Qualification symbology

[Temujin]

Next, I found photo’s of 6 CAR Tanks, these were all taken about 18 Jun 1944. Also these are from “contact prints” so resolution is not great, if you wanted better photo’s you would need to see them at LAC

As you can see on these photo’s, not many tanks had markings, some did, but a lot didn’t BUT we can’t see the back turrets, so don’t know if their are markings there:

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[Temujin]

I have more info, mostly op order’s showing where they loaded, which LCT’s etc etc.....but won’t post that unless you want to see the info

FINALLY, TWO 6 CAR tanks landed separately to act as “concrete busters” in support of the Infantry, then then rejoined the Regiment after they fulfilled their tasks

As these are Vc models, ‘Holy Roller’ would not have been them as it was a Mark III:

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[Temujin]

Gary, one more comment.......the more I think about this, the pictures you posted showing the “square” markings, I believe are incorrect....and the actual photo of ‘Holy Roller’ on display shows it with the RED DIAMOND, which would indicate a HQ Squadron Tank.

This makes sense as it was the custom in British and Canadian to name tanks in a Squadron with the “starting” letter of the Squadron......so “Holy Roller” would have been in HQ Squadron

So, I do NOT know what the marking on ‘Holy Roller” are in those pictures AND I’ve never seen TWO of the same marking together on the same side.....so it doesn’t look right to me.

So I believe ‘Holy Roller” would have been one of the Tanks that landed with “C” Squadron (both “C” Squadron and “HQ” Squadron landed together) in Serial 1106 or 1107, below

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[CanadianTanker]

Some great information there. The one Sherman tank, sorry I am a bit a novice with the variations, but the rounded or cast hull was used by the British, never the Canadians. The original photo is of HOLY ROLLER the week it returned to London, via CPR. This is the photo we all started asking the question of why was a RHQ tank in B Sqn markings? If you read about tank replacement and the reduction of production by the US you can make an argument. But it appears it is so much simpler. We have a written narrative from a veteran and we have been fortunate/blessed/lucky to be speaking with the original gunner of HOLY ROLLER. It seems that the clutch went out on one of the drives and had to be removed for service, it never went back to its original crew or squadron, but did reappear very shortly to B Sqn 6CAR and according to our veterans information, there it remained until the end of the war, with the same name - HOLY ROLLER. We do hope to find more information about the interesting journey of this tank.

We have also found that it appears that tank names to squadrons A, B, C appeared to have wandered from convention.

FYI, we are in the process of preservation efforts for HOLY ROLLER. Our hope is to remove it after the DDay ceremonies next June and have it back in the park for the following year.

[Temujin]

Thanks for all the info and update.

I spent today trying to see if I could find ANY photo’s of Canadian Tanks on D Day that might possibly give me a hint of “Holy Roller”.......but did not find anything......but did find a lot of great shots of Canadian Tanks, moving and in action with infantry during that day and some great shots of the marking on the tanks.

I’ll post them in this thread, just for everyone’s interest

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[Temujin]

Few more Canadian tank photos, regiments unknown, some with markings.....all photo’s taken in Jun 1944

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[Temujin]

Some additional info Gary......I’m not sure if you’ve seen this, I posted the Nominal Roll of the Regiment on embarkation to England on this site at this link:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=770&p=2468&hilit=6t ... ment#p2468

Also, a few news stories “in the past”

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[Temujin]

As per requested some photos of the tac symbols. BTW Temujin, you are a pillar and an endless amazing person of information. Many many thanks..HolyRoller2, 14 June 1946jpg copy.jpg

Here’s a newspaper article that seems to match the photo’s you posted:

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[Temujin]

Again, you may already have this Gary, but a WW2 chart showing the codes used on various tanks in Div, Brigade, Regiment and Squadrons (and troops within the Squadrons)

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[CanadianTanker]

Regarding the numbering of the callsigns. Zulu callsigns were for training in the UK, that is they painted those alphanumeric codes on the turret, not for the invasion. Some British armoured units painted the callsigns on the turrets but from everything I can find and have read, we didn't. Some great photos there, some are of British units and the bulldozer is a great find, unfortunate the people are blocking the blade view.

So the double squares on the side of the turret still remains a mystery....