Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

LCT 737 "5 Bramble":

• Sherman V Crab, DANDY DINMONT
• Sherman V Crab, Turret No.2
• Sherman V Tank, WOLF OF BADENOCH
• Churchill AVRE
• Churchill AVRE SBG
• D7 Armoured Bulldozer

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.

One of only two Shermans left in battle-worthy condition, together with 2 Churchill AVREs, it played a considerable part in the Commando operations against the Domburg battery and also against the strongly fortified Black Hut area lying behind it. Between 2-8 November the two Sherman tanks fired 1,400 rounds of HE ammunition plus a large amount of AP shot. The accuracy of the shooting was outstanding, German guns in concrete emplacements being immobilised by shells fired through the gun slits: suitable tank positions were extremely difficult to find but fire from them was largely responsible for keeping down casualties to the assaulting troops. By 8 November the northern rim of the island was in British hands.

A Sqn Lothians tank at Domburg.JPG
(Source: [1])


After the Operation, it was left derelict in the Zuidstraat in Westkapelle with the other Sherman and Churchill tanks. In July 1946, it still proudly displays its turret number "10", while the hull side is adorned with random paint splashes. Could this be the result of a house painter cleaning his brushes?
More interesting is the WD census number which is harder to read. I deciphered it as T-148829, but would like confirmation from this or other sources.
af8aa57558f8e3cec7f88c146580eb227112f46dfcd61da963a64c255805e36f.jpg Sherman V No.10 cropped.JPG
(Source)


Note it still sports "5 BRAMBLE" on the wading trunking and turret no.10 can be clearly seen. It was photographed on 27 May 1947, by which time reconstruction of the village - which had been nearly obliterated by the bombing and flooding - had been started. Houses were reconstructed while the derelict tanks still lined the streets.
7f9c8fe9209482ba13289e922bc47872e6b079a125edc774fbe4bac01b350ce7.jpg
(Source)

[MicS]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Sherman V, T-148829?, name WOLF OF BADENOCH, Turret No.10 (...)
More interesting is the WD census number which is harder to read. I deciphered it as T-148829, but would like confirmation from this or other sources.

Great thread Hanno!

My take on No.10's WD number would be T-148028. The T-148x2x part is quite clear, only the fourth and sixth digits being more difficult to make out.

For the fourth digit, the following two photos should be of help:

The left vertical half appears to be rounded and uninterrupted here:
No.10 Gun tank - T-1480xx - gahetna.nl 900-4074.jpg
Source

Same applies to its right vertical half:
No.10 Gun tank - T-148028- - ZB 39995.jpg
Source

The sixth and last digit is more debatable, looking as it does like a possible 8, 9 (see first photo above) or even 0. On the last photo above, I see both its left and right vertical sides as uninterrupted and with a slight inflexion. The following photo is inconclusive, but still compatible with an 8:
No.10 Gun tank - T-148x2x - NIMH 2001_N0000048-09.jpg
Source

Unfortunately, I have not found any of these possible numbers (T-148028, T-148029, T-148828 or T-148829) in the 1 LOTHIANS War Diary. Maybe one of them appears in some other documents, as suggested by Mike above.

Michel

[David Herbert]

I see the fourth digit as a 3, and the 6th digit as an 8. I wonder if T-148328 shows up in the war diary ?

David

[Mike Cecil]

Do the Census No. lists for Brit Shermans still exist, maybe at the Tank Museum? These should at least define what number/number range went with which vehicle type (gun tank, flail, etc) which may help to narrow down the possibilities.

Mike