- Type of Memorial
- Trophy / Relic
- WMR Reference Number
- 19590
- Description
- Mark IV Cromwell tank set on a brick-faced concrete plinth. Small inscription plaque attached to the underside of the rear explaining further details about the tank. One black marble tablet attached to side of plinth facing road. Inscription in gold lettering and two emblems in white. Two black marble tablets attached to side of plinth facing the old camp and Thetford Forest Park. Inscription in gold and white lettering and emblems in white and red. Tank is located at the entrance to High Ash Camp where 7th Armoured Division Desert Rats spent most of their time during their short period in the UK. Tank is also located near the start of the Desert Rat walk which passes some of the features that remain of the old camp.
- Inscription
- Upper tablet facing camp: 1939 1945/ 7th ARMOURED DIVISION/ DESERT RATS/ FROM EL ALAMEIN TO BERLIN/ VIA/ NORTH AFRICA - ITALY - THETFORD FOREST - FRANCE - BELGIUM - HOLLAND/ THE 7th ARMOURED DIVISION WAS STATIONED IN THETFORD FOREST BETWEEN JANUARY AND MAY 1944 WHILE THEY/ PREPARED FOR THE INVASION OF NORMANDY. THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME THE DIVISION WAS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN/ IT'S ENTIRE EXISTENCE. THE DIVISION SAILED FROM FELIXSTOWE ON THE 5 JUNE 1944 WITH THE FIRST TANKS LANDING/ ON GOLD BEACH ON THE EVENING OF 6 JUNE 1944./ MAY YOUR GLORY EVER SHINE, MAY YOUR LAURELS NEVER FADE, MAY THE MEMORY OF THIS GLORIOUS PILGRIMAGE/ OF WAR YOU HAVE MADE FROM ALAMEIN, VIA THE BALTIC, TO BERLIN NEVER DIE, IT IS A MARCH UNSURPASSED/ THROUGH ALL THE STORY OF WAR./ MAY THE FATHERS LONG TELL THE CHILDREN ABOUT THIS TALE./ WINSTON CHURCHILL
Lower tablet facing camp: To the Glory of God/ and in the memory of all those who/ served with/ 'The Desert Rats'/ 4th Armoured Brigade/ 7th Armoured Brigade/ 1945 - 2003/ 'Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always'./ Psalm 105 v4
Tablet facing road: The Desert Rats Association/ 70th Anniversary Commemoration/ The Battle of Normandy/ 'All of One Company'/ We owe our freedom to these men.
Plaque on underside of tank: THIS CROMWELL TANK WAS RESTORED/ BY R.H. BARRELL ENGINEERING LTD. TO/ REPRESENT CROMWELL MKIV T189873 'LITTLE AUDREY II' WHICH SERVED IN 'B'/ SQDN. 1ST BATT. ROYAL TANK REGIMENT./ HERE IN THETFORD FOREST AND TOOK/ PART IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY IN/ JUNE 1944. THE FOUNDER OF THIS MEMORIAL, MR. LES DINNING SERVED AS GUNNER IN/ THIS TANK.