A Tank on the South Downs - the Mark 2 Churchill.

Mr. Pegram and I were told about this strange abandoned tank by one of our listeners and we were determined to hike up on to the Soth Downs to see if we could find it. After a little bit of a wild goose chase we did eventually stumble across it to our great delight. In fact, it was amazing how much of the tank has actually survived after the Secord World War!

This is a Mark 11 Churchill and originally it was part of training mission for the 14th Canadian Army Calgary Regiment who were posted on the South Downs. This particular model of tank wasn't terrible good as the engines kept breaking down and were superseded by Mark 111, but they were used in a "super-raid" upon the German-held French port of Dieppe. The raid was a disaster, particularly for the Calgarys. The beach at Dieppe was composed of chert stone. As the tanks crossed the beach, these hard stones became jammed in the drive wheels, throwing the tracks. None of those that landed at Dieppe returned.

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