Ede, Holland 1945

[Jon McGrath]

Hanno, thank you so much for your research. I find it quite amazing and fascinating what the MLU members can determine from such old photos.

Yes, I will try to get a better scan that shows census numbers, but it might not be for a few days. The original photos are in 3"x5" format and have become quite faded.

You mention a small submarine. I am quite certain that I have a picture of a picture of a small submarine. As I recall it is placed on two supports, one fore and one aft. I will try to find that photo, as well. However, I think I am in the photo and that it was taken sometime between late 1960 and early 1964, when my family was stationed with the Canadian army in the Ruhr (Hemer specifically) and during which time we made several trips to the Netherlands. I will see what more photos I can find, but it will take a few days.

Cheers
Jon

[Wout Jansen]

When I edit the photo with Lightroom, I come across the following number: T148187. Hopefully this can solve the question.

Wout Jansen (Veenendaal 12 km from Ede).

[Jon McGrath]

Wout beat me to identifying the census number. Here's an enhanced scan f the Sherman Crab. Unfortunately, I've not been able to find the phot of the min-submarine. Will keep looking and post it if I find it, even though this is an armour tread. Jon

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Wout Jansen

When I edit the photo with Lightroom, I come across the following number: T148187. Hopefully this can solve the question.

Thanks for clearing that up, Wout. Kevin's records (see link above) do not list this number.

A number which is close, T 148141, was assigned to a Sherman V Crab of the 22nd Dragoons, C Sqn, and was named BLENHEIM.

@Jon, please post any pictures you may find - always interesting to see and if needed I can move to an appropriate thread

[Wout Jansen]

After editing the photo, it produces this result. To the right of the hull is a W?

[Alex van de Wetering]

After editing the photo, it produces this result. To the right of the hull is a W?

Wout, I only see the census number, a spare track link rack and a very faint star. Do you seen the "W" more towards the rear of the hull.....possibly part of the tanks nickname???

Personally, I am more interested in finding out where the Sherman Crab came from.

Hanno, I only have a copy of the 1944 War diary of the Westminster Dragoons, so I am not sure if they were in the vicinity at the time (1945)...However, I am leaning towards the Crab being 1st Lothians, as there is a series of pictures showing crabs of this unit in Velp in the local archive, and because known 1st Lothians Crabs show the same storage rack for track links on the left hand side of the hull.....a detail you don't see on Westminster Dragoons Crabs.

The Crab also has a somewhat different attachment of the left side cilinder to the tank....the rearmost stiffening rib securing the bracket and cilinder to the left side of the hull is different from others I have seen.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Attached is a picture of a 1st Lothians Crab with the same spare track link rack during a display in Amsterdam 1945.
source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/d...&rows=1&page=6

141200.jpg


Also attached are two pictures of 1st Lothians crabs in Velp 1945, april 16th, 1945. See AoS "52". (note that the Crab on left in the first picture is actually a Mk2 crab)
source: https://www.geldersarchief.nl/bronne...ding&mif2=Velp

Screenshot_2020-12-19 Beeldbank (Gelders Archief) - Gelders Archief.jpg

Screenshot_2020-12-19 Beeldbank (Gelders Archief) - Gelders Archief(1).jpg

[Alex van de Wetering]

Attached is a picture from WW2talk, courtesy of James Nightingale jnr.

"Bill Wyatts tank brewing up at Arnhem"

source: http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads...y.13221/page-2

Judging from the bracket on the turret side this looks a lot like the same Crab as in Jon's picture. It's 1st Lothian and Border Yeomanry.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Wout Jansen

After editing the photo, it produces this result. To the right of the hull is a W?

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Wout, I only see the census number, a spare track link rack and a very faint star. Do you seen the "W" more towards the rear of the hull.....possibly part of the tanks nickname???

Originally Posted by Wout Jansen

If you put my edited photo on the hard drive, and you enlarge the image on your screen, I think you can clearly see a "W" on the hull. The number is also easier to read.

Wout, thanks for editing the photo.

But I cannot see anything legible in the area I outlined in red.

Sherman Crab Ede 1945-3_redlined.jpg