Peter4456

'R/Pty' stands for Rear Party, the part of the unit that either was the last to leave a location or stayed there whilst the rest went to Northern Ireland or, possibly, the Falklands!

Marvin, In the period 1967 -77, it looks like the regiment consisted of: HQ Battery 208th (3rd West Lancashire) Battery 209th (The Manchester Artillery) Battery 213th (South Lancashire Artillery) Battery (formed 1st July 1969) The RHQ was at Deysbrook Barracks, Liverpool which appears to be a Tesco store now! The Regimental MOD web page shows the following phone numberrs: 0151 727 4455 / 01744 697823 They might be able to help with photos / info etc Good luck!

This could be a very interesting find - if it's true!! Let's hope it's not another 'Tiger in the bog' story - whatever happened to that?!

Wow!! Brilliant research - well done!!

Thanks Clive, on both counts! This is what I've come up with - as Marvin says, a lot of time spent in storage! 44 BM 75.doc

Marvin, I've been trying to translate your card - does anyone know what 103 Light Air Defence Regt, Royal Artillery, was equipped with in 1967 - 77 and what TMP stands for? (it's still at Warminster!)

Some Martian info which may or may not be of interest!

Hello Duncan, I normally translate Ferret history cards but here's my attempt! Clive Elliott could probably tell you what lot number your Martian was at the Ruddington Sale and perhaps even how much it went for! Let me know if you need any more. 43 BM 58.doc

I think this is the Tank Suit, Denim, that may have appeared in Normandy - although mine was made in 1954!

Wayne, From memory (it was 30 years ago!), there were the signs of markings on both doors, the tailgate (sadly that looks like a different one) - there may have been something on the front wings too. My photos of 93EL57 at Tenterden (this was the second IMPS show that eventually became War & Peace!) have gone AWOL - if I find them, I'll post them. I've no idea why it's now pink - I'm assuming it was an early 'restoration' attempt. It was still DBG when my boss sold it to the garage in Cornwall. I look forward to seeing how the restoration goes - I'd love to see 93EL57 again one day - do you go to W&P?

93 EL 57 in happier days!!

BLIMEY!!!!! My heart is pounding as I write this!!!! I've been looking for GKL 393N for years!!! Last heard of painted sunshine yellow at a garage in Constantine, Cornwall, this was my boss's old Land Rover. I worked for him at a riding school in Kent, drove the Land Rover almost every day, fitted a new water pump, took it to the 2nd IMPS Show at Tenterden Railway Stn in 1983 (I seem to remember there were only two Land Rovers there!), went on my first 'date' in it, drove it down the M2 to Canterbury ten minutes after passing my driving test, etc, etc. I remember that the markings were still under the paint -so remove the layers carefully! I'll dig out some old photos Incredible..............I always wondered if it survived, especially when I saw the lovely Rover 8 FFR at Beltring last year!

This is what the forum experts said in 2010 when I about the photo: 'The bike was produced during early to mid 1941 under contract C7353. With it's manilla headlamp mask, number plate census number and lack of panniers, the photo probably doesn't date from later than 1942. The machine looks fairly well used so I'd guess that the picture dates from the summer of 1942. The background looks to be UK.' The dates tie in with his wartime service in the UK

Definitely a post war Army registration number - perhaps I was wrong about Norton 16Hs in service in the 60s! The RLC Museum at Deepcut may have the Vehicle History Card for your bike - I'll help translate it if you do find it! Out of interest, I've attached a photo of my wife's Granddad on his Norton 16H in WW2 - Sgt Cunnew, Green Howards!

This lovely photo of a 2 Coy RASC Stalwart in Aden in 1964 shows the RASC sign as blue over yellow - it looks to me like the one on your bike. The British Army Units website says 36 Coy RASC was a Motor Ambulance unit at Catterick Barracks, Bielefeld, Germany in 1965 - probably a bit late for a Norton 16H though.

Drew, Yes I have seen your thread - it's the same Peter that did the translation for you via Ferret Heaven earlier in the week! Matt, Thanks for your kind words - I really enjoy doing these translations 01 EC 28.doc

Howard, If Martin's link doesn't work, the book has general markings for shells and box markings for 40mm, 20pdr APDS, 25pdr, 5.25" - I'm happy to copy anything you need! Peter

A friend has kindly lent me this book (WO Code 1803), dating from the mid 50s, which shows the markings for what looks like most land, sea and air weapons used at that time - and the packaging they were issued in! I've attached a few examples but it looks great for either identifying (hopefully) inert ordnance or perhaps reproducing labels and lettering on boxes etc. Anyone ever seen a copy of this before?

Sad news - Trooper Joe Ekins, a Sherman Firefly gunner in the Northamptonshire Yeomanry, died on Wednesday 1st February 2012. Without wishing to reopen an age old debate, and with due respect to all forces on the Normandy battlefield on 8th August 1944, most historians seem to agree that Trooper Ekins was responsible for knocking out the Tiger of SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann, holder of the Knights Cross with Oakleaves & Swords and one of Germany's greatest tank aces. I'm sure it's correct that the first five rounds Trooper Ekins fired in anger killed 3 Tigers - an incredible feat by a very quiet and unassuming man who went back to his pre war job in a shoe factory after the war! RIP Trooper Ekins - a truly great soldier

That's what I think too - someone on the forum went to Withams and took some good photos - holes in the side of the turret for launchers etc. Probably 2010. I don't know where they went after that.

Perhaps this 'translation' may help - one of the longest Ferret histories I've done and very interesting. I can't find any trace of 'Philandendia' as a company - someone on here is sure to know! I do have photos of 1RTR Ferrets in Omagh in 1973 but sadly 05 CC 83 is not among them - one photo is tantalisingly just out of focus to read the number! 05 CC 83.doc

Wow! A very interesting service history - Sharjah (UAE), NI & Cyprus! Also (M) - up armoured - and fitted with a GPMG! You lucky, lucky, man!!

Sten, If you can take a digital photo or scan them they should load onto the forum or email them to me at Peter63hall@yahoo.com! Peter

Ken, Please see attached my 'translation' of your Ferret's history card - a busy little Ferret indeed! Interesting to see a lot of late 80s UK service but only a short time with each regiment - there must be story there! Having complied a few of these histories now, many just end with no disposal information - including my own Ferret, 03 CC 42! Peter 03 CC 17.doc

Brett, Please find attached my 'translation' of your Ferret's History Card - a lot of service in Northern Ireland at the height of 'the troubles' in the early 70s! I've seen a few Ferrets that were disposed of to schools with Army Cadet units as training aids but there's nothing on the cards about going to Canada, so probably not a BATUS vehicle. 01 CA 19.doc