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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.

Credits


Reviewed by:
Andy Voase

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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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 14 Feb. 2026.
APA Style:
Clarke, R. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Roy Clarke [Interview by Unknown]. Legasee. Retrieved February 14, 2026, 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 February 14, 2026. 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: 14 February 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Clarke, R. A Veteran Interview with Roy Clarke [Internet]. Interview by Unknown. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2026 Feb 14]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/roy-clarke/
An interview with

Frank Corbett

Frank Corbett: A WWII Veteran's Career of Skill, Courage and Humanity Amidst the Chaos of War

Frank Corbett, a distinguished World War Two veteran, provides a compelling account of his extensive military service, marked by resilience, resourcefulness, and humanity. Starting with the 7th South Staffordshire Regiment, he later transferred to the 7th Norfolks and ultimately the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment, demonstrating remarkable adaptability to the diverse demands of war. Frank recalls intense encounters with German soldiers, where his quick reflexes and skill in hand-to-hand combat were critical for survival. As an anti-tank gunner during the Normandy landings, Frank played a pivotal role in crucial combat operations. His mechanical expertise and exceptional driving skills later saw him entrusted with transporting high-ranking officers and sensitive equipment, including navigating the treacherous Brenner Pass, during his service in Italy. Frank's wartime experience was marked by both unimaginable danger and profound acts of compassion. He survived a bullet that pierced his helmet and mortar blasts that hurled him through the air, often treating his own wounds in the heat of battle. Amidst these hardships, he formed deep bonds with his comrades and endured the heartbreaking loss of leaders and friends. Acts of kindness defined Frank’s character, even in the chaos of war. He once broke ranks to assist a woman giving birth on the pavement, ensuring her and her baby’s safety. In another instance, he invited a wounded German soldier to share a meal with his unit and consoled a childhood shell shocked friend, who had temporarily deserted. Frank’s story stands as a powerful testament to courage, empathy, and humanity in one of history’s most turbulent times.
An interview with

John Sharp

John joined the army and volunteered for SOE. He parachuted into occupied France three days after D-Day and later parachuted into Japanese occupied Burma.

John volunteered for the RAF just before the start of WW2, but failed the vision test and instead joined the Army. He was assigned to the armoured corps and soon after he volunteered for Special Operations Executive. At the time parachuting was not mentioned and John thinks that if it had been he would not have volunteered! During training he specialised in Signals and learned unarmed combat and parachuting, which he was not too keen on. He was scheduled to parachute into France before D-Day but the mission was aborted at the last minute. Instead they dropped after D-Day, from a Short Stirling bomber. Due to a storm the pilot could not find the drop zone but they parachuted anyway. Three days later they met their French resistance contacts near Dijon. Here they received knowledge of a German troop train passing through. John contacted HQ and the information was passed to the RAF who bombed it. During this time he could see German radio detector vans trying to find their precise location. Later he and the Resistance attacked troops guarding Marshall Petain, the Vichy collaborator, as he tried to get to Switzerland. During this time the British stayed in uniform to avoid execution if captured by the enemy. On his return to Britain he was sent to jungle training school and then parachuted into Burma and during this period he was shelled by ‘friendly fire’. His unit fought the Japanese and they eventually met up with the British 14th Army.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martyn Cox