1st Hussars and Holy Roller & Perry Kitson

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Phil Cockburn, London's last armoured soldier to survive D-Day passes away:

https://london.ctvnews.ca/mobile/lon...away-1.4900488

One could say “Holy Roller” is now the last D-Day survivor in London... When old soldiers fade away, it is important to preserve their equipment as a reminder of their deeds.

London's last armoured soldier to survive D-Day passes away
Sean Irvine CTV News London Reporter / Anchor
Published Friday, April 17, 2020 9:46AM

LONDON, ONT -- The Forest CIty's last living connection to the armoured regiments of D-Day has passed away.

C5F12DE7-5AB8-4780-A8BA-5CA0E9EA0492.jpeg

Phil Cockburn was just a few months short of his 98th birthday.
Born July 26, 1922, he was on the beach at Juno as Canadians fought on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
He was a gunner for the London based First Hussars.
CTV News reporter Sean Irvine interviewed him extensively for two separate special features in 2004 and 2019.
In 2004, Phil revealed how fearful he was that his D-Day floating tank would not even make it to shore. Several other tanks sank in the rough seas around him.
Yet, the worst was still to come. Landing at the “Mike Red” section of Juno he was quickly in heavy action, and stunned by the scene around him.
“You wondered, is it real?”
Still his tank crew fired one of the first decisive shots of armour that morning, taking out a German position in a church tower.
“It was pretty rough, pretty scary,” he told Irvine in 2019.
Phil witnessed first hand the loss of life on D-Day, and expressed the mental and physical pain he still feels in both interviews.
When speaking of the friends he lost, he stated the bond he shares with them will never be forgotten, “They are like brothers. June 6 [is] a date I will never, ever forget.”
Phil died peacefully Thursday, his son Ray Cockburn tells CTV News.
However, he added his father “fought right until the end.”
First Hussars retired lieutenant colonel Joe Murray calls Cockburn the last of the greatest generation, adding he had signed up at just 17.
In later life, Ray says his father's “reason for living” was the young cadets he would frequently speak to.
“He would talk for hours, and the look on their faces, you could tell they were soaking in every word.”
In 2004, asked what we, as Canadians, could do to best remember those lost on the Juno Beach, he responded through tears and visual physical pain at the recollection.
“If [Canadians] are going to be in Europe, if they could just take a little time to see some these burial places. I think that would probably honour those men.”

[James P]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Phil Cockburn, London's last armoured soldier to survive D-Day passes away:

https://london.ctvnews.ca/mobile/lon...away-1.4900488

One could say “Holy Roller” is now the last D-Day survivor in London... When old soldiers fade away, it is important to preserve their equipment as a reminder of their deeds.

Attachment 114780

I came to the same conclusion about 25 years ago that as the ranks of old boys who answered duties call and served in whatever role to defend, protect and liberate the oppressed diminish the equipment will be the only direct link back to that period. It is, at least for myself, something much more then a "return on investment" or "property" in that the equipment, small arms and vehicles are history with a value that DOES NOT have a dollar sign attached. Each and every artifact of that period will grow in importance and continue the telling of the story that these men and women as they pass on and cannot tell to future generations.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

“Holy Roller craft beer launched to raise money for tank's restoration“

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/...ks-restoration

[dcrfan]

I don't know how I've missed this thread all these years. I've visited this tank many times over the years when visiting London for an international AFV conference. I'm glad the decay is being halted and it can become a true memorial to all those mounted soldiers. It would be great for people to see be able to seen inside in the future.

Paul

[James P]

The tank Holy Roller a veteran of the Second World War should be brought indoors, restored (and kept indoors) and given the respect it deserves. Anything less then a full on, top to bottom, restoration is just kicking the can down the road as it rots away from the inside out.

[Ed Storey]

I couldn't agree more.

[James P]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/londo...ndon-1.5975322

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Holy Roller leaves Victoria Park (June 2021):

https://youtu.be/qS2OX0n-VK8

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Holy Roller leaves Victoria Park (June 2021):

https://youtu.be/qS2OX0n-VK8

$70,000 to move and $250,000 to sandblast and paint?? And that's with volunteer help???? ?? Maybe I'm missing something but for that kind of money you could probably give Holly Roller a full restoration and maybe even get it running. I'm a little put off it's going back outside on its concrete pad, but that's just me.

[David Dunlop]

You’re not alone, Bruce.

David

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

$70,000 to move and $250,000 to sandblast and paint?? And that's with volunteer help????

Heh, and to think another Sherman is being restored back to presentable condition on a budget of €75,000, or about CAN$110,000 at the moment. I guess some of the difference may be explained by that one being done mostly by museum volunteers, with help to move it from the Army, but still … CAN$320,000 sounds like this one is being done entirely by commercial companies.

[James P]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

$70,000 to move and $250,000 to sandblast and paint?? And that's with volunteer help???? ?? Maybe I'm missing something but for that kind of money you could probably give Holly Roller a full restoration and maybe even get it running. I'm a little put off it's going back outside on its concrete pad, but that's just me.

No Bruce. It is not just you who feels that way about the fate of the tank. Thats a crazy amount of money spent for what end...........that veteran tank deserves better.

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

$70,000 to move and $250,000 to sandblast and paint?? And that's with volunteer help???? ?? Maybe I'm missing something but for that kind of money you could probably give Holly Roller a full restoration and maybe even get it running. I'm a little put off it's going back outside on its concrete pad, but that's just me.

Bruce: if we accept your interpretation of cost estimates presented in the video:
CAD $70,000.00 to move it... is that one way to the shop?
CAD $250,000.00 for refurbishment by volunteer staff and students at Fanshawe College. . .

the video may have done more fund raiser damage than good.

How alarming it is to see the disparity of commercial interests between different countries. I wager in a country that was liberated during WWII, an opportunity to participate in such an event may not be financially motivated.

Perhaps someone at the project could explain the cost estimates in terms such as time and materials? Perry? Gordon?

If the current information is accurate, I am less motivated to financially support such disbursements.


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