"CB" Fireflies

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by John McGillivray
Here is a close up of part of NAC photo PA132653. It shows two Sherman Fireflies at the front of a LCT. I wonder if these are the tanks commanded by Lt. Irving and Sgt. Lamb?

For: John McGillivray

John - these tanks belong to the Fort Garry Horse. You'll see I've circled the Arm of Service marking, which in this case is '52' with a white bar below. '52' w/white bar being the AoS of the Fort Garry Horse, who were Army Troops (2nd Cdn Armd Bde). Also, there sitting on the tank deck, not on a raised platform. See attached image.

Originally posted John Tapsell
The CB Fireflies are also recorded in WO171/102 at the Public Record Office:

"Six Sherman 17 pdr are being issued to 1 Corps on a priority, to be used in LCTs for concrete busting. These vehicles are to be manned by First Reinforcements of 27th Armoured Brigade and 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade. They will held on charge by 259 Delivery Squadron (1 Corps)"

(from Mark Hayward's "Sherman Firefly" - page 23)

For: John Tapsell

John - have you actually read or seen WO171/102?

Cheers