alan turner (RIP)

the earliest FV432s were numbered 03DA17-23 and were built in Woolwich Arsenal. they differed from the final spec as the had overheads exhausts and no air con boxes down sides. The first to current spec was ALF245B. I have the images, Geoff Fletcher has confirmed in his CMV article. Earliest GKN Sankey number started 03EA**. As for the Woolwich Builds they were alll torched and cut keeping the local scrappy busy when the Government of the day (Denis HEaley etc) awarded production rights to GKN, the jigs went the same way as well. GKN's were dearer per unit than Woolwich as well. Attached images show 03DA17 on roll out display between buildings 19 and 22 in Woolwich Arsenal date unknown but prob 1962 and wooden mock up in Woolwich

it was closed split up and most items ended up at Duxford,. Anson, Mossie and Oxford. Sra1 was part of collection I think and also went to Duxford before transfer to Southampton.

and dont forget that you have to come back to it tony

Could it be a rear view mirror from a fighter such as spit hurri tempest , the curve giving a wide view back?

The air paint for Granby was specially formulated in the chemical labs section of Woolwich Arsenal which at that time was still functioning so would have no BS number. My mums next door neighbours daughter was involved.

they look really good Les Alan

The RA Museums Chevy is basically a running shell with a correct front half but a replica back half. The driving position is really good as you are nearly sitting on the floor per F1 and handling is good compared to Morris quad which I have also tried. The back has the right shape but no interior lockers and a bench seat with seat belts for when we (I) used to give kids of all ages rides around some of the old Arsenal site, surprising how 80 year old gunners are still the quickest at tgetting into the vehicle compared with ladies half their age who need to be virtually lifted on. What engine are you going to use? the Chevy unit is slightly bigger than the bedford but bedford parts are easier to get hold of which is why so many were converted by the REME before demob. I think Richard Farrant has plenty of tales about that. heres a few photos all my own. alan

well I worked for NAt west for 28 years but that was before they went Scottish and started playing silly beggars. Have to be careful how I put that as I get a fair pension from them each month.

Going very slightly off track, I am aware that during 1951 Woolwich Arsenal had refurbished over a thousand Matadors from very rough condition back to perfect, do any of you guys know if your MAtador has a rework plate for ROF(W) between 1950 and 1952?

sorry all that is confirmed as 39-45, digit problem. Firepower will not have any information on vehicle allocation to units, only one bloke would know and that would be the corporal of the MT Section who would have so many 15cwt , 3 tonners and Quad tractors under his control. If you can find proper ID plates then its off to Deepcut. As you are aware the images I post come from The Royal Arsenal Woolwich Historical Society collection and I have just been co-opted as their web site co-ordinator for their site at www.royalarsenalwoolwich.co.uk, I shall still show images as before Alan

I have refound the Royal Artillery site check out www.ra30-45pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ it covers all types during that period but click field/RHA regiments for brief histories anyhting prior to 1940 towing vehicle would have been Morris, Karrier, Guy all mainly lost in france. alan

Thanks Smithy for confirming my guesswork on that.

cheers Tony you B. although I have the most yards on the museums chevvy (bedford) quad getting information about it and others is like pulling hens teeth from certain party's at back of house although I get on well with them all. There was I site that I bookmarked as it had all RA units during 39/45 but it seems to have disappeared from my listings. Certainly from 1940 onwards the Canadian produced thousands of soft skin trucks from 15 cwt to 3 ton and Artillery tractors varying from type 11, 12 & 13 bodies and much later the open back truck variety and were used from North Africa Italy and then through Europe after D Day. they were also used in the far east as related to me by an old Gunner from Preston about getting 45mph on hard sand full train (John Crompton Decd). They were certainly tough trucks there is a photo in the RA Archive of tractor and limber dangling from a bridge parapet by the wedged wheels of the 25pdr, the driver climbed out unhurt. The canadian units were re engined with bedford 28hp and demobbed post war very quickly most going to recovery trucks because of the winch. I have seen photos of the final 25pdr units being disbanded at Woolwich Barracks and they were all Morris quad very much bulled

is that a bedford with the millitant 1 cab or a matador?

looks a totally different breech block from how it was first shown. well done!!

The registered office is not usually the same address as the trading office. It can be the accounting firms address which I bellieve the Blackfriars address is . Its like Jack having his registered office at his home address but trading his tents from a shed at the bottom of the garden. Sorry obviously spent too many years in financial services

talking to the guy who is sargent of the museum gun team and he say that on his previous team they used toothpaste to keep threads clean, didnt say if that was a punishment from a civvy officer type team leader.

railway modellers weekend 5/6th june coming up.

There is a Matchless/AJS/ Norton meeting again this year down at Firepower on Sunday 4th July. The owners club last came down in sept 2007, cordonned of number 1 street and had a short circuit and the place echoed to crackling sounds of SAmmy Miller and Colin Seeley running Porcupines and 9R racers up and down smell of hot oil and clutches, didnt please all the residents but no bad behaviour and they unveiled a plaque on the site of the old AMC building just outside the site. Sadly not a lot of military bikes on show then, perhaps this time can be different.

Mark I must confess the way I got details off plate, saved photo to file then opened it with photo impact 10 and converted it to a negative and it became easier to read. Alan

WOA2 Rob askewd to be informed when ghost walk will take place, checked with museum today and it has to be booked and paid for as a meal is thrown in as well, the date though is 15th MAy.

reads serial nO 2090 LMS Railway 1941 so is it for livestock?

How has the breech come up after cleaning and what worked best ?

but wasnt HGW A Bromley man?

My wife and I honeymooned on Jersey in 1977 and visited the underground hospital as it was then certainly gave me the willies but didnt seem so bad when we went back a couple of years ago and it had been demilitarised in its exhibits, except for the shop which carried more military stuff than Firepower does.