Home | Veterans | Terry Carroll
Terry-Carroll-Thumbnail

A veteran interview with

Terry Carroll

When Terry opted to join the Dragoons over the RAF and the Navy he hadn’t expected to find himself in Flail Tank creating a safe path off Juno beach.

Video Coming Soon

Bringing military history to life

Help us tell this veteran's story!

About Terry Carroll

Prior to enlisting in 1942, Terry lived through the Birmingham Blitz. The Army wasn’t his first choice but fear of heights ruled out the RAF and he definitely didn’t want to work as a stoker in the Navy so the Army it was, where Terry became trained in a new weapon, the Flail Tank.

The Flail Tank took a lot of getting used to. The visibility was poor and this was a big issue when Terry landed on Juno beach. Another problem was the tank chains being blown off by mines. Eventually, the tank became stranded and as Terry sought cover he stood on a mine. Thankfully, the mine was defective but no sooner had he survived this scrape when he encountered an anti-tank mine, again, somehow remaining unhurt. While repairing the tanks, Terry’s group suffered heavy losses in a German attack. From that point on the tank crews were under manned and Terry became a gunner.

Terry shares his recollections of moving through France including an attack on an underground radar station, the Battle of Le Havre, the fight to take Carpiquet and how he thinks he made it through thanks to the cool, calm nature of his driver, Ben. Terry also recollects a local family they would spend time with, sharing food, singing songs and looking out for each other. Terry went back about 10 years ago and was able to find one of the children, now a woman in her fifties. Terry ended the war in Germany then spent 12 months in Palestine.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Lizzie Gray

Copyright:
All video content, web site design, graphics, images (including submitted content), text, the selection and arrangement thereof, underlying source code, software and all other material on this Web site are the copyright of Legasee Educational Trust, and its affiliates, or their content and technology providers. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials on this Web site – including reproduction for purposes other than those noted above, modification, distribution, or republication – without the prior written permission of Legasee Educational Trust is strictly prohibited.

Home | Veterans | Terry Carroll

A veteran interview with

Terry Carroll

Terry-Carroll-Thumbnail

When Terry opted to join the Dragoons over the RAF and the Navy he hadn’t expected to find himself in Flail Tank creating a safe path off Juno beach.

Related topics & talking points

Veteran gallery

Photos & memories

Keep on watching

More veteran stories...

Share this interview on:

https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terry-carroll/

Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Carroll, Terry. A Veteran Interview with Terry Carroll. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terry-carroll/. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
APA Style:
Carroll, T. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Terry Carroll [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved May 18, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terry-carroll/
Chicago Style:
Carroll, Terry. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Terry Carroll. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee. Accessed May 18, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terry-carroll/
Harvard Style:
Carroll, T. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Terry Carroll. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terry-carroll/ (Accessed: 18 May 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Carroll, T. A Veteran Interview with Terry Carroll [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2025 May 18]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/terry-carroll/
An interview with

John Bowler

John Bowler was a 19-year old officer when he joined the Korean war. He gives an in-depth account of front-line fighting on the "Hook" ridge, Hill 355 and intense day and night-time raids and patrols. John also recounts how he won the Military Cross for his incredible bravery.

John was drafted into the Army and, upon becoming a commissioned officer in the Royal Welsh Regiment, chose Jamaica as his dream destination. Fate chose Folkstone's barracks for John instead. He explains how his strong relationship with his platoon commander, rugby and the British weather - but not its terrain - prepared them for Korea. John then fondly recounts travelling and being posted to Hong Kong in 1951, aged 19, and explains how "Tuffy" the goat mascot deeply affected Welsh servicemen's morale! Most men had never left Wales, so they brought Welsh hymns with them as they landed in Pusan. John recalls acclimatising to a country and people devastated by war. Posted on the "Hook" ridge frontline, John gives a colourful depiction of the British defensive positions and cooking with petrol. He recalls his first (very) close enemy contact and the Chinese army's professionalism. John fought fiercely on Hill 169. He explains what night-time fighting was like and how his company fought their way out of a Chinese encirclement. John poignantly reflects on how the love for his men often trumped his fear of death. John shares a heart-racing encounter with a numerically superior enemy and how British artillery helped them escape into no man's land. John explains how the unreliable Sten gun hindered their retreat and how an act of god saved his men. On another dreaded daylight patrol, John shares a heart-breaking memory of how a well-placed mortar killed two of his men. There were always two other enemies, the cold weather and hills, and John explains how they were fought. John's platoon was then posted to Hill 355. John recalls a night-time raid behind enemy lines and how his men kept their discipline under unimaginable terror, and how he won the Military cross. He also speaks of keeping his humanity during war. Korea gave John clarity on life's important things and a steadfast resilience to its challenges. He also got nightmares and a lifelong grief for his fallen men. John is testament to the British soldier's camaraderie, honesty and resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges.
Photo Gallery icon 5 Photos
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

John Clarke

John recalls experiences as an infantryman in the Black Watch and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Born in Manchester and raised in foster care, John Clarke became an apprentice at sixteen before joining The Black Watch, following in his grandfather’s footsteps. After training in Scotland as part of the 6th Battalion, he was deployed to Tunisia, where he fought at Sidi Medienne and helped rescue wounded prisoners from an enemy ship—a highlight of his service. He later trained in Cairo, before being stationed high up the Aurunci Mountains in Italy with the British division in the American 5th Army. John joined the 12th Brigade in Cassino and remembers the chaos around Monte Cassino monastery, the heavy casualties, and the many acts of bravery. Post-war, he joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, managing the armoury in Gaza. John reflects on his military career, recalling memorable moments including meeting Winston Churchill. For John, the friends he made during the war became the family he never had growing up.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

John Skeen

A fascinating look into the frontlines of war, told by a soldier serving with the Gloucester’s during WWII

Born and raised in Bristol and with his heart set on wanting to serve with the RAF, John Skene actually found himself serving with the Army on the frontlines of WWII. After finishing his basic training, John's story begins in Yorkshire, he talks about the tactics used by British defences when preparing a coastline for invasion. Follow John's story as he travels from France to Burma fighting the Axis forces across the world. Learn about the unique and often highly dangerous strategies of the British Army which almost result in John's death; the exotic illnesses faced by soldiers while fighting abroad; and just how much damage a single cigarette can do.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker