The city of Ede in the Netherlands was liberated on April 17th, 1945. To commemorate this fact, a Sherman tank was placed at the outskirts of Ede as a memorial in 1990.
The war diary of the OKW (Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht) [Armed forces high command, the supreme German military command and control staff during World War Two] reports on Monday, the 16th of April 1945: "Fortgang der kämpfe um die "Festung Holland"... an der Rheinfront noch Rühe" [progress on the battle of the "Citadel Holland"... quiet on the Rhine front]. In fact, that day the first Canadian tanks of the 1st Canadian Tank Brigade, part of the British 49th 'Polar Bear' Infantry Division roll towards Ede.
In the early evening of the 16th of April, 1945 the 147th Brigade of the 49th Infantry Division is tasked to liberate Ede. The brigade consists of three batallions: The 11th battalion 'The Royal Scots Fusiliers', the 1st battalion 'The Leicestershire Regiment' and the 7th battalion 'The duke of Wellington's Regiment'. The 147th Brigade is supported by the 1st Canadian Tank Brigade and A and C Squadrons, the 11th Regiment 'The Ontario Regiment' and A and C Squadrons of the 14th Regiment 'The Calgary Regiment' are tasked to support the drive towards Ede. Every Squadron consists of twenty Sherman tanks.
Ede is but one of several targets in the Veluwe area and the task of capturing Ede itself is given to the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the supporting Squadrons from the Calgary Regiment. They leave Arnhem at 18:00 hours, C Squadron with their Sherman tanks in the lead. After a few skirmishes they stop at dusk, around 21:00 hours. The advance along the N224 highway to Ede will continue tomorrow.
The next day the war diary of the OKB reports on the British-Canadian actions: "Bei Anrheim erweiterte der gegner seinen Brückenkopf und gelangte über die Strasse nach Appeldoorn [sic]" [The enemy extended their bridgehead at Arnhem and reached Apeldoorn over the (N224) highway]. At 05:00 hours the advance towards Ede continues, again with C Squadron in the lead. At around 06:00 hours a small battle erupts at the Drieberg hill which overlooks the N224. This needs to be taken before the Royal Scots Fusiliers can advance further. After an artillery barrage Shermans from C Squadron roll up the hill and capture two German anti-tank cannons with their crews, members of the 34. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "Landstorm Nederland "[34th SS volunteer Grenadier Division "Landstorm Nederland"], Dutchmen fighting for Germany. After taking the hill the allies advance over the Ginkelse Heide towards the Simon Stevin barracks just outside of Ede. Here they join battle with the 34th SS Division. C Squadron comes into action again, dispatching four Sherman tanks. Two of these are regular Sherman V tanks armed with a 75mm gun, the other two are Sherman IB tanks equipped with a 105mm howitzer gun. In the fighting at and around the barracks the Sherman IB's are in their element.
After this engagement the tanks advance to Ede. As part of the N224 is blocked the tanks advance via the Arnhemseweg before they reach the N224 again. Now this part of the force splits up, one part follows the Arnhemseweg towards the centre of Ede, the other part follows the N224 before turning towards the centre of town. The first allied Sherman tanks roll into Ede.
It is at this location that we meet our Sherman tank 81 years later. Named Cougar, she looks brand new. She was fully restored in Delft in 2022-2024 and relocated from her old location at the roundabout on the N224 to her current location close by.
This Sherman tank is displayed in the markings of a tank from C Squadron, 14th Regiment 'The Calgary Regiment'. It represents the tank used by Captain Davies and his crew. Davies and his crew drove a regular Sherman V tank. This tank however is an M4(105) 105mm howitzer equipped version. This tank was built by Chrysler with construction number 57562 and US Army serial number 30104244. The tank was part of the tank fleet of the Royal Dutch Army after the war and was stored at Soesterberg before it was donated to Ede.
From 1990 to 2022 it was marked as T212125 with the number 13 in a green circle on the turret. It was however discovered that these markings were incorrect and it was decided to change her markings to 31 in a blue circle. It kept serial number T212125 and the name Cougar. Why Cougar? All tanks of C Squadron had a name beginning with a C, hence the choice for Cougar.
Click on the images to enlarge
