27th Canadian Armoured Regiment at Authie and Buron

[MicS]

I do believe that this is a Sherbrooke tank, if only because 'B' Sqn in both 1H and FGH were all DD tanks, and if this photo was not shot on 7 June but later and this is a replacement tank, it probably would not have had the Sqn symbol painted on, or at least not in this nice way.

First, a close-up:


Next, two versions of another view of this tank, cropped slightly differently:


The above two photos stiched together:


A comparison with a panorama with CHASER and the two large barns in the background:


Finally, a photo shot from further away, credited to a German tank commander who claimed the kill (W. Kretzschmar in Pz IV No.536):


This of course is to take with much precaution, as are all similar claims, especially by SS men. The date however is perhaps less questionable, and if correct this would mean this is indeed another of the Sherbrooke 'B' Sqn tanks KO'd that day. This would also fit with the series of photos shot by a German KB on that day, showing BLITZ, CHASER etc.

The presence of a concrete pylon should mean that the wreck is either on a road (maybe the track behind the tank) or very close to one, possibly the road between CUSSY and FRANQUEVILLE. If the barn behind is indeed the one just south of AUTHIE, then the tank should be somewhere along the red line, possibly inside the red circle here - or maybe under the "German Gun Position" label?


One thing that bothers me, apart from the lack of a visible wreck inside the circle, is the treeline behind the barn. If we could see some trees on an extension of this aerial view towards the northwest I would be a bit more satisfied with this theory.

Finding out whose tank this is does not look easy, because so many Sherbrooke tanks were lost this day...

Michel

[m kenny]

https://remonterletemps.ign.fr/telecharger?x=-0.437284&y=49.196994&z=16&layer=GEOGRAPHICALGRIDSY STEMS.MAPS.SCAN-EXPRESS.STANDARD&demat=DEMAT.PVA$GEOPORTAILEMAT; PHOTOS&missionId=missions.4154553

[John McGillivray]

Originally Posted by MicS

I do believe that this is a Sherbrooke tank, if only because 'B' Sqn in both 1H and FGH were all DD tanks...

1H and FGH were the assault Regiments which were equipped with DD tanks. SFR was the reserve Regiment whose tanks were fitted for deep wading. SFR did not use DD tanks.

[MicS]

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

1H and FGH were the assault Regiments which were equipped with DD tanks. SFR was the reserve Regiment whose tanks were fitted for deep wading. SFR did not use DD tanks.

'C' Sqn 1H and 'A' Sqn FGH were equipped with wading, not DD, tanks, which means that on 6 or 7 Jun a wading tank showing, for example, a 'C' Sqn symbol, and only that, might belong to either 1H or SFR. Not so with 'B' Sqn, which can only be SFR (not counting the Fireflies used as CB, two each in 1H and FGH, about which it is not clear whether they carried a Sqn symbol).

Michel

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

1H and FGH were the assault Regiments which were equipped with DD tanks. SFR was the reserve Regiment whose tanks were fitted for deep wading. SFR did not use DD tanks.

The timeline of the battle was land in the afternoon 6 June. Get themselves out of the bridgehead, which was no small feat. Get past any cut-off German defenders. Get their orders. Pick up North Novies and push towards Buron and Authie. Harbour for the night, then continue south. The NNS and SFR are the only two units with the Authie battle honour.

In my estimation, there would not have been much opportunity to lose a Sherman, except through breakdown which would have necessitate a replacement. Was the rest of the regiment's echelon even landed by 7 June?

It is important to remember that even though the SFR lost most of its Fireflies and several 75mm Shermans, the 7 June battle was not the only action in that sector. I don't have my copy of the war diary at hand, but I recall there were several attempts and raids until the German defences were rolled up under sustained pressure 8-9 July. This month of less extensively reported action could be how a replacement tank ended up on the Buron-Authie battlefield.