The Buried D-Day Tank: Decades under the Normandy Sand

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The story of how a Churchill Tank AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers), 1 Charlie, became buried in a road just behind Mike Red Sector Juno Beach on D-Day, what happened to the crew, how stayed buried for three decades, and then became a memorial to the D-Day landings and the crew that served in the tank.
Bill Dunn Interview: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...
Map: JUNO AREA Canadian War Museum Accession No. 20190263-014
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Sources
Dunn, William Robert (Oral history)
Imperial War Museum Catalogue number 12938
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...
highworthhistoricalsociety.org...
www.tracesofwar.com/sights/10....
www.graye-sur-mer.org/histoir...
www.ouest-france.fr/normandie...
blesma.org/about-us/obituarie....
www.graye-sur-mer.org/galerie...

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27 май 2024

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Комментарии : 122

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Support OTD Military History through Patreon so that I can continue to tell stories like this one. www.patreon.com/OTDCanMilHistory

@alanpearson7554 29 дней назад

I remember the discovery and recovery of this AVRE in 1976, one thing in particular was that the rations, including corned beef, were still edible. I met Bill Hawkins and his mate at the School of Military Engineering in 1987, two fine men with fantastic sense of humour.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

I read a pack of cigarettes also survived the tank being buried. That’s amazing you got to meet them.

@arty6456 24 дня назад

I was in the recovery team a very challenging and sometimes dangerous work. Remember the Avre came a shore with the fascine and still had all of its ammo with many extras. Tarmac used to construct a road way after the war had got into the Avre which helped preserve a lot of the stores. I opened the corned beef and it looked perfect so a tinned was sent for testing later and was declared edible. The machine gun ammo I pulled the lid open and it was covered by wax paper and when I took the belt out it was shining like new and the 808 plastic explosive was in mint condition (we were still using 808) I could go on and on but I will end with this when Dunn and Hawkins came to the site they asked me to open the side hatch so they could look inside. I can remenber the words "see I told you I was in reverse" . I am better known by my nick name Igor it was a privilege to be part of that recovery team

@OTDMilitaryHistory 24 дня назад

That’s amazing! I can only imagine what it was like to be there when the AVRE was recovered.

@samrodian919 6 дней назад

That's fantastic! How did you become part of the recovery team? Were you REME?

@tubaman500 28 дней назад

As the son of another Juno Beach veteran thank you for sharing their story. RIP to the whole crew. Truly the greatest generation.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

You're welcome! Thank you for watching. We Will Remember Them

@oscarmadison8530 Месяц назад

They were the greatest generation. A very long overdue thank you to those fellas. 🇨🇦

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Thanks for watching Oscar!

@andrewsharp5055 28 дней назад

My Grandad Andrew Sharp was in 26 Assult Squadron.and was in command of one of the AVREs. I believe he knew both of the survivors from 1C's crew. Both my Dad and I have visited 1C to see where they landed and pay our respects. It seems incredible that such a quiet, kind and gentle man as my Grandad could have been in such a situation. Thank you so much for sharing and helping to keep alive their memories.

@warrenarcher9119 25 дней назад

My friend from work was Bill Dunn a crew member of 1 Charlie

@OTDMilitaryHistory 10 дней назад

Thanks for sharing his story!

@treadheadpete4770 26 дней назад

Great story, thank you for keeping these memories alive Brad!

@OTDMilitaryHistory 25 дней назад

Thank you Pete for watching and all the support you've give the channel. I wouldn't have been able to go there without it.

@scottgrimwood8868 29 дней назад

A very nice video. A great tribute to the crew of that vehicle.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Thank you Scott. Much appreciated!

@shawshank7618 29 дней назад

Fascinating story that I never heard about keep up the great work. Thanks

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Thank you! They did a pretty good job telling this story at the site itself, which is always great to see.

@geneclayton2467 29 дней назад

Great Video Brad, I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for including the audio interviews from IWM. Great thinking by the RE using a destroyed ARVE for bridge support to cross the culvert.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Thank you! I'm glad to hear that. They pretty much had no choice but to bridge over the AVRE. I found a photo of the AVRE being excavated, but couldn't share it as it is copyrighted, and it was very far down. The advance had to keep moving so the RE ingenuity came in handy.

@samrodian919 6 дней назад

RIP ALL those brave lads who gave their lives so that we can live free.

@victorbenner539 2 дня назад

This was a very well done video. To the fallen, may you rest in peace 🙏.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 2 дня назад

Thank you so much.

@arty6456 23 дня назад

I took a day off from the recovery work and with some of the lads used our mini bus to tour the d day sites. It was fascinating we even had tea and cakes with the man in charge of the American war cementary(yes tea) it was very moving all the white marble crosses in perfect alignment which ever way you looked . There is large map of the landing beaches at one end. Sad to be told there were more than ten thousand men buried there. On the way back we called at a British war cementary and found lance Sargeant Ashtons grave. Respectively looked after and maintained. So many men gave thier lives

@marccoutu3010 28 дней назад

Thanks for taking the time showing us this.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

You’re very welcome. More stories to come.

@Mulvers 29 дней назад

Wow! thanks for sharing

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

My pleasure! Thanks for watching.

@adriaanboogaard8571 28 дней назад

Story well told. Nice video. I enjoyed hearing it.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

Thank you!

@markgower7163 29 дней назад

I have been there twice. There are several tanks along the beaches -- Shermans and Churchills mostly. This one is the most evocative -- the setting is superb.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

Same! It is a very evocative place. The lack of buildings and the sane dunes really create that atmosphere for me.

@larryjohnson7591 17 дней назад

Thank you for bringing this story to us all. It is pretty stunning and shows the camaraderie between tank mates. Lest we forget!

@OTDMilitaryHistory 17 дней назад

You’re very welcome! Thank you for watching.

@paulday-lh5mx 29 дней назад

Amazing story. Thank you.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

You’re welcome! The story needs to be better known. Thank you for watching.

@PatGilliland 29 дней назад

What a story. It says a lot about the efforts and sacrifices made by all the allied armies together to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Yes it does indeed! As they say, all gave some but some gave all.

@l337pwnage 12 дней назад

We definitely owe them for the world we have today!

@TellySavalas-or5hf 25 дней назад

This tank is a WW2 history memory.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 10 дней назад

Yes indeed!

@jimwalsh1958space 29 дней назад

thank you OTD Military History. please keep making your excellent films. you have a talent.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Thank you for the support of the channel! My goal is to make every video at least a little bit better than the previous one.

@dermotrooney9584 29 дней назад

Cor blimey! Lovely stuff. 👍

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Thanks so much!

@jeffreycrawley1216 4 дня назад

Well put together. I'd heard of the tank that was used as a bridge abutment but didn't know she'd been recovered - something to look out for on the next visit. Thank you.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 4 дня назад

Thank you. It’s a tragic story but does show the resilience of the forces landing that day.

@TheLincolnshireFlyer 28 дней назад

Thank you for posting 👍

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

You’re welcome! Thank you for watching.

@martinjohnson9316 26 дней назад

I get very emotional hearing this story and what these men did on our behalf all those years ago (as did my father) for our freedom. I'm ashamed of what my country (UK) is becoming especially in the last few years because of untrustworthy politicians and subversion ofvarious types. I see it as my/our duty to reverse this governmental deterioration and fight for freedom like those men did, without question.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 25 дней назад

Thank you for watching!

@petersmithm9 29 дней назад

The bit about the minefield reminds me of the story my uncle told about his brush with one on the same day. He landed on Sword near Hermanville- Sur -Mer and after fighting past the first set of houses they too came under mortar fire. His section scattered for cover so him and his mate leapt over a barbed wire fence into a ditch on the other side of the road. He looked up and also saw the sign saying "Mine field" Said he had never moved so fast jumping back over the fence. He was captured a few weeks later and spent the rest of the war as a POW. Suffered as a result for the rest of his life.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

Thank you for sharing your uncle's story. What unit did he serve with?

@petersmithm9 28 дней назад

@@OTDMilitaryHistory South Lancs Regt.

@BrianWMay 14 дней назад

Thank you so much, that was really very moving. You did them proud.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 14 дней назад

Thank you for saying so. I hope I did.

@BrianWMay 14 дней назад

@@OTDMilitaryHistory Only just read a book about a Crocodile AVRE so it was most appropriate, always thought the Churchill was the 'ugly sister' but am reappraising my view (based in pig ignorance).

@OTDMilitaryHistory 14 дней назад

@@BrianWMay The Churchill does get a bit of unfair treatment. I think its roots in a different time of armoured doctrine (infantry vs cruiser tanks) is part of the reason. It was designed for infantry support but clearly worked well in other roles.

@pjmoseley243 24 дня назад

Its right to pay tribute to our ancestors they really were the greatest generation and we will never see the like of them again but Ukrain are running a close second, defending against the same mentality.

@l337pwnage 12 дней назад

oof. took an extra large shoehorn to wedge that into there.

@pcka12 28 дней назад

Remember this AVRE well from our visit to the beaches a few years ago.

@gabehartman6832 27 дней назад

God bless these men.

@jameseastwood4984 9 дней назад

You've realy done this story justice. Very good.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 9 дней назад

Thanks so much for saying so!

@christopherfranklin972 26 дней назад

I remember reading about this (maybe 'The Dawn Of D-Day'?),the crater that they drove into was indistinguishable because blown sand covered the surface of the water making it look like a solid surface and part of the road.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 26 дней назад

Possibly. The driver said he couldn’t see anything when he went forward up the road.

@garypoulton7311 28 дней назад

Very moving

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

A very emotional story. The original interview with Dunn really captures this well.

@stevenstranger5688 18 дней назад

What a great story. Such brave men. Thank you.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 15 дней назад

You're welcome

@waynesworldofsci-tech 29 дней назад

Great work as usual. Love this stuff.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Thank you! I really appreciate you saying that.

@jameseadie7145 29 дней назад

26 Armoured Engineer Sqn are still going now a regiment hurrah for the CRE

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Yes indeed! Thanks for sharing.

@danielflack7902 19 дней назад

One of the famous "Funnies" as they were known, Charlie 1 was firing the 'flying dust bin', a big round that you had to get out of the tank to reload. Brave men and lest we forget.

@colormeplaid1896 16 дней назад

Heroes of the like we'll probably never see again. Thank you for all that you gave.

@Jimmythefish577 28 дней назад

Truly our greatest generation.

@colinbarron4 29 дней назад

There's a story on the internet (IMDB I think) about how a tank was discovered buried under the sand during preparations for filming 'The Longest Day' in 1961. It was recovered and restored to running order for the film. One Churchill tank does appear in 'The Longest Day' plus a lot of 76mm Shermans supplied by the French. Anyone know more about this story?

@jaywhite38 20 дней назад

Very informative, and lots of history. Well done, Brad

@OTDMilitaryHistory 20 дней назад

Thank you Jay! Peeling back the layers of the story was fascinating research.

@timsecord8207 28 дней назад

May God rest their souls!💔🙏

@kevinlambie7141 29 дней назад

Interesting video. Did some poking around airphotos at the US National Archives and nothing obvious to see but a cluster of bombs did straddle the road about 100-150 m south of 1 Charlie's current location

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

I did the same and didn’t see much. The crater was filled with water though so very much obscured.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

I just looked again and the cluster of bomb craters is right next to the spot where 1 Charlie went into the crater. If you get real close, you can see how that part of the road looks different than the rest. The bombing would have led to the water pouring in and obscuring the road. The photo for everyone else. catalog.archives.gov/id/195957078

@kevinlambie7141 27 дней назад

@@OTDMilitaryHistory Makes more sense, that's why the craters caught my eye. I was thinking she was buried closer to her current location/the beach

@OTDMilitaryHistory 27 дней назад

I did too at first. The current road is much narrower so I guess that played tricks on my mind.

@chrisr9380 17 дней назад

Added 1C to my itinery for my visit in October. Thanks!

@OTDMilitaryHistory 17 дней назад

You’re welcome!

@ninorcul 29 дней назад

We have a picture of my children and myself on the back from 1999.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 29 дней назад

Very cool!

@user-hi3me7nj1h 8 дней назад

My father went into Normandy on an AVRE royal Engineers 👌

@OTDMilitaryHistory 8 дней назад

Very cool! A very underrated unit.

@charliemyres5450 28 дней назад

A superb report of a very interesting subject.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

Thank you so much!

@andrewmacdonald4833 12 дней назад

When you think of the significance of that tank..and the tragic story it tells...it really should be uncover and protected from the elements.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 12 дней назад

At least Normandy doesn’t have extreme changes in temperature.

@andrewmacdonald4833 12 дней назад

@@OTDMilitaryHistory, no but it does have high rainfall and is right on the coast...so salt water/air is very aggressive to metal.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 12 дней назад

@@andrewmacdonald4833 True

@robmisener2786 25 дней назад

Well done Brad, I've been to that site years ago but didn't know the story behind it. Thanks for explaining it.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 24 дня назад

Thank you! If you’d like to share the video with your closest 1000 friends, I wouldn’t mind 😆

@robmisener2786 24 дня назад

@@OTDMilitaryHistory will do!!

@OTDMilitaryHistory 24 дня назад

@robmisener2786 Thanks!

@StaceyIsles 15 дней назад

My grandads friends tank (we found a letter) Mom did the paper work and research and confirmed it... We don't know why this letter to the French mayor wasn't sent but seeing this letter and question Was what sparked the research and if he was still alive we'd have been able to tell him we found out about the AVRE If we can find it again, i believe The letter states each of the crews name too stating which crew member was his friend

@OTDMilitaryHistory 15 дней назад

Thanks for sharing this info. If you find the letter, I'd love to see it.

@tlrfun3 9 дней назад

Saw this years ago went for a week looking around

@SuperMariomark 23 дня назад

two six Armoured Engineer Squadron

@malcolmshvac6692 4 дня назад

freedom isnt free

@BaronFlyingClub 6 дней назад

There are over 40 tanks and armored cars etc buried in Brighton after the war. I know where they are.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 6 дней назад

Very interesting. How did you find out about them?

@BaronFlyingClub 6 дней назад

@@OTDMilitaryHistory I spoke to an eye witness who watched them all drive in and get bulldozed over with earth.

@BaronFlyingClub 6 дней назад

@@OTDMilitaryHistory They all came from the old TA centre on the London road.

@paullyon-vv9tb 13 дней назад

God bless all the ALLIES WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THE Axis power s of WW2 ❤👍

@karstenjackson-lange5516 28 дней назад

Yes and how the french of today have forgotten what help they had during the war

@OTDMilitaryHistory 28 дней назад

They haven’t though. The war is very well remembered there.

@robertpatrick3350 28 дней назад

Not my experience, their appreciation was evident.

@John-qb8vd 19 дней назад

They haven’t forgotten at all. Stop ASSuming, it only makes you an…..

@redlight722 9 дней назад

Hit him in the stomach to get the water out? Jesus get the water out of my lungs, I don’t care about my stomach.

@OTDMilitaryHistory 9 дней назад

It made the water come out of his lungs.

@james_t_kirk 9 дней назад

*Pretty shitty that a soldier gave his life fighting for the UK and the government doesn't even have the decency to remember his name. Despicable.* 👎👎👎

@OTDMilitaryHistory 9 дней назад

What do you even they don’t remember his name?