Holy Roller (tank)

Holy Roller is a Canadian Army Sherman Tank of the 6th Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars) which landed at D-Day and fought across northwest Europe until the end of World War II, one of two Canadian tanks that fought from D-Day to VE Day.[1] Today Holy Roller is on display as a memorial in Victoria Park, London, Ontario.

Holy Roller as it sits in London, ON.

Origin

Holy Roller was built at General Motor's Fisher Tank Arsenal in Flint, Michigan in the last week of September 1942. It is an M4A2(75) "small hatch" Sherman Tank with "direct-vision ports, serial number 7606 & U.S. registration number 3062855. It was shipped to England where it was issued with the War Department number CT-152655.[2] It wasn't until late May/early June 1944 that it was issued to the 6th Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars), just before D-Day.

Battle Service

Holy Roller landed with the 6th Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars) at Juno Beach, crewed by William Reed, Frank White, Frank Fowler (who came up the name “Holy Roller”), Terry Doherty and Everett Smith.[3] It served throughout North West Europe Campaign in France, Belgium, The Netherlands and into Germany.

Plaques that commemorate The 1st Hussars & the 50th Anniversary of D-Day

Preservation

It was one of four Canadian tanks shipped from service in Northwestern Europe to preservation in Canada, along with Forceful III in Ottawa and Bomb in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The tank was placed on display outside the London Armories on Dundas St, then moved to Queens Park at the Western Fairgrounds before finally being moved to its current location in Victoria Park.[4]

References
  1. "Article | ‘Raise that barrel’: 1st Hussars inspect London, Ontario’s D-Day tank". army-armee.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  2. "Table of known Sherman Serial Numbers". the.shadock.free.fr. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  3. "Holy Roller gunner moved to tears". The London Free Press. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  4. "Victoria Park ~ Holy Roller Card 1". images.ourontario.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
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