Public Tanks

Discussion in 'WW2 Museums. Events, & places to see.' started by von Poop, Nov 26, 2007.

  1. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

  2. sailnfo

    sailnfo Junior Member

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    Here's a Tiger that sits just to the SE of Vimoutiers, France. Some 60 miles from the Normandy beaches. The sign in front of the tank said it was blown up by the retreating Germans after they had run out of fuel not far from where it now sits. You can see the repair welds from where it was popped open like an egg. I also remember the sign saying it was one of just a couple left in Europe.
     
  3. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    I don't know if anyone will be strolling through the streets of Ukraine... When I was in Simferopol, Crimea I found this one in "Victory Square"

    P.S. Why do my pics only come up as thumbnails?

    Adam, whilst I dont think you will be passing Minsk very shortly, here is one that is still on the streets there.
    [​IMG]


    It is supposed to be the very 1st Soviet Tank that entered Minsk
     
  4. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

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    With little or no support from the American or British armed forces for any venture to recover remains or dedicate a memorial to the incident, Devon resident and civilian Ken Small took on the task of seeking to memorialize the event, after discovering evidence of the aftermath washed up on the shore while beachcombing in the early 1970s.
    In 1974, Mr. Small bought from the U.S. Government the rights to a submerged tank from the 70th Tank Battalion discovered by his search efforts. In 1984, with the aid of local residents and diving firms, he finally raised the tank, which now stands as a memorial to the incident. The local authority provided a plinth on the seafront to put the tank on, and erected a plaque in memory of those men killed.
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    A plaque at the memorial at Torcross, commemorating those who perished


    Ken Small died of cancer in March 2004, a few weeks before the 60th anniversary of the Exercise Tiger incident.
    In 2006, the Slapton Sands Memorial Tank Limited (a non-profit organization, one of whose directors is Mr. Small's son Dean) are seeking to establish a more prominent memorial listing the names of all the victims of the attacks on Exercise Tiger.
     
  5. Pete Keane

    Pete Keane Senior Member

    I lived in Stoke Fleming for a good few years and saw the Slapton Sherman many times. Ken Small used to sit in his car next to it, selling his booh from the car boot, and displaying his award from Ronald Reagan. He wouldn't let anyone climb on it.

    The whole area was evacuated and used for d-day training, the 'Forces Tavern' and 'Normandy Arms' pubs in nearish Blackawful used to be 'themed' about the evacuation, both now redone to appeal to the tourists i'm afraid.

    The beachfront along the Slapton Line often throws up mines, ordnance etc, and if you do go there - at the other end of the line from the tank is a steep hill, at the bottom of the hill is a big white house, in the garden of the house is a big pond, and at the bottom of the pond is another Sherman tank!

    Pete.
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Just looking through by old holiday photos & found this one of a Sherman & Sabre outside the ANAVETS Club in Sidney, BC Canada in July 1991.
    Army Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit No 9831. 4th St. Sidney, BC

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Bodston

    Bodston Little Willy

    Just looking through by old holiday photos & found this one of a Sherman & Sabre outside the ANAVETS Club in Sidney, BC Canada in July 1991.
    Army Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit No 9831. 4th St. Sidney, BC

    [​IMG]

    Interesting camo scheme there Owen.
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  9. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Just started to read this thread, a couple of questions on this quote though -

    (1) what is "booh" that Ken was selling?

    (2) why would anyone want to climb on his award from RR??


    "Ken Small used to sit in his car next to it, selling his booh from the car boot, and displaying his award from Ronald Reagan. He wouldn't let anyone climb on it."


    and this one -

    "at the bottom of the hill is a big white house, in the garden of the house is a big pond, and at the bottom of the pond is another Sherman tank!"

    Does this aforementioned Sherman really exist???
     
  10. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I see from their website the Sherman has a new paint scheme.
    http://www.unit302.ca/DSCN0747.JPG


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    I thought 'Cheetah' rang a bell.
    From an old 'War Data' on the Isherman, the original Cheetah:
    [​IMG]
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    Doubt it, but wonder if it's the actual vehicle. A few detail differences but you never know with long-serving M4s and the various changes they may have had carried out.
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  12. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    This it?
    Before and after its move ... pics on my site
    http://www.ww2guards.com/ww2guards/Memorials/Pages/MEMORIAL_AT_HECHTEL,_BELGIUM.html

    Courtesy of L. Regemortels
     
  13. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

  14. James Daly

    James Daly Senior Member

    nice to see the D-Day Museum pics, I work for Portsmouth City Council Museum service and the D-Day Museum is one of ours.

    We've also got a pretty rare Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle inside the Museum, I'll try and find a pic or two...
     
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Was in a garden centre yesterday & saw a book of old Wiltshire photos.
    In one from WW2 was a Great War tank being chopped up in Trowbridge.
    It looked like one that was on display in the town.
    I didn't buy the book so does anyone know about the tank in question?
     
  16. James Daly

    James Daly Senior Member

    Theres a post-war British Tank parked outside of Fort Widley on Portsdown Hill at the moment. I drive past it every week on my driving lessons, its either a Centurion or a Chieftan. Its not the easiest of places to take a photo of though, as anyone who knows that hill road will testify!
     
  17. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Courseulles-sur-Mer
    On the sea front there is a Sherman Duplex Drive (DD) tank on display. This tank was recovered in 1970 from the sea and restored. Badges of regimental units who fought in the area are welded to it.

    IMGP0991.jpg

    IMGP0990_edited.jpg
     
  18. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Owen -
    On the numbering of the Trois Rivieres / Ontario Shermans at Ortona rings a bell....as when they were trying to confuse Kesslring that the major attack would be by the Canadians at the Florence sector - the Cdn 1st and ourselves doubled back at Siena - beamed over to Fabriano and Iesi to start the Gothic Line battle - on the way however - we had to change our numbers to those of the 1st Canadian Armoured Bde and my regiment had to paint their blue/ brown and 174 over our own numbers - I don't know who was more confused - us or Kesselring !
    Cheers
     
  19. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Attached Files:

  20. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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