Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle

[Hanno Spoelstra]

A very good source of film is IWM Catalogue number COI 495 "WALCHEREN LANDINGS [Allocated Title]"

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060021679

Object description

Unedited film of Marine commandos and Norwegian troops attacking Westkapelle, Walcheren.

Full description

The correct sequence is distorted but the film features: 1. LCTs at sea, with some enemy shellfire landing about them. Naval vessels in the background. 2. LCTs disembarking troops and armoured equipment. 3. Troops advancing through sand dunes towards a burning house, whence come Germans carrying a flag of surrender. 4. Sherman tanks in action in the town, and being reloaded from a tracked supply vehicle. 5. Soldiers advancing warily through the town. They pass a Churchill. 6. Troops dug in and advancing in mutual support through a sparse wood. 7. A Typhoon circling over a wood - strafing and rocket attack. 8. Columns of surrendered German troops - one smiles into the camera, a German delaying to pick up his kit is gestured at with a gun. 9. Local populace greeting soldiers and parading and hoisting the Belgian flag. Other clips include: German notices warning of mines; a bunker called "Waldfrieden"; British troops relaxing and drinking from a water bottle; a soldier on a stretcher and one lying dead; armoured Red Cross vehicles; the Norwegian flag among troops' baggage, and rigged over a burnt-out vehicle; men with radio equipment; a Thompson SMG being field stripped; Bren gun firing; and a soldier firing and loading a captured Dreyse MG13.

It contains a lot of footage of the AFVs landing on the beach, and in action further north towards Domburg and the Black Hut area.

Some stills attached of one of the two AVREs which continued in operation. It was apparently named "MINOTAUR" and was part of the load of "CHERRY LCT 6".

43636891_2277137835864955_7146516394438295552_o.jpg 44889679_2277135945865144_6652103360168067072_o.jpg 44907349_2277135439198528_8264022745478594560_o.jpg 44880903_2277135105865228_4805442137862701056_o.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some more stills from the films listed above:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Sherman V, T-148829?, name WOLF OF BADENOCH, Turret No.10 was one of 1st Lothians and Border Yeomanry, A-sqn HQ's tanks. It was commanded by Major D.R.R. Pocock who was the Squadron OC. It did get ashore and gave sterling service to the Commando forces.

WOLF OF BADENOCH being resupplied at Domburg:
025021.jpg

WOLF OF BADENOCH driving trough Domburg:
025026.jpg 025046.jpg

Last two stills show Sherman V, T-147976, "COCK O'THE NORTH", Turret No. 11, of "A" Sqn HQ,
and WOLF OF BADENOCH, Turret No.10, in action in the dunes around Domburg:
025053.jpg 025041.jpg

[david moore]

This may be getting too much off subject - but as an anorak regarding British steam railway locomotives (as well as green vehicles!) the names on several of the tanks in this thread rang a bell with me. They are the names on some of the then latest express engines of the London & North Eastern Railway that served eastern Scotland from Kings Cross, London pre-war. Wolf of Badenoch and Cock O' The North were the latest P2 streamliners (see photo). Dandy Dinmont was a famous engine too. I'll bet the guys serving in the regiment were ex-railway staff - or maybe had just been keen trainspotters like so many Brit kids.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by david moore

This may be getting too much off subject - but as an anorak regarding British steam railway locomotives (as well as green vehicles!) the names on several of the tanks in this thread rang a bell with me. They are the names on some of the then latest express engines of the London & North Eastern Railway that served eastern Scotland from Kings Cross, London pre-war. Wolf of Badenoch and Cock O' The North were the latest P2 streamliners (see photo). Dandy Dinmont was a famous engine too. I'll bet the guys serving in the regiment were ex-railway staff - or maybe had just been keen trainspotters like so many Brit kids.

David, thank you for being a steam locomotive anorak (as well)! Always interesting to learn the source of the names tank crews used on their armoured mounts.

This begs the question: you would not happen to know a possible origin of the name "Argyll Roger", would you?

Thanks,
Hanno

[James P]

I have to say this is one great thread and study of the action and vehicles. What amazes me is when it was over the tanks where driven to a spot and essentially abandoned.

[david moore]

Hanno: So far no luck with the name Argyll Roger!

[David Herbert]

Race horse ?

David

[David Herbert]

Great photos Hanno !

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

Great photos Hanno !

Thanks David!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Some stills attached of one of the two AVREs which continued in operation. It was apparently named "MINOTAUR" and was part of the load of "CHERRY LCT 6".

While my primary quest is to identify the Sherman tanks involved in Infatuate II, I found some more pictures featuring the Churchill tanks.

Attached are pictures of Churchill AVRE T69114/B. It had the marking "A3" on the rear of the turret bin. It was one of two AVREs which took part in the fighting on Walcheren after landing at Westkapelle. It is picture here left abandoned in the Zuidstraat (looking West), Westkapelle, July 1946.

Zuidstraat - Churchill AVRE.jpg

This picture shows the Zuidstraat looking East. One the left side of the road Churchill AVRE "A3" can be seen, behind it Sherman V Tank WOLF OF BADENOCH with another Sherman V Crab behind it. On the right side Sherman V Tank COCK O'THE NORTH, with a Sherman V Crab behind it.

21752012_1458040220941624_1583149368045392923_n.jpg

The other two pictures show it was left close to Sherman V gun tank, T-148829(?) "WOLF OF BADENOCH" Turret No. 10, 1LBY "A" Sqn HQ, carried by LCT "5 BRAMBLE".

na-afloop-tanks-Zuidstraat.jpg 0441.jpg

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

A very good source of film is IWM Catalogue number COI 495 "WALCHEREN LANDINGS [Allocated Title]"

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060021679



It contains a lot of footage of the AFVs landing on the beach, and in action further north towards Domburg and the Black Hut area.

I was watching this film carefully today (should have done that sooner …) and noticed some interesting details. One of them is that the last digit of the census number of Wolf of Badenoch is a 5:

Wolf of Badenoch.jpg
(this is a still from 8:25 minutes into the film)

That makes the number most likely T148325 by my reckoning, though it could also be T148325, T148825 or T143325 (in descending order of likelihood, in my opinion).

Also, there doesn’t appear to be a name on this side of the tank.

[MicS]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

I was watching this film carefully today (should have done that sooner …) and noticed some interesting details. One of them is that the last digit of the census number of Wolf of Badenoch is a 5:

Attachment 114517
(this is a still from 8:25 minutes into the film)

That makes the number most likely T148325 by my reckoning, though it could also be T148325, T148825 or T143325 (in descending order of likelihood, in my opinion).

Also, there doesn’t appear to be a name on this side of the tank.

Great find of the last missing T-number of WOLF OF BADENOCH Jakko! I should also have looked at this clip more carefully sooner!

I believe the number is T-148025. See for example this photo:


No.10 '5 BRAMBLE' - rear right view - T14802x - FO039995.jpg

Michel

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by MicS

I believe the number is T-148025. See for example this photo:

I don’t think a 0 fits:

Sherman „Wolf of Badenoch” 31 juli 1946 B.jpg

There seems to be a “dent” on the left-hand side of the fourth digit that makes a 3 more likely than either a 0, IMHO (or, for that matter, a 6, an 8 or a 9).

I’m still wondering why the numbers are dark like this. My theory is the white paint has flaked off and either took the British paint with it, exposing American OD or British SCC 2 underneath, or the “shadows” are SCC 15 that hasn’t discoloured as much as the paint around it.

Then again, I would also love to know what the dark stain at the rear of the side plate is … I’m leaning to more paint from someone cleaning a brush, possibly a medium green (which might show up darker in black and white photos than an OD-like shade).

[MicS]

Yes, on that particular photo it appears that there might be a dent on the left side of the fourth digit, but none on its right, which would exclude the digit being a 3, and suggest a 9 or a 0. However, the dent on the left side is not visible on the first photo in my post #15 above:
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...3&postcount=15
where the left side looks continuous, and not really apparent on the second, so my bet is still on a 0.

As for the dark colour of the digits, I think it's just the white paint ageing. The 'T' and first digit are still whitish, while the remaining digits have already turned dark. See also the white outline of turret #20 in post #2: part of it has turned dark.

Michel

[MicS]

For the left side of the fourth digit see also this photo:


WOLF OF BADENOCH - 1128x1600.jpg

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by MicS

For the left side of the fourth digit see also this photo:

Again, I find it very hard to see much of the number in that. I can recognise the 4 and the 2 somewhat, but everything else is mostly blobs Trying to make it more readable in Photoshop doesn’t work overly well (not helped by rather high JPEG compression) but after playing with colours and sharpness, I’m inclined to agree that it’s indeed more likely a 0 (or perhaps a 6) than a 3.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by MicS

Yes, on that particular photo it appears that there might be a dent on the left side of the fourth digit, but none on its right, which would exclude the digit being a 3

Um … you’ve lost me there A dent on the left side I would consider a good indicator of it possibly being a 3.

Edit: Wait, you mean there’s no small indentation on the right. Sorry, brain not working too well today But if the paint has flaked off, then a lack of an indentation on either side doesn’t mean anything: if it also took a bit of the underlying paint off, you can get a smooth outline when first there was an indentation.

Originally Posted by MicS

However, the dent on the left side is not visible on the first photo in my post #15 above:

I find it very hard to tell in that photo. The number is more a smear than anything resembling a digit, especially on the right-hand side.

Interestingly, the name also doesn’t seem to be visible at all in that photo.

Here’s another picture, with all the white gone:

Wolf of Badenoch WD-number.jpg

I still see an indent on the left side that I’d say likely points to a 3 or perhaps an 8.

Originally Posted by MicS

As for the dark colour of the digits, I think it's just the white paint ageing. The 'T' and first digit are still whitish, while the remaining digits have already turned dark. See also the white outline of turret #20 in post #2: part of it has turned dark.

Is this a phenomenon I’ve never heard of before? White paint turning yellow, yes, but that’s usually indoors when the paint isn’t in direct sunlight. That wouldn’t be the case here, but is there something about WWII-era paints that turns white paint dark after exposure to the elements, then?