HOLY ROLLER - was it a post war name?
 

Did not take notice of this before, but on Harold A. Skaarup webpage, the wording infers the nick name was thought up as a result of surviving the war?

http://silverhawkauthor.com/tanks-an...useum_973.html

Attachment 109092

The notion of this particular Sherman being a unique survivor may have already been on the minds of it's crew at the close of August 1944, as described in this pdf article:

https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcont...00&context=cmh

Attachment 109093



regards,
Jack

Hmm, interesting that the posed question is not being contested. Have just contacted the author of said web page to see what further he has to say about this.

On another note, I believe I have found which of the five crew members was the commander of Holy Roller, and that would be Frank E. White. Diary entries have his rank as Major, and his appointment as 2IC.

http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oo...657/74?r=0&s=6

This means his Sherman would be the 2nd vehicle in the RHQ squadron, and if it were to carry a radio call sign, it would be Z2 as illustrated here:

Attachment 109102

A very detailed breakdown of Armoured HQ can be found here:
http://www.ww2talk.com/index.php?thr...1/#post-290158


... but essentially this is what I used:

Tank 1
Lieutenant Colonel, Adjutant, Sergeant, driver mechanic, driver operator.
Tank 2
Major (2IC), Regimental Sergeant Major, operator RS, corporal driver mechanic, driver operator
Tank 3
Subaltern, Sergeant, driver mechanic, gunner operator, driver operator
Tank 4
Intelligence Officer, intelligence corporal, gunner operator, driver mechanic, driver operator

regards,
Jack

Jack,

There is a lot of research going on in London right now on "Holy Roller". Attached is a 1945 London Free Press article interveiwing LCol. F. White, who was 2IC of the regiment on D-Day. He describes how he wanted to name the tank "Hairless Joe", but was out voted for "Holy Roller", all before D-Day.
More confusion on turret marking of a "9" in a diamond when the tank was returned to London in 1946. HQ tanks would have been marked 1 to 4 as you noted.
The regiment had 63 tanks knocked out in the first 6 days of fighting, having received 23 replacements on June 9/10.

Perry, thanks so much for sorting that out. If Mr Skaarup replies to my email, I will have let him know he needs to adjust the wording of his article.

Thanks too for the newspaper clipping, and what a coincidence that Timmins is mentioned, as I'm from there too.

I've also wondered about that huge red 9 on the turret sides. The only 1946 photo I've seen is the one published in the Hussar book from the museum. No turret numbers, but just as bizarre are the two B squadron markings sported on the left side of the turret.


regards,
Jack