Great War truck

Just finished reading the excellent book Legionnaire, which is the true story of a Brit in the FFL. Brilliant book with some very interesting photos. A very complicated and bloody campaign. You can see why the French were reluctant to get involved in any more foreign wars after that. Interesting to read that the Arabs were mostly using WW2 german weapons and that the legion had a large number of WW2 German veterans serving in it at that time. One of many interesting anecdotes was that a legionnaire deserted after a couple of weeks service and was picked up about 15 years later back in France. They sent him back to Africa to do his five years. Must have been very hard for him. Tim (too)

I normally climb in through the door next to the sponson. It is a WW1 thing. Tim (too)

I like the French tracked one. Great for going in straight lines, but thats about it. Tim (too)

Steve I think you missunderstood that post. Look at Rob's first post. Usually there is something at Detling. We took the FWD once, but it was an expensive hike out. Tim (too)

On Sunday 3rd of May we are taking our FWD Model B on the London to Brighton run. Joining us will be another US WW1 FWD Model B, a civilian McCurd lorry (which although a civilian is of the same type used by the ASC during the war) and pershings Doughboys the WW1 US Army Living History Unit. We will be leaving South terrace car park at Crystal Palace at 7:40 and should be at Madeira drive for around mid day (hopefully). It will be interesting to have two US military scheme Model B FWD's together. Something not seen in this country for a very long time. This will be the longest journey undertaken by either of these FWD's since their restoration. Wish us luck. Tim (too)

Yes, the last one i bought was £1. Interesting that they are described as "genuine military issue". I would certainly pay more for a civilian one. Tim (too)

I'snt £14.95 for a genuine "military issue" Bren magazine a tad expensive. The last one i bought was a lot less than that. Otherwise an interesting magazine as usual. Tim (too)

Then, back to the pedals (which i had painted earlier), which we slid onto the bar: and which we then bolted on to the sub frame. The sub frame came off a different Dennis than the chassis we are restoring, so unsuprisingly the holes didnt line up. However, with a bit of jiggery we managed to get everything in place then tighten up the bolts a little at a time to pull it all into place. Then it was a case of assembling the rest of the brake linkage and making new arms to replace the old ones. As the old arms were incomplete we had to calculate how long they should have been. Hopefully they should be alright, but if not we can always shorten them. As you can see we found some original oilers. Finally, on one of the rotten arms was the return spring bracket. I got this off by getting it hot and belting it. It cleaned up a treat and put it on to the new arms: Another small step completed. Now, i just need to paint up the nuts and bolts and try not to drip paint over everything we have already assembled.

I have managed to spend some time with Tony on the Dennis. We finished off riveting the brake linings to the shoes. I really managed to wack myself across the knuckles with a hammer much to Tonys amusement. Once finished we assembled them and they looked like this We then slid the shoes onto the arms on the back of the gearbox and connected them together. Then it was a case of starting to put the linkage together.

Hi Jack Well there seems to be about 3 or 4 Nash Quads that i know currently under restoration. They may be able to exchange spare parts with you. What condition are yours in and are you missing any major components? Can you post some photos please? Thanks Tim (too)

Results are not yet posted. Give it a few more days. Tim (too)

Well it was a Priest, but looks like it was converted into a Kangaroo. This was done to a number of them after Normandy when the Priests were generally withdrawn, but there was a need for armoured personnel carriers. If it is one i would say that it was probably a unique survivor. Tim (too)

Not sure if Marcus is being ironic or not. It could have suffered in translation. However, he has got a Diamond T which in my mind makes him a thoroughly good bloke. If he wants to say what he thinks and why, in French then i will translate it for him. Just to nail my colours to the mast i think it fine for kids to learn about guns responsibly. If they see what they can do and the damage they can cause it engenders a certain level of responsibility. What i hate to see is kids running around shows with deacs or air softs shooting at each other and passers by. Disgusting behaviour for which i blame the parents. I am sure none of the kids of HMVF members do this, but go to Beltring and it goes on. On another matter, i think any anti-French sentiment should be left out of the forum full stop. There is no place for it in this "The Friendly Forum". If you disagree with an opinion you should not have a go at the whole nation. Tim (too)

We have had our good set of pedals sand blasted, and they have come up a treat: The shaft they came off is not so good though, so we need to get the worn pedals of the good shaft and put the good pedals on it. As everything is stuck up solid, I feel the need for some extreme heat and pressure coming on: Tim (too)

This unique German U Boat was recently rediscovered having been hidden in the St Nazaire U Boat pens since the end of the war. It is seen leaving the pens for the first time in 65 years. Tim (too)

Donation made. You will enjoy it, if you can get over the utter terror of the leaning back over the edge thing. I did it with a 7 storey building in Oxford. It was great fun. The best bit was when I went between pillars and there was nothing to kick back on. Just floating (well descending) at a great rate of knots. Tim (too)

Thanks PM sent. Tim (too)

I am sure that this is a topic that has been covered before, but how do you research the WW2 military history of a relative? Many thanks Tim (too)

You are right.I wonder how i missed such an interesting story first time round. Ah well. Sorry. Tim (too)

I dont have any, but was wondering if any of our knowledgable USAAF enthusiasts might have some. Anybody? Tim (too)

So what are Sextons doing in the USA? Tim (too)

So whats the consensus? Is it a totally fake photo, or something that somebody made up for a bit of fun. You have seen the Toylander? It was discussed in another forum, but i cant remember what the consensus was. Tim (too)

Groan..................

Great place to store your lobster pots.

I received this today. Done some checks and apparently it is true, although a little embelished. Tim (too) Look carefully at the B-17 and note how shot up it is - one engine dead, tail, horizontal stabilizer and nose shot up. It was ready to fall out of the sky.. Then realize that there is a German ME-109 fighter flying next to it. Now read the story below. I think you'll be surprised..... Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton , England . His B-17 was called 'Ye Old Pub' and was in a terrible state, having been hit by flak and fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton. After flying over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. When he got near the B-17, he could not believe his eyes. In his words, he 'had never seen a plane in such a bad state'. The tail and rear section was severely damaged, and the tail gunner wounded. The top gunner was all over the top of the fuselage. The nose was smashed and there were holes everywhere. Despite having ammunition, Franz flew to the side of the B-17 and looked at Charlie Brown, the pilot. Brown was scared and struggling to control his damaged and blood-stained plane. Aware that they had no idea where they were going, Franz waved at Charlie to turn 180 degrees. Franz escorted and guided the stricken plane to, and slightly over, the North Sea towards England. He then saluted Charlie Brown and turned away, ba ck to Europe. When Franz landed he told the CO that the plane had been shot down over the sea, and never told the truth to anybody. Charlie Brown and the remains of his crew told all at their briefing, but were ordered never to talk about it. More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the Luftwaffe pilot who saved the crew. After years of research, Franz was found. He had never talked about the incident, not even at post-war reunions They met in the USA at a 379th Bomber Group reunion, together with 25 people who are alive now - all because Franz never fired his guns that day.