Ede, Holland 1945

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

Nice piece of research Hanno !

Thanks David and Alex. Thanks to Ronald van Riet's heads-up the pieces quickly fell into place.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Now, where did the tanks come from?

The German Army used the French Char B1 in flame-thrower guise. At least four of them were used during the battle for Arnhem. See one below which was put out of action by the British Airborne troops at the Van Borsseleweg in Oosterbeek. Oosterbeek is approx. 17 kms. away from Ede.

renault-tank.jpg


Personally, I am more interested in finding out where the Sherman Crab came from. Jon, is it possible to make a better scan so we can read the census number? We may be able to find it back in Kevin's WW2 database of tank, carrier and vehicle names.

Sherman Crab Ede 1945.jpg

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Another possible search direction might be to determine what unit was using Sherman Flails in Ede and if Regimental Diaries list any fatal casualties, when and where. As for time, I would think 17 - 24 April 1944 would be a likely start point.

I have found a reference to a possible identity. One Sherman Crab was put out of action by mines at Doorwerth on 16 April. Doorwerth is approx. 15 kms. from Ede. I have to check which of the three regiments of the 30th Armoured Brigade operating Sherman Crabs were involved in this operation: 22nd Dragoons, 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons) or 1st Lothians and Border Horse.

ref. https://www.edestad.nl/lokaal/histor...bevrijd-698466

"On April 16, the Essex Battalion left Velp to relieve the Leicester Battalion of the 147th Brigade in the front line on the western edge of Arnhem. The next day, the two other battalions of the 56th Brigade first left for Wageningen. The Gloucestershire Battalion advanced with four mine-sweeping "Crab" Sherman tanks and eight Churchill "crocodile" tanks (flamethrower) via Utrechtseweg (N225) through Oosterbeek to Doorwerth.

The South Wales Borderer Battalion with four "Crab" flail tanks and three flamethrower Churchill tanks (tanks of the 79th British Tank Division) drove to Doorwerth via Benedendorpseweg and Heveadorp. On the way, both battalions were busy clearing mines and blockades, where a tank was damaged. From Doorwerth, the South Wales Borderers Battalion ran via Heelsum to Bennekom to occupy a front line on the west side of the village. These British soldiers stayed there for weeks." [Google translate]

[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.

[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