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Asser elected to take over the driving of his tank himself. He let in the gears and opened up to full throttle, the engine responding with a tremendous roar as the tank moved forward. The enemy
bombardment had not yet opened, and there was only the sound of British guns, formidable though that was. Filled with exultation, he drove as fast as he possibly could.
His driver said, ‘This'll make ‘em think there are tanks in action all right, sir.’
‘Yes, I mean to make them think just that. I hope by the time I've finished with them they'll notice us’, said Asser, laughing happily.
Within a few moments the opening German barrage began to hurl clods of earth against the side of the tank.
‘This thing wobbles like a jelly’, said Asser. ‘I used to think tanks were pretty solid affairs till we began to rock about like this.‘
By this time it was necessary to talk in shouts if there was to be any communication whatever. The driver caught the infection of excitement from his officer, and this in turn seemed to permeate the crew in a mysterious way, although they could not hear the conversation taking place in the front.
‘I think we had better shut down the flaps slightly’, said Asser. ‘There seems to be just a bit too much stuff flying in here, and although I like to see where I'm going, since I can't see anyway we might just as well have a bit more safety.‘ The front flaps were pulled down, leaving only a slight slit.
‘I think the light is coming through, don't you, sir?‘ said the driver.
‘Where?‘ said Asser.
‘Look, over there, that's the high ground in front, isn't it, sir? It seems to be quite bright above the horizon there.‘