TANKS played a crucial role in the Allied push into Normandy, despite the fact that the German models were far superior.

In particular, the German Tiger, Panther and King Tiger tanks could all engage Allied tanks at much longer ranges than those with which the Allies could fight back.

By D-Day, Colonel Frank Risbridger, now 81, of Rectory Lane, Barham, knew all about the British tanks, having spent three years training with 13 Troop, C Squadron of the 9th Royal Tank Regiment.

"We were first taught to drive ordinary vehicles with tyres, which we called soft vehicles," he recalls. "From there we learned to drive tracked vehicles, such as small Bren gun carriers, then we graduated to Valentine tanks, then Matildas and onto Churchills. You needed to be very strong and have plenty of stamina.

"Throughout 1943, we trained in these vehicles, at Charing and in Minehead, Somerset, where we practised firing at targets that popped up on a range. The Churchill tanks were 45 tonnes and they were like new toys. You would get five inside each.

"I was the driver, looking out of two periscopes. I had a co-driver, who was also the front gunner on a machine gun. The gunner manned the six-pounder in a turret, there was a wireless operator and, finally, the tank commander stood up behind the gunner.

"In April or May 1944, we went to Aldershot and practised waterproof sealing the tanks, which gave us a rough idea of what we would soon be doing. This allowed us to drive in up to eight feet of water, almost up to the turret.

"The sealing had a cord around it called cortyte, filled with an explosive called cordite. So, after you'd driven through water and got on dry land, the driver connected the cortyte to a 24-volt battery, which blew the sealing off and you were ready for action.

"We set off on June 8 at midday and landed at Sword beach about 5pm. The atmosphere there you cannot describe, like watching something on TV. The smell of high explosives, dead bodies; it was very frightening.

"The TLS had a rear anchor and a flat bottom so it could get as near to the beach until it scraped the ground. The front doors swung open and we drove directly into six feet of water. I was underwater, couldn't see anything.

"It was a queer sensation: you know you're in first gear, you know you've got your foot full on the throttle, but you can't see a thing, then, all of a sudden plop there's France in front of you.

"As soon as we got on top of the sand, we managed to get all our squadron of 18 tanks together and we all de-waterproofed under the officer commanding's orders. From there, we just battled our way through in the direction of Caen, helping the infantry out in various skirmishes, until the day I was reborn, on June 26.

"That day, we attacked a little village outside Caen called Cheux. We came up against SS and highly-trained and experienced divisions of anti-tank and German Army as part of Operation Epsom.

"There, we had a very, very hard battle and C Squadron lost 10 tanks out of 15, as well as some men. I got knocked out. Our gunner was taking aim when we heard a bang in the rear of the tank. The next thing I knew, there was burning petrol right by me and on the side of my leg. All the crew jumped out, but I had a problem getting free because my clothing had caught on something jutting out.

"I was thinking: 'Will I get killed by the Germans, or will I go up with the tank?' They were the only two things on my mind. I managed to free myself and jumped into a cornfield, where the crew put out the flames on my leg and dragged me away from the tank. The tank blew up six or seven seconds after I jumped out. I saw the turret actually lift off and move forwards.

"Our tank's petrol tank held 110 gallons and we'd only just filled up.

"We were hit by an 88 millimetre at the rear on the side. I was reborn, after that. And 24 hours later, we got a new Churchill tank."

n After the failure of Operation Epsom, Montgomery decided British troops were lacking the morale to carry out risky manoeuvres.

Instead, the British came to rely on artillery and air power to break through, while sending the infantry and armour forward to 'mop up'.