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Roy-Clarke

A veteran interview with

Roy Clarke

To this day, as he gets ready to go to bed, Roy Clarke is thankful he is not sleeping under
a tank.

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About Roy Clarke

Roy Clarke volunteered rather than waiting to be conscripted so had his choice of where to serve, joining B Squadron Northamptonshire Yeomanry. He trained as a gunner on Sherman tanks, deploying to France around D+6. As a 20-year-old he initially found it exciting and challenging, never having travelled far, though the crossing and landing were much smoother than expected. He then fought through the Normandy campaign, where his friend, Joe Ekins, famously destroyed Michael Wittmann’s Tiger tank. He was evacuated after being wounded in Holland and never rejoined his unit.

He emphasizes the camaraderie within his crew and the daily challenges they faced; how they thought through how to escape from the Sherman if it was hit; the restricted vision and discomfort when moving. Above all, he empathises with the infantry who protected the tanks but had no protection themselves and lived in appalling conditions. He reflects on the experience, appreciating the simple comforts of post-war life and the importance of not taking things for granted.

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Reviewed by:
Andy Voase

Transcripts:
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Home | Veterans | Roy Clarke

A veteran interview with

Roy Clarke

Roy-Clarke

To this day, as he gets ready to go to bed, Roy Clarke is thankful he is not sleeping under
a tank.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Clarke, Roy. A Veteran Interview with Roy Clarke. Interview by Unknown. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/roy-clarke/. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
APA Style:
Clarke, R. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Roy Clarke [Interview by Unknown]. Legasee. Retrieved November 17, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/roy-clarke/
Chicago Style:
Clarke, Roy. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Roy Clarke. Interview by Unknown. Legasee. Accessed November 17, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/roy-clarke/
Harvard Style:
Clarke, R. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Roy Clarke. [Interviewed by Unknown]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/roy-clarke/ (Accessed: 17 November 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Clarke, R. A Veteran Interview with Roy Clarke [Internet]. Interview by Unknown. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2025 Nov 17]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/roy-clarke/
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