Book Review 'Catch That Tiger' - Churchill's secret order that prompted the most dangerous mission of WW2

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by BlakePub, Jun 12, 2012.

  1. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

  2. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    At home Dad

    Thanks for the heads-up.

    I have already replied there :)

    Ron
     
  3. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    ha! Those knickers really tickled you, didn't they!

    LOL, well done, Sir!
     
  4. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    AtHomeDad

    Well you don't claim a book is factual in one breath and quote Adolf on heat
    in another :)

    Ron
     
  5. Trackfrower

    Trackfrower Member

    An easy read.... "Battle picture library in hardback"?

    Best from the local library

    Cheers

    Lawrence
     
  6. Paul Whatley

    Paul Whatley Junior Member

    CATCH THAT TIGER
    View attachment 43509

    View attachment 43510 He (Lt. Reginald Whatley) moved from the RAC to NIH after the incident in which he was awarded the MC. I have not been able to find any of his records pre NIH. There are some references to his involvement in recovering a damaged "German Battle tank" which was shipped back to the UK.

    Pa did not make much of his exploits during the North Africa Campaign although he did confess to being involved in an "oh shit" incident referred to in the NIH diary, when a shell was accidentally fired from a tank in which the gun was being checked. The shell hit trees just above an occupied truck causing a bit of damage and some amusement.

    Pa was with the NIH when the moved up through Italy including Monte Cassino which he did mention a couple of times.

    I have recently bought a new ribbon to remount his MC, the old one was almost threadbare and falling apart. I have attached photos of the MC and his full set of stars etc.
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Do you have a copy of his original citation?
     
  9. Gerry Chester

    Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Hi Paul,

    I remember your father very well for a number of reasons, particularly for his luxurious moustache, and when he headed a crew repairing the damage inflicted when my tank Ballyrashane (B Sqn OC's) went over a mine

    The Oued Zaza story isn't quite right - fortunately it wasn't Bangor I was crewing. See:
    Loading...

    He was 2/IC of the group headed by Major Lidderdale who was ordered to prepare Tiger 131 for shipment to the UK. Promoted to Capatin 28/9/43. Transferred to the North Irsh Horse as EME 5/10/43. I have a photo of him and Lidderdale addressing group about the forthcoming project - onlyof theoir backs though

    I have the citation for his MC, also the record for his being Mentioned in Despatches. If you don't have them, or the photo, let me know.

    With best wishes to you and yours,

    Gerry
    www.northirishhorse.net
     
  10. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    and insured!

    I love this thread so much:)
     
  11. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    One day I will get round to posting details of a supposedly fictional account of a clash with a Tiger that turned out to be based on fact i.e. fact turning into fiction! (makes a change from fiction turning into fact if you see what I mean :huh:).

    As a taster, the 'fictional' clash is in the novel "Warriors for the Working Day" by Peter Elstob. Peter Elstob was actually a 3RTR tank commander and was involved in a clash with a Tiger tank (see my Fehrmann Tiger versus 3 british Comets thread for details). Common facets between the two 'versions' are tanks/rafts/river/Tiger and so on. My father was Peter Elstobs Driver.
     
  12. Byrden

    Byrden Junior Member

    Tiger I and II from theBundesarchivVolume l
    The sixth image claims to be of Tiger 131.
    It seems even they can get it wrong.
    The crew of Tiger 131 welded a hand bar above and foot bar below the front shielding to assist them in climbing aboard.
    It is still there, as can be seen at Bovington.
    Noel Botham (co author 'Catch that Tiger'.)

    Yes, that is true, there were and are German welded bars on Tiger "131" of s.Pz.Abt.504.

    The Bundesarchiv photo in question shows Tiger "131" of s.Pz.Abt.501.

    David
     
  13. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

  14. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Thanks. And this says it all really:

    “We should not forget that British soldiers died in the action that led to the capture of Tiger 131 and to cloud such history would be to do Lidderdale, Gudgin and the diminishing number of veterans a tremendous disservice.”

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  15. At Home Dad (Returning)

    At Home Dad (Returning) Well-Known Member

    That's brilliant, and deserves to be added to the Amazon page for the book.
    It would have cheered me had they mentioned the absolute tenaciousness
    and 'Sherlock' skills of our Gerry


    "nor did he allude to any of the more fantastic events found in the book"
    That'll be those knickers again! :lol:
     
  16. jw021979

    jw021979 Still Learning

    Nice to hear the Tank Museum has uncovered some more documented evidence to prove the real story rather than the fiction from the book. To make up a story and state it as fact is not helpful to anyone.
     
  17. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    It is nice to have the Tank Museum corroborate both Gerry and my accounts of the actual capture of this Tiger by a Troop from my 21st Tank brigade as we always knew the truth of the matter and perhaps this thread can be put to bed now

    Cheers
     
  18. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    A great result for our Forum's "Tom and Jerry".

    You both need to take a bow.:D

    Regards
    Tom
     
  19. idler

    idler GeneralList

    There's still the annoying detail that the Tiger unit's war diary states that 131 was lost on the 19th, two days before the 'actual capture'. Did I miss the explanation for that?
     
  20. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    The Boche can only count to three?

    All the best

    Andreas
     

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