William Digby, a native of Farndon in Nottinghamshire, enlisted with the Sherwood Rangers at the onset of the Second World War at the age of 17. His service spanned Palestine, Tobruk, and North Africa, where he distinguished himself as one of the most adept and successful tank commanders in B Squadron.

During the interwar years, the Regiment operated as horsed cavalry. Mobilized at the war's outbreak in 1939, they were sent to Palestine in early 1940. 

Despite being earmarked for armour conversion, they initially served as cavalry. Temporarily transformed into coastal artillery while awaiting tanks, they participated in the first Siege of Tobruk.

Post Tobruk's relief in late 1941, the Sherwood Rangers transitioned into an armoured regiment as planned. Their tank debut occurred in the Battle of Alam El Halfa in August 1942, halting General Rommel's advance. Two months later, they spearheaded armoured attacks in the Battle of El Alamein, breaching Rommel's defences within the first 24 hours. Playing a crucial role in Operation Supercharge, they contributed to the final victory at El Alamein.

Their reputation in North Africa led to their selection as one of four armoured regiments for the British assault landings on Normandy beaches on D-Day. They landed on Gold Beach two minutes before H-Hour.

On D-Day, June 6th 1944, the now Sergeant, William “Bill” Digby, second in command of B Squadron, landed on Gold Beach. The landing was not easy, weather conditions were bad and the tanks had to get off the landing craft and roll out over the swell and onto the beaches themselves whilst having to manoeuvre round obstacles and avoiding enemy fire. Digby had to make a dangerous attempt to save his tank from sinking when he noticed some steel struts on his craft were about to break. Luckily he was able to clamber across to the front and fix the struts in place, saving his crew the fate of so many other crews that sadly sunk to their deaths with their tanks that day.

Sergeant Digby’s tank eventually made it onto the Jig Green sector of Gold Beach and as other tanks all around him were hit by enemy fire, he pressed forward. However, from the direction of Le Hamel there was a casement holding a 77mm anti-tank gun which now fired in their direction. Unfortunately, Bill Digby was standing in the turret of his tank and both his legs were severed while three of his crew members also sustained injuries.

In an attempt to withdraw, the tank was reversed back onto the beach, only to be immobilised. The crew managed to escape to a nearby dune where they hid under the cover of another immobilised tank. Stranded, wounded, and subjected to relentless enemy fire, Digby and his crew endured the entirety of the fighting around them on that day. Rescue finally was possible in the evening, and they were subsequently transported to a Casualty Clearing Station.

Regrettably, Digby's severe injuries precluded evacuation and tragically he succumbed to his wounds the following evening. His commanding officer, Major Michael Gold, spoke of him as possessing "an exceptional spirit of friendship and loyalty," portraying him as a true leader and an exemplary figure for all the Sherwood Rangers.

Sergeant Digby was only 22 years old when he fell. Today, we commemorate Bill Digby, interred at CWGC Bayeux War Cemetery.

Most of the information in this story was drawn from James Holland’s Brothers in Arms. However, it deviates slightly from the official CWGC records. The story refers to 323418 Cpl W. Digby as a Sergeant, but a review of his Service Record by the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) confirms he held only the ranks of Trooper and Corporal throughout his service. It’s possible this was a misunderstanding or assumption of an acting rank, but the headstone inscription and CWGC documentation correctly list his rank as Corporal.