大象传媒

This story was typed in by Niall Stewart at the launch event of the Imperial War Museum.

This is the story of Frank Russell:

I was in D squadron of 7 troop which landed on Gold Beach (East of Arromanches) on D Day Plus One.

I was a gunner and wireless operator in a Cromwell Tank which had a crew of five.

I landed on the breaches and on first light, next morning, we went on our first patrol. On that day, we lost eight tanks.

During Operation Goodwood, my tank was in the lead when it was hit by a Panzerfaust. As I bailed out of turret, a group of Germans came up and surrendered. I don't know if one of them had fired the panzerfaust.

My training never prepared me for bailing out of the tank when it was hit but generally, you had to be fast as the heat caused the ammo and petrol to explode.

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