I know this thread is related to Whittmann...I am tired of the hero worship he receives generally
RIP Joe Ekins, you did a mighty fine job. I agree completely with his sentiments at the end of the Norm Christie documentary
I know this thread is related to Whittmann...I am tired of the hero worship he receives generally
RIP Joe Ekins, you did a mighty fine job. I agree completely with his sentiments at the end of the Norm Christie documentary
As i say all the Allied accounts of the Battle including Joe Ekins came from a period between 50-70 years after the Battle , details have faded or become fuzzy due to the passage of time which may lead to inaccuracies in the actual detail of the accounts although the explosion itself would be something that would stay in the memory . That's why in many ways the German accounts from the time in 1944 are so relevant to events on that day and are very much together from the War Diary the only primary source evidence that we are ever likely to have .
To my knowledge there is now only one survivor of that action Rolf von Westernhagen ( unless he has now passed away ) yet none of the documentary makers to my knowledge seem to have contacted him for the only account from the German side still available .
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
House Carles at the Battle of Hastings
This is what I believe (possibly) Joe Ekins saw, again, indeed at a greater distance, a similar huge ammunition explosion.
Would a Tiger, exploding, be as eye catching as this?
With all the HE/AP rounds and fuel inside, and although further away, surely it would be?
I always wanted to have a pint with Mr. Ekins, shake his hand, and say thanks.
Just to sit and listen to a fine brave man, who took part in one of my most interesting episodes of the Normandy Campaign.
Included is my picture of Joe Ekins, RIP mate.
It's had me fascinated since my first Airfix 1/72 kit Tiger, that I made all those years ago..
This picture was taken on June 26 1944, by THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN 1944.
An ammunition lorry of 11th Armoured Division explodes after being hit by mortar fire during Operation 'Epsom'.
Taken by Sergeant Laing No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit.
Wittmann's formation of Tigers were attacked at the beginning of their offensive I believe ?
They then would have been fully loaded with fuel and ammunition I assume.
Although a BefehlsTiger didn't carry as much ammunition as a "normal" Tiger, it still would have been carry quite a lot of ordnance.
BefehlsTiger at Kubinka:
Tiger Tank Ausf E Befehlstiger command tank is at the Russian Tank Museum Kubinka
Scroll down to see a colour diorama of Tiger 007!!
Mid Produktion Tiger I (Armortek 1/6) [DONE] - Pagina 2
Yes mate the Tigers had been resupplied with ammo and fuel prior to the attack , Wittmann had taken over 007 as it was the Befehl Panzer of the Abt Commander . Wittmann had taken over this Tank as the Abt Commander Hein von Westernhagen had been suffering from a previous wound and had left the front and command of the Abt had passed to Wittmann with Bubi Wendorff taking over 2 Kompanie
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
House Carles at the Battle of Hastings
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
House Carles at the Battle of Hastings
Similar Threads
Bookmarks