Shermans carrying Fascines on D-Day

[John Tapsell]

Strange question? you bet...

I've recently come across two references relating to Shermans in ordinary armoured regiments carrying "fascines" on or before D-Day.

1) In the 13/18 Hussars War Diary, there is reference to a trial in early March 1944 where the carrying of fascines on a Sherman tank was tried.

2) In the 27th Armoured Brigade Operations Order for Overlord (issued May '44), there is a specific reference to Staffordshire Yeomanry - "one Troop of the Reserve Squadron to carry fascines".

I believe that if these tanks were used operationally, they were normal, turreted Shermans.

It does however, leave some questions:

-Do they mean full-sized AVRE-style fascines or are we talking about smaller bundles of brushwood?

-Any ideas on how and where they might be carried?

-Has anybody found references to this practice being used in other (British or Canadian) regiments on D-Day?

The floor is yours...

Cheers,
John