Phil P

How about the J**p is my car, I shall not want another. It maketh me lie down in damp places. It anointeth my head with oil. Yeah though I drive in the valley of Dodges, I feel no evil. etc. Dinner times over back to 'earning a pitance! Phil

Whilst on the subject of driving licenses, it you have type 2 NIDDM diabeties you have to inform the DVLA Swansea. This was not a requirement before unless you were a Type ! requiring insulin. Being a type 2 I asked the Diabeties Association as it had appeared on a list of medical conditions on the DVLA's license application booklet that they have to be informed about, something like 20 plus categories. They knew nothing about it as the Diabeties Association had niether been consulted or informed of this requirement. If the DVLA's medical officer decides to withdraw your license you CANNOT appeal. It states this fact on the letter you get back from the DVLA. Get a copy of the booklet you could have a condition that is listed. The Swansea 'Black shirts' are watching you! Phil P

Sorry to say this but we have run tanks through the streets of Wolverhampton for the past 3 years and will be doing it again in 2009. It is all done with the backing of the City Council and without the Police being involved. The Police objected so the City Council used a private security company after asking the Police 'Who pays for you anyway!' So they keep away. We have run a T52, Valentine , 432, 438 altogether without a problem. 2006 was exciting when a steward waved the Valentine and a 432 onto the ring before it was closed on the Saturday lunchtime!! They did a complete circuit before they were gathered in and the parade could start. Good game, good game! Wolverhampton City Council are really enthusiastic and have a very good relationship with the Birmingham West Midlands Area MVT even after our practice run in 2006. I cantell one thing, the taxi's didn't cut the two errant tanks up and the look on folks faces as they sat at the traffic lights was a brilliant. Phil P. Tanks for the memory.

How about the 'Great Panjandrum'. That would cause a bit of excitement at Beltring!

A Renault? Urrgh!

Producing the basic hull for a WWI tank is not a problem once the original drawings can be sourced thanks to modern CAD and CNC. Riviting it up is not a problem either. Castings and forgings of the blacksmith variety. Surely amongst the ranks of this Forum there are folks with the skills and facilities to contribute their efforts in kind not money. The engine may seem an impossibility but have you considered that there is probably someone out there that has one before any thought of castings etc are thought of. It's not that long ago that a replica of a wright flyer was built and one of the original engines was found. That's the easy bit, or fairly easy bit! Problem number 1 is where would it be done? and 2 Who funds it? I would say that due to the way the HMVF is set up and operated the the Lottery is a no no. One plus is that in WWI they were designed to built not only as a fighting machine but also that companies who could cut and rivet heavy plate could make the basic hull with unskilled labour. 90 years on assuming the place and the money can be found it should not be a huge problem unless you pick somewhere south of Watford Gap!! Phil P. 75 WWI tanks built at Metro Cammell's Old Park works Wednesbury.

An piece in our local evening newspaper appeared last night referring to this guy. It gave the columnist yet another opportunity to have a side swipe at re enctment groups and others again. Last night his comment was that in future years nobody wearing medals would be seen at Poppy parades only those who dress up as 'Tommies' would be there. This writer has already described MV owners as: '... a bunch of idiots racing round in old military vehicles turning parades into a circus.' and re enactors as '.. plump middle aged men in khaki.' I have have written to point out how wrong he was with his comments. He apparently got upset when I called him 'Just another journalist.' he also took offence at me saying he was renowned for not letting truth spoil a good story. As for the imposter in this story he is possibly one of many. It is up to their own piers to point them out. Don't forget one bad chef is more dangerous than the whole SAS Regiment!! Phil P

This year in Wednesbury for the first time that I can remember the Police closed the parade route from the RBL club to the Cenotaph from 10-45 when the parade set off until 11-30 when everybody had returned. Normally when we arrive at the Cenotaph the traffic is allowed to drive past on the main road and then it is stopped again for us to return.. The Cenotaph is in it's own large memorial garden. This year all traffic was diverted. It was very much appreciated by all who attended the service. Over twenty wreaths were laid including one from the local fire station for the American fire fighters who died in 9/11 and one from the Birmingham & West Midlands Area MVT for all those who served. We are hoping to help the RBl Wednesbury Branch raise £60,000-00 to do renovation work on the Cenotaph and gardens with a show of MV's in the town in early May 2009. We would like to have a WWI tank a Matilda and a Valentine tank on display all of which were built in the town by Metro Cammell at it's Old Park Works where I was an apprentice. Phil P

I don't have a relative buried in France (fortunatley) though my Mother had a cousin who died on a Japanese prison ship in 1943 aged 19. A Great Uncle of mine was a Surgeon in France in WWI. When we do the Bethune tour I drive up to Cabaret Rouge in Souchez and place a RBL cross on the grave of Private 34109 Ernest Mullard who died on the 18 April 1918 aged 26. He was a 'Tunneler with the South Staffs Regiment. He is not a relative but was born in the same village as I live in. I feel it is the very least I can do. I was asked to write a piece for the Parish magazine recording my visits. As a result hi sGreat Nephew and Great Niece his nephew from his Fathers side contacted me. Niether until then new of the other or of Private Mullrds resting place. They live 400 yards apart! It made my trips worth the effort. Phil.

"Now there are two schools of thought on what to do next. You can engage the highest gear that it will drive in and use minimum revs or dump the clutch maximum revs and boil the mud until it's dry and then drive out. Which do you think Private?" "Er ... do we move the tree first or at the same time Sarg?"

Ah the Lightning, Hmmmm. I wanted to join the RAF hoping I might fly one. No chance said the recruiting officer so I didn't join. In 1960 something there was a report of a Lightning being shot down by ground fire.In fact it was rumoured to be a Bedoin Tribesman with with basically a 'Blunderbus'!! Two lightnings flew over his camp and scared the sheep so he took a shot at the third as it approached and the Lightning flew into the cloud of scrap. It was officially recorded as 'Catastrophic engine failure'. The lightnings were returning from an excercise. That piece came from a member of the ground crew. I have a picture amongst my odds and sods from Luechars News of a Russian tail gunner on a 'Bear' holding up a copy of.... 'Luechars News' Anybody remember the picture. It cuased a bit of a flap as it was the previous months edition. Phil

In answer to your question mcspool it appears that it's the bare chassis and cab from the 2nd hippo built every thing else is from March 1944. Mine had the National Service No 70 RE 85. Under all the paint I found it's REME sign with 88 on it and also part of the sign for 79th Armoured Division. I don't know when it received that wether it was in 1944 or later or if it was on the original cab. If it was fitted in 1957 during it's overhaul then it only had a paint over. I believe that the MKII Spit is classed as still being in RAF service and available for combal duty. There was a simulation done about 25 years ago as to which would win in a dogfight between a Phantom and a Spitfire. It was decided that the Spit probably would if it got in the first volley as it was more manouverable as a Phantom on full power would need three counties to turn and come back. Heat seeking missiles ain't so smart picking up a Merlin exhaust! A few of the Warflats were built by Metro Cammell where I was an apprentice. During stock taking in about 1961 we came across a crate with a set of Valentine tank tracks still greased up in it in the stores. The local scrap man had them. Phil.

After restoring my WC51 and painting it in US Navy markings I discovered it was a British Army Dodge and was released in 1947. Hmm. Still looks better in grey or is that gray. When we do our Poppy collecting we have a couple of guys come to see us and have a chat. They drove WC52's in the Far East. They used them as ambulances with litters fitted across the rear body. Sadly no pictures but they used the '52 rather than a '54 because of the winch and they were easier to load. They said they NEVER failed to get to a casualty where ever they were located. They once drove 30 miles through dense undergrowth using the winch and machetes. When these two have a sit in my Dodge they've got a grin from ear to ear. Phil.

I think you are right Bystander the WWI versions were probably called something else not Warflats but they did have a long service life. Is there one in preservation I wonder? I keep intending to buy a kit (or kits) of the WW2 Warflats for my WD based model railway. At £16 a kit there won't be that many! To see them in action see the video 'Tanks by Train' Phil.

My Hippo was built in March 1944 and sold from Ruddington in December 1981. In 1957 it had a major overhaul and aquired the cab and chassis from the 2nd Hippo built. WD railway wagons had a long service life. Some warflats built in 1917 were still in use in the early 1970's and fitted with improved brakes. and NOT carrying main battle tanks probably nothing bigger than a 432. There could still be one around on some supply depot. A mate of mine works at a company that has a small three wheeled motorised sit on flat truck, about 1 ton capacity, that came from an MOD surplus sale in 1995 (ish) It appears it was built in 1943 or the US Navy. I'm not sure of the make. It is still used in the maintenance dept., and is commonly known as the 'Loxley Lozenge' from the 'Last of the Summer Wine' and is painted in a home made cammo scheme! Phil.

We were told at work today that we could observe 2 minutes silence if we wanted to. (Political correctness again.) Everybody to a man and woman did. No phones rang all machines stopped. Silence. A time to stop and think. Thank you Lee Enfield. That was perfect. When we stood in silence in the cold wind and heavy cloud on Sunday at the Cenotaph in Wednesbury at 11am the Sun suddenly shone onto it for those few minutes. It was a strange moment. Every year more and more people attend this service in Wednesbury and every year the generosity of the people of Wednesbury never failes to amaze those of us who collect for the RBL Poppy Appeal. Thank you to all of them. Phil.

Sorry not to have replied earlier Catweazle but I have been repairing the Hippo after a brake seal started to leak and annoited the front shoes etc, and we were going to use it on the Poppy collections and parade. Sorted it and went out with boots blacked for the 15th year. 'Mind how you go' I think it was Dixon of Dock Green. Highway Patrol had several. 'Leave your Blood at the Blood Bank not on the highway.' 'It's not the wheel that's loose it's the nut behind it!' being the most memorable and of course, 'Just be careful out there.' from NYPD Blue. I got stopped on a routine check and breatherlised a few months ago. The officer took out the meter and said "Have you seen one of these before sir?" Now have you ever said something and as you were saying it you wish you weren't. I said "Yes on the Bill!" He said "Ah, but this one is real and our cells don't have walls that shake when you slam the door sir!" He then said "Blow into here until I say stop." He did say stop but not until both lungs collapsed my eye balls exploded and I lost control of my bladder! He then said. "Thank you sir, your result was negative so you can be home in time for the Bill." I weazed "Thank you officer." and drove off with the window open trying to gulp in some good old Black Country air. Phil.

I know a couple of folks who would constantly drive over the white line if their car had a vibrating seatcushion. That however is another story and 'forum'! Phil.

I am afraid that the Police are dammed if they do dammed if they don't. The vast majority of the Police do a thankless job but there are a few who perhaps would be better off in Jack boots! I have friends in the Police Force and also a local beat officer who has a strange out look. I can't say too much as my location appears at the top of my postings. Common sence is NOT always that common. A traffic cop in Brum in the 60's stopped a taxi driver under a section of the stage coach act that was last used in 1830 something. It went to court and the taxi driver was fined 1 penny (old money) as that was the original fine. The officer was then given a dressing down for wasting the courts time. Didn't do him too much harm because he became a Chief Inspector! Mind how you go. Phil.

Here'sone for your list Tony. A mate of mine claims he sold his101 because of RSI from taking the fuel cap off. Phil.

Anyone seen a runway sweeper at a show? Yep. There is or was a Bedford OY runway sweeper on the show circiut and was up for sale on MilWeb last year/early this year. There was a Snow Blower early 60's era up for sale on Milweb and MVT Greensheet. There isn't a lot of stuff with military connections that hasn't been preserved including a dustbin sorry garbage truck built on an International 5 ton truck chassis and was ex USAF that I stumbled across in a haulage companies yard in Oxfordshire. That was about 10 years ago and was been restored (slowly). Phil

A friend of mine works for the UN based in Cyprus. He sent me a few pics of vehicles in UN service. Hell fire there is a right mottley collection. I suppose they are not strictly military or are they? I did spot a Lada Riva among them. It's to dry even for one of those to rot away while you are watching it in Cyprus. Phil.

Sorry Bodger Baz I meant to put R Cubed. Got Tennants brain!! Phil

Bodger Baz. If you have a look on the WWII Dodge Forum and go into search there was a piece posted with the exact dimensions of the cab mounting blocks about 18 months ago. I made mine out of Acetal Delrin. It's as good as hardwood, if not better, gives some insulation and doesn't rot. I seem to remember it is 40mm thick. When I came to take mine out during the rebuild I discovered they were made from old floor joists complete with sawn off rusty screws! The acetal was used because we use it by the mile at work and it came out of the skip. We use it for mounting blocks and wear runners. DON'T use nylon if you are offered it because it absorbs 10% of it's own weight of water when wet and swells. That is a fact. We stopped using it because we had nylon bearings swell and seize up so ICI recommended acetal. Sorry if I upset the purists but I am sure Chrysler would have used it. Hardwood was probably easier to obtain when it was built. Phil

I believe that the Tank Museum have one and that is the one that was at Jacksons. I saw it 30 years at Bawtry. Phil