Title:A TANK SQUADRON TAKES A BREAK IN THE 'BOCAGE' [Allocated Title]
Film Number:A70 123-8
Other titles:
Summary: After a week's fierce fighting on the Sourdeval-Bas-Perrier ridge, the 6th Guards Tank Brigade goes into reserve.
Description: The Fourth Tank Battalion Grenadier Guards' No. 1 Squadron is seen in harbour near the Vire-Estry road. The crews of the squadron's heavily-armoured Churchill Mark VI tanks take advantage of the lull in the fighting by lazing in the sun. To reduce the number of casualties suffered by tank commanders during the fighting in the overgrown 'bocage' country, a plate of armour is welded onto the back of a Churchill's turret hatch by two Light Aid Detachment fitters; note the spare track links draped over the turret sides for additional protection. The squadron's CO, Major Gascoigne, dozes quietly under his tank. Tank crewmen indulge in horseplay by virtually force feeding their youngest member from a gin bottle. Major Gascoigne joins a tank crew in eating a snack consisting of spam sandwiches in the lee of their tank.
Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations, War Office (Production sponsor)
Army Film and Photographic Unit (Production company)
Lawrie, William Fairlie1919-07-01Family origin: Glasgow, Scotland (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Grenadier Guards, Tank 4th Battalion (regiment/service)
British Army, Corps 8 (regiment/service)
British Army, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (regiment/service)
British Army, Guards Tank Bde 6 (regiment/service)
Keywords: armour, British - tank: Churchill (object name)
engineering, military, British: welding (object name)
recreation, Allied military - casual (object name)
Calvados, France (geography)
Normandy, France (geography)
