大象传媒

A Mark V1 tank had parked itself only a matter of some five yards or so below our Command Post, on the track above us. Major Raworth said that we could have touched the end of its gun muzzle through the scrim on top of our C.P., but one would need rather a long arm at that!

However, we remained as obscure as possible and away from our side door, through which they could have noticed us very easily, whilst the Major asked us both if we had any letters giving a military address at home. I still had the letter which was handed me on arrival at Sidi N'Sir on 7th February from my girlfriend in Wrexham, who was in the A.T.S. Postal Section. He said that we must burn them by discreetly dispersing the smoke by hand.

Now came the moment of reckoning and he then posed the question " Well what are we going to do you fellows - wait until dark in the hope of making a get-away?" I quickly reminded him about Lieut.Brett, who earlier on this afternoon was trapped when managing to deliver ammunition, but having to remain for the duration. He then said "Right, follow me, put your hands up" The tank commander (possibly Lang himself) was standing up facing away from us, but suddenly turned round and when he saw us said "Ah, Inglishmen!,kom, kom, queek, queek!" (in German English,not spelling mistakes)

Upon being questioned by a German Commander, (again possibly Lang),
our Battery Commander said that he refused to believe that a battery of eight field guns had held up his armour all day. He was also complimentary of the Battery's action and expressed admiration for the stand, but he also enquired where the other two batteries were. At this, Major Raworth simply told him to go and find them! The German had been quite convinced that a whole field regiment of artillery had been holding him up.

Meanwhile, those of us who survived the battle were now being taken into captivity, having to trudge at snail's pace behind one of their awesome tanks, upon the flanks of which were two wounded men The tracks already made by the previous tanks, meant that we were about knee-deep within them. It was small wonder that they admitted that they had hoped to have reached us some twelve hours earlier, but the going was extremely difficult. The under-bellies of those tanks must have been sliding over the very earth between tracks.

Fortunately, we did not witness any of the horrors of the battlefield when passing, which must have been in shallow depressions on either side. We did, however, pass one of the seven tanks destroyed by 155 Battery only a few yards to our left, which was on fire and the body of a German was hanging over the turret. Ammunition could be heard ricocheting within it. I possess a sketch which seems to illustrate the tank in question.

It has been said that those 30 tanks which rolled towards 155 Battery at the commencement of the battle, were the equivalent of some 300 tanks in an open desert, given the narrowness of the valley in which they had operated.

The mark VIs, represented about 59 tons of clanking metal and had come direct from Russia, together with von Arnim himself and their crews. Those tanks were then the largest in the world!

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.