Insight into a Soldiers Experience

4th December 2003

I joined the 44th Royal Tank Regiment in 1942 and became involved in heavy fighting in El Alamain, North Africa with the Desert Rats resulting in the defeat of Rommel. After which we were moved to Rafah near Gaza in Palestine for a well-earned rest. Our batteries recharged we travelled over land to Alexandria, the nearest port and then we sailed to Sicily, arriving on D Day. Here again we encountered heavy fighting at Primasoly Bridge. We then moved along to the Adriatric Coast to Mount Etna where the steep, winding roads constructed out of lava rock proved too hazardous for our tank driver. Driving too close to the side of the road, he lost control and the tank turned over three times and landed in a field. My Tank Commander and myself were slightly injured resulting in both of us spending two weeks in Hospital.

We crossed the Straits of Messina to Italy. We fought all the way to Pescara then sailed from Taranto back to England and stayed in Worthing until June. We were instructed to pick up the Firefly Tanks with the impressive 17 Pounder Gun. On our return the mechanic asked me if he could take over the driving. We were going down an incline when the tank hit the side of a bridge. Unfortunately for me, I had been sitting on top of the turret. I was hurled in front of the tank and lay in its path, unable to move out of the way before it ran right over the top of me. Miraculously I escaped with just bruised ribs. The onlookers gasped and could not believe I had survived.

We landed in Normandy on D Day plus 2 and fought our way through France, Belgium and Holland and then into Germany. Our four troop tanks were lined abreast, looking over an anti-tank ditch. My tank took a direct hit from a 88mm shell, which travelled straight through the turret, killing all three of my tank crew. One of the crew lost his life as a shell passed through his chest setting alight his zoot suit, his feet jangling up and down with involuntary nerve action. Another had his head blown off. I drove the tank backwards and forwards for a few yards when another shell landed. I was slightly wounded in the right eye. I got out of the tank and ran over to my Troop Officer, Lt. Hamilton. We both ran back to my tank. He looked inside the turret and said they were all dead. He told me to get back to our own line. From there I was air lifted to Hospital in Bruges, where I spent two weeks

On 27th February 1945 I rejoined my regiment and we carried on into Germany until we reached Bremen when the war ended. Five days later on the 2nd March 1945 Lt. Hamilton was killed by an air burst shell.

My story can be verified with the war office or at Boyington Tank Museum.

This artical was typed and sent by my Daughter on my behalf.

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