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Old 11-02-18, 23:02
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2003
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Default Sherman V Crab, "DANDY DINMONT", Turret No. 15

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra View Post
LCT 737 "5 Bramble":
  • Sherman V Crab, DANDY DINMONT
  • Sherman V Crab, Turret No.2
  • Sherman V Tank, WOLF OF BADENOCH
  • Churchill AVRE
  • Churchill AVRE SBG
  • D7 Armoured Bulldozer
Sherman V Crab, name DANDY DINMONT, Turret No.15. Photographed while unloading from LCT 737 "5 BRAMBLE". It was nicknamed MEG II (white handwriting on the front of the left flail jib) by its commander Sjt Ferguson in fond memory of his first tank MEG MERRILEES (source).

It was one of the Crabs which made it off the beach, but was swamped during the first night.

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© IWM (B 11631)


While the name and WD census number cannot be read, the nickname MEG can be seen as white handwriting on the front of the left flail jib. This picture was taken in 1945 when the DANDY DINMONT was standing in front of the wrecked doctor's house at the Zuidstraat. Its flail seems to have been damaged, or partly dismantled. Its turret has been traversed to the rear.
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Later during 1945, DANDY DINMONT is still standing were it was left. Progress in rebuilding the village can be clearly seen: a narrow gauge railroad is laid in the middle of the street for transportation of the rubble and building materials. Many of the wrecked houses have been cleared. Meanwhile, the Crab lost it flail booms to the scrapper. The turret has been traversed to the left front quarter the the gun has been raised.
Zooming in on the photo reveals what must be its name and WD census number on the top left corner of the left hand hull side. It cannot be read, but with a little effort the turret No.15 could be seen on the right hand side of the turret.
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Circa 1948, it was photographed in Westkapelle with a young man on the turret. The turret has been traversed further to the left and the gun has been lowered. It's flail gear has been further dismantled and it has shed its left hand track. It has been moved to another location, as it is no longer in front of the doctor's house.
The Turret No. and name can still be read, but the WD census number is unreadable. Noteworthy is that the name is in the same spot as in the photos above. Construction details also match, so this must be DANDY DINMONT:
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