Friends, through channels who knew him personally far better than I, I have received the very sad news that (Dr) Ken Tout passed away at the weekend. A great loss to us all.
Bugger. His books give such an authentic sense of a tank crew in action. (I imagine... Not something I've ever experienced, nor want to.)
I spent three days with him in the Ardennes on the occasion of the unveiling of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry monument at La Roche-en-Ardenne. A very friendly and educated man. Together with four other veterans we visited the battle sites of the Northants around La Roche. It was astonishing how quick and agile these 'oldies' - then about in their mid-70s - mounted a Sherman tank which was on display at the town. With a few steps through the front of the tank they were already at the gun turret, while I (a youngster at the time) was still struggling with my first foot somewhere on a caterpillar track. They just walked up in the blink of an eye, gripping the draw ring at the front end and the cannon with their hands; a not worn-out tank drill. RIP - Ken Tout
Ken, extreme right and Ernie Slarks, 2nd left. Both men have left us recently. RIP men - and thank you.
A sad reminder to re-read 'A Fine Night for Tanks'. Until I glanced at the rear flap I hadn't realised he held a PhD in Gerontology, was a UN adviser on ageing and was honoured with the OBE for services to the elderly of developing countries. What a brave and talented fellow. RIP Ken Tout.
