armour

My Dad died in a quick and dignified way, 5th September 2000. His funeral took place 11th September, in the Northwich area, and was attended by family & friends.

23rd Hussars

The 23rd Hussars was part of the 29th Armoured Brigade of the 11th Armoured Div., which comprised 23rd Hussars, 3rd Royal Tanks, & The Fyfe & Forfar Yeomanry.

Two lads from Formby, my dad and his mate, John Laidlaw, volunteered to do "their bit". As John said later, "It's better to drive to your death, that to walk to it". This was a reference to their decision to join the tanks from the infantry. A good decision, as it transpired, they made it through the war in one piece.

Operation Dracula: They "covered 3010 miles throughout England, testing and reporting on the performances of all the current tanks of the British Army. 100 miles by road, and then 100 miles across country." It was hard work, but the outcome was worth it." Verbatim. Certificate of Thanks

Follows a potted piece excerpted from the official 23rd Hussars "Do You Remember....?" booklet. Forward Index

They were amongst the first troops into Belsen 15th April 1945. And everything you have ever heard about Belsen is true.

My dad at the V.E. Day dinner at the Marine Barracks, Husum, Schleswig, Holstein, Germany.

The war in Europe lasted for 11 months, and for five days only, the 11th were not in contact with the enemy! [Short holidays, then. - Webmaster]

The following members of 'B' Squadron gave up their lives for their country.

28th June, 1944 (Hill 112)	18th July 1944 (Caen)	3rd August 1944 (Presles)	9th August 1944 (Bas Perrier)
Lance Corporal L.W.Ball	Corporal J. Adams	Trooper B. Richardson	Corporal A. P. Packman
Trooper J.Brown	Sergeant G. Bateman
Captain R.G. Clarke	Trooper P. Chaney	20th August 1944	21st November 1944
Lance Corporal C. Franklin	Trooper R. E. Cutting	(Argetan)	(Ijsselsteijn)
Lieutenant P. Helyar	Trooper L. Hiscock	Trooper R. J. Cheshire	Trooper J. M. Forbes
Lance Corporal R. P. Holt	Trooper K. W. Lane	Trooper J. H. Insley	Trooper D. G. Manders
Trooper G. Pearce	Sergeant A. McConnell		Lance Corporal J. Raper
Lance Corporal J. Sawyer	Trooper F. L. Robinson		Sergeant W. White
Trooper J. Stebbings

16th December 1944 (Antwerp)	27th December 1944 (Ardennes)	30th March 1945 (Legden)
Trooper G. Hansom	Trooper T. Boal	Corporal H. J. Edkins
		Trooper F. Gibbons
		Trooper L. W. Malbon
		Trooper G. Plant
		Trooper R. Richardson
		(All these lads were killed in the same tank)

A Poem

To the Tank Boy

See the tanks, they onward come,

Clatter, clatter, what a hum.

On they rattle, more and more,

Like mad bulls, that snort and roar.

Catterpillars, wheels and cranks,

Uproot tees, and tear down banks.

On thro' meadows, orchards and woods,

Chruning them to seas of mud.

People awakened from their sleep,

Through their window take a peep.

Back to bed, they scramble, quick,

Could it have been Old Nick?

Turrets turn with angry stares,

Pointing their muzzles, everywhere.

Like some monsters fit to burst,

With a pincer move, and thrust.

Tanks are like knights of old,

Only rooms for men, so bold.

Decorated throughout with walls of mail,

Their fearsome firepower make men quail.

When the tanks begin to move,

They have many things to prove.

Driver left, driver right,

Straight forward, into the fight.

Onward, onward, through the mud,

And on the way, they shed their blood.

Within the crews there are deep bonds,

Alas! Many lie in the green fields, beyond.

W. F. Grey