Ede, Holland 1945

[Jon McGrath]

As requested by MicS, I have scanned at 600dpi, the highest resolution on my scanner, and applied some filtering to attempt clearer photos of the census number, turret and, possibly, the name "DERIN". I see the census number as T148167 I can't see a name nor reliably see a number or numbers on the turret. Jon

Ede Crab census number.jpg Ede Crab turret.jpg Ede Crab census number additional.jpg

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Jon McGrath

I can't see a name nor reliably see a number or numbers on the turret.

I think it says “24” on the turret:

Ede Crab turret copy.jpg

(Their poor alignment above is probably due to me missing parts of the numbers.)

[MicS]

Definitely not No.94 WANDERING WILLIE as I suggested, which was T150569.

See New Sherman Crab?

It is clearly Sgt Leishman's Crab, destroyed on 17th April, and the same one as posted by Tolbooth on ww2talk and captioned as Bill Wyatt's tank:

I think this may be the incident. The Lothians A Squadron WD has this entry for the 17th Apr

"[A] Sqn, with C Sqn 141 RAC, assisted SWB and Gloucesters, Bennekon - Renkum. The birds had flown. Sgt Leishman's tk blown up on a mine and burnt out - four cas to personnel."

And this comes from the after action report of Lt Byth, 1 Tp A Sqn

" Tue 17 Apr 45. The Tp was to operate as a sort of roving column, clearing up villages on the left of the main area of advance, together with three Crocodiles and nine carriers. This force was called GUY FORCE. Progress was painfully slow because of numerous road blocks and ruins, but the task was successfully completed without any enemy opposition.

We reunited with the main body at Oosterbeck and pushed on, now leading on the main axis. Still the only opposition was ruins and road blocks. Finally we encountered a minefield, which had to be flogged. Sgt Leishman's tk blew up on two R-mines, with cas to his crew: Tpr Wyatt severely burnt; Tpr Deryck wounded in foot (later died of wounds); LCpl Roberts burns on hand; Tpr Chisholm sprained knee."

As for its turret number, I tend to agree with Jakko that it might be 24, but am still at a loss regarding its name, which could then only be ROB ROY (or ROB ROY II or III) or RED DOUGLAS (more likely).

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Great input guys, one big step closer to IDíng this Sherman Crab

[m kenny]

Seems to have been a lot of Crab wrecks in Holland.

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/r...8-003048976d84

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/r...8-003048976d84

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/r...8-003048976d84

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/r...8-003048976d84

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/r...8-003048976d84

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Those are the Crabs wasted at Walcheren Island - see the threads Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle and Tank Wrecks at Westkapelle, Netherlands

Originally Posted by m kenny

Seems to have been a lot of Crab wrecks in Holland.

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/r...8-003048976d84

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/r...8-003048976d84

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/r...8-003048976d84

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/r...8-003048976d84

https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/en/r...8-003048976d84

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by m kenny

Seems to have been a lot of Crab wrecks in Holland.

Those are in Zeeland, not in Holland

But yeah, see the threads Hanno linked to for in-depth treatment of which of those Crabs, AVREs, bulldozers etc. is which.