DICKIE HALL REMEMBERS

Wartime memories of Sgt R.S.Hall, 15 Troop, C Squadron

PROLOGUE

I had been in the O.T.C. at School, & had done quite a bit of rifle shooting at Lydden Spout Ranges on the cliffs above Dover. . These Ranges have only recently gone, ‑ with the extension of the M.20 to Dover, & the Channel Tunnel workings.

I worked at Banking for two years before being called up in September 1939. I did my training ( Driving, Maintenance & Wireless ) in Ellis Barracks at Farnborough. Having always been interested in shooting & guns, it followed that I enjoyed the Gunnery Training. Early on I was sent on a course to the Gunnery Schools at Lulworth, & returned to instruct in that subject at Farnborough. Incidentally, the Gunnery School hangars looked out onto the famous Farnborough Airfield, & during my time there we were to see many prototypes of planes. We heard a high‑pitched scream quite often from the aircraft buildings. which always ended abruptly. This was the early prototype jet engine, ‑ sometimes it flew to bits. We also saw quite a few planes (captured German ones ) flying with R.A.F. markings.

Towards the end of 1940 I was posted to the Gunnery School at Lulworth as an instructor ( Staff Sergeant ) & during my time there we had many students from a variety of units ‑ the most rewarding course to take was when the Welsh Guards were mechanised. They were eager,& quick to learn.

The pressure for instructors at Lulworth had eased by 1941, & so I, being a Junior instructor, was posted away, & so I. came to join the 9th R.T.R.

9th R.T.R. QUI S'Y FROTTE

I joined the regiment in January 1942 at Eastbourne as they were returning from a very cold exercise at Melksham in freezing conditions. Their arrival was dramatic. everything had a coating of freezing snow. So, as a result. driving off the rail "Flats" was hazardous to say the least. I think one tank slid off.

C Squadron was billeted in empty houses in & around Meads, about a mile or so from Eastbourne Station. These roads were slippery & all roads were lined with elm trees (Dutch Elm Disease had not yet arrived in Britain.) The early Mark Churchills with the peashooter 2 pounder main armament had very prominent cooling air intakes (cast steel) which stood out about 6 to 8 inches. As we proceeded up the road to Meads all the tanks tended to slide into the gutter. so that by the time the whole Squadron had passed that way just about every roadside tree had a gouge out of the trunk at air‑intake height.!! The scars can still be seen today.

Training with the Infantry went ahead on the Downs above Eastbourne. We had a "rep" from Vauxhall's who stayed with us for many months, & it was his job to remove, & take back to Luton, any part that had failed on these exercises. ‑ & there were many in these early days & months, so that the roads from Meads had several tanks broken down each time we went out.

1 was No. 13 Troop Sergeant that time. One day we were advancing just ahead of the infantry, behind creeping barrage" of 25 pounder H.E. shells. Someone forgot to increase their range & as a result we took a direct hit on our front left‑hand "horn" which broke the track out did little other damage. We were all closed down so we did not really appreciate the hit until we came to an involuntary halt.. However it made a bit of excitement for that day.!

After a time the reliability of the Churchills improved. I was sent on a course to Vauxhalls at Luton to watch production of the tanks. We were told that when the original "go‑ahead" was given for this new Tank. they had the entirely new "Flat 12”engine running within 90 days.

We had several "hit and run" raids, and on one occasion a M.E.110 bombed the Cavendish hotel, which was used by the R.A.F. The plane circled over the town and came directly over us. My gunner quickly had the Bren gun out and gave it a good burst. The plane came down along the coast, and we liked to think that

perhaps we had assisted in its destruction.

Just about at the end of our time at Eastbourne, Summer 1942, we were inspected by Churchill. We all stood "Crews Front" while he walked along followed by all the Top Brass. Then he said he wanted all of us to do three circuits of the area of the Downs in front of him. I think nearly all the Tanks made it, although there may have been one or two failures. We never heard if he was satisfied, but we eventually went to Normandy, so I suppose he must have been.

Worthing and South Lancing

Our time at Eastbourne ended with a Scheme which took us to a new location. This was the large wooded area at Goring Castle near Worthing We were to be billeted in South Lancing. This was about June/July 1942 as we had been here just a short time when the ill‑fated raid on Dieppe took place in August. The poor Churchills had proved ill equipped to back up a sea‑borne landing as their original purpose was to assist infantry advancing overland, not a beach landing. With all tanks parked at Goring Castle & all troops living at South Lancing it meant that we all took turns at "camping" at the Castle for three days at a time and then three at S.Lancing. Most days there was some kind of Exercise on the Downs. which was all rather pleasant, it being fine August weather.

One day, after our stint at the Castle, we only had one 3‑Tonner to bring

the whole Troop, plus several "odd bods" back to Lancing, which made it grossly overloaded. We had to pass Regimental H.Q., which was on the sea‑front road at Worthing. We hoped we would not be noticed, but we were and by the time we reached S.Lancing all hell was let loose. I got a reprimand, but nothing worse.

Whilst we were at S.Lancing I found that my eldest brother was training at Lancing College to obtain his Commission in the Royal Navy. One evening I went up to the College, to find that he was on guard duty, and so the Guard Commander, a Petty Officer, sent an A.B. to bring him in. Of course he came in at the double & was most surprised to find me chatting to the P.O. He (the P.O.) suggested that I go out & join him on the beat,‑ which I did, & stayed quite a while. He received his Commission & finished the War in Mine Sweepers in the North Sea & Scandinavia.! Two of my sisters were Officers in the W.R.N.S. , so I was the "odd man out" My father had been a Naval Padre.

Charing

In Spring 1943 we took part in a huge Movement Control Exercise - probably the one called "Tiger", which meant packing up ready to move to a new location afterwards. This turned out to be Charing, Kent, & H.Q. was at Pett Place.

Initially “A" Squadron was at Stalisfield, "B" at Long Beech, & our “C” Sqn at Halls Place. which was a large grassy area with one house in the middle. Our huts were built around the edge. Later "B" & "C'' changed over & we had the benefit of gravel paths & the nearness of the Tank Park. This was on the other side of the Charing to Canterbury road at Long Beech & consisted of a long concrete track, winding through the wood with bays off it for each individual tank. where we worked each day if there was no Scheme on.

It was at Long Beech that our new Squadron Commander Ronnie Holden took over. He seemed very fierce on first acquaintance, but what a man he turned out to be. He did not suffer fools gladly, but when it came to active service I am sure everyone held him in high esteem & did whatever he asked, even up near the front when he was always ready to ask for the Squadron to be included in the next "Party". His decorations were well deserved!

Our main exercise area was Eastwell Park, about 3 miles along the road from Long Beech.. We were now part of the 53rd Welsh Division. By now the Churchill Tanks had become quite reliable. & slowly replacements came in equipped with 6 Pounder main armament.

It was at this time that we realised that the present members 15 Troop were those that we would be going to France with.

My Troop Officer was Lt Seymour Francis, I was the Troop Sergeant, and Trevor Greenwood was the Troop Corporal. The members of my tank crew were:

Commander: Dick Hall

Wireless-Operator Eddie Wild

Gunner John Oakley

Driver Bill Cruickshanks

Co-driver Shortie Stuart

Preparations for invasion

About this time we took part it another Movement Control Scheme called “Canute”. All vehicles, both tanks and transport were labelled with Dimensions & Weight. This would assist future loading at our Port of Embarkation. The exercise consisted of a timed journey to Hythe, Kent where we headed for a newly‑built "Hard" in front of the old Lifeboat Station, and after being checked in we turned round and drove the tanks back to Charing. We took part in many more schemes, but as yet the Gunners had been unable to shoot. In the course of the next few months,‑ early Spring,1944, ‑we all went to ranges at Minehead, Lydd, Kirkcudbright & Barnard Castle.

So the time came that we realised that D- Day was fast approaching, & the whole Brigade moved to Aldershot area for us to alter the 6 pounder gun to having a 75 mm gun in its place, which meant that all turret & hull ammo stowage had to be taken out & replaced, plus the tricky job of hauling the old gun out & fitting the larger calibre in its place, although the actual mounting remained the same. That having been done we set about sealing up the tank so that if need be we could land off the L.C.T. into 6 foot of water. (In the event we landed into 6 inches!! ) We had fixed metal box sections onto the air intakes and extensions to the exhaust pipes; these were supported by rods to a central release. Operated by a Bowden cable. All periscopes. air‑vents, gun mantlet & gun barrels were covered in fabric & sealed with "Bostik", and under each piece of fabric was a coil of explosive cable. These were all connected to a central. switch, so that at a touch of a button all the fabric would be blown off, and after the Bowden Cable was pulled, the two air‑intakes would fall off.

After all this work we took. all the vehicles through a deep‑water dip to see if we were water‑tight. This brought several small jets of water to light which had to be sealed.

I mentioned earlier that we had heard the prototype of the Whittle jet engine being tested to destruction. While we worked at all these preparations for our invasion of France. we saw the fruits of all the work of producing the first jet plane. It was an early version of the Gloster single‑engined fighter, flying from R.A.E. Farnborough, and we were amazed at its design, sound & performance.

While we worked on the Tanks we slept in the empty married quarters nearby; these overlooked an area enclosed by a barbed‑wire fence, in which all those put in the "Glass‑House" for a variety of misdeeds were put through their arduous punishments, a salutary warning to the younger Troopers with us.

So we were now fully laden with all sorts of ammunition which we were to need in the near future. We were all issued with a small plastic box with a set of concentrated foods. water‑purifying tablets, sweets & loo‑paper, which was to see us over the first 24 hours or so after we landed. We began to be issued with 15‑man boxes of ''Compo" rations for use after we had consumed the contents of the plastic box.

Embarkation and landing

1 can't remember how we travelled to Portsmouth, I think it was on transporters. However, we off‑loaded a fair distance from the Port area, as I remember travelling slowly in convoy through the area of market gardens with the locals very busy picking strawberries. We must have had some English money as we bought some. We had been issued with French francs printed on pale blue note‑paper, & I think marked "Allied Forces", or words to that effect.

We were to spend one night here, and I found it was Lee‑on‑Solent, where one of my sisters in the W.R.N.S. was stationed. As luck would have it we were more or less right outside the Wrennery. Having visited the place before, I slipped away and surprised her. She got round their cook to bake a fruit cake for us to take – it helped cheer up the contents of the plastic box. My sister & her great friend came down & wrote their names

on the tank ILKLEY.

Next morning we arrived in the Dock area & saw the huge Tank Landing Ship, ‑about the size of a Cross‑Channel Ferry boat,‑ waiting for us to go aboard ‑ the whole Squadron. The crew were American & I remember being asked by a seaman if we had any whisky to sell? The whole Squadron then went aboard & we had to shackle down all the tanks as they had an idea that we might have a rough passage. We must have sailed soon after loading, & we sailed round to the south coast of the Isle of Wight, ‑ & there we sat for two whole nights!

We set off for the beaches the following morning in a fairly heavy sea, & a lot of the lads felt pretty poorly. Luckily it was an uneventful crossing, The food the Yanks gave us in the large self‑service galley was not as substantial as English food. but then quite a number of the troops never saw the galley.!!

We woke next morning to find a calmer sea, & much activity around us. I think the forward troops held a line a few miles inland, (This must have been D plus 12) so there was no gunfire but much wreckage & junk from the initial landings. & many cargo ships lying off‑shore waiting to unload.

We were to land on Sword beach. close to the village of La Riviere. & after all our hard work sealing up the tanks we went off into 6 inches of water, & set off inland along newly bulldozed roads‑ or rather "tracks”- through the countryside. It was hot & dusty & we longed to be able to stop & "brew up". We stopped & un‑shipped all the ironwork, which had proved unnecessary. We were not allowed to explode the charges to blow off the fabric covers which was understandable, as the whole Squadron doing this would create a panic in those who had had quite enough for their nerves already.

We followed these rough tracks for sometime and ended up in a field which was large enough to hold the whole Squadron round the edge. The countryside, the Bocage, was all small fields & orchards & old farm buildings looking very unkempt.

A few civilians had appeared and were doing what they could to put their homes straight. Small children, I remember, kept coming round the field. and elsewhere. Saying “Cigarette pour Papa."Few reached Papa, I fear.! The locals looked poor but not starving. At no time were we troubled by enemy aircraft. but we saw our own planes going over on air strikes quite frequently. I do not remember doing much in that field in the day or two we spent there.

We consumed the contents of our plastic boxes & my sister's cake. Round about our area were many vehicles, ‑ ours & theirs‑ which had been knocked out & were burnt. Some tanks, ‑ Shermans.‑ had nasty holes in the turret & hulls. & we wondered how our own vehicles would stand up to 88s. We would not have long to wait.

First battle

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We were all told that the following day would be our first action. That evening the Padre came round; we had a few prayers and I think we all felt better for it. Next morning we all set off in line, that is, the whole Squadron, and had many pauses which lasted into the afternoon. We heard on the radio that A & B Squadrons were in action as we had snippets of talk on inter-com and "A" Set, and quite a few German prisoners were marched past looking very glum.

Our time came just after mid‑day. We were to advance through the village of Cheux, and up onto the ridge where there would be little opposition. From there to the next ridge, from which we would try to secure a crossing of the River Odon. It started to rain, and as we were approaching the ridge on the right flank, we saw some tanks had been hit and were on fire. I saw green tracer coming towards us, one to the left and one to the right. The third was a direct hit on the turret. We fired back along the ridge at what was either a Tiger or a Panther tank, and reversed to be able to come up again in a different position. This we did, and ended up three-quarters on to him.

We came under fire straight away, and received several more hits, most on the hull, but due to being at an angle to the enemy none penetrated the armour. But when we tried to reverse prior to coming up on to the ridge again our driver Bill had lost his hydraulics, and as we were still under fire, it was only time before we would lose the crew, as well as poor old Ilkley.

I gave the order to get out, and we all met up in a large shell‑hole nearby. We came under mortar and sniper fire, but due to the very wet cornfield. no one was hit, although many mortars landed very close. I am unable to remember whether the other two tank crews of the Troop joined us in the shell‑hole. I think they did and no one was badly injured. We all walked back through Cheux village and reported to the "B" vehicles. I have a blank as to what followed. I remember sleeping that night in a tent, and later we were kitted‑out, and given a new tank

As a side note on this first action: ‑ In 1958 my Family & I set out for a camping holiday in Brittany, & as we passed through Normandy, I wished to return to Cheux & see the field where all this took place. We camped in Cheux & next morning went & stood in the fatal field. I was amazed to find that the wood where the Panzer stood was only about 500 yds away, AND that the field between us was convex. I had instructed John Oakley, our gunner, to fire far more than 500 yds, possibly almost up to 1000 yds, as due to the curve the Panzer was hull‑down and appeared much farther away. Also it was raining and the field had been full of standing corn. In 1958 it was cut, and so showed the convexness.

With the new tanks a day or so later we went into action again a little beyond Cheux. Once again there was much stopping and starting as we moved forward through the many orchards, most of which were bounded by earth banks, topped by hedges ( a little like Cornwall).

We had been firing both guns when two disasters happened. First, Eddy Wild went to change the type of 75mm shell, and when the breech was opened, only the shell‑case came out, and all the cordite propellant was everywhere, and of course the shell was still in the barrel. The Besa co‑ax stopped firing, and in clearing the stoppage we had a "Blowback" into my right hand.

As we could not fire at all we withdrew. I was making a lot of mess in the turret due to the cut in the artery in my hand.!! Back at the trucks I told the crew to clear the guns while I went to get my hand fixed.

What happened next I don't know, but I found I was lying on a stretcher with a pair of forceps sticking out of my hand, and being told that I was bound for "Blighty". which made me feel bad at leaving them under these conditions.

We were put on an empty Tank Landing Craft, where the whole deck area was taken up with stretchers. At Southampton we were put on a Hospital train & taken to Ascot, where among other things we were able dictate a telegram to our people. ( I never asked my Mother what were her thoughts when the Telegraph Boy delivered it at home.)

After a day we went again by Hospital Train to Preston, Lancashire, where part of the local Psychiatric Hospital had been taken over by the Army. MY bed was in a "padded cell"! My wound healed well & I was given a few days leave. My parents had known a General Woods for many years before the War, and while I was at home for those few days General Woods came to see my Father.

It was a great surprise for me to discover that he was C.O. of the 9th R.T.R. in the 1914 War, when the Regiment was decorated by the French Fusiliers with whom they had fought with the Croix ‑ de ‑ Guerre. The General was decorated with the Legion of Honour, and it is the Fusiliers cap badge that we all wore with pride on our left sleeve.

Return to the 9^th and on to Le Havre

I had to report to Catterick Camp (Yorkshire) where we were given new equipment, & again, after a few days, went south & crossed over to Normandy in an old Troopship called "Neuralia" & landed at Mulberry Harbour. From there we marched to a Unit for sending replacement crews & tanks forward. I had a scratch crew & we had an uneventful journey, until I was glad to find that the 9th was nearby & "C" Squadron was in a nearby orchard. I found all the crew well, plus the relief Sgt, who was willing for me to take over again, and Squadron H.Q. gave permission. It appeared that while I was away, (about three weeks in all) the Squadron had been static, with crews spending much time in a large trench beneath the tank. It had not been a very nice situation.

After the Falaise encirclement of a great deal of German men & material, the follow‑up took place along the minor roads to the River Seine, which we crossed on a pontoon bridge. The advance had become so quick now through France that we had been left behind. The Port of Le Havre had been by‑passed to be taken later. It was to this City we now headed via Bolbec, to a village more or less over looking Le Havre. When the time came for the attack, we saw a very large Bomber force make a heavy raid on the Town and Harbour, which we hoped would make our job that much easier.

We were supposed to have infantry cooperation but I never saw any sign of them. However, we collected quite a few Maquis who rode on the tanks & directed us to the positions of the block‑houses & other strong‑points. The R.A.F. had had the desired effect because as each strong‑point was approached, the troops came out & fell‑in to be marched away.

We investigated one or two of the strong points & found they were quite well stocked with tinned fruit and wine; most of these supplies were immediately liberated. In the middle of all this gigantic explosion shook the harbour area, which they hoped would deny us the use of the port.

Holland

I think we travelled almost 200 miles on tracks to St. Omer, where we spent a day or two. Then we went on to Eindhoven in Holland where we were billeted on a Dutch family. The Father worked at the Phillips factory. he was most impressed that the R.A.F. had managed to "post" a bomb right into a vital area, and not into other parts where there would have been many casualties.

It was becoming extremely cold now & we made a few sallies up the road over the canal, to harry the Germans, who were still quite near. This was in the village of Best. It was here that we slept one night in a long covered-way which contained a row of bee-hives. In my efforts to obtain some honey I dropped the frame. Thinking I had put all the sleepy bees back in the hive we had our “honey” tea. Later, as we slept in our blankets, the air became full of swearing as the bees became active with the warmth.

At Best we held south of the railway crossing. The Germans were beyond the rail line. The Squadron Leader told me he wanted to attack a German building, (a dining hut) just over the crossing, and I was to go along. We drove up the village street abreast, & while he blasted the Germans (1 think it was their dinner time) John Oakley put a lot of fire down to the left of the crossing. We had surprised them, & we came away without drawing any fire.

We had our battle to take Roosendaal, & had the pleasure of a rest there amongst the grateful population.

The Ardennes

The Reichswald Forest campaign had to be put off as we were required to back up the Americans in the Ardennes. We travelled south on transporters & as it was Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, we halted at a Nunnery, & our cooks did a splendid job of preparing our Christmas Dinner. with the help, no doubt, of the Good Sisters.

Then it was on again into very cold weather, & we did the last short distance on our tracks to a field, where we parked. We had travelled about 100 miles.

We were billeted in the village of Limont, about eight miles from Liege. We slept upstairs, ‑ in beds‑ while the Farmer & his wife & daughter slept in the cellar as we had many V1s (doodle bugs) falling around. When these came they were surprised that we were not worried. but we were enjoying the luxury of real beds.! They spoke only Walloon so the daughter had to translate into French. During the Autumn they had made dozens of gale'es (waffles), so we were given many; we ate them with the aid of our own jam, which we shared with the family . They must have been made of maize, as they were very yellow.

Incidentally, as the doodle bugs exploded, the deep snow was cleared over an area the size of a football pitch!

It was very cold, and our tanks remained covered up most of the time. Together with Sgt. Anderson, I went on a 48 hr leave to Brussells. which was a very welcome change.

The Reichswald

Before we had our expedition down to the Ardennes, we should have gone into the Reichswald Forest to attack the enemy there. So on our return north from the Ardennes the advance was set in motion.

Our line of advance was to be from Groesbeck, through the northern edge of the Forest with 53 Div: . Troops to the north were to advance. and both lines would converge on the town of Goch.

First of all we were told that we could expect no supplies of rations & water till Goch. Petrol would come up if possible. We soon evolved a system of cooking inside the tank, which generally meant the driver or co‑driver having the pressure stove between his knees to boil or heat water. ‑ everyone else putting jam on biscuits or opening the different tins from the 15-man pack. If things were quiet we could use the 'tin, sand & petrol' method for heating, or, if we were moving, putting an empty biscuit tin tied to the exhaust pipe with water in it, & the tin of food to be heated. in the water.

I said that we should not receive petrol supplies, ‑ but we did.. A 3-Tonner driver, White, by name, from Glasgow, managed to get up to us on several occasions through “ rides” which were not tracks suitable for trucks really, but he managed it.

We were instructed to keep off the "rides" in the Forest, as enemy anti‑tank guns were sighted along them. So we were to move through the forest, demolishing trees, and with the turret and 75 mm barrel fixed over the front idler‑wheel, otherwise our turret ring would almost certainly get stripped by the trees. I fancy that Troops went "line ahead". with the Squadron rendezvousing every so often.

When we halted overnight we had to keep as quiet as possible, as several times we could hear S.P.s moving about quite close; and there was dear Ronnie Holden walking around saying ‑"We can't sit here, lets have a Party" which of course meant having a go at these wretched S.P.s. One night we halted in a. thinly wooded part of the forest. Everyone was on the alert for roaming tank‑hunting squads. Poor Reg Mead was killed in his tank by a burst of fire from one of these squads. (We all heard the shots.) He had challenged but had not fired quickly enough. He was a charming chap and a great loss to his Troop and to the Squadron.

So our advance proceeded. We had a lot of rain, and being January it was very cold, so we were glad of the Rum Ration that someone from each tank had to collect in a mug. In the dark one night I tripped, lost the lot, and on going back for more was told I was a "lying so‑and‑so". But I got a refill!

We were in many ways protected from the weather. But we felt very sorry for the infantry nearby in their slit trenches; and in the cold wet mornings the poor chaps looked so dejected, but they kept going; they were very tough!

One night, just as it was getting dark, we caught a small pine‑tree in the track which immediately shed. We were separated from the other two tanks of the Troop,‑ not difficult.!! The question was, what to do? I knew where H.Q. was, so told the crew to shut down and keep dark and quiet, while I went to report. I had no password and we were in front of the infantry. I crept back, and every time I was challenged I used all the language that troops are familiar with, and as it happened it worked. I told H.Q. that at first light I would repair the track and rejoin, and this we did without any further trouble.

I have remembrances of spending what seemed hours, shut down, waiting for the next move. Once we had a whole platoon of German infantry burst out of the forest and charge us; we had no infantry support so we had a clear field of fire. I think this was one of the very few occasions when we actually saw the Hun face-to-face, ‑ who we repulsed.

When we were quite near Goch one night, we saw a very heavy bomber raid on the town, so we hoped that it would make up the Enemy's mind as to what course he should take.

Whilst in the Reichswald our main role had been to give covering fire to the infantry, which generally meant putting down fire in a given area in the forest during the Infantry's advance.

So the time came that we emerged from the Forest. After knocking down trees and squeezing by them for a week, most of the paint had rubbed off, so we had many "burnished" Churchill tanks.

We had parked near the town, and began to clean up a bit when I noticed that our prized kettle had been shot up. So as we seemed to be near what had been a street of shops, I found one which had sold hardware, and in it I found a beautiful kettle. The trouble was that on the way back to the crew I was stopped by an M.P. who accused me of "looting". They took me back to their building which was stacked with loot of all sorts, a veritable Aladdin's Cave. After taking my particulars I was told I could go. I found another kettle on my way back to the Troop. ‑ I heard no more of the looting charge.

We returned to Eindhoven on our tracks, and were allowed to go to the town Bath‑house for a good shower and shave; just as well, because by this time we were not really nice to know!

The end in Germany, and demob

We stayed in Deventer for a few days before driving on to cross the Rhine at Wesel. Then back into Holland to pass through Enschede & to Schuttorf, (Germany), where we celebrated V.E.Day in great style. And so to Lengerich where we became Troops of Occupation, & carried out many duties to do with the aftermath of the War.

As the Regiment was nearing the end of its time and many of the younger members of the Unit were to be posted to Northern Italy, I was due for "demob" with Group No: 21. I went for a while to the Lothian & Border Horse at Ibbenburen, and from there, in March 1946, I returned to the U.K. for demobilisation & to end my six and a half years in the Royal Tank Regiment.