Serving with B Squadron of The Sherbrooke Fusiliers, "Bomb" was the only Canadian tank that rolled unstopped from D-Day to VE-Day, fighting its way from the beaches of France through Holland and into Germany. It travelled 4,000 kilometers, fired 6,000 rounds and never missed a day of action. After the war was over all of the tanks were stripped and landed in a junkyard in Belgium. A daily logbook was kept with each tank. The War Office in London, England was going through these books looking for statistics when they discovered the logbook of tank “Bomb”. It had crawled stubbornly across northern Europe from Normandy beaches deep into Germany without once being knocked out of action or being out for repairs. Although the tank received some minor damage through enemy action, all the necessary repairs were made on the spot by the crew themselves. “Bomb” was immediately recovered from the junkyard and shipped to Canada. It now resides in the regimental parade square in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Canuck- Not only impressive - but a tad unbelievable - doubt it would have lasted in Italy...didn't know they kept a log on their Tanks - we didn't - we started off with Gen.Leese boasting he had 2000 Tanks - and he could afford to lose 50% - he tried his best as at the end of the Gothic Line we were down to around 400 - THEN he was moved to Burma .....dollar short and a day late ! Cheers
Tom, Bomb was truly an exception. Not many Shermans lasted long enough to simply wear out. B Squadron of the 1st Hussars lost 19 of 21 tanks in only a few hours at Le Mesnil Patry.
Canuck doesn't surprise me that a squadron could lose 19 out of 21 - 8th RTR in 7th Armoured Bde lost 37 Sherman's at Gemmano on the Coriano ridge - mind you the German's took about six hours to do it - then the Bays from 1st Armoured Div came up in support - and lost five before they fired a shot - and my regiment only lost 30 out of 57 ......we were almost convinced that they had a repeater gizmo attached to their 88mm.s Cheers
Canuck - getting back to the "repeater" 88mm's - going back for another shot at San Marino - we learned that 12RTR had been mauled by an 88mm on the Rimini airfield - so we stood down and the Artillery had a go at him - zilch - the two destroyers came up and had half an hour at him- again zilch - then three Spitfires ahd their shots at him - by then it was late and they came back in the a.m. - and strafed us as we were having breakfast - they had another shot - then sent a message that we could carry on with our "little" skirmish- so off we went with two companies of Seaforths and six Churchill Tanks - half an hour later five tanks were knocked out along with 90 Infantry ...the reason we couldn't get to him was that he was in a large culvert and being pulled out by a doxen oxen - as the oxen were being hitched to pull him back - he could get off a few shots - they seldom missed at a mile away ! Cheers
Canuck - getting back to the "repeater" 88mm's - going back for another shot at San Marino - we learned that 12RTR had been mauled by an 88mm on the Rimini airfield - so we stood down and the Artillery had a go at him - zilch - the two destroyers came up and had half an hour at him- again zilch - then three Spitfires ahd their shots at him - by then it was late and they came back in the a.m. - and strafed us as we were having breakfast - they had another shot - then sent a message that we could carry on with our "little" skirmish- so off we went with two companies of Seaforths and six Churchill Tanks - half an hour later five tanks were knocked out along with 90 Infantry ...the reason we couldn't get to him was that he was in a large culvert and being pulled out by a doxen oxen - as the oxen were being hitched to pull him back - he could get off a few shots - they seldom missed at a mile away ! Cheers Tom Just have to say thanks for sharing your experiences with the rest of the forum. It never ceases to amaze me what the ultimate generation went through. Randy
Canuck doesn't surprise me that a squadron could lose 19 out of 21 - 8th RTR in 7th Armoured Bde lost 37 Sherman's at Gemmano on the Coriano ridge - mind you the German's took about six hours to do it - then the Bays from 1st Armoured Div came up in support - and lost five before they fired a shot - and my regiment only lost 30 out of 57 ......we were almost convinced that they had a repeater gizmo attached to their 88mm.s Cheers Tom, The courage of ww2 tankers to continually go into action against the 88mm always amazes me. Somewhat like a boxing match with a guy whose arms are twice as long as your own. You know you will be punished before you are lucky enough to get in close. To step forward with the full knowledge that the odds are against you is a special kind of valour. I'm sure it really pissed you off as well!
Tom Just have to say thanks for sharing your experiences with the rest of the forum. It never ceases to amaze me what the ultimate generation went through. Randy Randy, Not to mention the fortifications of Panther Tank Turrets set on concrete Bunkers. Regards Tom
One of the farmers local to me had a Centaur Tank Bulldozer... it had a similar history apparently landed on Sword Beach for D-Day or just soon after and was still rolling when the British Army made it to Berlin.
Canuck - It wasn't so much a case of valour - but as we were supporting the Infantry - they got twice as much as we ever had with rifle fire - m/g 's - mortars - especially nebelwerfers not counting the mines - and we usually went back at night to refuel - have a meal- maybe a couple of hours sleep etc while they were still stuck in wet holes...they weren't called the PBI for nothing.. Cheers
Tom, I was always amazed at the irony that the U.S. tank ace, SGT. LAFAYETTE POOL, was intensely claustrophobic (of course the army would assign him to tanks!!). He spent most of his combat time outside of the turret andoften even the hatch. That may have been his secret but it also cost him his leg. Maybe he would have been better off in the PBI.
Canuck - It was often alleged that to be recruited into the Tank Corps - one had to have more brains than the average PBI - this obviously was not the case in the US army..... Cheers
The Holy Roller, a U.S.-built Sherman M4 tank that was manned in the battle by members of the 1st Hussars, has sat in London Ontario’s Victoria Park since 1950 when it was dedicated to the regiment. The 1st Hussars are lauded for being the only regiment to reach its objective in the Normandy invasion. The Holy Roller is also one of only two tanks to land on D-Day that survived intact to the end of the war. The other, named Bomb, which was operated by members of The Sherbrooke Hussars, is on display at the William Street Armoury in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
