No idea where or when this was taken, but this is my dad, Pete, with the crew of the Firefly they named, "Take It Easy". Johnny Johnson, Ronnie "Titch" Roper, Pete Ward, Stan Goodman.
Kathleen Refresh my memory, but I think you know Stephen Roper, and have a copy of the photo of Take it Easy? Steve Pannell
If you are/were looking for it, it was previously posted here... 24th Lancers A Squadron It is perhaps unlikely that "Take it Easy" was a "C" Squadron 24th Lancers tank name, given that "C" Squadron might have preferred names that started with a "C" but their Firefly troop might have chosen names differently, or it could have been an already named tank that they got as a replacement. I guess we have just missed the window of opportunity to ask such questions now, hence so many unanswered questions still remain. It's nice to have a picture of a tank with a tank crew, but the markings at least are associated with 5RTR, and if they were able to take their tank with them it would have been marked differently had it also been with the 24th Lancers. See further post at - 24th Lancers A Squadron
Hello Steve, Yes I have chatted with Stephan. I have a copy of the group photo, not of the tank itself. The writing on the front and back of the photo was done by Stephan's grandfather, Titch, at least as far as I know.
24th Lancers A Squadron Kathleen Herewith the photos via the above link. We now know that Take It Easy was 'A' Squadron 5RTR: this is proven by the A Squadron triangle sign on the turret side and the other markings. The reference to C Squadron on the rear of the photo is due to confusion when the lads added the captions! Steve P
Fortunately at... Garai, Bertram Henry (Oral history) There are some specific references referred to in the description, particularly in REEL 4 - that relate to an "introduction" to Bertram Garai's "C" Squadron Firefly troop and Recollections of operations as troop commander with 5 Troop, C Sqdn 24th Lancers, 8th Armoured Bde in Normandy, France. e.g. ... REEL 4 Continues: unit officers; introduction to his troop; question of treating one's tank as horse; battle training run at Kirkcudbright, 1943; training on Yorkshire Wolds based on Bridlington; injury to ankle during commando course at Hornsea; re-equipping with M4 Sherman Tank; method of firing on target; selection of 'stick man'; compassionate leave on loss of brother Flying Officer Earle Garai serving with 218 Sqdn, RAF; co-ordination exercises with 8th Bn Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own); arrival of new equipment prior to D-Day in Winchester area; embarkation at Southampton, 6/1944. Recollections of operations as troop commander with 5 Troop, C Sqdn 24th Lancers, 8th Armoured Bde in Normandy, France, 6/1944: crossing English Channel; use of Rhino Ferries to disembark tanks; landing on beaches, 7/6/1944. Although - unfortunately - without actually having the audio available online (yet), it's hard to gauge the full extent of what might perhaps be there. Possibly visitors to the IWM can request to hear the audio, to get some kind of an idea, however it's impossible to guess what kind of information about his troop Bertram Garai might have imparted then, or might have left further references to - including possibly pictures - elsewhere. One of those keys perhaps that might potentially unlock further doors - albeit it would probably merely disclose further mysteries to solve and probably provide more clues rather than specific answers perhaps. The individuals that later crewed 5RTR's "Take it Easy" - could potentially have been the previous crew of Sergeant Eric Hanson, perhaps. Eric Hanson was wia 11d6m1944, so his former crew would have later had to have had a new tank commander. Trying to make sense of anything though is a slog through the bocage... lots of guesses and wrong turns etc. It is incredible how few pieces of the "puzzle" there now are... and how many voices are silent or "not yet online". See... 24th Lancers Newsletter: 'Lancer Life'. The 2nd - "News from Casualties"... with.... "We have also had news of L/Cpl Tony Hughes, (In hospital in Gloucester) Sgt.Hanson (Pindorfields, Yorks, with a compound fracture from hip to ankle) Sgt Smith (‘B’ Sqd) and Cpl Reynolds, both of whom are doing well in hospitals in England."
