Hi everyone, just a point of correction - the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion, which I mention at

"He gave his life that others might live in peace. It shall not be forgotten." Sadly, many have forgotten. And worse, they do not care.

In the movie "Kelly's Heroes" Oddball told Kelly that they placed drainpipes over their gun barrels to make them look bigger - in actual fact the Firefly crews used to paint the ends of their long barrels a lighter shade to 'counter-shade' and make them look shorter. The Germans had learnt by then that the Fireflys were the most dangerous tanks facing them and would target them first if they got the chance! (One Canadian Firefly actually stuck a fake barrel out the back of the turret so the Germans wouldn't be sure which way it was pointing! Bit excessive but there you go!)

Interesting story, but whilst the Firefly undoubtedly packed a bigger punch than the standard 75mm gun, the 'standard' Shermans were more than capable of taking out Tigers with the right tactics. The 75mm had a much faster rate of fire than German tanks, it was the only tank with a gyro stabiliser for accurate shooting on the move and the HE shells could be set to delay so you could fire a HE shell through a wall for example and it would explode inside the building. The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, who saw more action than any other armoured regiment in WW2, first in North Africa and then in Europe, learnt the hard way how to knock out German tanks in the close Normandy countryside. Basically they put down a phenomenal amount of fire on any enemy tank, forcing the crew to close up and rely on their periscopes for visibility. They would also 'brass up' any suspected infantry position with MG fire, forcing the Germans to return fire and reveal their location; they never moved without a round of AP 'up the spout'. For example on 26 June in Fontenay, A Squadron OC, John Semken found himself face to face with a Tiger Tank, only 120 yards apart. Semken fired immediately and in the space of 30 seconds his tank hit the Tiger 10 times. Although the Tiger only suffered superficial damage, the periscopes were all smashed and, with the weight of fire on them, the Tiger's crew bailed out. The SRY's crews were also adept at stalking German tanks and no-one was a greater exponent than Sgt, George Dring MM. That same day, in the advance on Rauray, George Dring destroyed a Panzer IV, a Tiger (crew bailed out), another Panzer IV and then a second Tiger, which he brewed up. Finally, as it was getting dark, he destroyed another Panzer IV at 1,200 yards with an AP round from his 75mm. The SRY didn't receive any Fireflys until late July. On Tuesday 1 August, during the battle for Point 361, George Dring with his 75mm destroyed a Jagdpanther and another Tiger which he stalked on foot and then moved his Sherman into position to engage. If you want to know more about the SRY, then I recommend 'An Englishman at War', 'Tank Action' and 'Brothers in Arms'. The SRY won more battle honours and more awards than any other Regiment in the British Army in WW2, and consequently they also had more soldiers killed and wounded than any other armoured regiment.

He died so close to the end of the war. The fact he was wounded twice shows how much fighting those final months saw.

I absolutely love the story of the Firefly. Talk about innovative solutions, how about those Brits. Such as Major George Brighty, Lieutenant Colonel George Witheridge and Vickers engineer W.G.K. Kilbourn, these brilliant minds that took what was an idea for the Sherman platform and turned it into a Panther and Tiger killer. These men were not messing around when it came to the determination it took to potentially turn the tide of war on the battlefield. With German armor being what it was and the guns implemented into the Sherman’s turret that were falling so short at the time, that Ordnance QF 17-pounder turned out to be the hand of God. And the crews that manned these tanks were larger than life. Rest easy Lieutenant Lock, you’ll always be remembered.

Our Tommy's , If only they knew what has became of our Great Country 🇬🇧

That seventeen-pounder British cannon really did level the playing field to some extent, at last, we had a gun capable of destroying any German tank on the battlefield. Those soldiers were so brave, we owe our freedom to them and of course our American and Russian allies.

I have the upmost respect for the Allied tank crews that faced down the German Panzers. It must have been the most intense moments of their lives

In the south everything was a "Tiger" to the Americans but in in Classic British understatement they were merely Panthers.

Shame he died so close to the end of the war in Europa. Wonder if he ever knew his was the first crew to knock out a Tiger II

Rest In Peace, Lt. Malcolm Lock.

That's got to be one of the best produced 'Liveth for Evermore' videos so far. Lots of great detail, well narrated and a fitting tribute to a brave officer. Great work

Thank you for sharing and showing the bravery of our allied tankers who were all young men in their early twenties, fighting against an enemy who we are always led to believe had the superior kit, yet our guys extracted the best out of the allied tanks some of the stories are legendary everyone of them a hero for freedom, may they never be forgotten.

The British Army doesn't get enough credit for the amount of damage and work that they did in beating the Germans, RIP Lt Lock. 🇬🇧

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM. Thank you for this excellent informative video

Thanks for Firefly vs Tiger encounter vlog. A fav subject. Salute to Sherman crews

My father was at cagny too with the 5th battalion CSG. Me and my brother took him back there in 1976 to the farm house they attacked, just across the railway lines. Was a moving moment for me and my bro.

He died so close to the end of the war. What a tragedy!

Boscawens book, armoured guardsman, is an excellent read....he himself was badly burned late in the war