Edd Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 I thought it was about time that I scanned in and posted the photos I took in 1994 when we were in France for the 50th D-day commemorations. We went over as part of an MVT organised trip. I had to miss my A-level mock exams but definitely worth it. A friend, Robert, was taking two military vehicles over (Bedford MW and Morris Predictor) and kindly let my parents drive one over. I've put a few notes about the trip below which I hope are of interest. The photos are in a slightly random order as I did have 73 to scan in! Some of the photo quality leaves a bit to be desired but I thought it best to put them all in. I think I may have some more but not sure where. The trip started in Hampshire and we headed in convoy to Southsea Common. As we got near to Southsea the Morris broke down and was recovered by flat bed to Southsea. We were on an earlier ferry than the majority of vehicles and just managed to get the Morris running to get to the ferry. After we had arrived at the campsite and put tents up it was late at night. So we went for a wander down to the beach and got stopped by the Gendarmes. After explaining we were English they nodded in understanding and let us carry on! Waking up the next morning we were greeted by a line up of tank transporters and tanks parked on the road. They had arrived in France very early in the morning and included an American with his Stuart who had driven it from the ferry port to the site! The Scammell Pioneer tank transporter (the one for sale on ebay at the moment) was double headed by a Pioneer recovery due to people getting bored of 15mph top speed! Later in the week the main MVT convoy came over. This I think was probably the largest preservation military vehicle convoy. They filled the Duke de Normandy ferry. Watching at the site we saw a few hundred vehicles come up and turn into the campsite. Aided by a Diamond T (that had 'broken down') down towards the coast road blocking the road for traffic that would have got in the way of the convoy! The Gendarmes did promise to find something to move it but we didn't see them for the rest of the day! Also a tremendous job done by the outriders. We heard comments that the french police that were originally going to escort decided that the MVT outriders were doing a far better job! The campsite did become a bit of a mud bath but not a big problem with so many vehicles equipped for the conditions. GMC's running double front wheels, an american pickup driven by Hooky and many others keeping everything moving. Highlights of the trip included a convoy through Bayeux, tanks being washed on garage forecourts, visiting so many historical sites. Probably the biggest single highlight to me was a convoy onto the beach near the campsite. Part of this involved meeting a large number of veterans who had landed on that beach and then giving them a lift down to their official parade further along the beach. I don't think that was the original plan but it definitely made their day! The photos of the Pioneer towing a trailer in the mud and then being rescued by a high speed tractor is do with rescuing a tank which I think made the British papers in highly distorted fashion. I think the tank was invited by a Mayor to a village celebration but he assumed it would come on transporter. Needless to say there was probably some mistranslation or misunderstanding and I think the tank tore up some tarmac. Final outcome was a Diamond T and trailer from our site going off to pick up the tank. Overall it was an amazing experience and made even more so by the welcome we got from the French everywhere we went. Feel free to ask any questions and if you want copies of any of the photos let me know and I can e-mail them to you. Enjoy! Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edd Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edd Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edd Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edd Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edd Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edd Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edd Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
private mw Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Thanks for sharing your memories and pictures Edd. Always good to see pictures from different periods and to look out for vehicles which you've seen or are/aren't still around. Campsite certainly looked a little muddy! Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoranWC51 Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Aahhhh, memories. The old "Mud City" campground. The Swedish group I was in were in Normandy for the 3rd time (1984, 1989, and 1994) and opted for a camping in the village of Creully, I've been told that it was the place for Montgomery's first HQ after the landings. The camping in Creully is placed on a slope so all the rain that fell ended up at the bottom of the hill - where a group of Belgians had rented the flat area for an impromptu campground, which became drenched in water and soon turned into a muddy bog.... The area where "Mud City" was placed was rented from a local farmer. I heard that all grass etc. on the field was supposed to be left as it was, according to the agreement, but the farmer opted to harvest the grass (for his animals, or to sell?) the day/days before the camping was set up. This made the situation a lot worse when the rain came, and the ground was quickly churned to mud. Goran N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty2 Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 That is a long time ago but remember the mud well. Everybody looks much younger in the pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolly Jeeper Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 I was on that campsite on that trip. The chap in the GPA with the old South African flag had brought it from SA for the 50th. He took me for a spin off the beach at Arromanches in the GPA - first time I'd been in a swimming GPA. JC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big ray Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 I knew that the field had only been sown with grass seed the autumn of 1993, I told our group that if they had any heavy rain during their stay on site, then it was sure to be a mud bath, some of our group still went of course, but the rest of us opted for a very dry site in Carentan........ we had a fantastic time, as I am sure everyone else did. mud or no mud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMS Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Great pictures, thanks for sharing some really nice vehicles there. I was working at the Golden Lion Pub in Southwick for the 50th Anniversary, its the pub Monty and Eisenhower would visit prior to D-Day, We had hundreds of people coming through everyday for about 2 weeks, lots of American Veterans, it was a really great time chatting with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gas 44 Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 Not with a vehicle but I think that was my second time to Normandy and I recall seeing some of those vehicles. I wonder how many are still about ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels v Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 Really nice pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 I remember that gearbox change on the Stuart, my Dad and I had the chance to get on the hull and chat to the guys inside doing all the work! Think I was 16 :-) Did I get sunburn that day, the worst in my life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fesm_ndt Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 (edited) Thanks for sharing your memories and pictures Edd. Always good to see pictures from different periods and to look out for vehicles which you've seen or are/aren't still around. Campsite certainly looked a little muddy! Scott I was thinking the same thing, ie how many of these still exist and which don't and why...... I can't recall seeing one of these before, is it still around? Edited June 18, 2013 by fesm_ndt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels v Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 Its a Canadian Ford or Chevrolet C8 HUB, we have two of them in denmark one have been to normandy a couple of times but I dont think it is this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gas 44 Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 I remember that gearbox change on the Stuart, my Dad and I had the chance to get on the hull and chat to the guys inside doing all the work! Think I was 16 :-) Did I get sunburn that day, the worst in my life! Out of interest was this an MVT tour/camp ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 Yes it was if I remember correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edd Posted June 19, 2013 Author Share Posted June 19, 2013 It was indeed an MVT site. The C8 HUB is still around in running order with the same owner. I saw it last month at a show with the owners military motorbike in the back and had a chat with the owner. Although I can not remember his name other than I think his first name is Michael. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M5Clive Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Thanks for taking the time and trouble to post your images of Normandy 1994. You never see Dennis Robert's Diamond T (M20) combination loaded with his Sherman Grizzly anymore out and about; back then he used to drive it the length and bredth of the country and often abroad too. Good to reflect on past events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 (edited) Buried in a thread someone mentioned he had sold the T. Since moving to Lincoln in 2003 I haven't seen him, but when at home I used to see him regularly, in fact it was Dennis who encouraged my Dad and I to travel to Normandy in 94 and gave us details on the best places to go. I posted these a while ago, but here is the Bayeux convoy in 1994. NB: 1:40 before any armour. Edited June 20, 2013 by ajmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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