David B.

I would like to ask this question again as I have as yet not found an answer. Can anyone help please.

The crematorium service,conducted under humanist principles was very well attended and mention was made of Bernard's qualities and various eccentricities also his long and varied MVCG/MVT duties. There was a large turnout of old friends mainly from the,Berkshire,Oxfordshire and Hampshire areas with others from further afield and a good representation from the MVT comittee. As we arrived for the reception afterwards Bernard's Humber was prominently parked there to greet us. We shall miss him but all hope not to lose touch with Marion. David.

I have just belatedly realised that no one has posted the sad news of the passing of Bernard Venners. Bernard,who died last week was one of the earliest collectors of MVs and stalwarts of the MVCG/MVT. He held committee positions at national level and was also very active locally. I first met Bernard around 1970 which predated any of the MV clubs and at the time you could virtually count collectors of MVs on the finger of one hand. Having a particular interest in British WW2 military vehicles Bernard and his wife Marion owned and rescued a number of vehicles including Austin,Ford,Karrier,Humber,Bedford and Morris-Commercial I think all of which are still in preservation today. With either Marion or Bernard at the wheel and with Lucy and Henry aboard they went on the early MVCG tours and appeared at all the major early shows such as Thruxton, Blackbushe,Southsea and dozens of local events. Bernard had been unwell for a while and when I met Marion in Normandy in June he was sadly not up to the trip I am rushing now to get ready for Bernard's funeral which is at 2.15 today at Thatcham Crematorium. (A4 Bath Rd) My sincere condolences to Marion Lucy and Henry. Goodbye Bernard and thanks for all the help and "tip offs" over the last 40 odd years. David Belcher.

Clive I don't think you are the only one. Most of us have have been collecting s h i t for years !

Morning Richard, Do you have a current point of contact for the owners of the ex-Dunlop Trak Grip moulds. It wouldn't cost anyone to make an enquiry ! David.

Has the question actually ever been asked about price and minimum order 9.00 x 16 , 10.50 x16 or any other size for that matter ?

Morning Richard, It really was a well earned day off for Ian,he's worked his socks off. You talk about a "bit" of oil and grease. I reckon that I've spent about three hundred quid on lubricants ! Hope all goes well for you. all the best. David.

I suppose that all over the country there is the smell of new paint,record sales of brake fluid,gallons of fresh fuel and additives being put in and the disinterring of NOS parts in the run in to Normandy. I hope that we are now in the last stages of preparation with our three vehicles,how are the rest of you doing ? If all goes well we will be leaving North Oxfordshire on Saturday morning the 31st with ten vehicles altogether to be on our campsite at Asnelles by midday on June 1st. It will be 40 years since I first took the K2 and 30 years since the Dingo went for the first time. It will be my last time I'm sure and I'm hoping to catch up with a lot of old friends over there. "Bonne route" to all of you who are going. David.

Thanks Robert - there was bound to be "chapter and verse" somewhere. No argument on a red disc but still no mention of different colours during the war years.

Tony/Richard, The preparation of the Dingo,Jeep and K2 for Normandy next month have prevented anything from being done to our trailer since this post over two years ago. The pictures do show the tail/headboard arrangement and poses several questions which are still unanswered. Hopefully work will restart on the trailer this summer. Since that post it has become apparent that trailers exist today with a hinged headboard, a hinged tailboard or a combination of both front and rear. Both Orme Evans and TEC produced 10 cwt Number 2 trailers-Mortar,Mortar Ammunition and GS variants concurrently in the same contracts at their respective factories.that is a matter of contract record. It would seem that Mortar trailers were designed with a hinged headboard only,the GS with a hinged tailboard only. The mudguard shape is a red herring as all 10 cwt Number 2 trailers by these makers had the rectangular mudguards. Is it possible that at some stage a number of trailers were retrospectively converted as an improvement or even perhaps to increase the availability of normal load carrying GS trailers in use by providing a rear tailboard or was it possible that all combinations came out of the works during the war ? Pictures of the trailers deployed behind the gun in an ammunition supply role shows the practicality of the front hinged headboard when the tow ring is placed on the ground and the headboard opened but for normal loading of ammunition or general stores surely a rear opening tailgate is preferable especially when the trailer is attached a towing vehicle. I have a friend who uses his Mortar trailer to collect logs and he curses the front opening headboard as an inconvenience. So the question remains ? David.

Or you could have the wheels blasted in Cassington and ask them to clean up and paint after. If they are too dear on the painting ask someone else locally to prime and paint. David 07860 889524

I would be interested in knowing how you get on. My only experience is in quotes for antique mirror resilvering and those prices can be horrendous. David.

I was told once by a WW2 veteran that should any soldier either an infantryman or in a non radio equipped vehicle needed to send a radio message they find one easier if the vehicle had WT marked on its exterior.

Not on the plate but stencilled on the outside of the escape door of my Dingo was WT

I too am waiting for what I'm sure will be an excellent magazine. Its years since I contributed a very great deal to the MVT(MVCG), much to my shame. Over the years the MVT and the service that it provides continues to improve,current editor included. I personally have had an enormous amount out of the club over the years including the making of friendships of thirty and more years standing. Its all a very far cry fom the beginnings when you could count virtually on the fingers of, if not one but both hands the people who owned and restored military vehicles. Not only has the MVT and its stated aims and organisation given a decent image to our hobby but it has put countless like -minded enthusiasts in touch with one another. Well done to all past and present contributors to the club. David Belcher.

Is it true that the Dutch military hospitals have been inundated by a number of casualties following a period of neglect to the road surfaces in that country,all of them suffering from damage to the upper front teeth ?

Surely there would be far more support this year the weekend before.

The trouble is each one of these b*****s nicks something. Mind you I could see myself floating to the surface with one of those Dunlop 10.50 x 16s from the front axle of the Bedford.

Thanks Julian - that would be appreciated. all the best, David.

Interesting looking book Tim. Must be worth a read through..... I met the author once,not a bad bloke !!

Is that what they are for then ? Can anyone confirm please.

Has anyone an idea - Ferret,Saracen,Saladin ? They look like that era to me.

Ah yes........silly of me. They are about 10" high x 8"wide x 3 1/4"deep. I'm presuming that the lid catch is on the top.

I'm having a clearout and have found a couple of these boxes which appear unused but shelf soiled. My guess is British postwar but can anyone tell me for certain their application and use please. Many thanks, David.

and happy New Year to you Pete.... I certainly can't match your find for rarity or obscurity but I wonder if anyone else can ? Over the years I was happy with the "bread and butter" stuff. Butler blackout masks,head and side lights,1924 pattern wing mirrors,Dingo stowage and mechanical parts, BSA M20 tool kit spanners,Bedford OY rad blinds and all those kind of things. I never did need the American items ,Sherman or Stuart parts or even the brand new LVT bilge pumps ! Good old Chris,he made his money supplying foreign governments and then was instrumental in helping an infant hobby grow by offering a spares service which enabled so many projects to become reality. I found him great company and don't forget also his ( sometimes controversial ) editorship of the MVT Windscreen magazine. Cheers, David