Thetford Forest Cromwell Tank restored in time for D Day

The Second World War Cromwell tank, known as Little Audrey, stands beside the A1065 near Mundford, at the entrance to Thetford Forest.

It commemorates the men of the 7th Armoured Division (Desert Rats), who were stationed in Thetford Forest between January and May 1944, while they trained for the invasion of Normandy.

Little Audrey on her plinth in Thetford Forest (Image: Sonya Duncan)Little Audrey, a tank hull built from parts of various Cromwells, is being refurbished by Shaun Hindle, from Old Buckenham-based Military Vehicle Specialists.

"We're working with the 7th Armoured Association," he said. "We've been refurbishing it cosmetically. The tank has suffered a bit from the weather and it needs to be freshened up.

"There will be a big unveiling next May as a prelude to D-Day."  

The tank being carefully lifted from its plinth by crane (Image: Sonya Duncan)The tank being loaded onto a lorry ready for its journey to Old Buckenham (Image: Sonya Duncan)Little Audrey ready to be taken to Old Buckenham, where she will be restored (Image: Sonya Duncan)READ MORE: Remembering the Desert Rats in Norfolk

READ MORE: Royal salute in Norfolk for the Desert rats

The 7th Armoured was formed in North Africa in 1938 and took part in all the major battles of the desert campaign including El Alamein and the liberation of Tunis, before the division was recalled to England for the invasion build-up.

Winston Churchill inspects a Cromwell Tank at an unknown location during the war (Image: Public Domain)Around 160 tanks, which each had a five-man crew and a 72mm gun, were stationed in Norfolk.

Ian Paterson, treasurer and historian with the Desert Rats Association, said its six month stay at High Ash Camp was the only time the 7th Armoured spent in England during its entire history.

A Cromwell Tank passing through Eudem, near Emmerich in Germany, in 1945 (Image: Public Domain)It sailed from Felixstowe on June 5, 1944 - the day before D-Day - with the first tanks landing on Gold Beach on the evening of June 6.

From there, the 7th Armoured took part in the Battle of Caen, before joining the Allied push through France, the Low Countries and Germany to Berlin, where they took part in the victory parade.