Veteran lays wartime 'ghosts' to rest

[Anth]

A war veteran suffering from nightmares since his tank was blown up in World War II believes that by getting back into one 60 years later he has laid his demons to rest.

Ray 'Flash' Gordon back in a Churchill tank for the first time since he was blown out of one in WWII.
[Picture: Daniel Rushall - Bournemouth News]

Ray "Flash" Gordon, now 83, was horrifically burned after his Churchill tank took a direct hit in Normandy in 1944. The rest of the crew were all killed. Although Ray was the lucky one, he has been hearing screams in his sleep ever since.

At Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset, Ray recently stepped back into a Churchill tank. It's the first one he has been in since the fateful day of July 10 1944.

At the time Ray was a 21 year old wireless operator. The tank he was in was hit by an 88mm shell from a German Tiger tank. He was forced to jump free, while in flames himself, unable to help his fellow crew.

But now he believes he will once again sleep soundly at night after taking one of the few remaining working Churchill tanks for a spin, accompanied by his friend Cyril "Smudge" Smith, a fellow veteran. Ray said:

"Riding in the Churchill is the final thing in the healing process and I don't think I'll have any more nightmares now I've done it. After all these years I've finally come to terms with it.

"I have a pacemaker and they can tell from the readings what my heartbeat was at any moment. I think at the time I was in the tank they will find my heart rate was very high. It was very exciting."

Cyril added:

"It was wonderful to be back in a tank. They move in jerky ways and are quite uncomfortable, but it was great to have the opportunity to get back inside one along with my old pal Flash."

The crew of Ray's tank in WWII: (back from left) Ray 'Flash' Gordon, Jack 'Hutch' Hutchinson, (front) Bill Morris, Sgt. Jock Smith and Dickie Knight. All but Ray were killed when the tank was hit.
[Picture: Bournemouth News]

Miraculous escape

Ray and Cyril were in different divisions of the 9th Royal Tank Regiment and both were sent on July 10 to take Hill 112 in Normandy. Ray remembers the day:

"The Germans said that whoever controlled Hill 112, controlled Normandy. The action started at 5.30am and was all over by 9.30am by which time 14 of our 18 tanks were out of action. I only found this out later because my tank was one that was taken out.

"We were hit by an 88mm shell and I just recall the instant heat; it was very hot, scalding hot, and dry."

After his miraculous escape Ray went back to England where he underwent several operations and treatment for his burns and then married his physiotherapist, Joan. Cyril continued fighting for the rest of the war and also, coincidentally, married a Joan.

The Battle for Hill 112, known as the "Verdun of Normandy" was crucial for both sides and the hill swapped hands several times until the Allies held it on August 3.

Nick Wyness, from Bovington Tank Museum, said:

"The Tank Museum is not just here to preserve the vehicles, but to honour the men that fought in them. We feel it is important that veterans' stories are told, because men like Ray deserve recognition for what they went through for us.

"We don't normally allow our visitors to climb aboard a tank for a ride, but when Ray told us his story it was frankly the least we could do."

MoD News Link

[m60-gunner]

What else can be said? This man is a hero, then and now. He is from the greatest generation to exsist. A generation very few of us can understand.
May the angels watch his back and he never throw a track.