Gunner George Durant

"Opposite to the forecourt of Oosterbeek Church. In September 1944, where the low wall and post now are, lying at a crazy angle was an anti-tank gun. Opposite, where the car now stands, was a Tiger tank between the shattered houses. Thus was the scene that myself and five other marauders (all different units) encountered coming on this position on what proved to be the last day of the battle - unknown to us at that time. Finding a live round and charges in the debris, we promptly loaded and roughly aimed at the tank, the gun fired (to our surprise), producing a brilliant firework display on the turret. The reply was instant - the Tiger fired an ear splitting shot, the round luckily going over our heads into the church roof. We melted back through the hedge, taking to a slit trench some way off and held it all night, but were taken prisoner at dawn the next day." Photo taken 11th September 1993.