D-Day. A very British Tiger
Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2024 9:09 pm
As most of you folks on here know I have an adversity to Tigers, because everyone has one, so what is the best way to cure that adversity? Simples buy another. I held off on this while I decided, and did some research in the family and with the Sherwood Rangers.
Although I was born in Scotland, I grew up in Derbyshire. I have a Scottish father and an English mother, whose family hails from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. I knew that that my mothers, grandmother’s brother was in the Nottingham Sherwood Rangers but in what capacity I knew not. I also knew that he was killed towards the end of the war. Just another unsung soldier during his duty who died without the honours of some.
I had also taken an interest in reading about the Sherwoods, after I was given a book about them, written by David Render, I then found another book by James Holland, in which there was a story about some captured panzers. One of which was a Tiger.
The Nottingham Sherwood Rangers were originally a cavalry regiment, and served in Palestine, on horses. They then became a a costal artillery regiment, while awaiting for their tanks to arrive, when they became a an armoured regiment. They served in North Africa, and there is some speculation whether they had a hand in the capture of Tiger 131. Using a captured French artillery piece.
Fast forward to D-Day, and the Sherwood were at the vanguard of the invasion. Being the first ashore on on Gold beach. With their DD Sherman’s, and Shermans. They were at the forefront of the fighting, being the first across the Rhine, right to the end of the war.
Why am I writing this and what has it got to do with a Tiger?
On the 25th June 1944 they were tasked with capturing Rauray. On the 26th June 1944 they we’re supporting the 11th Durham Infantry. On the 27th June they finally captured Rauray at about Midday. This village had been the headquarters of Max Wunsche, it was also the site of the panzer maintenance detachment of the SS-Panzer-Abteillung 101, which also happened to be Michael Wittman’s unit. A number of tanks were found around the village, abandoned due to damage or lack of fuel. The Sherwoods made plans to use them and got some of them going, with the assistance of the Light aid detachment.
John Semken was the squadron commander for A squadron, and requested the use of the panzers, so he could “shove through a hedge knowing that nothing could penetrate it from the other side”. They painted over the painted over the Balkenkreuz and other German marking and replaced them with the red foxes head on yellow, which is the emblem of the 8th Armoured Brigade, and 996 which was the Sherwood Rangers number. Sadly this was as close as the captured panzers got to being part of the Sherwood regiment. The next day the request was refused, and they were taken away for evaluation and examination back in England. They never got to be used against their former owners.
I found out my Great Great uncle was a mechanic and was involved in getting the tanks running, so I wanted to build this on behalf of him, and others who kept the tanks running. I am assuming that the panzers were allowed to remain and become part of the Rangers.
So I introduce Tiger 114, a late Tiger which briefly became part of A squadron, The Nottinghamshire Sherwood Yeomanry.
Work has started, with removal of the aerial tubes on both sides.
The right hand side will be replaced with one made of brass tube. I removed the front mudguards at the same time.
I think I have now invalidated the warranty.
Although I was born in Scotland, I grew up in Derbyshire. I have a Scottish father and an English mother, whose family hails from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. I knew that that my mothers, grandmother’s brother was in the Nottingham Sherwood Rangers but in what capacity I knew not. I also knew that he was killed towards the end of the war. Just another unsung soldier during his duty who died without the honours of some.
I had also taken an interest in reading about the Sherwoods, after I was given a book about them, written by David Render, I then found another book by James Holland, in which there was a story about some captured panzers. One of which was a Tiger.
The Nottingham Sherwood Rangers were originally a cavalry regiment, and served in Palestine, on horses. They then became a a costal artillery regiment, while awaiting for their tanks to arrive, when they became a an armoured regiment. They served in North Africa, and there is some speculation whether they had a hand in the capture of Tiger 131. Using a captured French artillery piece.
Fast forward to D-Day, and the Sherwood were at the vanguard of the invasion. Being the first ashore on on Gold beach. With their DD Sherman’s, and Shermans. They were at the forefront of the fighting, being the first across the Rhine, right to the end of the war.
Why am I writing this and what has it got to do with a Tiger?
On the 25th June 1944 they were tasked with capturing Rauray. On the 26th June 1944 they we’re supporting the 11th Durham Infantry. On the 27th June they finally captured Rauray at about Midday. This village had been the headquarters of Max Wunsche, it was also the site of the panzer maintenance detachment of the SS-Panzer-Abteillung 101, which also happened to be Michael Wittman’s unit. A number of tanks were found around the village, abandoned due to damage or lack of fuel. The Sherwoods made plans to use them and got some of them going, with the assistance of the Light aid detachment.
John Semken was the squadron commander for A squadron, and requested the use of the panzers, so he could “shove through a hedge knowing that nothing could penetrate it from the other side”. They painted over the painted over the Balkenkreuz and other German marking and replaced them with the red foxes head on yellow, which is the emblem of the 8th Armoured Brigade, and 996 which was the Sherwood Rangers number. Sadly this was as close as the captured panzers got to being part of the Sherwood regiment. The next day the request was refused, and they were taken away for evaluation and examination back in England. They never got to be used against their former owners.
I found out my Great Great uncle was a mechanic and was involved in getting the tanks running, so I wanted to build this on behalf of him, and others who kept the tanks running. I am assuming that the panzers were allowed to remain and become part of the Rangers.
So I introduce Tiger 114, a late Tiger which briefly became part of A squadron, The Nottinghamshire Sherwood Yeomanry.
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I think I have now invalidated the warranty.
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Whaaaa daaaa? 