A22 Churchill Mk IV AVRE “One Charlie”

Type: Infantry Tank/Special Purpose Vehicle
Nation: Germany
Period: World War 2
Location: Juno Beach, Courseulles-sur-Mer, France

Specialists

The Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) was one of the specialised vehicles known as „Hobart‘s Funnies“ which were specifially developed for the 1944 D-Day landings. Mostly operated by the British 79th Armoured Division, these included the amphibious Duplex Drive Tank and the mine-clearing Crab, which were both based on the American Sherman. The heavier British Churchill was converted to fulfill a number of different tasks, including that of a flamethrower (Churchill Crocodile) and a ramp carrier (Churchill ARK).

Big bang

The heavily armoured Churchill AVRE was designed to clear beach obstacles and destroy concrete fortifications. It was therefore equipped with the 290 mm Petard – a short-barrelled spigot mortar which fired an 18-kilogram bomb nicknamed „flying dustbin“ over a distance of up to 75 metres. This weapon could not be loaded from inside the turret. The loader was located in the hull and needed to open his overhead hatch to shove the round into the upwards-hinging tube – much like an oversized break-action air rifle.

Nothing goes to waste

As they were being outclassed by the newer Churchill Mk VII by 1944, the older Churchill Mk III (recognisable by its angular welded turret) and the Churchill Mk IV were both converted to AVREs. All in all, 754 AVREs were built, of which 180 were ready by D-Day. Many of them were carrying further engineering equipment such as fascines to fill ditches or „Bobbin“ carpetlaying devices. The AVRE was one of the most successful „Funnies“ and proved its worth not only on D-Day, but also during the following Battle for Normandy and way beyond.

Wet grave

On the morning of 6 June 1944 this particular vehicle landed on Mike Red Sector (Juno Beach) as part of 26 Assault Squadron (1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers). After exiting the LCT (Landing Craft Tank) it plowed through the shallow water towards the shore. Unfortunately driver Bill Dunn was unable to notice a deep underwater shell crater straight ahead. As their tank instantly went under, the six-man crew had no choice but to bail out. While attempting to save themselves from drowning, four of them were killed by German machine-gunners and the other two severely injured.

Finally reaching land

The unlucky tank could not be recovered any time soon, so a bridge was constructed on top to make the crater passable for the following troops. „One Charlie“ stayed in this location until 1976, when it was brought up, restored and moved to its current location where it now serves as a war memorial at the road leading to the Juno Beach Centre which tells the story of the Canadian landing beach.