Ede, Holland 1945

[Jon McGrath]

I continue to be amazed by the detective skills of MLU members. In finding the story behind what otherwise might be simply a post-war photo of a damaged vehicle, you honour those who served. Thank you for your interest in my dad's photos. Jon

[David Dunlop]

Hi Jakko.

I think it is two different Crabs, but very likely the same Regiment.

In the first photo, side view, the photographer is standing in a roadway leading up to where the Crab is sitting. Look at the chain link fence just above the drooping gun barrel. You can see the top of the fence stop at the point where a slightly lower gate is located. This Crab was moving along a road parallel to the fence when it hit a mine. You can see daylight and ripped metal under the front portion of the hull where the first suspension assembly used to be and the top of the 2nd suspension is almost flush with the ground following the blast. The upper front slope of the hull also seems to lack the expected lines of a normal hull. The armour plate is flowing all over the place to my eyes.

In the second rear view photo, there is no trace of a chain link fence to the right of the Crab. Also, a large tree is growing just to the left of the spare chain rack. In the first photo, that portion of the tank is in full view at the intersection of the two roads.

My thoughts are the first Crab was a fatal event for the crew. The second crew were probably a lot luckier.

David

[Jakko Westerbeke]

In the second photo, the turret seems to be at a very odd angle, and the upper run of the track clearly slopes downward relative to the sponson bottom, which would be consistent with a missing suspension bogie. There also appears to be a road wheel lying just in front of and to the left of the tank.

I think what’s happened here is that the tank was blown up and then its tracks were removed by towing or pushing the tank forward off of them, which explains why it seems to be in a different location. In the photo from behind it’s right next to a tree, which isn’t in the side-on photo, but I would expect it to be just to the right out of shot there.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

I think it is two different Crabs, but very likely the same Regiment.

In the first photo, side view, the photographer is standing in a roadway leading up to where the Crab is sitting. Look at the chain link fence just above the drooping gun barrel. You can see the top of the fence stop at the point where a slightly lower gate is located. This Crab was moving along a road parallel to the fence when it hit a mine. You can see daylight and ripped metal under the front portion of the hull where the first suspension assembly used to be and the top of the 2nd suspension is almost flush with the ground following the blast. The upper front slope of the hull also seems to lack the expected lines of a normal hull. The armour plate is flowing all over the place to my eyes.

In the second rear view photo, there is no trace of a chain link fence to the right of the Crab. Also, a large tree is growing just to the left of the spare chain rack. In the first photo, that portion of the tank is in full view at the intersection of the two roads.

My thoughts are the first Crab was a fatal event for the crew. The second crew were probably a lot luckier.

David,

Don't take the location/ surroundings into account. This Crab was dragged from where it was knocked out to the short-lived museum at Ede.

[Wout Jansen]

Hanno,

sorry for the misunderstanding, but I see a letter W to the right of the turret (I think). A hull is different from a turret !!!! My mistake. I can't discover anything else.

Greetings, Wout

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Wout Jansen

sorry for the misunderstanding, but I see a letter W to the right of the turret (I think). A hull is different from a turret !!!! My mistake. I can't discover anything else.

Point it out with an arrow, please
I may be “kippig” (chicken eye sight) 😉

[David Dunlop]

Hanno.

I think I see the “W” now on the side of the turret bustle that Wout is referencing.

David

[David Herbert]

Yes, I see it now that I am looking in the right place ! It does look to me though that it is rather crudely painted so possibly after the tank was knocked out ?

David