories about the people and places behind historical events.
INTERESTED IN BOOKING THIS TALK?
Tell me about your organisation, audience and preferred dates, and I will respond with availability and practical details.