VC, DSO Jacket Tank Corp
Although I recently parted with this jacket you might like to see it.
Jacket belonged to Lt Col Henry Foote of the Royal tank regiment, the only VC recipient of ww2 in this regiment
On 6th June 1942, Lt.Col. Foote led his Battalion, which had been subjected to very heavy artillery fire, in pursuit of a superior force of the enemy. While changing to another tank after his own had been knocked out, Lt.Col. Foote was wounded in the neck. In spite of this he continued to lead his Battalion from an exposed position on the outside of a tank.
On June 13th, when ordered to delay the enemy's tanks so that the Guards Brigade could be withdrawn from the Knightsbridge escarpment and when the first wave of our tanks had been destroyed, Lieutenant Colonel Foote re-organized the remaining tanks, going on foot from one tank to another to encourage the crews under intense artillery and anti-tank fire.
As it was of vital importance that his battalion should not give ground, Lieutenant Colonel Foote placed his tank, which he had then entered, in front of the others so that he could be plainly visible in the turret as an encouragement to the other crews, in spite of the tank being badly damaged by shell-fire and all its guns rendered useless. By his magnificent example the corridor was kept open and the brigade was able to march through.
Lieutenant Colonel Foote was always at the crucial point at the right moment, and over a period of several days gave an example of outstanding courage and leadership that it would have been difficult to surpass. His name was a byword for bravery and leadership throughout the brigade.
Hope you like it his post war battledress is currently residing in America and this jacket has gone to a Belgium collector
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